1758
Exploration
Abduction of colonial settler Mary Campbell
Mary Campbell was abducted by Lenape warriors in 1758, beginning the captivity story that later made her a frontier landmark.
View detailsThis Day
21May
35 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1780
Activism
Birth of Elizabeth Gurney (later Elizabeth Fry) in Norwich
Elizabeth Gurney, future prison reformer Elizabeth Fry, was born at Earlham Hall, Norwich, into a prominent Quaker banking family.
View details1799
Science
Birth of Mary Anning
Mary Anning was born in Lyme Regis, Dorset, England, to Richard and Mary (Molly) Anning.
View details1809
Science
First Woman to Receive a U.S. Patent
Mary Kies became the first woman granted a U.S. patent, for a technique of weaving straw with silk and thread, used in hat-making.
View details1815
Science
Destruction of the Ashkelon marble statue
Orders the newly unearthed Ashkelon statue smashed and cast into the sea, a calculated political gesture toward Ottoman authorities.
View details1867
Arts
Birth of Frances Densmore
Frances Densmore was born on May 21, 1867, in Red Wing, Minnesota.
View details1872
Science
Patents the Vacuum Method of Food Preservation
Jones patented a vacuum canning process for preserving food, a foundational innovation in the American canning industry.
View details1881
Politics
Founded the American Red Cross
Barton founded the American Red Cross, creating the U.S. institution that would become central to disaster and wartime relief.
View details1892
Activism
Anti-Lynching Editorial and Destruction of Newspaper Office
On May 21, 1892, a Wells editorial sparked the destruction of her newspaper office by mobs in Memphis.
View details1903
Activism
Co-founds the New York branch of the Women's Trade Union League
Schneiderman helped found the New York branch of the Women's Trade Union League, a pivotal organization advocating for women workers' rights.
View details1911
Science
Death of Williamina Fleming
Williamina Fleming passed away in Boston, Massachusetts.
View details1912
Activism
Marches in New York suffrage parade
On May 21, 1912, marched in a parade advocating women's suffrage.
View details1927
Aviation
Witnesses Lindbergh’s arrival at Le Bourget
At age 13, she witnesses Charles Lindbergh’s transatlantic arrival at Le Bourget Field near Paris on May 21, 1927.
View details1930
1935
Activism
Death of Jane Addams
Jane Addams died in Chicago on May 21, 1935, three days after being diagnosed with cancer.
View details1937
Arts
First commercial recording session for Decca Records
Jackson made her first commercial recording session for Decca Records, beginning her recorded-music career.
View details1940
Aviation
2,000-kilometer and 100-kilometer speed records
Cochran broke the 2,000-kilometer international speed record and the 100-kilometer national record.
View details1954
Science
Ph.D. awarded at New York University
Fox received her Ph.D. in mathematics from NYU for research on numerical methods.
View details1959
Arts
Death of Thelma Johnson Streat in Los Angeles
Death of Thelma Johnson Streat from a heart attack in Los Angeles, California.
View details1959
Science
Broadway musical 'Gypsy' premieres, based on her memoir
The musical 'Gypsy', based on her 1957 memoir, opened at the Broadway Theatre, dramatizing her rise and relationship with her mother.
View details1974
1983
Activism
Removal as NAACP national board chair
Margaret Bush Wilson was removed as NAACP national board chair.
View details1989
Activism
First African-American woman to receive honorary Doctorate in Religion from Boston College
Sister Thea Bowman was awarded an honorary doctorate in Religion by Boston College, marking a first for African-American women.
View details1995
Literature
Death of Annie M. G. Schmidt in Amsterdam
Annie M.G. Schmidt died on 21 May 1995 in Amsterdam, one day after her 84th birthday, mourned as the most beloved children's author in Dutch history.
View details2000
Arts
Best Actress Award at Cannes Film Festival
Björk won the Best Actress Award at Cannes on May 21, 2000, for Dancer in the Dark, one of few musicians to win top acting honors.
View details2006
Arts
Death of Katherine Dunham
Katherine Dunham died in her sleep of natural causes on May 21, 2006, in New York City at age 96.
View details2014
Science
First Hollywood actress inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
Hedy Lamarr became the first Hollywood film star posthumously inducted into the U.S. National Inventors Hall of Fame for her frequency-hopping invention.
View details2014
Sports
2014 U.S. Women’s Championship title
Krush claimed back-to-back titles with the 2014 U.S. Women’s Championship.
View details2014
Science
Induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
Arnold was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for her innovations in directed evolution.
View details2017
Science
Iconic performance at 2017 Billboard Music Awards
Cher performs "Believe" and "If I Could Turn Back Time" at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards.
View details2017
Science
Billboard Icon Award
Cher receives the Billboard Icon Award at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards.
View details2018
Politics
Sworn in as first woman to serve as CIA Director on a permanent basis
Gina Haspel sworn in as CIA Director, first woman in permanent role.
View details2018
Politics
International coverage of first woman to head CIA
Gina Haspel becomes first woman to head CIA, noted by Deutsche Welle.
View details2019
Science
First woman formally presented with the Abel Prize, Oslo
Karen Uhlenbeck received the 2019 Abel Prize from King Harald V of Norway in Oslo, the first time a woman was presented with this top mathematics prize.
View details2023
Aviation
First woman commander of a private astronaut mission (Axiom Mission 2)
On May 21, 2023, Whitson became the first woman to command a private astronaut mission with Axiom Mission 2.
View details