What are the important events that happened on January 21? Here are historical events, facts, and some myths about this day.
January 21: Facts & Myths About This Day
January 21 is the 21st day of the year 2025 in the Gregorian calendar. There are 344 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Tuesday.
Under the Julian calendar, this day is January 8, 2025 – a Tuesday. Both day of the week are the same but did you notice the difference with the Gregorian calendar?
When this day started, 482,616 hours has elapsed since midnight of January 1, 1970 – the Unix epoch.
Strange as it may, if we name this day after a polygon then it will be called ‘icosihenagon’ day.
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Aquarius is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Garnet is the modern birthstone for this month. Emerald is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.
According to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, there are 8 days remaining before the start of the next Chinese New Year.
The ancient Maya civilization believes that the end of the world will happen on December 21, 2012. There are now 4,414 days since this fabled cataclysmic event.
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January 21 Historical Events
- 1789 –The first American novel, The Power of Sympathy or the Triumph of Nature Founded in Truth, is printed in Boston, Massachusetts.
- 1793 –After being found guilty of treason by the French Convention, Louis XVI of France is executed by guillotine.
- 1840 –Jules Dumont d'Urville discovers Adélie Land, Antarctica.
- 1887 –465 mm of rain falls in Brisbane, a record for any Australian capital city.
- 1908 –New York City passes the Sullivan Ordinance, making it illegal for women to smoke in public, only to have the measure vetoed by the mayor.
- 1915 –Kiwanis International is founded in Detroit, Michigan.
- 1950 –Alger Hiss is convicted of perjury.
- 1966 –New Year’s Day in Chinese calendar. Start of the year of the Fire Horse in Chinese astrology.
- 2000 –Ecuador: After the Ecuadorian Congress is seized by indigenous organizations, Col. Lucio Gutierrez, Carlos Solorzano and Antonio Vargas depose President Jamil Mahuad. Gutierrez is later replaced by Gen. Carlos Mendoza, who resigns and allows Vice-President Gustavo Noboa to succeed Mahuad.
- 2003 –A 7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes the Mexican state of Colima, killing 29 and leaving approximately 10,000 people homeless.
Who were born on January 21?
- 1338 –King Charles V of France (d. 1380)
- 1912 –Konrad Emil Bloch, German-born biochemist, Nobel laureate (d. 2000)
- 1924 –Benny Hill, English actor, comedian, and singer (d. 1992)
- 1954 –Phil Thompson, English footballer and coach
- 1968 –Charlotte Ross, American actress
- 1971 –Doug Weight, American ice hockey player
- 1972 –Rick Falkvinge, Swedish politician
- 1978 –Faris al-Sultan, German-Iraqi triathlete
- 1978 –Phil Stacey, American Idol finalist
- 1981 –Ivan Ergić, Serbian footballer
Who died on January 21?
- 1546 –Azai Sukemasa, Japanese samurai and warlord (b. 1491)
- 1638 –Ignazio Donati, Italian composer (b. c. 1570)
- 1710 –Johann Georg Gichtel, German mystic (b. 1638)
- 1950 –George Orwell, British writer (b. 1903)
- 1968 –Will Lang Jr., American magazine executive (b. 1914)
- 1977 –Sandro Penna, Italian poet (b. 1906)
- 1984 –Jackie Wilson, American musician (b. 1934)
- 1998 –Jack Lord, American actor (b. 1920)
- 2008 –Marie Smith Jones, last native speaker of the Eyak language (b. 1918)
- 2009 –Veatrice Rice, American television personality (b. 1949)
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