📜 This Day in History

May 21

• 878Arab–Byzantine wars: The city of Syracuse was captured by the Aghlabids as part of the Muslim conquest of Sicily.
• 1851The Congress of Colombia passed a law abolishing slavery in the country, to take effect at the beginning of the new year.
• 1917The Imperial War Graves Commission was established by royal charter to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of British Empire military forces.
• 1927Aboard the Spirit of St. Louis, American aviator Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight, flying from Roosevelt Field near New York City to Paris–Le Bourget Airport.
• 2005The world's tallest roller coaster, Kingda Ka, opened at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, U.S.
• 2024The Greenfield tornado, estimated to have produced winds in excess of 309 miles per hour (497 km/h), moved across Iowa.

Born on this day

• 1471Albrecht Dürer, German painter, engraver, and mathematician (died 1528)
• 1527Philip II of Spain, King of Spain, Portugal, England and Ireland (died 1598)
• 1921Andrei Sakharov, Russian physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1989)
• 1944Mary Robinson, Irish lawyer and politician, President of Ireland