On This Day in History – June 21

Major Events

• 1791 – King Louis XVI of France and his family are caught during an attempted escape from Paris in the Flight to Varennes during the French Revolution.

• 1877 – The Molly Maguires, a secret society of Irish-American coal miners, are executed in Pennsylvania for labor-related violence.

• 1948 – Columbia Records introduces the 33⅓ RPM long-playing (LP) record at a press conference in New York City.

• 1964 – Civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner are murdered in Mississippi by members of the Ku Klux Klan, sparking national outrage.

• 1982 – Prince William is born at St Mary’s Hospital in London, second in line to the British throne.

• 2004 – SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately funded spaceplane to achieve suborbital flight.

Famous Birthdays

• Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–1980), French philosopher, playwright, and novelist, a leading figure in existentialism.

• Jane Russell (1921–2011), American actress and sex symbol known for her role in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

• Benazir Bhutto (1953–2007), Pakistani politician and the first woman to lead a Muslim-majority country.

• Prince William (born 1982), Duke of Cambridge and member of the British royal family.

• Lana Del Rey (born 1985), American singer-songwriter known for her cinematic style and melancholic lyrics.

• Chris Pratt (born 1979), American actor known for Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World franchises.

Notable Deaths

• Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527), Italian diplomat, philosopher, and author of The Prince.

• Eli Wallach (1915–2014), American actor known for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

• James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner (all 1964), civil rights activists murdered in Mississippi.

Holidays

• International Day of Yoga (Worldwide) – Recognized by the UN to promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being through the practice of yoga.

• World Music Day / Fête de la Musique (Worldwide) – Celebrated with free concerts and musical performances in public spaces.

• National Indigenous Peoples Day (Canada) – Honors the culture, history, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

• Summer Solstice (Northern Hemisphere) – Marks the longest day of the year and the official start of summer.

Fun Facts

• The Summer Solstice, occurring on or around June 21, results in the most daylight hours of any day in the year for the Northern Hemisphere.

• Columbia Records’ introduction of the LP record in 1948 revolutionized how people listened to music, allowing longer recordings on a single disc.

• SpaceShipOne’s historic 2004 flight paved the way for commercial space travel and private space exploration.

• World Music Day, started in France, has now spread to over 120 countries and promotes music as a universal language.

• Prince William, born on this date, shares his birthday with International Yoga Day — making June 21 both royal and reflective.