Today is Tuesday, May 21st, the 142nd day of 2024. There are 224 days left this year.
Today’s history highlights:
On May 21, 1955, Chuck Berry recorded his first single, “Maybelline,” for Chess Records in Chicago.
This date:
In 1471, King Henry VI of England died at the age of 49 in the Tower of London.
In 1542, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto died while searching for gold along the Mississippi River.
In 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.
In 1924, a highly infamous case occurred when 14-year-old Bobby Franks was murdered in a “thrill murder” by University of Chicago students Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard Loeb (Bobby’s cousin).
In 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh landed his Spirit of St. Louis monoplane near Paris and completed the first solo transatlantic flight in 33 and a half hours.
In 1932, Amelia Earhart landed in Northern Ireland about 15 hours after leaving Newfoundland, becoming the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean solo.
In 1941, a German U-boat sank the American merchant ship SS Robin Moore in the South Atlantic after the passengers and crew were allowed to board the lifeboats.
In 1972, Michelangelo’s Pietà on display at the Vatican was damaged by a man with a hammer who shouted that he was Jesus Christ.
In 1979, former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the murders of Mayor George Moscone and openly gay Superintendent Harvey Milk. Anger over the verdict sparked a riot. (White was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison, but ultimately served five years before taking his own life in 1985.)
In 1991, former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber during a national election.
In 2000, actor Sir John Gielgud died at the age of 96, and author Dame Barbara Cartland died at the age of 98.
In 2017, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed their final show at the Nassau County Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, to a standing ovation, ending a 146-year history.
In 2020, President Donald Trump visited a Ford Motor plant outside Detroit that was being repurposed to make ventilators. He said he did wear a mask in public, although he did not wear one in public.
In 2021, thousands of Palestinians rallied after a ceasefire took effect in the latest Gaza conflict. Eleven days of fighting have left more than 250 people, mostly Palestinians, dead and caused widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip.
Birthdays today: R&B singer Ron Isley (of the Isley Brothers) is 83, musician Bill Champlin is 77, singer Leo Sayer is 76, actor Carol Potter is 76, Minnesota Democrat. Former senator Al Franken is 73 years old, and actor Mr. John is 76 years old. T is 72 years old. Music producer Stan Lynch is 69 years old. Actor Judge Reinhold is 67 years old. Actor and director Nick Cassavetes is 65 years old. Actor Lisa Edelstein is 58 years old. Actor Fairuza Balk is 50 years old. Rock singer and musician Mikel Jolet (Airborne Toxic Event) is 50 years old. Rapper Havok (Mobb Deep) is 50 years old, rock musician Tony Logafo (Lucas Nelson & Promise of the Real) is 41 years old, actor Sankrish Bala is 40 years old, and actor David Ajala is 40 years old. is 38 years old, actor Ashley Brillo is 37 years old, and country singer Cody Johnson is 37 years old. Actor Scott Leavenworth is 34 years old, and actor Sara Ramos is 33 years old.
