Tag: 2021

29 newsworthy historical anniversaries in February 2021

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for “On This Day in History” features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re easy to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.

Here are 29 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in February 2021 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2021. You’ll find hundreds more in the book. The 2022 edition is also available.

1 Feb 1896 – 125 years ago
The première of Giacomo Puccini’s opera La bohème, in Turin, Italy.

2 Feb 1946 – 75 years ago
Trygve Lie of Norway became the first Secretary-General of the United Nations.

3 Feb 1971 – 50 years ago
American police officer Frank Serpico was shot and wounded during a drugs bust in Brooklyn, New York City. As a plain clothes officer he had uncovered widespread corruption in the New York Police Department (NYPD) and some believe the shooting was an attempt by NYPD officers to have him murdered. After recovering from his injuries he testified before the Knapp Commission which had been appointed to investigate corruption in the NYPD. His story is told in the 1973 film Serpico.

4 Feb 1941 – 80 years ago
The United Service Organization (USO) was created to provide social, welfare, recreational services and entertainment for members of the US armed forces and their families.

5 Feb 1996 – 25 years ago
The first genetically modified food went on sale in the UK: tomato puree made from tomatoes that had had the “rotting gene” removed. (The product was withdrawn in 1999 following strong opposition.)

6 Feb 1951 – 70 years ago
Woodbridge train derailment, New Jersey, USA. 86 people were killed and more than 500 injured. It was one of the worst rail disasters in US history.

7 Feb 1991 – 30 years ago
IRA mortar attack on 10 Downing Street, London. 3 shells were fired from a parked van while British Prime Minister John Major was chairing a cabinet meeting about the Gulf War. No one was injured.

8 Feb 1971 – 50 years ago
NASDAQ, the first electronic stock exchange, began trading.

9 Feb 1996 – 25 years ago
An IRA bomb exploded in London’s Docklands, killing 2 people and causing massive damage.

10 Feb 1846 – 175 years ago
Following repeated attacks, the Mormons began a long exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois to what is now Salt Lake City, Utah. The first group of pioneers set off on this date, with the main exodus beginning in April 1947. The first group reached the Great Salt Lake in July 1847 and began establishing a settlement.

11 Feb 1946 – 75 years ago
The Revised Standard Version of the New Testament was published. It was the first major English-language update of the Bible since the King James version was published in 1611.

12 Feb 1971 – 50 years ago
Death of James Cash Penney, American businessman who founded the J. C. Penney chain of department stores.

13 Feb 1931 – 90 years ago
New Delhi became the capital of India, replacing Kolkata.

14 Feb 1946 – 75 years ago
The Bank of England was nationalised.

15 Feb 1946 – 75 years ago
ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, was dedicated at the University of Pennsylvania, USA.

16 Feb 1971 – 50 years ago
U.S. President Richard Nixon had a secret taping system installed in the Oval Office of the White House. The system was later expanded to other rooms and Camp David. The existence of the tapes was revealed during the Watergate Scandal of 1973-74.

17 Feb 1621 – 400 years ago
Myles Standish was elected as the first commander of the Plymouth Colony militia in North America.

18 Feb 1896 – 125 years ago
Birth of André Breton, French writer and poet. Leader of the Surrealist movement.

19 Feb 2001 – 20 years ago
The first case of foot-and-mouth disease in the 2001 UK outbreak was detected at an abattoir in Essex. The EU subsequently banned all British milk, meat and livestock exports.

20 Feb 1961 – 60 years ago
Death of Percy Grainger, Australian-born American composer, pianist and conductor.

21 Feb 1821 – 200 years ago
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy was founded in Pennsylvania. It was the first pharmacy college in the USA. It is now part of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.

22 Feb 1821 – 200 years ago
The Adams-Onís Treaty (also known as the Florida Purchase Treaty) came into effect. Spain ceded Florida to the USA and the border between the USA and Mexico was established, settling a dispute.

23 Feb 1821 – 200 years ago
Death of John Keats, British poet. (Tuberculosis, aged 25.)

24 Feb 1871 – 150 years ago
British naturalist Charles Darwin’s book The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex was published.

25 Feb 1956 – 65 years ago
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev gave an infamous speech On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences in which he condemned and denounced former leader Joseph Stalin as a brutal despot. This led to the de-Stalinisation of the Soviet Union.

26 Feb 1896 – 125 years ago
French scientist Henri Becquerel unknowingly discovered radioactivity while investigating the phosphorescent rays of uranium and potassium crystals. He was jointly awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics, along with Pierre and Marie Curie who carried out further research. The SI unit for radioactivity, the becquerel, is named in his honour.

27 Feb 1996 – 25 years ago
The Pokémon media franchise was launched by Japanese video game designer Satoshi Tajiri.

28 Feb 1991 – 30 years ago
The Gulf War ended at midnight when a ceasefire came into effect.

29 Feb 1996 – 25 years ago
A court ruled that the British actress Joan Collins was entitled to keep a $1.3 million advance from publishers Random House, plus a further $1.3 million for delivering her manuscripts on schedule. Random House had claimed that her two novels were unpublishable and demanded their money back.

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2021. The 2022 edition is also available if you need to work further ahead. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

Share this:

29 newsworthy historical anniversaries in February 2021 (U.S. Edition)

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for “On This Day in History” features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re easy to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theater shows, and more.

Here are 29 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in February 2021 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2021. You’ll find hundreds more in the book. The 2022 edition is also available.

Feb 1, 1896 – 125 years ago
The premiere of Giacomo Puccini’s opera La bohème, in Turin, Italy.

Feb 2, 1946 – 75 years ago
Trygve Lie of Norway became the first Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Feb 3, 1971 – 50 years ago
American police officer Frank Serpico was shot and wounded during a drugs bust in Brooklyn, New York City. As a plain clothes officer he had uncovered widespread corruption in the New York Police Department (NYPD) and some believe the shooting was an attempt by NYPD officers to have him murdered. After recovering from his injuries he testified before the Knapp Commission, which had been appointed to investigate corruption in the NYPD. His story is told in the 1973 movie Serpico.

Feb 4, 1941 – 80 years ago
The United Service Organization (USO) was created to provide social, welfare, recreational services and entertainment for members of the U.S. armed forces and their families.

Feb 5, 1996 – 25 years ago
The first genetically modified (GMO) food went on sale in the UK: tomato puree made from tomatoes that had had the “rotting gene” removed. (The product was withdrawn in 1999 following strong opposition.)

Feb 6, 1951 – 70 years ago
Woodbridge train derailment, New Jersey, USA. 86 people were killed and more than 500 injured. It was one of the worst rail disasters in U.S. history.

Feb 7, 1991 – 30 years ago
IRA mortar attack on 10 Downing Street, London. 3 shells were fired from a parked van while British Prime Minister John Major was chairing a cabinet meeting about the Gulf War. No one was injured.

Feb 8, 1971 – 50 years ago
NASDAQ, the first electronic stock exchange, began trading.

Feb 9, 1996 – 25 years ago
An IRA bomb exploded in London’s Docklands, killing 2 people and causing massive damage.

Feb 10, 1846 – 175 years ago
Following repeated attacks, the Mormons began a long exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois to what is now Salt Lake City, Utah. The first group of pioneers set off on this date, with the main exodus beginning in April 1947. The first group reached the Great Salt Lake in July 1847 and began establishing a settlement.

Feb 11, 1946 – 75 years ago
The Revised Standard Version of the New Testament was published. It was the first major English-language update of the Bible since the King James version was published in 1611.

Feb 12, 1971 – 50 years ago
Death of James Cash Penney, American businessman who founded the J. C. Penney chain of department stores.

Feb 13, 1931 – 90 years ago
New Delhi became the capital of India, replacing Kolkata.

Feb 14, 1946 – 75 years ago
The Bank of England was nationalized.

Feb 15, 1946 – 75 years ago
ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, was dedicated at the University of Pennsylvania, USA.

Feb 16, 1971 – 50 years ago
U.S. President Richard Nixon had a secret taping system installed in the Oval Office of the White House. The system was later expanded to other rooms and Camp David. The existence of the tapes was revealed during the Watergate Scandal of 1973 – 74.

Feb 17, 1621 – 400 years ago
Myles Standish was elected as the first commander of the Plymouth Colony militia in North America.

Feb 18, 1896 – 125 years ago
Birth of André Breton, French writer and poet. Leader of the Surrealist movement.

Feb 19, 2001 – 20 years ago
The first case of foot-and-mouth disease in the 2001 UK outbreak was detected at an abattoir in Essex. The European Union (EU) subsequently banned all British milk, meat and livestock exports.

Feb 20, 1961 – 60 years ago
Death of Percy Grainger, Australian-born American composer, pianist and conductor.

Feb 21, 1821 – 200 years ago
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy was founded in Pennsylvania. It was the first pharmacy college in the USA. It is now part of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.

Feb 22, 1821 – 200 years ago
The Adams-Onís Treaty (also known as the Florida Purchase Treaty) came into effect. Spain ceded Florida to the USA and the border between the USA and Mexico was established, settling a dispute.

Feb 23, 1821 – 200 years ago
Death of John Keats, British poet. (Tuberculosis, aged 25.)

Feb 24, 1871 – 150 years ago
British naturalist Charles Darwin’s book The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex was published.

Feb 25, 1956 – 65 years ago
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev gave an infamous speech On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences in which he condemned and denounced former leader Joseph Stalin as a brutal despot. This led to the de-Stalinisation of the Soviet Union.

Feb 26, 1896 – 125 years ago
French scientist Henri Becquerel unknowingly discovered radioactivity while investigating the phosphorescent rays of uranium and potassium crystals. He was jointly awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics, along with Pierre and Marie Curie who carried out further research. The SI unit for radioactivity, the becquerel, is named in his honor.

Feb 27, 1996 – 25 years ago
The Pokémon media franchise was launched by Japanese video game designer Satoshi Tajiri.

Feb 28, 1991 – 30 years ago
The Gulf War ended at midnight when a ceasefire came into effect.

Feb 29, 1996 – 25 years ago
A court ruled that the British actress Joan Collins was entitled to keep a $1.3 million advance from publishers Random House, plus a further $1.3 million for delivering her manuscripts on schedule. Random House had claimed that her two novels were unpublishable and demanded their money back.

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2021. The 2022 edition is also available if you need to work further ahead. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

Share this:

31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in January 2021 (U.S. edition)

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for On This Day in History features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re simple to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.

Here are 31 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in January 2021 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2021. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries in the book. The 2022 edition is also available.

Jan 1, 2011 – 10 years ago
The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) TV channel was launched in the USA.

Jan 2, 1971 – 50 years ago
Cigarette advertisements were banned on US television and radio.

Jan 3, 1521 – 500 years ago
German Protestant reformer Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Leo X after he refused to recant his writings. (See also January 23rd below.)

Jan 4, 1896 – 125 years ago
Utah became the 45th state of the USA.

Jan 5, 1961 – 60 years ago
The first episode of the sitcom Mister Ed was broadcast in the USA. It was later picked up by CBS and ran for six seasons until 1966.

Jan 6, 1921 – 100 years ago
The Iraqi Army was formed.

Jan 7, 2001 – 20 years ago
John Kufuor was inaugurated as President of Ghana. It was the first peaceful transfer of power since Ghana gained independence in 1957.

Jan 8, 1921 – 100 years ago
David Lloyd George became the first British Prime Minister to occupy Chequers in Buckinghamshire. Chequers is the serving Prime Minister’s country retreat, and was given to the nation by Lord and Lady Lee of Fareham.

Jan 9, 2001 – 20 years ago
Apple launched iTunes, its digital media player and media management software.

Jan 10, 1946 – 75 years ago
The United Nations General Assembly convened for the first time, in London.

Jan 11, 1971 – 50 years ago
The first quickie divorce was granted in the UK following the passing of the Divorce Reform Act.

Jan 12, 1896 – 125 years ago
Three physics students at Davidson College, North Carolina took the first x-ray photograph in the USA – after illegally gaining access to a laboratory. Later that year, their professor, Henry Louis Smith, developed the technology for use in hospitals.

Jan 13, 1941 – 80 years ago
Death of James Joyce, Irish novelist. Best known for Ulysses, Finnegans Wake, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Dubliners.

Jan 14, 1951 – 70 years ago
The first National Football League (NFL) Pro Bowl game was played, in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Jan 15, 1971 – 50 years ago
The Aswan High Dam, on the Nile in Egypt, was officially dedicated.

Jan 16, 1921 – 100 years ago
The première of the Charlie Chaplin movie The Kid, in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
(New York première: January 21st, released: February 6th. UK: March.)

Jan 17, 1871 – 150 years ago
American inventor Andrew Smith Hallidie was granted a US patent for endless wire rope – used in cable car systems. He established the world’s first cable car system in San Francisco, California in 1873.

Jan 18, 1871 – 150 years ago
Wilhelm I was proclaimed the first Emperor of Germany.

Jan 19, 2001 – 20 years ago
Internet twins case. American twin baby girls were seized from a hotel in Wales and taken into care. They had been “sold” by an adoption broker and adopted over the internet by a British couple, Alan and Judith Kilshaw. The couple became infamous after selling their story to a national newspaper. The twins were later returned to the USA after a judge ruled they were not safe in the couple’s care.

Jan 20, 1961 – 60 years ago
John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th President of the United States.

Jan 21, 1981 – 40 years ago
The first DMC DeLorean sports car was produced in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
About 9,000 of the cars were produced between 1981 and early 1983. It famously featured in the movie Back to the Future.

Jan 22, 1946 – 75 years ago
The Central Intelligence Group was established in the USA. It was the predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which was established in September 1947.

Jan 23 to May 25, 1521 – 500 years ago
The Diet of Worms, Germany. The Holy Roman Empire held an imperial assembly, culminating in the Edict of Worms which branded the Protestant reformer Martin Luther a heretic and banned his writings.

Jan 24, 1946 – 75 years ago
The United Nations Atomic Energy Commission was established.

Jan 25, 1921 – 100 years ago
The première of Karel Capek’s play R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The play marks the first use of the term robot.

Jan 26, 1871 – 150 years ago
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) was founded in England.

Jan 27, 1956 – 65 years ago
Elvis Presley’s hit song Heartbreak Hotel was released. It topped the US charts in April, and became his first hit in the UK in May.

Jan 28, 1921 – 100 years ago
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was installed beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. It honors those who died in WWI (and later also WWII) who were never identified.

Jan 29 to Feb 1, 1991 – 30 years ago
Gulf War: the Battle of Khafji, Saudi Arabia. The first major ground engagement of the war. Coalition victory.

Jan 30, 1951 – 70 years ago
Death of Ferdinand Porsche, Austrian-born German automotive engineer who designed the Volkswagen Bug and Tiger tank and founded the Porsche sports car company.

Jan 31, 1971 – 50 years ago
NASA launched Apollo 14, the 3rd manned mission to land on the Moon. On February 6th Alan Shepard became the first man to hit a golf ball on the Moon. The crewed returned to Earth on February 9th.

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2021. The 2022 edition is also available if you need to work further ahead. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

Share this:

31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in January 2021

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for On This Day in History features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re simple to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.

Here are 31 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in January 2021 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2021. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries in the book. The 2022 edition is also available.

1 Jan 2011 – 10 years ago
The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) TV channel was launched in the USA.

2 Jan 1971 – 50 years ago
Cigarette advertisements were banned on US television and radio.

3 Jan 1521 – 500 years ago
German Protestant reformer Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Leo X after he refused to recant his writings. (See also 23rd January below.)

4 Jan 1896 – 125 years ago
Utah became the 45th state of the USA.

5 Jan 1961 – 60 years ago
The first episode of the sitcom Mister Ed was broadcast in the USA. It was later picked up by CBS and ran for six seasons until 1966.

6 Jan 1921 – 100 years ago
The Iraqi Army was formed.

7 Jan 2001 – 20 years ago
John Kufuor was inaugurated as President of Ghana. It was the first peaceful transfer of power since Ghana gained independence in 1957.

8 Jan 1921 – 100 years ago
David Lloyd George became the first British Prime Minister to occupy Chequers in Buckinghamshire. Chequers is the serving Prime Minister’s country retreat, and was given to the nation by Lord and Lady Lee of Fareham.

9 Jan 2001 – 20 years ago
Apple launched iTunes, its digital media player and media management software.

10 Jan 1946 – 75 years ago
The United Nations General Assembly convened for the first time, in London.

11 Jan 1971 – 50 years ago
The first quickie divorce was granted in the UK following the passing of the Divorce Reform Act.

12 Jan 1896 – 125 years ago
Three physics students at Davidson College, North Carolina took the first x-ray photograph in the USA – after illegally gaining access to a laboratory. Later that year, their professor, Henry Louis Smith, developed the technology for use in hospitals.

13 Jan 1941 – 80 years ago
Death of James Joyce, Irish novelist. Best known for Ulysses, Finnegans Wake, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Dubliners.

14 Jan 1951 – 70 years ago
The first National Football League (NFL) Pro Bowl game was played, in Los Angeles, California, USA.

15 Jan 1971 – 50 years ago
The Aswan High Dam, on the Nile in Egypt, was officially dedicated.

16 Jan 1921 – 100 years ago
The première of the Charlie Chaplin film The Kid, in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
(New York première: 21st January, released: 6th February. UK: March.)

17 Jan 1871 – 150 years ago
American inventor Andrew Smith Hallidie was granted a US patent for endless wire rope – used in cable car systems. He established the world’s first cable car system in San Francisco, California in 1873.

18 Jan 1871 – 150 years ago
Wilhelm I was proclaimed the first Emperor of Germany.

19 Jan 2001 – 20 years ago
Internet twins case. American twin baby girls were seized from a hotel in Wales and taken into care. They had been “sold” by an adoption broker and adopted over the internet by a British couple, Alan and Judith Kilshaw. The couple became infamous after selling their story to a national newspaper. The twins were later returned to the USA after a judge ruled they were not safe in the couple’s care.

20 Jan 1961 – 60 years ago
John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th President of the United States.

21 Jan 1981 – 40 years ago
The first DMC DeLorean sports car was produced in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
About 9,000 of the cars were produced between 1981 and early 1983. It famously featured in the film Back to the Future.

22 Jan 1946 – 75 years ago
The Central Intelligence Group was established in the USA. It was the predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which was established in September 1947.

23 Jan to 25 May 1521 – 500 years ago
The Diet of Worms, Germany. The Holy Roman Empire held an imperial assembly, culminating in the Edict of Worms which branded the Protestant reformer Martin Luther a heretic and banned his writings.

24 Jan 1946 – 75 years ago
The United Nations Atomic Energy Commission was established.

25 Jan 1921 – 100 years ago
The première of Karel Capek’s play R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The play marks the first use of the term robot.

26 Jan 1871 – 150 years ago
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) was founded in England.

27 Jan 1956 – 65 years ago
Elvis Presley’s hit song Heartbreak Hotel was released. It topped the US charts in April, and became his first hit in the UK in May.

28 Jan 1921 – 100 years ago
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was installed beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. It honours those who died in WWI (and later also WWII) who were never identified.

29 Jan to 1 Feb 1991 – 30 years ago
Gulf War: the Battle of Khafji, Saudi Arabia. The first major ground engagement of the war. Coalition victory.

30 Jan 1951 – 70 years ago
Death of Ferdinand Porsche, Austrian-born German automotive engineer who designed the Volkswagen Beetle and Tiger tank and founded the Porsche sports car company.

31 Jan 1971 – 50 years ago
NASA launched Apollo 14, the 3rd manned mission to land on the Moon. On 6th February Alan Shepard became the first man to hit a golf ball on the Moon. The crewed returned to Earth on 9th February.

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2021. The 2022 edition is also available if you need to work further ahead. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

Share this: