- August 21, 1192 “Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shgun and the de facto ruler of Japan. (Traditional Japanese date: July 12, 1192)”
- August 21, 1560 Tycho Brahe becomes interested in astronomy
- August 21, 1583 “The Delight, with 85 persons aboard, founders on the banks of Sable Island; first Canadian shipwreck on record.”
- August 21, 1680 Pueblo Indians capture Santa Fe from Spanish during the Pueblo Revolt.
- August 21, 1680 Pueblo Indians took possession of Santa F? from Spanish
- August 21, 1760 “The church (later cathedral) of “”Our Lady of Candlemas of Mayagez (Puerto Rico)”” is founded, establishing the basis for the founding of the city.”
- August 21, 1770 “James Cook formally claims eastern Australia for Great Britain, naming it New South Wales.”
- August 21, 1772 “King Gustav III completes his coup d’etat by adopting a new Constitution, ending half a century of parliamentary rule in Sweden and installing him as an enlightened despot.”
- August 21, 1796 “Mississauga Chief Wabakinine, protecting his sister from a British soldier, is struck on the head with a rock and killed; his wife is also seriously injured.”
- August 21, 1810 “Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, Marshal of France, is elected Crown Prince of Sweden by the Swedish Riksdag of the Estates.”
- August 21, 1816 Quebec has an early season snowfall. WOW that is early even for us Canadians!!
- August 21, 1821 Jarvis Island is discovered by the crew of the Eliza Frances.
- August 21, 1831 Nat Turner leads black slaves and free blacks in a rebellion.
- August 21, 1831 “Nat Turner slave revolt kills 55 (Southampton County, Virginia)”
- August 21, 1841 John Hampson patents venetian blind
- August 21, 1841 The Venetian blind is first patented in the United States by John Hampson.
- August 21, 1842 “The city of Hobart, Tasmania, is founded.”
- August 21, 1852 “Tlingit Indians destroy Fort Selkirk, Yukon Territory.”
- August 21, 1852 “Tlingit warriors destroy Hudson’s Bay Company Fort Selkirk, Yukon after the HBC tries to break the Tlingit monopoly on trade with interior tribes.”
- August 21, 1856 “America’s first consul to Japan, Townsend Harris, arrives in Shimoda. (Traditional Japanese date: July 21, 1856)”
- August 21, 1857 “First book published by an Australian female author: Gertrude the Emigrant, by Caroline Atkinson.”
- August 21, 1857 “In one of Australia’s worst maritime disasters, 121 people drown when the Dunbar sinks off Sydney Heads;”
- August 21, 1858 First Lincoln-Douglas debate (Illinois)
- August 21, 1858 The Lincoln-Douglas debates begin.
- August 21, 1862 “Billy Barker discovers gold in creeks running into the Quesnel River; town of Barkerville, BC, grows up around mine; the find sparks a massive gold rush into the Cariboo.”
- August 21, 1862 The Vienna Stadtpark opens its gates.
- August 21, 1863 “Lawrence, Kansas is destroyed by Confederate guerillas Quantrill’s Raiders in the Lawrence Massacre.”
- August 21, 1878 “American Bar Association organizes at Sarasota, NY”
- August 21, 1878 The American Bar Association is founded.
- August 21, 1879 “The Virgin Mary, along with St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist reportedly appear to the people of Knock, County Mayo, Ireland.”
- August 21, 1911 The Mona Lisa is stolen by a Louvre employee.
- August 21, 1912 Mr Carter-Cotton chosen first chancellor of Univ of British Columbia
- August 21, 1917 “Company Sgt. Major Robert Hanna (29th Cdn. Infantry Batt.) wins the Victoria Cross at Hill 70, France”
- August 21, 1917 “Cpl. Fliip Konowal (47th Cdn. Infantry Batt.) wins the Victoria Cross at Hill 70, France”
- August 21, 1942 World War II: A Nazi flag is installed atop the Mount Elbrus.
- August 21, 1942 World War II: Allied forces involved in the Guadalcanal campaign defeated an attack by Imperial Japanese Army soldiers in the Battle of the Tenaru.
- August 21, 1942 World War II: The Battle of Stalingrad began.
- August 21, 1944 “Dumbarton Oaks conference opens in Washington, DC; establishes UN”
- August 21, 1944 “Dumbarton Oaks Conference, prelude to the United Nations, begins.”
- August 21, 1944 HMCS Alberni lost