Anniversary of May 21, 2025: Find out what happened on this day.

The anniversaries of this day , May 21, 2025, evoke various social and cultural events that have left their mark on human history.

Discover below the births and deaths of iconic figures that occurred on this day, and why this Wednesday is Naval Glories Day .

Historical events that occurred on a day like today in the world

Among the most notable events of May 21 are:

1998 : Suharto resigns after 32 years of dictatorship in Indonesia. (27 years ago)

1932 : Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. (93 years ago)

1927 : Charles Lindbergh completes the first nonstop transatlantic flight. (98 years ago)

1919 : The Nineteenth Amendment is passed for women's suffrage in the U.S. (106 years ago)

1904 : FIFA is founded in Paris, which will govern world football. (121 years ago)

1871 : Adolphe Thiers launches an attack on the Paris Commune. (154 years ago)

1853 : José María Obando enacts a new Constitution in Colombia. (172 years ago)

1822 : Agustín de Iturbide is crowned emperor after Mexico's independence. (203 years ago)

1813 : Napoleon defeats a Russo-Prussian army at the Battle of Bautzen. (212 years ago)

1502 : Juan de Noya discovers an islet called Santa Elena in the Atlantic. (523 years ago)

1471 : The Battle of Tewkesbury temporarily concludes the "Two Roses" civil war. (554 years ago)

822 : Abd al-Rahman II succeeds Al-Hakén I in the Emirate of Córdoba. (1203 years ago)

Births on May 21st

These are the famous and historical figures who were born on this day:

1921 : Andrei Sakharov, nuclear fusion scientist and dissident, known for his opposition to the arms race and his fight for human rights, was born in Moscow and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975.

1844 : Henri Julien Félix Rousseau, a prominent French painter of naive art, was born in Laval, France.

1799 : Mary Anning, paleontologist and fossil collector, known for her important discoveries in the Jurassic period that changed the understanding of prehistoric life, is born in Lyme Regis, England.

1527 : Philip II, king of the Spanish Empire from 1556 to 1598, is born in Valladolid. He will rule over vast territories, including America and the Philippines.

1471 : Albrecht Dürer, engraver and painter who introduced the Renaissance to northern Europe, was born in Nuremberg, Germany. He was admired for his creative talents.

Who died on a day like today?

Among the most important deaths that occurred on May 21 are:

1991 : Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister of India, in a suicide attack by a Tamil separatist during an election rally.

1920 : Venustiano Carranza, President of Mexico, is assassinated after being betrayed by General Rodolfo Herrero while trying to escape to Veracruz.

1542 : Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto dies on the banks of the Mississippi River due to a high fever.

Today is Naval Glories Day

Chile's Day of Naval Glories , celebrated on May 21 , pays tribute to the Chilean Navy's valiant defense at the Battle of Iquique in 1879, during the War of the Pacific. In this engagement, Captain Arturo Prat and his crew of the corvette Esmeralda fought heroically against the Peruvian fleet, becoming a symbol of sacrifice and bravery for the Chilean people. The battle, despite being outnumbered and outnumbered, highlighted Prat's courage. He fell in combat, and his legacy has been commemorated every May 21 as a reminder of the struggle for independence and the protection of the nation.

Naval Glories Day commemorations are held throughout Chile with civic and military events, with the main ceremony being held in Valparaíso, where a grand naval parade is held. This event brings together high-ranking officials of the Armed Forces, government officials, and the public to pay tribute to the heroes of the Navy. Additionally, activities are held in various locations, such as the laying of wreaths at monuments and educational ceremonies in schools. This date invites reflection on the values ​​of sacrifice, courage, and national unity, key elements of Chilean identity and the legacy of its Navy.