On This Day In History, 21 December


On This Day In History 21 December Image

World Events Today

  • Apollo 8, the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the moon and return, was launched today in 1968
  • The American Serial killer John Wayne Gacy, was arrested today in 1978, he was later sentenced to death for 33 counts of murder
  • Whilst flying over Lockerbie, Scotland, Pam Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a bomb today in 1988, 243 passengers, 16 crew and 11 others on the ground were killed

Entertainment Events Today

  • Aged just 5 years old, Shirley Temple agreed an extended contract with the Fox Film Corporation today in 1933, she would receive 150 US Dollars a week
  • Elvis Presley met the President of the United States, Richard Nixon, at the Whitehouse today in 1970, the photograph of the meeting became one of the most famous ones of the pop star

Family Events Today

  • The American actress Jane Fonda, daughter of the actor John Fonda, was born today in 1937 in New York
  • Reginald Kenneth Dwight, better known as the British singer-songwriter Elton John, having been openly gay for many years, entered into a civil partnership with David Furnish today in 2005
  • The American tennis player Christine Marie Evert, who would become Chris Evert Lloyd, was born today in 1954 in Florida

Main Event Today

  • Queen Elizabeth II, became the oldest ever monarch of the United Kingdom today in 2007, surpassing her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, who lived until she was 81 years, 7 months and 29 days old

National Day Today

  • Today, it’s National Flashlight Day

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