April 21
April 21 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 254 days remain until the year's end. It falls in spring (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Taurus.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On April 21 the Sun's declination is approximately +11.9°. At this latitude the Sun is north of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere longer days than nights.
For specific rise/set times at your location, see the U.S. Naval Observatory, or the NASA APOD archive for any imagery published on a April 21.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
No widely-observed holidays catalogued for this day in our base set. See the external almanacs above for region-specific observances.
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
753 BCE — Traditional date of the founding of Rome by Romulus. ↗(2779 years ago)more
Archaeological evidence indicates that Rome developed from the gradual union of several hilltop villages during the Final Bronze Age or early Iron Age. Prehistoric habitation of the Italian Peninsula occurred by 48,000 years ago, with the area of Rome being settled by around 1600 BC.
1509 — Henry VIII ascended to the throne of England. ↗(517 years ago)more
Henry VIII was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. After the Pope refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Henry passed legislation that severed England and Ireland from the Roman Catholic Church and established the monarch as Supreme Head of the Church of England, initiating the English Reformation.
1836 — Texas Revolution: Sam Houston's army defeated Santa Anna's at the Battle of San Jacinto. ↗(190 years ago)more
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day La Porte and Deer Park, Texas, was the final and decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texan Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican army in a fight that lasted just 18 minutes.
1960 — Brasília, the new capital of Brazil, was inaugurated. ↗(66 years ago)more
Brasília is the capital city of Brazil and the Federal District. Located in the Brazilian Highlands in the country's Central-West region, it was founded by President Juscelino Kubitschek on 21 April 1960, to replace Rio de Janeiro as the national capital.
Notable births
1816 — Charlotte Brontë, English novelist. ↗(210 years ago)more
Charlotte Nicholls, commonly known by her maiden name Charlotte Brontë, was an English novelist and poet, and was the elder sister of Emily, Anne and Branwell Brontë. She is best known for her novel Jane Eyre, which was first published under the pseudonym Currer Bell.
1926 — Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. ↗(100 years ago)more
Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was the monarch of 15 realms at her death.
Notable deaths
2016 — Prince (Prince Rogers Nelson), American singer. ↗(10 years ago)more
Prince Rogers Nelson, known mononymously as Prince, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, dancer, actor, and filmmaker. Often being credited as one of the greatest musicians of his generation, he pioneered the Minneapolis sound and was influential in the evolution of various other genres.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (112) | 2^4 × 7 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (254) | 2 × 127 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 21042026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +11.92° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 60 days |