Today’s Highlights

On May 21, 1881, the American Red Cross was founded by nurse and educator Clara Barton in Washington D.C.

On this date

1927: Charles A. Lindbergh landed his Spirit of St. Louis monoplane near Paris, completing the first solo airplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 33 1/2 hours.

1932: Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean as she landed in Northern Ireland, about 15 hours after leaving Newfoundland.

1941: A German U-boat sank the American merchant steamship SS Robin Moor in the South Atlantic after the ship’s passengers and crew were allowed to board lifeboats.

1955: Chuck Berry recorded his first single, “Maybellene,” for Chess Records in Chicago.

1979: Former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the slayings of Mayor George Moscone and openly gay Supervisor Harvey Milk. Outrage over White’s lenient sentence sparked the White Night riots that evening.

1991: Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated amid Indian national elections by a suicide bomber.

Today’s birthdays

Baseball Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox is 84. Singer Ronald Isley is 84. Singer Leo Sayer is 77. Actor Mr. T is 73. Actor Judge Reinhold is 68. Filmmaker Nick Cassavetes is 66. Actor Lisa Edelstein is 59. Comedian-TV presenter Noel Fielding is 52. Actor Fairuza Balk is 51. Actor Da’Vine Joy Randolph is 39.