Today in history

Here are some of the notable events that occurred on this day in history:

March 21

• 1513 - Juan Ponce de León becomes the first European to reach Florida.
• 1794 - Eli Whitney is granted a patent for the cotton gin.
• 1844 - The first telegraph message is sent across the Atlantic Ocean, from Queen Victoria to President James K. Polk.
• 1918 - The United States declares war on Germany, entering World War I.
• 1945 - The Soviet Union captures Budapest, Hungary, from German forces.
• 1960 - The United States launches the first successful satellite, Explorer 6.
• 1980 - The United States boycotts the Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia, in response to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.
• 1990 - The Soviet Union signs an agreement to withdraw its troops from Poland.
• 2005 - The United States begins its withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

Birthdays

• 1879 - Albert Einstein, German-born physicist and mathematician (d. 1955)
• 1928 - James Watson, American molecular biologist and Nobel laureate
• 1947 - Stevie Nicks, American singer-songwriter and musician
• 1958 - Mike Tyson, American professional boxer

Deaths

• 1918 - Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Este (assassinated)
• 1980 - John Wayne, American actor (d. 1907)
• 2005 - Christopher Reeve, American actor and activist (d. 1952)

These are just a few of the many events that have occurred on this day in history.