Updated March 20, 2012, 2:28 pm
On March 21, 1965, more than 3,000 civil rights demonstrators led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. began their march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala.
Go to article »On March 21, 1867, Florenz Ziegfeld, the theater producer who became known for glorifying American women, was born. Following his death on July 22, 1932, his obituary appeared in The Times.
Go to obituary » | Other birthdays »
On This Date
By The Associated Press
1685 Composer Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany. 1790 Thomas Jefferson took office as America’s first secretary of state. 1804 The French civil code, the Code Napoleon, was adopted. 1918 Germany launched the Somme offensive during World War I, hoping to break through the Allied line before American reinforcements could arrive. 1960 Police fired on black demonstrators in Sharpeville, South Africa, killing some 70 people. 1963 Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay was emptied of its last inmates. 1985 Police in Langa, South Africa, opened fire on blacks marching to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sharpeville shootings, killing at least 21 demonstrators. 1987 The album “The Joshua Tree” by Irish rockers U2 was released. 2000 A divided Supreme Court ruled the government lacked authority to regulate tobacco as an addictive drug. Current Birthdays
By The Associated Press
Actor Gary Oldman turns 54 years old today.
AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
Actor Matthew Broderick turns 50 years old today.
AP Photo/Evan Agostini
1946 Timothy Dalton, Actor, turns 66 1949 Eddie Money, Rock singer, turns 63 1950 Roger Hodgson, Rock musician (Supertramp), turns 62 1958 Sabrina LeBeauf, Actress (“The Cosby Show”), turns 54 1962 Rosie O’Donnell, Actress, comedian, turns 50 1980 Ronaldinho, Soccer player, turns 32 1985 Adrian Peterson, Football player, turns 27
Historic Birthdays
Florenz Ziegfeld 3/21/1867 – 7/22/1932 American theatrical producer of spectacular revues.Go to obituary »
70 Nicholas of Flue, Saint 3/21/1417 – 3/21/1487
Swiss hermit and folk hero65 Johann S. Bach 3/21/1685 – 7/28/1750
German composer of the Baroque era66 Benito Juarez 3/21/1806 – 7/18/1872
Mexican national hero and president (1861-72)85 Alice Henry 3/21/1857 – 2/14/1943
Australian journalist; promoted women’s suffrage and social reform86 Maurice Farman 3/21/1877 – 2/25/1964
French aircraft designer and manufacturer90 John Walter Tewksbury 3/21/1878 – 4/24/1968
American sprinter; Olympic gold medalist59 Jock Sutherland 3/21/1889 – 4/11/1948
Scottish-born American collegiate and professional football coach72 Phyllis McGinley 3/21/1905 – 2/22/1978
American poet, writer and author of juvenile books72 John D. III Rockefeller 3/21/1906 – 7/10/1978
American philanthropist75 Nizar Qabbani 3/21/1923 – 4/30/1998
Syrian diplomat and poet
