Wednesday, 21st March 1956 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and World Down Syndrome Day and World Poetry Day and International Day of Forests and World Sleep Day. Explore 54 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings drizzly with temperatures between 5°C and 12°C. Tonight's moon is in its last quarter phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Aries. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Wednesday, 21st March in London, GB.
On 21st March 1956, London experienced drizzly conditions as the season shifted into Aries. The city, situated in south-east England along the River Thames, serves as the capital and largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, hosting the nation's political institutions and serving as a major global financial centre. The moon was in its last quarter phase on this date.
Throughout history, the date of 21st March has been marked by significant events that have shaped nations and societies. In 1963, the Federal Bureau of Prisons closed Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, California, ending the operation of one of America's most notorious federal prisons. More recently, in 2006, Jack Dorsey sent the first message on the social-media network Twitter, an act that would ultimately transform global communication and information sharing in ways few could have anticipated.
Thomas Cranmer, the former Archbishop of Canterbury and one of the founding figures of Anglicanism, met his death on this date in 1556 when he was burned at the stake for heresy in Oxford, England. His theological contributions would continue to influence Protestant Christianity for centuries after his execution.
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Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 21st March 1956
A traveler moving swiftly misses the terrain beneath their feet.
Fortune of the Day
21st March in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on 21 March embody the classic Aries pioneer with a touch of Jupiter's wisdom. They are energetic, courageous, and direct, yet the Jupiter influence grants them deeper reflection than typical Aries. This blend creates inspiring leaders with genuine foresight.
Strengths & Weaknesses Their strengths include assertiveness, optimism, and entrepreneurial drive. However, impulsivity can lead them to overlook consequences. Numerology 6 softens this tendency while also encouraging them to take on too many responsibilities.
Love In relationships, these individuals bring passion and honesty, paired with genuine interest in their partner's growth. They seek kindred spirits who share their adventurous spirit. Numerology 6 reinforces loyalty and compassion.
Caree & Finance Professionally, they thrive in roles demanding initiative and leadership—entrepreneurship, management, or creative fields. Jupiter's expansion helps them envision bigger goals. Financially optimistic, yet they should prioritize long-term planning.
Health These natives possess natural vitality and love physical activity. Overextension through too many projects can strain them. Regular exercise, meditation, and purposeful rest sustain their wellbeing.
That night, the moon was in its last quarter phase.
Chinese year of the Monkey (Fire).
Fun Facts About 21st March
Name Days in Your Language: Arvin, Arwin, Bendix, Benedict, Benedicta, Bennett
Someone born on this day in 1956 would be 70 years old today — just 25,578 days into life, which is roughly 613,888 hours, 36,833,286 minutes, or 2,209,997,172 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 81. day of the year.
As this is a leap year, there are 285 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 12 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 21st March
- Sarah Jane Morris, English singer-songwriter (1959)
- Yuval Rotem, Israeli diplomat (1959)
- Nobuo Uematsu, Japanese keyboard player and composer (1959)
- Marlies Göhr, German sprinter (1958)
- Brad Hall, American comedian, director, and screenwriter (1958)
- Gary Oldman, English actor, filmmaker, musician, and author (1958)
- Dick Beardsley, American runner (1956)
- Guy Chadwick, German-English singer-songwriter and guitarist (1956)
- Richard H. Kirk, English guitarist, keyboard player, composer, and producer (died 2021) (1956)
- Ingrid Kristiansen, Norwegian runner (1956)
Lives Remembered on 21st March
- Michael Lyster, Irish radio and television broadcaster (born 1954) (2026)
- Kitty Dukakis, American author, First Lady of Massachusetts (born 1936) (2025)
- George Foreman, American boxer, actor, and businessman (born 1949) (2025)
- Willis Reed, American basketball player (born 1942) (2023)
- Nawal El Saadawi, Egyptian secularist, feminist (born 1931) (2021)
- Victor Hochhauser CBE, British music promoter (born 1923) (2019)
- Gonzalo Portocarrero, Peruvian sociologist (born 1949) (2019)
- Chuck Barris, American game show host and producer (born 1929) (2017)
- Colin Dexter, English author (born 1930) (2017)
- Martin McGuinness, Irish republican and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (born 1950) (2017)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 21st March
- Arbor Day (Lesotho)
- Arbor Day (Portugal)
- Christian feast day: Augustine Zhao Rong
- Christian feast day: Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello
- Christian feast day: Passing of Saint Benedict (Order of Saint Benedict, pre-1970 Calendar)
- Christian feast day: Birillus
- Christian feast day: Enda of Aran
- Christian feast day: Nicholas of Flüe
- Christian feast day: Serapion of Thmuis
- Christian feast day: Thomas Cranmer (Anglicanism)
- Christian feast day: March 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Early music
- Education Freedom Day
- Harmony Day (Australia)
- Human Rights Day (South Africa)
- Independence Day (Namibia)
- International Colour Day (International)
- International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (International)
- International Day of Forests (International), by proclamation of the United Nations General Assembly
- Mother's Day (most of the Arab world)
- Natalicio de Benito Juárez, one of Fiestas Patrias (Mexico)
- Oltenia Day (Romania)
- Rosie the Riveter Day (United States)
- Truant's Day (Poland, Faroe Islands)
- Vernal equinox related observances (see also March 20)
- World Day for Glaciers (International)
- World Down Syndrome Day (International)
- World Poetry Day (International)
- World Puppetry Day (International)
- Youth Day (Tunisia)
What Happened on 21st March?
- China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735 crashes in Guangxi, China, killing 132 people. (2022)
- The 2019 Xiangshui chemical plant explosion occurs, killing at least 47 people and injuring 640 others. (2019)
- The social media site Twitter (now officially named X) is founded. (2006)
- Pope John Paul II makes his first ever pontifical visit to Israel. (2000)
- Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones become the first to circumnavigate the Earth in a hot air balloon. (1999)
- The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change enters into force. (1994)
- Namibia becomes independent after 75 years of South African rule. (1990)
- Transbrasil Flight 801 crashes into a slum near São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport, killing 25 people. (1989)
- Debi Thomas becomes the first African American to win the World Figure Skating Championships. (1986)
- Canadian paraplegic athlete and humanitarian Rick Hansen begins his circumnavigation of the globe in a wheelchair in the name of spinal cord injury medical research. (1985)