TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

May 21, 1932

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

ALSO ON THIS DATE

1542

Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto died while searching for gold along the Mississippi River.

1868

Ulysses S. Grant was nominated for president by the Republican national convention in Chicago.

1881

Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.

1927

Charles A. Lindbergh landed his Spirit of St. Louis monoplane near Paris, completing the first solo airplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 331⁄2 hours.

1945

Actors Humphrey Bogart, 45, and Lauren Bacall, 20, were married at Malabar Farm in Lucas, Ohio.

1972

Michelangelo’s Pieta, on display at the Vatican, was damaged by a hammerwielding man who shouted he was Jesus Christ.

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 the verdict sparked rioting.

1991

Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated during national elections by a suicide bomber.

1998

A teen gunman opened fire inside Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon, killing two students, a day after he killed his parents. In the wake of deadly protests, Indonesian President Suharto stepped down after 32years in power.