Events in History in 1821

New Settlement

Jan 17 Mexico permits Moses Austin and 300 US families to settle in Texas, after his death leaves to son Stephen

  • Jan 21 Paramaribo Suriname catches fire, 4 die
  • Feb 12 Mercantile Library of City of NY opens
  • Feb 21 Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire begins
  • Feb 23 College of Apothecaries organized in Philadephia; 1st US pharmacy college

Plan of Iguala

Feb 24 Agustín de Iturbide and Vicente Guerrero agree to the Plan of Iguala, stating that Mexico will become a constitutional monarchy, Roman Catholicism the official religion and that Peninsulares and Creoles will enjoy equal political and social rights

  • Mar 3 American tailor and inventor Thomas L. Jennings (30) receives US patent for his "dry-scouring" process. the forerunner of today’s modern dry-cleaning
  • Mar 5 Monroe is 1st US President inaugurated on March 5th, because 4th was Sunday
  • Mar 14 African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church founded (NY)
  • Mar 21 First revolutionary act in Monastery of Agia Lavra, Kalavryta, Greek War of Independence.
  • Mar 23 Battle and fall of city of Kalamata, Greek War of Independence
  • Mar 25 The Greek revolution against the Ottoman Turks is officially declared, with hostilities having started two months earlier
  • Mar 26 Franz Grillparzer's "Das Goldene Vliess" premieres in Vienna
  • Apr 10 Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinople is hanged by the Turks from the main gate of the Patriarchate, his body thrown into the Bosphorus
  • May 8 Greek War of Independence: Greeks defeat the Turks in Gravia
  • May 12 The first major battle of the Greek War of Independence against the Turks occurs in Valtetsi
  • May 30 James Boyd patents Rubber Fire Hose
  • May 31 Cathedral of Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, 1st US Catholic cathedral, is dedicated in Baltimore, designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe
  • Jun 14 Badi VII, king of Sennar, surrenders his throne and realm to Ismail Pasha, general of the Ottoman Empire, bringing the 300 year old Sudanese kingdom to an end
  • Jun 19 Decisive defeat of the Greek revolutionary society Philikí Etaireía by the Ottomans at Drăgăşani (in Wallachia)
  • Jun 21 African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church organizes (NYC)
  • Jun 23 Dutch troops conquer Palembang
  • Jun 24 Battle of Carabobo; Bolívar defeats royalists outside Caracas
  • Jul 28 Peru declares independence from Spain (National Day)
  • Aug 4 1st edition of American magazine "The Saturday Evening Post"

Russian Antarctic Expedition

Aug 4 Russian Antarctic expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen returns to Kronshtadt after becoming the 1st to circumnavigate Antarctica

  • Aug 6 1st edition of "Courrier of Pays-Bas" newspaper published in Brussels
  • Aug 10 Missouri admitted as 24th US state

Coup d'état

Aug 19 Failed liberal coup against French King Louis XVIII

  • Aug 21 Jarvis Island is discovered by the crew of the ship, Eliza Frances
  • Sep 1 1st colonies along Santa Fe Trail

Event of Interest

Sep 4 Chilean independence figure José Miguel Carrera shot and killed after a show trial in Mendoza, Argentina

  • Sep 15 Act of Independence of Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras & Nicaragua declare their independence from the Spanish Empire
  • Sep 23 Fall of Tripolitsa, Greek forces massacre 30,000 Turks during Greek War of Independence
  • Sep 27 Mexican revolutionary forces led by Agustín de Iturbide occupy Mexico City as Spanish withdraw, bringing an end to the Mexican War of Independence

Event of Interest

Oct 8 The government of General José de San Martín establishes the Peruvian Navy

  • Nov 9 1st US pharmacy college holds 1st classes, Philadelphia
  • Nov 28 Panama declares independence from Spain
  • Dec 1 Santo Domingo (Dominican Rep) proclaims independence from Spain
  • Dec 17 Kentucky abolishes debtors' prisons