July 21
1861
Confederate forces won victory at Bull Run in the first major battle of the Civil War.
1873
The first train robbery west of the Mississippi was pulled off by Jesse James and his gang.
1925
In the “Monkey Trial,” John T. Scopes was found guilty of violating Tennessee state law by teaching evolution.
1949
The U.S. Senate ratified the North Atlantic Treaty.
1970
The Aswan High Dam was opened in Egypt.
1998
Astronaut Alan Shepard died.
2002
WorldCom filed for bankruptcy, then the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history.
Birthdays
Ernest Hemingway
1899–1961, American novelist and short-story writer, born in Oak Park, Illinois; one of the great American writers of the 20th century.
Jean Picard
astronomer (1620)
Isaac Stern
violinist (1920)
John Gardner
writer (1933)
Janet Reno
U.S. Attornery General (1938)
Kenneth Starr
independent counsel (1946)
Garry Trudeau
political cartoonist (1948)
Robin Williams
comedian (1951)