This Day in History: February 21

1173: Pope Alexander III canonizes Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury

Thomas Becket was a controversial figure in English history who clashed with King Henry II over the power of the Church. He was eventually murdered in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 and canonized as a saint by Pope Alexander III three years later.

1613: Michael Romanov, son of Patriarch of Moscow, elected first Russian Tsar of the house of Romanov

After a period of instability known as the Time of Troubles, Michael Romanov was chosen by a national assembly to become the new Tsar of Russia. He founded the Romanov dynasty, which would rule the country for over 300 years.

1804: The world's first railway journey takes place in Wales

Richard Trevithick's steam locomotive made history by traveling along a tramway in Wales. This event marked the beginning of the railway age and the transformation of transportation worldwide.

1848: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels publish “The Communist Manifesto”

Marx and Engels' influential political pamphlet called for a revolution by the working class against the ruling capitalist class. It became a key text of socialism and communism and helped to shape the political landscape of the 20th century.

1878: The world's first telephone book is issued in New Haven, Connecticut

The first telephone book was a simple cardboard directory that contained only 50 listings. It was a significant milestone in the development of telecommunications and paved the way for the widespread use of telephones.

1916: World War I: Battle of Verdun begins with a German offensive

The Battle of Verdun was one of the largest and deadliest battles of World War I, lasting for nine months and resulting in an estimated one million casualties. It was a turning point in the war and a symbol of the futility of trench warfare.

1922: Britain declares Egypt a sovereign state

After years of political turmoil and anti-British sentiment, Egypt was granted independence by the United Kingdom. This event marked a major shift in the balance of power in the Middle East and paved the way for further decolonization in the region.

1958: The peace symbol is designed by Gerald Holtom

The peace symbol, a combination of the semaphore signals for the letters N and D (for Nuclear Disarmament), became a ubiquitous symbol of the anti-war movement and a rallying cry for peace activists around the world.

1972: Richard Nixon becomes the first US President to visit China, normalizing relations between the countries

Nixon's historic visit to China marked a significant turning point in the Cold War and paved the way for improved relations between the United States and China. It was a major diplomatic breakthrough and had far-reaching consequences for global politics and economics.