This Day in History: June 21

1788 US Constitution comes into effect

When New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify it. The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, defining the powers and limitations of the federal government and protecting individual rights.

1854 First Victoria Cross won during bombardment of Bomarsund

During the Crimean War, the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, was won for the first time. The award was created to honor acts of bravery in the face of the enemy.

1895 The Kiel Canal is opened by German Emperor Wilhelm II

The Kiel Canal is a 98 km (61 mi) long artificial waterway in Northern Germany, connecting the North Sea with the Baltic Sea. It is one of the world's busiest shipping routes and is particularly important for international trade between Western and Eastern Europe.

1948 Lord Mountbatten resigns as Governor General of India

Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of India, serving from 1947 to 1948. He oversaw the transition of British India to independence, which led to the partition of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan. His resignation came amid escalating tensions between the two newly formed nations.

1963 Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini becomes Pope Paul VI

Paul VI was the head of the Catholic Church from 1963 to 1978. He is known for completing the Second Vatican Council, which addressed the Church's relationship with the modern world and led to significant changes in Catholic liturgy and doctrine.

1985 The body of Josef Mengele is identified

Mengele was a Nazi physician who conducted horrific experiments on inmates at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. He fled to South America after the war and lived in hiding for decades. His remains were discovered in a cemetery in Brazil in 1985 and identified by an international team of scientists.

1990 7.7 Manjil-Rudbar Earthquake hits Iran

The earthquake, which had hundreds of aftershocks, struck in the northern part of the country and killed approximately 50,000 people. It was one of the deadliest earthquakes in modern history.

1993 Andrew Wiles proves last theorem of Pierre de Fermat

After more than three centuries, the world's most difficult math problem, known as Fermat's Last Theorem, was finally proven by English mathematician Andrew Wiles. The theorem had been proposed by French mathematician Pierre de Fermat in 1637 but had remained unproven until Wiles' breakthrough.

2004 SpaceShipOne completes the world's first manned private spaceflight

SpaceShipOne, a privately funded spaceplane, made history by completing the world's first manned private spaceflight. Piloted by Mike Melvill, the spacecraft reached an altitude of just over 100 kilometers (62 miles).

2009 Greenland assumes self-rule

After centuries of being administered by Denmark (earlier Denmark-Norway), Greenland was granted self-rule under the Self-Government Act. The act gave Greenland full responsibility for its inner affairs while Denmark retained