1881: American Red Cross founded

[May 21]( THIS DAY IN HISTORY 1881 [American Red Cross founded]( In Washington, D.C., humanitarians Clara Barton and Adolphus Solomons found the American National Red Cross, an organization established to provide humanitarian aid to victims of wars and natural disasters in congruence with the International Red Cross. Barton, born in Massachusetts in 1821, worked... [read more »]( American Revolution 1758 [Lenape Indians abduct Mary Campbell from western Pennsylvania »]( Automotive 1901 [Connecticut enacts first speed-limit law »]( Civil War 1863 [The Siege of Port Hudson begins »]( Cold War 1988 [Gorbachev consolidates power »]( Crime 1924 [Leopold and Loeb gain national attention »]( 1992 [Long Island Lolita is arrested »]( 1996 [A veteran's flashback defense doesn't hold up in court »]( Disaster 1960 [Huge earthquake hits Chile »]( General Interest 1542 [De Soto dies in the American wilderness »]( 1927 [Lindbergh lands in Paris »]( 1932 [Earhart completes transatlantic flight »]( Hollywood 1999 [Soap star Susan Lucci wins first Emmy after 19 nominations »]( Literary 1910 [Serialization of Colette's The Vagabond begins »]( Music 1955 [Chuck Berry records "Maybellene" »]( Old West 1539 [Black Spanish explorer Estevan is reported killed »]( Presidential 2000 [Garfield's spine on display at museum »]( Sports 1978 [Nancy Lopez wins her first Coca-Cola Classic »]( Vietnam War 1969 [Military spokesman defends "Hamburger Hill" »]( World War I 1911 [Second Moroccan Crisis »]( World War II 1940 [Nazis kill "unfit" people in East Prussia »]( 1942 [Thousands of Jews die in Nazi gas chambers; IG Farber sets up factory »]( [HISTORY.com]( [SHOWS]( [VIDEOS]( [SCHEDULE]( [TOPICS]( [Subscribe]( | [Update Profile]( | [Contact Us](mailto:thc.newsletters@aetn.com) This is a promotional email from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You received this message because {EMAIL} is subscribed to This Day In History email updates. If you DO NOT wish to receive these emails please [UNSUBSCRIBE](. Having trouble viewing this message? [View the web version](. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not junk folders) and view images, [please add us to your address book or safe/white list](. © 2018 A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Email Marketing, 235 E 45th Street, New York, NY 10017 [Corporate Information]( | [TV Parental Guidelines]( | [Careers]( | [Terms of Use]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Copyright Policy]( | [Ad Sales]( | [Ad Choices](