Today in News History

On June 21, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1798, Alexander Thomson of Banchory, Scottish jurist, agriculturalist and religious activist (died 1868) was born. In 1880, Arnold Gesell, American psychologist and pediatrician (died 1961) was born. In 1892, Reinhold Niebuhr, American theologian and academic (died 1971) was born. In 1918, Dee Molenaar, American mountaineer (died 2020) was born. In 1918, James Joll, English historian, author, and academic (died 1994) was born. In 1921, The Irish village of Knockcroghery was burned by British forces. In 1940, Michael Ruse, Canadian philosopher and academic was born. In 1951, Terence Etherton, English lawyer and judge was born. In 1973, In its decision in Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15, the Supreme Court of the United States establishes the Miller test for determining whether something is obscene and not protected speech under the U.S. constitution. In 2005, Edgar Ray Killen, who had previously been unsuccessfully tried for the murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Mickey Schwerner, is convicted of manslaughter 41 years afterwards (the case had been reopened in 2004). Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.