1. In 1862, the Battle of Baton Rouge took place on August 21 during the American Civil War. The Confederate army attempted to capture the city but were repelled by Union forces, resulting in a significant loss for the Confederacy.

2. On August 21, 1918, the deadliest train wreck in Louisiana history occurred in Hammond. Over 100 people were killed when two trains collided head-on, leading to massive damage and loss of life.

3. Louisiana’s first licensed helicopter pilot, B.A. LaCour, was born on August 21, 1929. LaCour served as a pilot in the U.S. Army before becoming the first African American pilot to be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

4. On August 21, 1965, Hurricane Betsy struck Louisiana with winds of over 150 miles per hour. The hurricane caused widespread damage and flooding, leading to 76 deaths and over $1 billion in damages.

5. The first African American governor of Louisiana, P.B.S. Pinchback, was born on August 21, 1837. Pinchback served as the state’s governor for just 35 days in 1872, making him the first African American to hold the position in U.S. history.