1. The University of South Carolina was founded on November 21, 1801. The school originally had just one building, which served as both a classroom and dormitory. Today, the university is home to more than 30,000 students and has a sprawling campus in the heart of Columbia.

2. On November 21, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union in the lead-up to the Civil War. The state's leaders felt that their interests were being ignored by the federal government, particularly their right to own slaves. The decision to secede ultimately led to years of conflict and bloodshed.

3. James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, was born in Barnwell, South Carolina, on November 21, 1933. Brown went on to become one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, pioneering genres like funk and soul and inspiring countless artists across a wide range of styles.

4. On November 21, 1980, the deadliest fire in South Carolina's history occurred at the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Northern Kentucky, which drew many patrons from the Cincinnati area. The tragedy claimed the lives of 165 people, including four from South Carolina.

5. On November 21, 2006, the South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team defeated the University of Kentucky Wildcats in a dramatic double-overtime game. The upset victory was the team's first against Kentucky in 14 years and helped pave the way for the Gamecocks to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in nearly a decade.