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On This Day in History — November 21

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Highlights of November 21

2015 — The Belgian government imposed a four-day security lockdown in Brussels based on information about potential terrorist attacks. Read more
2012 — A remote-controlled bomb exploded on a bus in Tel Aviv, Israel, injuring at least 28 people on board. Read more
2009 — An explosion in a coal mine in Heilongjiang, China, killed 108 miners. Read more
1980 — A fire broke out at the MGM Grand Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, killing 85 people and injuring 650 others. Read more
1977 — "God Defend New Zealand" became New Zealand's second national anthem, on equal standing with "God Save the King", which had been the traditional anthem since 1840. Read more
1974 — Bombs exploded in two pubs in central Birmingham, England, killing 21 people and leading to the imprisonment of six people who were later exonerated. Read more
1970 — Vietnam War: American forces raided the North Vietnamese Sơn Tây prison camp in an attempt to rescue 61 American POWs who were thought to be held there. Read more
1964 — The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, connecting Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City, opened to traffic as the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time. Read more
1961 — La Ronde (pictured), the first revolving restaurant in the United States, was inaugurated. Read more
1959 — American disc jockey Alan Freed (pictured), who popularized the term rock and roll, was fired from WABC-AM for his role in the payola scandal. Read more
1950 — Two trains collided near Valemount, Canada, killing 21 people; the subsequent trial brought future prime minister John Diefenbaker to greater political attention. Read more
1945 — Manzanar (pictured), a camp in California for the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, was closed. Read more
1922 — Rebecca Latimer Felton became the first woman to serve in the United States Senate, albeit for only one day. Read more
1920 — Irish War of Independence: On Bloody Sunday in Dublin, the IRA assassinated a group of British intelligence agents, and British forces killed 14 civilians at a Gaelic football match at Croke Park. Read more
1894 — First Sino-Japanese War: After capturing the Chinese city of Port Arthur, the Japanese army began a massacre of the city's soldiers and civilians. Read more
1877 — Thomas Edison announced his invention of the phonograph, a device able to record and play sound. Read more
1620 — The Mayflower Compact, the first governing document of the Plymouth Colony, was signed by 41 of the Mayflower's passengers while the ship was anchored in what is now Provincetown Harbor. Read more
1386 — Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur captured and sacked the Georgian capital Tbilisi and forced King Bagrat V to convert to Islam. Read more

Events

2022 — A magnitude 5.6 earthquake on the Indonesian island of Java kills between 335 and 602 people. Read more
2021 — An SUV plows through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, killing six and injuring 62. Read more
2019 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is indicted on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Read more
2019 — Tesla launches the SUV Cybertruck. A gaffe occurs during the launch event when its "unbreakable" windows shatter during demonstration. Read more
2017 — Robert Mugabe formally resigns as President of Zimbabwe, after thirty-seven years in office. Read more
2015 — The government of Belgium imposes a security lockdown on Brussels, including the closure of shops, schools, and public transportation, due to potential terrorist attacks. Read more
2014 — A stampede in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe caused by the police firing tear gas kills at least eleven people and injures 40 others. Read more
2013 — Fifty-four people are killed when the roof of a shopping center collapses in Riga, Latvia. Read more
2013 — Massive protests start in Ukraine after President Viktor Yanukovych suspended signing the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement. Read more
2012 — At least 28 are wounded after a bomb is thrown onto a bus in Tel Aviv. Read more
2009 — A mine explosion in Heilongjiang, China kills 108. Read more
2006 — Anti-Syrian Lebanese politician and government minister Pierre Gemayel is assassinated in suburban Beirut. Read more
2004 — The second round of the Ukrainian presidential election is held, giving rise to massive protests and controversy over the election's integrity. Read more
2004 — Dominica is hit by the most destructive earthquake in its history. The northern half of the island sustains the most damage, especially the town of Portsmouth. In neighboring Guadeloupe, one person is killed. Read more
2004 — The Paris Club agrees to write off 80% (up to $100 billion) of Iraq's external debt. Read more
2004 — China Eastern Airlines Flight 5210 crashes after takeoff from Baotou Donghe Airport, killing 55. Read more
2002 — NATO invites Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to become members. Read more
2002 — Arturo Guzmán Decena, founder of Los Zetas and high-member of the Gulf Cartel, is killed in a shoot-out with the Mexican Army and the police. Read more
1998 — Finnish satanist Jarno Elg kills a 23-year-old man and performs a ritual-like cutting and eating of body parts in Hyvinkää, Finland. Read more
1996 — Humberto Vidal explosion: Thirty-three people die when a Humberto Vidal shoe shop in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico explodes. Read more
1995 — The Dayton Agreement is initialed at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio, ending three and a half years of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Read more
1992 — A major tornado strikes the Houston, Texas area during the afternoon. Over the next two days the largest tornado outbreak ever to occur in the US during November spawns over 100 tornadoes. Read more
1990 — Bangkok Airways Flight 125 crashes on approach to Samui Airport, killing 38. Read more
1989 — Aeroflot Flight 37577 crashes on approach to Sovetsky Airport, killing 32. Read more
1986 — National Security Council member Oliver North and his secretary start to shred documents allegedly implicating them in the Iran–Contra affair. Read more
1985 — United States Navy intelligence analyst Jonathan Pollard is arrested for spying after being caught giving Israel classified information on Arab nations. He is subsequently sentenced to life in prison. Read more
1980 — A deadly fire breaks out at the MGM Grand Hotel in Paradise, Nevada (now Bally's Las Vegas). Eighty-five people are killed and more than 650 are injured in the worst disaster in Nevada history. Read more
1979 — The United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, is attacked by a mob and set on fire, killing four. Read more
1977 — Minister of Internal Affairs Allan Highet announces that the national anthems of New Zealand shall be the traditional anthem "God Save the Queen" and "God Defend New Zealand". Read more
1974 — The Birmingham pub bombings kill 21 people. The Birmingham Six are sentenced to life in prison for the crime but are later exonerated. Read more
1972 — Voters in South Korea overwhelmingly approve a new constitution, giving legitimacy to Park Chung Hee and the Fourth Republic. Read more
1971 — Indian troops, partly aided by Mukti Bahini (Bengali guerrillas), defeat the Pakistan army in the Battle of Garibpur. Read more
1970 — Vietnam War: Operation Ivory Coast: A joint United States Air Force and Army team raids the Sơn Tây prisoner-of-war camp in an attempt to free American prisoners of war thought to be held there. Read more
1969 — U.S. President Richard Nixon and Japanese Premier Eisaku Satō agree on the return of Okinawa to Japanese control in 1972. The U.S. retains rights to bases on the island, but these are to be nuclear-free. Read more
1969 — The first permanent ARPANET link is established between UCLA and SRI. Read more
1967 — Vietnam War: American General William Westmoreland tells news reporters: "I am absolutely certain that whereas in 1965 the enemy was winning, today he is certainly losing." Read more
1964 — The Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge opens to traffic. At the time it is the world's longest bridge span. Read more
1964 — Second Vatican Council: The third session of the Roman Catholic Church's ecumenical council closes. Read more
1962 — The Chinese People's Liberation Army declares a unilateral ceasefire in the Sino-Indian War. Read more
1961 — "La Ronde" opens in Honolulu, the first revolving restaurant in the United States. Read more
1959 — American disc jockey Alan Freed, who had popularized the term "rock and roll" and music of that style, is fired from WABC radio over allegations he had participated in the payola scandal. Read more
1954 — People's Action Party, an eventual dominative political party in Singapore, was established. Read more
1953 — The Natural History Museum, London announces that the "Piltdown Man" skull, initially believed to be one of the most important fossilized hominid skulls ever found, is a hoax. Read more
1950 — Two Canadian National Railway trains collide in northeastern British Columbia in the Canoe River train crash; the death toll is 21, with 17 of them Canadian troops bound for Korea. Read more
1945 — The United Auto Workers strike 92 General Motors plants in 50 cities to back up worker demands for a 30-percent raise. Read more
1944 — World War II: American submarine USS Sealion sinks the Japanese battleship Kongō and Japanese destroyer Urakaze in the Formosa Strait. Read more
1942 — The completion of the Alaska Highway (also known as the Alcan Highway) is celebrated (however, the highway is not usable by standard road vehicles until 1943). Read more
1927 — Columbine Mine massacre: Striking coal miners are allegedly attacked with machine guns by a detachment of Colorado state police dressed in civilian clothes. Read more
1922 — Rebecca Latimer Felton of Georgia takes the oath of office, becoming the first female United States Senator. Read more
1920 — Irish War of Independence: On "Bloody Sunday" in Dublin, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) assassinated a group of British Intelligence agents, and British forces killed 14 civilians at a Gaelic football match at Croke Park. Read more
1918 — The Flag of Estonia, previously used by pro-independence activists, is formally adopted as the national flag of the Republic of Estonia. Read more
1918 — The Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918 is passed, allowing women to stand for Parliament in the UK. Read more
1918 — A pogrom takes place in Lwów (now Lviv); over three days, at least 50 Jews and 270 Ukrainian Christians are killed by Poles. Read more
1916 — World War I: Mines from SM U-73 sink HMHS Britannic, the largest ship lost in the war. Read more
1910 — Sailors on board Brazil's warships including the Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Bahia, violently rebel in what is now known as the Revolta da Chibata (Revolt of the Lash). Read more
1905 — Albert Einstein's paper that leads to the mass–energy equivalence formula, E = mc², is published in the journal Annalen der Physik. Read more
1902 — The Philadelphia Football Athletics defeat the Kanaweola Athletic Club of Elmira, New York, 39–0, in the first-ever professional American football night game. Read more
1900 — Claude Monet's paintings shown at Gallery Durand-Ruel in Paris. Read more
1894 — Port Arthur, China, falls to the Japanese, a decisive victory of the First Sino-Japanese War; Japanese troops are accused of massacring the remaining inhabitants. Read more
1877 — Thomas Edison announces his invention of the phonograph, a machine that can record and play sound. Read more

Born on November 21

2004 — Liz, South Korean singer Read more
2004 — Rico Lewis, English footballer Read more
2001 — Rizky Ridho, Indonesian footballer Read more
2000 — Isabel May, American actress Read more
2000 — Matt O'Riley, English-Danish footballer Read more
1999 — Jaelin Howell, American soccer player Read more
1998 — Ognjen Ilić, Serbian cyclist Read more
1998 — Vangelis Pavlidis, Greek footballer Read more
1997 — Reo Hatate, Japanese footballer Read more
1995 — Chris Chiozza, American basketball player Read more
1995 — Vladislav Gavrikov, Russian ice hockey player Read more
1994 — Andreas Johnsson, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
1994 — Saúl Ñíguez, Spanish footballer Read more
1994 — Wyatt Teller, American football player Read more
1991 — Almaz Ayana, Ethiopian sprinter Read more
1991 — Lewis Dunk, English footballer Read more
1991 — Peni Terepo, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
1990 — Dani King, English cyclist Read more
1990 — Georgie Twigg, English field hockey player Read more
1989 — Will Buckley, English footballer Read more
1989 — Dárvin Chávez, Mexican footballer Read more
1989 — Fabian Delph, English footballer Read more
1989 — José Pirela, Venezuelan baseball player Read more
1989 — Chris Singleton, American basketball player Read more
1989 — Justin Tucker, American football player Read more
1988 — Larry Sanders, American basketball player Read more
1988 — Len Väljas, Canadian skier Read more
1988 — Preston Zimmerman, American soccer player Read more
1987 — Stefan Glarner, Swiss footballer Read more
1987 — Eesha Karavade, Indian chess player Read more
1987 — Karl Stollery, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1986 — Colleen Ballinger, American YouTuber, comedian, actress, and singer Read more
1986 — Ben Bishop, American ice hockey player Read more
1986 — Kristof Goddaert, Belgian cyclist (died 2014) Read more
1986 — Sam Palladio, English actor and musician Read more
1985 — Carly Rae Jepsen, Canadian singer-songwriter and actress Read more
1985 — Jesús Navas, Spanish footballer Read more
1985 — Nicola Silvestri, Italian footballer Read more
1984 — Álvaro Bautista, Spanish motorcycle racer Read more
1984 — Josh Boone, American basketball player Read more

Died on November 21

2024 — Alice Brock, American artist, author and restauranteur (born 1941) Read more
2021 — Lou Cutell, American actor (born 1930) Read more
2021 — Jean-Pierre Schumacher, French Trappist monk and survivor of the Thibirine monks (born 1924) Read more
2017 — David Cassidy, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1950) Read more
2016 — Hassan Sadpara, Pakistani mountaineer and adventurer (born 1963) Read more
2015 — Gil Cardinal, Canadian director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1950) Read more
2015 — Ameen Faheem, Indian-Pakistani poet and politician (born 1939) Read more
2015 — Bob Foster, American boxer and police officer (born 1938) Read more
2015 — Anthony Read, English screenwriter and producer (born 1935) Read more
2015 — Joseph Silverstein, American violinist and conductor (born 1932) Read more
2014 — John H. Land, American soldier and politician (born 1920) Read more
2014 — Robert Richardson, English general (born 1929) Read more
2013 — John Egerton, American journalist and author (born 1935) Read more
2013 — Fred Kavli, Norwegian-American businessman and philanthropist, founded The Kavli Foundation (born 1927) Read more
2013 — Dimitri Mihalas, American astronomer and author (born 1939) Read more
2013 — Vern Mikkelsen, American basketball player and coach (born 1928) Read more
2013 — Bernard Parmegiani, French composer (born 1927) Read more
2013 — Tôn Thất Đính, Vietnamese general (born 1926) Read more
2013 — Maurice Vachon, Canadian-American wrestler (born 1929) Read more
2012 — Emily Squires, American director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1941) Read more
2012 — Austin Peralta, American pianist (born 1990) Read more
2011 — Anne McCaffrey, American science fiction and fantasy author (born 1926) Read more
2010 — Norris Church Mailer, American author (born 1949) Read more
2010 — David Nolan, American activist and politician (born 1943) Read more
2010 — Margaret Taylor-Burroughs, American painter and author, co-founded the DuSable Museum of African American History (born 1917) Read more
2009 — Konstantin Feoktistov, Russian engineer and astronaut (born 1926) Read more
2007 — Fernando Fernán Gómez, Spanish actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1921) Read more
2007 — Tom Johnson, Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach (born 1928) Read more
2007 — Noel McGregor, New Zealand cricketer (born 1931) Read more
2006 — Hassan Gouled Aptidon, Somali-Djiboutian politician, 1st President of Djibouti (born 1916) Read more
2006 — Pierre Amine Gemayel, Lebanese lawyer and politician (born 1972) Read more
2005 — Alfred Anderson, Scottish soldier (born 1896) Read more
2005 — Hugh Sidey, American journalist and academic (born 1927) Read more
2002 — Hadda Brooks, American singer-songwriter and pianist (born 1916) Read more
2000 — Ernest Lluch, Spanish economist and politician (born 1937) Read more
2000 — Emil Zátopek, Czech runner (born 1922) Read more
1999 — Quentin Crisp, English actor, author, and illustrator (born 1908) Read more
1996 — Bernard Rose, English organist and composer (b 1916) Read more
1996 — Abdus Salam, Pakistani-English physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1926) Read more
1995 — Peter Grant, English actor and manager (born 1935) Read more

Holidays & observances

Armed Forces Day (Bangladesh); Christian feast days: Amelberga of Susteren; Christian feast days: Digain; Christian feast days: Maurus of Parentium; Christian feast days: Pope Gelasius I; Christian feast days: Franciszka Siedliska; Christian feast days: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Christian feast days: Rufus of Rome (no. 7 in list); Christian feast days: William Byrd, John Merbecke and Thomas Tallis (Episcopal Church (USA)); Christian feast days: November 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); World Television Day (United Nations observance)

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “November 21”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.