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On This Day · The 325th day of the year

November 21

A look at November 21 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Pope Benedict XV and René Magritte, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♏ZodiacScorpio ◈BirthstoneTopaz ❀Birth flowerChrysanthemum
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2012

    2012 Tel Aviv bus bombing

    At least 28 are wounded after a bomb is thrown onto a bus in Tel Aviv.

    2012 terror attack in
  2. 2009

    2009 Heilongjiang mine explosion

    A mine explosion in Heilongjiang, China kills 108.

    Coal mine explosion in
  3. 1980

    MGM Grand fire

    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.

    1980 casino fire in
  4. 1974

    Birmingham pub bombings

    The Birmingham pub bombings kill 21 people. The Birmingham Six are sentenced to life in prison for the crime but are later exonerated.

    1974 IRA attack in
  5. 1967

    Vietnam War

    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."

    1955–1975 war in Southeast
  6. 1964

    Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge

    The Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge opens to traffic. At the time it is the world's longest bridge span.

    Suspension bridge in New
  7. 1961

    La Ronde (restaurant)

    "La Ronde" opens in Honolulu, the first revolving restaurant in the United States.

    Defunct revolving restaurant in
  8. 1922

    Rebecca Latimer Felton

    Rebecca Latimer Felton of Georgia takes the oath of office, becoming the first female United States Senator.

    American white supremacist and
  9. 1920

    Irish War of Independence

    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.

    1919–1921 war between Irish
  10. 1877

    Thomas Edison

    Thomas Edison announces his invention of the phonograph, a machine that can record and play sound.

    American inventor and businessman
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Famous birthday twins

Born on November 21

Pope Benedict XV

b. 1854

Head of the Catholic Church from 1914 to 1922

René Magritte

b. 1898

Belgian painter

Voltaire

b. 1694

French writer and philosopher

Georgie Twigg

b. 1990

English field hockey player

Björk

b. 1965

Icelandic singer-songwriter

Carly Rae Jepsen

b. 1985

Canadian singer-songwriter and actress

Michel Suleiman

b. 1948

Lebanese general and politician, 16th President of Lebanon

Gustav Radbruch

b. 1878

German lawyer and politician, German Minister of Justice

Deaths

  • 2000Emil Zátopek, Czech runner
  • 1996Abdus Salam, Pakistani-English physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1916Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria
  • 1811Heinrich von Kleist, German poet and author
  • 1695Henry Purcell, English organist and composer
  • 1361Philip I, Duke of Burgundy, Duke of Burgundy

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)

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