October 21 in History
October 21 is the birthday of Kerem Aktürkoğlu (1998) and the anniversary of the death of Francisco Pinto Balsemão (2025). Below are famous birthdays, deaths, events for October 21, plus editor's picks and genealogy records.
Ancestry
Holiday Sale: 65% off AncestryDNA. Offer ends 11/19. Terms apply.
Discover your ethnicity and find relatives with AncestryDNA.
Hongwu Emperor of China was born in 1328, while Zhenzhu Khan, khan of Xueyantuo died in 645.
Ancestry
AncestryDNA® with Traits
Ethnicity estimate, DNA matches and personal traits.
Famous people born on October 21
Famous people who died on October 21
2025
Francisco Pinto Balsemão (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Prime Minister of Portugal from 1981 to 1983
2023
Bobi (dog) (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Revoked Guinness World Record holder for oldest dog ever
2014
Ben Bradlee (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991
2014
Edith Kawelohea McKinzie (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
American genealogist and hula expert (1925–2014)
2012
Antoni Dobrowolski (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Polish educator and Holocaust survivor (1904–2012)
2012
Jaroslav Kozlík (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Czech educator, volleyball player and theorist of education
What happened on October 21
- 2021
A shooting occurs on the set of the film Rust, in which actor Alec Baldwin discharged a prop weapon which had been loaded, killing the director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, and injuring director Joel Souza.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2019
Thirty people are killed in a fiery bus crash in western Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2019
In Canada, the 2019 Canadian federal election ends, resulting in incumbent Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remaining in office, albeit with the Liberal Party in a minority government.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2018
A passenger train derails in Yilan County, Taiwan, killing 18 people and injuring 187.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2011
Iraq War: President Barack Obama announces that the withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq will be complete by the end of the year.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2007
Finnish driver Kimi Räikkönen of Scuderia Ferrari won the Brazilian Grand Prix in Formula One. With this result, Räikkönen became world champion, surpassing McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso by one point in the drivers' standings.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2003
Images of the dwarf planet Eris are taken and subsequently used in documenting its discovery.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1994
North Korea and the United States sign an Agreed Framework that requires North Korea to stop its nuclear weapons program and agree to inspections.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1994
In Seoul, South Korea, 32 people are killed when a span of the Seongsu Bridge collapses.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1989
In Honduras, 131 people are killed when a Boeing 727 crashes on approach to Toncontín International Airport near the nation's capital Tegucigalpa.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1987
The Jaffna hospital massacre is carried out by Indian peacekeeping forces in Sri Lanka, killing 70 Tamil patients, doctors and nurses.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1986
In Lebanon, pro-Iran kidnappers claim to have abducted American writer Edward Tracy (he is released in August 1991).
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1984
Niki Lauda claims his third and final Formula One Drivers' Championship Title by half a point ahead of McLaren team-mate Alain Prost at the Portuguese Grand Prix.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1983
The metre is defined as the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1981
Andreas Papandreou becomes Prime Minister of Greece, ending an almost 50-year-long system of power dominated by conservative forces.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab)
Births, deaths and events from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
Editor's picks
Born on October 21
- 1328 — Hongwu Emperor of China (died 1398)
- 1409 — Alessandro Sforza, Italian condottiero (died 1473)
- 1449 — George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence, Irish-English son of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York (died 1478)
Died on October 21
- 645 — Zhenzhu Khan, khan of Xueyantuo
- 1023 — Gero, Archbishop of Magdeburg
- 1096 — Walter Sans Avoir, a leader of the First Crusade
Source: Wikipedia historical listings for October 21
Quick answers
Who was born on October 21? Kerem Aktürkoğlu (1998), Cameron Burgess (1995), Doja Cat (1995).
Who died on October 21? Francisco Pinto Balsemão (2025), Mimi Hines (2024), Bobby Charlton (2023).
Explore genealogy records
Researching someone born in October? Search birth records
Live genealogy events
This calendar is live and has its own date controls; it is separate from the October 21 historical article above.
Ancestry
Holiday Sale: 65% off AncestryDNA. Offer ends 11/19. Terms apply.
Discover your ethnicity and find relatives with AncestryDNA.
Ancestry
AncestryDNA® with Traits
Ethnicity estimate, DNA matches and personal traits.