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On This Day

Discover events that happened On This Day including famous birthdays and notable deaths. Each day we highlight famous people, past and present, who have impacted our world. Browse sections by selecting the links below or click the calendar to view events on another day.

November 21

November 21

Events on This Day

  • 1877

    136 years ago

    Thomas Edison announces his invention of the phonograph, the first device capable of both recording and reproducing sound.

  • 1934

    79 years ago

    A teenage Ella Fitzgerald wins Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater, and her singing career takes off.

    Read more at History.com

  • 1986

    27 years ago

    Oliver North shreds documents related to his participation in the Iran-Contra scandal.

  • 2007

    6 years ago

    Enchanted opens in theaters. The film stars Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey and Susan Sarandon. It both spoofs and celebrates the fairy-tale genre.

November 21

Born on This Day

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November 21

Died on This Day

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9331873,307310,9520178,40809,9542170,9542528,9328312,251028,9542610,9284349,9296210,9425102,20883223,201303,9471729,9444679,9406489,16717609,595780,38429,40371,38322,207490
profile id: 9331873
profile name: Goldie Hawn
profile occupation: Actress
profile id: 307310
profile name: Lorna Luft
profile occupation: Actress
profile id: 9520178
profile name: Voltaire
profile occupation: Historian, Philosopher, Writer
profile id: 40809
profile name: Ken Griffey, Jr.
profile occupation: Baseball Player
profile id: 9542170
profile name: Marlo Thomas
profile occupation: Television Actress
profile id: 9542528
profile name: Björk
profile occupation: Singer
profile id: 9328312
profile name: Florence Harding
profile occupation: U.S. First Lady
profile id: 251028
profile name: Quentin Crisp
profile occupation: Writer
profile id: 9542610
profile name: Bill Bixby
profile occupation: Film Actor, Television Actor
profile id: 9284349
profile name: Thomas Edison
profile occupation: Entrepreneur
profile id: 9296210
profile name: Ella Fitzgerald
profile occupation: Singer
profile id: 9425102
profile name: Oliver North
profile occupation: Government Official
profile id: 20883223
profile name: Amy Adams
profile occupation: Actress
profile id: 201303
profile name: Patrick Dempsey
profile occupation: Actor
profile id: 9471729
profile name: Susan Sarandon
profile occupation: Film Actress
profile id: 9444679
profile name: Cole Porter
profile occupation: Songwriter
profile id: 9406489
profile name: Ethel Merman
profile occupation: Theater Actress
profile id: 16717609
profile name: Eddie Murray
profile occupation: Baseball Player
profile id: 595780
profile name: Larry Hagman
profile occupation: Television Producer
profile id: 38429
profile name: René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle
profile occupation: Explorer
profile id: 40371
profile name: Johannes Diederik van der Waals
profile occupation: Physicist
profile id: 38322
profile name: Charles XI
profile occupation: Royalty
profile id: 207490
profile name: Amy Grant
profile occupation: Songwriter
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