SEPTEMBER 21 | Birthdays and Events
Famous Birthdays
People born on September 21
Francis Hopkinson
Died: May 9, 1791 (age 53 years)
Designer of Continental paper money and two early versions of flags for U.S. and U.S. Navy. He also the New Jersey delegate who signed the Declaration of Independence.
Henry Tingle Wilde
Died: April 15, 1912 (age 39 years)
English chief officer on the RMS Titanic. He perished when the ship sunk.
Preston Tucker
Died: December 26, 1956 (age 53 years)
Designer of the Tucker 48 Sedan, also known as the "Tucker Tornado."
Henry Beachell
Died: December 13, 2006 (age 100 years)
Biologist, botanist, and plant breeder who developed a hybrid rice that saved millions of people around the world from starvation.
Karl Slover
Died: November 15, 2011 (age 93 years)
Actor fondly remembered as one of the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz.
Bernard Silver
Died: August 28, 1963 (age 38 years)
Co-inventor of the barcode alongside Norman Joseph Woodland.
Larry Hagman
Died: November 23, 2012 (age 81 years)
Actor who played J.R. Ewing on the television series Dallas.
Stephen King
Famous author dubbed "The King of Horror."
Bill Murray
Critically acclaimed actor and comedian with starring roles in Caddyshack, Stripes, Groundhog, and Ghostbusters.
Anne Burrell
Died: June 17, 2025 (age 55 years)
Chef and television host.
Historical Events on September 21
Events that occurred on September 21 throughout history
The French monarchy is abolished.
During the French Revolution, the National Convention abolishes the French monarchy. King Louis XVI's power was suspended and a new French Republican Calendar was adopted. The King was eventually put on trial and executed.
Duryea Motor Wagon Company becomes the first American automotive producer.
Duryea Motor Wagon Company becomes the first American automotive producer.
President Warren G. Harding signs the Lodge–Fish Resolution.
Harding signs the Lodge–Fish Resolution, establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine. The Resolution also ensured holy places and religious sites would be protected.
The first issue of My Weekly Reader is published.
The first issue of My Weekly Reader is published. The magazine aimed to help elementary students learn about world events and build a lifelong habit of reading the news.
The Hobbit is published for the first time.
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is published for the first time. Only 1,500 copies were printed, with all copies sold by December.
Newly 4,000 Jews of are sent to extermination camps on Yom Kippur.
Nazis in Ukraine send over 3,588 Jews of Pidhaitsi to Bełżec (1,000 Jews) and Konstantynów to Biała Podlaska (2,588 Jews) to extermination camps on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.
Perry Mason premieres on television.
Perry Mason premieres on television. The series aired from 1957 to 1966, showing 271 episodes in nine seasons.
Monday Night Football premieres on ABC.
Monday Night Football premieres on ABC with the Cleveland Browns playing the New York Jets. The Browns beat the jets by 10 points (31 to 21).
Sandra Day O'Connor become the first female justice for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Sandra Day O'Connor is unanimously approved as the first female Supreme Court justice. She served for 25 years.
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