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On this day in history - January 21

What Happened On This Day – January 21

  • 1998 Pope John Paul II visits Cuba

    It was the first time any Pope visited the country.

  • 1976 Concorde takes off on its first scheduled flights

    2 of the supersonic aircraft took off from Paris and London simultaneously.

  • 1968 The Battle of Khe Sanh begins

    It is one of the most publicized battles of the Vietnam War.

  • 1911 23 cars take part in the first Rally Monte Carlo

    Unlike today, the competitors set out from 11 different European locations, heading for the finish line in Monte Carlo.

  • 1899 Opel builds its first automobile

    Today, Opel is one of the world's largest car manufacturers.

Illustration of stork, signifying birth

Births On This Day,
January 21

  • 1963 Hakeem Olajuwon

    Nigerian/American basketball player

  • 1941 Plácido Domingo

    Spanish tenor, conductor

  • 1940 Jack Nicklaus

    American golfer

  • 1905 Christian Dior

    French fashion designer, founded S.A.

  • 1824 Stonewall Jackson

    American general

Illustration of tombstone, signifying death

Deaths On This Day,
January 21

  • 1997 Colonel Tom Parker

    Dutch/American talent manager

  • 1950 George Orwell

    English author

  • 1938 Georges Méliès

    French director

  • 1924 Vladimir Lenin

    Russian politician

  • 1683 Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury

    English politician