Alfred Nobel
1833 – 1896Swedish inventor of dynamite who established the Nobel Prizes through his will, awarding achievements in science, literature, and peace.
Famous Birthdays on October 21
14 notable people were born on October 21.
October 21 marks the birth date of several notable historical figures. Alfred Nobel, the Swedish chemist and inventor who created the Nobel Prize, was born in 1833. Klas Pontus Arnoldson, the Swedish journalist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, was born in 1844. Celia Cruz, the Cuban salsa singer, came into the world in 1925, while Shukri al-Quwatli, who became president of Syria, was born in 1891. These individuals were prominent in areas such as science, politics, journalism, and music.
19th Century4 people
Maximiliano Hernández Martínez
1882 – 1966Military dictator who ruled El Salvador from 1931 to 1944, responsible for the massacre of thousands of indigenous people and peasants in 1932.
Shukri al-Quwatli
1891 – 1967Nationalist leader who served as Syria's first president after independence and again from 1955-1958 during the country's democratic period.
politicianSyria
Klas Pontus Arnoldson
1844 – 1916Swedish journalist and politician who shared the 1908 Nobel Peace Prize for his advocacy of neutrality and arbitration in international conflicts.
20th Century10 people
Andre Geim
1958Russian-born physicist who won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for groundbreaking experiments with graphene. He is the only person to have won both the Nobel Prize and the Ig Nobel Prize.
Benjamin Netanyahu
1949Israeli politician who has served as Prime Minister for multiple terms (1996–1999, 2009–2021, 2022–present), making him the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history.
Nikita Mikhalkov
1945Russian filmmaker and actor who won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for 'Burnt by the Sun' (1994). He is known for his nationalist political views and serves as president of the Russian Cinematographers' Union.
Celia Cruz
1925 – 2003Cuban salsa singer known as the 'Queen of Salsa' who popularized Latin music worldwide during her five-decade career. She recorded over 70 albums and won multiple Grammy Awards before her death in 2003.
Nemanja Vidić
1981Former Serbian defender who captained Manchester United from 2010 to 2014 and won five Premier League titles with the club. He was widely regarded as one of the best center-backs of his generation.
association football playerSerbia
Tariq Ali
1943British-Pakistani political activist, historian, and novelist known for his leftist commentary and involvement in the 1960s protest movements. He has written extensively on politics, history, and international affairs while also producing films and television programs.
Lee Chong Wei
1982Malaysia's greatest badminton player who held the world No. 1 ranking for 349 weeks and won three Olympic silver medals, considered one of the sport's finest players.
Yulimar Rojas
1995Yulimar Rojas is a triple jump world record holder and Olympic champion who won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming Venezuela's second Olympic gold medalist.
athletics competitorVenezuela
Artur Aleksanyan
1991Greco-Roman wrestler who won Olympic gold at Rio 2016 and multiple World Championship titles in the 97kg weight division.
amateur wrestlerArmenia
Artsvik
1984Armenian singer who represented Armenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with the song "Fly with Me."
singerArmenia
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on October 21?
Alfred Nobel, born on October 21, 1833, is likely the most famous person born on this date. He was the Swedish inventor of dynamite and founder of the Nobel Prize.
Are there any famous musicians born on October 21?
Yes, Celia Cruz, the Cuban salsa singer known as the 'Queen of Salsa,' was born on October 21, 1925. She became a popular Latin artist in the 20th century.
What Nobel Peace Prize winner was born on October 21?
Klas Pontus Arnoldson, born on October 21, 1844, was a Swedish journalist and politician who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1908. He shared the prize for his work promoting international arbitration and peaceful resolution of conflicts.