21 December

Across recorded history, 1,562 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 21 December. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

← December 20 December 22 →

F. Scott Fitzgerald

1896–1940

American writer

F. Scott Fitzgerald was an American writer known for his novels and short stories.

George S. Patton

1885–1945

United States Army general

George S. Patton was a United States Army general who commanded forces during the Second World War.

Franz Boas

1858–1942

German-American anthropologist

Franz Boas was an anthropologist who established the principles of modern cultural anthropology.

Robert Solow

1924–2023

American economist

Robert Solow was an American economist known for his contributions to the study of economic growth.

Lion Feuchtwanger

1884–1958

German writer

Lion Feuchtwanger was a German writer known for his extensive body of work as a playwright, translator, and critic.

Niko Tinbergen

1907–1988

Dutch Zoologist, ethologist

Niko Tinbergen was a Dutch ethologist who conducted pioneering research on animal behavior.

Frank B. Kellogg

1856–1937

American politician

Frank B. Kellogg was a diplomat who served as the United States Secretary of State.

Klara Hitler

1860–1907

mother of Adolf Hitler

Klara Hitler was a housewife who served as the mother of Adolf Hitler.

Kurt Tucholsky

1890–1935

Jewish-German journalist, satirist and writer

Kurt Tucholsky was a German journalist and satirist who wrote extensively on political and social issues.

Edwin G. Krebs

1918–2009

American biochemist

Edwin G. Krebs was an American biochemist who conducted research on reversible protein phosphorylation.

Enzo Bearzot

1927–2010

Italian football player and manager

Enzo Bearzot was an Italian football manager who led the national team to victory in the World Cup.

Carl Van Vechten

1880–1964

American writer and photographer

Carl Van Vechten was an American writer and photographer who documented the cultural life of the Harlem Renaissance.

Vittorio Pozzo

1886–1968

Italian football player and manager

Vittorio Pozzo was an association football coach who managed the Italian national team.

John Newton

1725–1807

Anglican clergyman, slave trader and abolitionist

John Newton was an Anglican clergyman who transitioned from a career as a slave trader to become a prominent abolitionist and hymnwriter.

Luigi Cadorna

1850–1928

Italian general

Luigi Cadorna was an Italian general who served as a military commander during World War I.

James Parkinson

1755–1824

English surgeon, apothecary, geologist, paleontologist, and political activist

James Parkinson was an English surgeon who published the first detailed medical description of the condition now known as Parkinson's disease.

Knud Rasmussen

1879–1933

Danish explorer and anthropologist

Knud Rasmussen was a Danish explorer and anthropologist who conducted extensive research on Arctic indigenous cultures.

Bruce McCandless II

1937–2017

American astronaut

Bruce McCandless II was an astronaut who performed the first untethered spacewalk using a manned maneuvering unit.

Ivan Ilyin

1883–1954

Russian political philosopher

Ivan Ilyin was a Russian philosopher who wrote extensively on political theory and legal philosophy.

Paul Hausser

1880–1972

German Waffen SS general

Paul Hausser was a German military officer who served as a general in the Waffen SS.

Martin Peters

1943–2019

English footballer and manager

Martin Peters was an English footballer and manager who played for the national team.

Niels Gade

1817–1890

Danish composer, conductor, violinist, organist and teacher

Niels Gade was a Danish composer who worked as a conductor, violinist, organist, and teacher.

Albert King

1923–1992

American blues musician

Albert King was an American blues musician who worked as a singer-songwriter.

Garegin Nzhdeh

1886–1955

Armenian politician and philosopher

Garegin Nzhdeh was an Armenian politician and philosopher who served as a military commander.

Source: Wikidata, released into the public domain under CC0. Snapshot: 2026-07. Names, dates and roles come from Wikidata; summaries are condensed from it. Nothing here is generated to fill a gap.