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January 21st
254 Notable deaths
Richard Russell Jr.
66th governor of georgia (1931–1933), u.s. senator from georgia (1933–1971).
Born November 2nd, 1897 in Winder.
Died January 21st, 1971 at 73 years old in Washington, D.C. (pulmonary emphysema).
Shivakumara Swamiji
Indian saint (1907–2019).
Born April 1st, 1907 in Magadi.
Died January 21st, 2019 at 111 years old in Tumkur. [ref]
Billy Tipton
American jazz musician, bandleader and talent agent (1914–1989).
Born December 29th, 1914 in Oklahoma City.
Died January 21st, 1989 at 74 years old in Spokane (stomach cancer).
Rash Behari Bose
Indian independence activist (1886–1945).
Born May 25th, 1886 in Bardhaman, Bengal Presidency.
Died January 21st, 1945 at 58 years old in Tokyo, Empire of Japan.
Eddie Mabo
Indigenous australian activist (1936–1992).
Born June 29th, 1936 in Murray Island.
Died January 21st, 1992 at 55 years old in Brisbane (cancer).
Wu Lien-teh
Malaysian physician (1879–1960).
Born March 10th, 1879 in Penang Island.
Died January 21st, 1960 at 80 years old in Penang.
Lytton Strachey
English writer (1880–1932).
Born March 1st, 1880 in London.
Died January 21st, 1932 at 51 years old in Berkshire (stomach cancer).
Francesca Woodman
American photographer (1958 - 1981).
Born April 3rd, 1958 in Denver.
Died January 21st, 1981 at 22 years old in New York City (falling).
Eiko Ishioka
Japanese art director and designer (1938-2012).
Born July 12th, 1938 in Tokyo.
Died January 21st, 2012 at 73 years old in Tokyo (pancreatic cancer). [ref]
Elisha Gray
American electrical engineer.
Born August 2nd, 1835 in Barnesville.
Died January 21st, 1901 at 65 years old in Newtonville.
Eddie Graham
American professional wrestler (1930–1985).
Born January 15th, 1930 in Chattanooga.
Died January 21st, 1985 at 55 years old in Tampa (gunshot wound).
Leon Brittan
British politician and barrister (1939–2015).
Born September 25th, 1939 in North London.
Died January 21st, 2015 at 75 years old in London (cancer). [ref]
Princess Ileana of Romania
Romanian royal.
Born January 5th, 1909 in Bucharest.
Died January 21st, 1991 at 82 years old in Youngstown (myocardial infarction).
Charles Goodell
American politician (1926-1987).
Born March 16th, 1926 in Jamestown. [ref]
Died January 21st, 1987 at 60 years old in Washington, D.C..
Harris Wofford
American politician (1926-2019).
Born April 9th, 1926 in New York City.
Died January 21st, 2019 at 92 years old in Washington, D.C. (falling from height). [ref]
Joseph Schildkraut
Actor (1896-1964).
Born March 22nd, 1896 in Vienna.
Died January 21st, 1964 at 67 years old in New York City (myocardial infarction).
Ibrahim Rugova
President of kosovo (1944-2006).
Born December 2nd, 1944 in Cerrcë.
Died January 21st, 2006 at 61 years old in Pristina (lung cancer). [ref]
Alexander Herzen
Russian author, philosopher, and revolutionary (1812–1870).
Born April 6th, 1812 in Moscow. [ref]
Died January 21st, 1870 at 57 years old in Paris (pneumonia). [ref]
Camillo Golgi
Italian physician, pathologist, scientist, and nobel laureate (1843-1926).
Born July 7th, 1843 in Corteno Golgi.
Died January 21st, 1926 at 82 years old in Pavia.
Connie Sawyer
American actress (1912-2018).
Born November 27th, 1912 in Pueblo.
Died January 21st, 2018 at 105 years old in Woodland Hills (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Clark Gillies
Canadian ice hockey player (1954–2022).
Born April 7th, 1954 in Moose Jaw.
Died January 21st, 2022 at 67 years old [ref]
Princess Hélène of Orléans
Princess of france.
Born June 13th, 1871 in London.
Died January 21st, 1951 at 79 years old in Castellammare di Stabia.
Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark
Greek prince (1888-1940); youngest child of george i of greece and olga constantinovna of russia.
Born August 10th, 1888 in Pavlovsk.
Died January 21st, 1940 at 51 years old in Athens.
Désirée Silfverschiöld
Swedish princess; elder sister of king carl xvi gustaf of sweden (1938–2026).
Born June 2nd, 1938 in Haga Palace.
Died January 21st, 2026 at 87 years old in Koberg Castle. [ref]
Charles Brown
American blues singer and pianist (1922-1999).
Born September 13th, 1922 in Texas City. [ref]
Died January 21st, 1999 at 76 years old in Oakland. [ref]
Deaths 26 to 50 of 254
Since we’re all going to die, it’s obvious that when and how don’t matter. Albert Camus