Significant Events in Medical History on October 21

Significant Events on October 21

Birth of Alfred Nobel (1833)

On this day in 1833, Swedish chemist, engineer, inventor, and businessman Alfred Nobel was born. Nobel is renowned for inventing dynamite and for his philanthropic legacy, which includes the establishment of the Nobel Prizes.

Birth of Oswald Avery (1877)

Also on October 21, 1877, Canadian-born American physician and medical researcher Oswald Avery was born. Avery is best known for his pivotal role in the discovery that DNA is the fundamental material comprising genes and chromosomes.

Death of Hans Asperger (1980)

On this date in 1980, Austrian pediatrician and medical theorist Hans Asperger passed away. He is most famously recognized for identifying autistic-like symptoms associated with a condition that later became known as Asperger’s syndrome. Notably, Asperger’s syndrome was removed from the DSM in 2013 and is now classified as a ‘pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.’