What Happened on September 21, 1979

Historical Events

  • José Eduardo dos Santos becomes President of Angola

Historic Publication

Stephen Jay Gould and Richard Lewontin publish influential paper (cited more than 4,000 times) "The Spandrels of San Marco and the panglossian paradigm", introducing idea of "spandrels" into evolutionary biology

  • Two RAF Hawker Siddeley Harrier jump-jets from RAF Wittering collide over Wisbech in Cambridgeshire. Both pilots eject safely, but three people killed and several injured when one of the aircraft destroys 3 dwellings
1979 History

Famous Birthdays

Chris Gayle (44 years old)

Jamaican West Indies cricketer (1999-) and fastest century maker in history, born in Kingston, Jamaica

  • Jaymee Ong, Chinese-Australian model
  • Julian Gray, English footballer
  • Richard Dunne, Irish soccer defender (80 caps, Republic of Ireland; Everton, Manchester City, Aston Villa, QPR) and broadcaster (BT Sport), born in Dublin, Ireland
Born in 1979

Famous Deaths

  • John McQuade, American actor (Charlie Wild Private Detective), dies at 73
1979 Highlights

About September 21, 1979

Day of the Week: Friday
How Long Ago? 44 years, 6 months and 7 days
Leap Year: No

Generation: Generation X
Chinese Zodiac: Goat/Sheep
Star Sign: Virgo

Music Charts

  • US #1 Song: My Sharona - The Knack
  • UK #1 Song: Cars - Gary Numan