• 1551 - William Camden, English historian (Brittania, Annales)
• 1601 - Athanasius Kircher, German Jesuit/inventor (magic lantern)
• 1660 - Pietro Alessandro Gaspare Scarlatti, Palermo Italy, composer (Tigrane)
• 1729 - Catherine II, the Great, empress of Russia (1762-96)
• 1729 - Florian Johann Deller, composer
• 1740 - Elias Boudinot, lawyer/patriot, found Amer Biblical Society
• 1752 - Ludwig August Lebrun, composer
• 1754 - Vicente Martin y Soler, composer
• 1768 - Jean-Louis M Alibert, French dermatologist
• 1772 - Novalis, writer
• 1779 - John Galt, Scotland, novelist (Ayrshire Legatees, Lawrie Todd)
• 1810 - Hans Christian Lumbye, composer
• 1810 - Leo XIII, 257th Roman Catholic pope (1878-1903)
• 1817 - Zikmund Michal Kolesovsky, composer
• 1821 - Abram Sanders Piatt, Brig General (Union volunteers), died in 1908
• 1837 - Henry Martyn Robert, parliamentarian (Robert's Rules of Order)
• 1843 - Carl Michael Ziehrer, composer
• 1844 - Elijah McCoy, black inventor, held over 50 patents
• 1846 - Zygmunt Noskowski, composer
• 1849 - Frst Bernhard HM von Blow, German chancellor/Prussian PM (1900-09)
• 1853 - Marie Verstraete, actress (Louise-Frou Frou)
• 1855 - Theodore Moses Tobani, composer
• 1857 - Frederic Cliffe, composer
• 1859 - Eugene D'Harcourt, composer
• 1860 - D'Arcy Thompson, zoologist/classicist (On Growth & Form)
• 1860 - Theodor Herzl, Austria, journalist/founder (Zionist movement)
• 1862 - Marie F M Emmanuel, French composer/musicologist (Salamine)
• 1869 - Tyrone Power Sr, London England, actor (Alexanders Ragtime Band)
• 1872 - G G van der Hoeven, Dutch editor-in-chief (NRC)
• 1884 - Fran‡ois de Vries, Dutch economist
• 1886 - Gottfried Benn, writer
• 1887 - Edward Collins, NY, Hall of Fame infielder (White Sox, A's)
• 1890 - E[dward] E[lmer] "Doc" Smith, US, sci-fi author (Triplanetary)
• 1892 - Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, [Red Baron], German WW I ace
• 1893 - Beppie Nooij Jr, Dutch actress (Rooie Sien) [or May 13, 1912]
• 1895 - Alfred Kurella, writer
• 1895 - Peggy Bacon, Ridgefield Ct, author/illustrator (Off With Their Heads)
• 1898 - Jef [Josephus C F] Last, Dutch poet/politician (The Spark)
• 1900 - Helen Morgan, singer/actress (Applause, Frankie & Johnny)
• 1901 - Bob Wyatt, cricketer (England batsman 1927-37)
• 1901 - Lev N Lunts, Russia, writer (Outside the Law, City of Truth)
• 1901 - Robert Elliott Storey Wyatt, cricketer
• 1901 - Willi Bredel, writer
• 1902 - Brian Aherne, Worcestershire England, actor (Juarez)
• 1902 - Erin O'Brien-Moore, LA CA, actress (Peyton Place, Our Little Girl)
• 1903 - Benjamin Spock, CT, pediatrician (Common Sense Book of Baby Care)
• 1903 - Oivin Fjeldstad, composer
• 1904 - Georgi Dimitrov, composer
• 1905 - Alan Rawsthorne, Haslingden England, composer (Cort‚ges)
• 1906 - Aileen Riggin, Newport RI, springboard diver (Olympic-gold-1920, 24)
• 1906 - Maurice Thiriet, composer
• 1907 - Pinky Lee, children's show host (Pinky Lee Show)
• 1908 - William Bakewell, LA Calif, actor (Stage manager-Pinky Lee Show)
• 1910 - Laurie Nash, cricketer (Tasmanian fast-bowler, 2 Tests for Australia)
• 1911 - Lillian Rambach, teacher violinist
• 1912 - Axel Springer, German newspaper magnate
• 1912 - Marten Toonder, writer/cartoonist (Mr Bommel)
• 1913 - Nigel Patrick, London Engld, actor/director (Sapphire, Prize of Gold)
• 1914 - Dennis Dyer, cricketer (opened batting for S Africa v England 1947)
• 1915 - Jan Hanus, composer
• 1915 - Van Alexander, NYC, orch leader (Gordon MacRae Show)
• 1918 - Frederick Archibauld Warner, diplomat
• 1919 - Than Wyenn, NYC, actor (Pete Kelly's Blues)
• 1920 - Jacob Gilboa, composer
• 1921 - Satyajit Ray, Calcutta India, director (Goddess, Adversary)
• 1922 - Abraham Rosenthal, editor (NY Times)
• 1923 - Christina Spierenburg, Dutch singer
• 1924 - Aafje Heynis, Dutch singer
• 1924 - Theodore Bikel, Austrian/US folk singer/actor (Russians Are Coming)
• 1925 - David Ironside, cricketer (S Afr swing bowler in 3 Tests v NZ 1953-54)
• 1925 - John Neville, actor (Adventures of Baron Mnchausen)
• 1925 - Roscoe Lee Browne, Woodbury NJ, actor (McCoy, Saunders-Soap)
• 1925 - Svatopluk Havelka, composer
• 1929 - Edward Levy Irving, composer
• 1929 - Luc Ferrari, composer
• 1929 - Sydney Gedye, cricketer (opening batsman in four Tests for NZ 1964)
• 1932 - Bruce Glover, Chicago Ill, actor (Diamonds are Forever)
• 1932 - Kees de Galan, Dutch economist
• 1932 - Malcolm Leyland Lipkin, composer
• 1933 - Bunk Gardner, rocker (Mothers Of Invention)
• 1935 - Faisal II, King of Iraq (1939-58)/son of Ghasi I
• 1935 - Hussain ibn Talal, King of Jordan (1952- )
• 1935 - Link Wray, rocker (Link Wray & His Ray Men)
• 1936 - Michael Rabin, NYC, violinist (In Memorium)
• 1936 - Quinn Redeker, Woodstock Ill, actor (Dan Raven, Young & Restless)
• 1937 - Gisela Elsner, writer
• 1937 - Lorenzo Music, Bkln NY, writer/actor/voice (Carlton-Rhoda, Garfield)
• 1938 - Constantine Bereng Seeiso, king Moshushoe II of Lesotho
• 1940 - Bryan Davis, cricketer (bro of Charlie WI batsman v Australia 1965)
• 1940 - Sari van Heemskerck Pillis-Duvekot, Dutch MP (VVD)
• 1941 - Jules Wijdenbosch, premier Suriname
• 1944 - F Innerhofer, writer
• 1944 - John Verity, rocker (Argent)
• 1945 - Bianca P‚rez Morena de Macias Jagger, Nicaragua, model/Mick's ex-wife
• 1945 - Bob Henrit, English pop drummer (Kinks-Waterloo Sunset)
• 1945 - Goldy McJohn, rocker (Steppenwolf)
• 1945 - Randy Cain, US soul singer (4 Gents/Delfonics)
• 1945 - Robert Henrit, England, rocker (Argent)
• 1946 - Lesley Gore, Tenafly NJ, singer (It's My Party)
• 1947 - Bill Lowery, (Rep-R-CA, 1981- )
• 1948 - Larry Gatlin, Seminole Tx, country singer (Gatlin Bros-Broken Lady)
• 1949 - Joey Phillips, percussionist (Atlantic Star-Touch a 4 Leaf Clover)
• 1950 - Lou Gramm, Rochester NY, rocker (Foreigner-Want to Know What Love Is)
• 1952 - Christine Baranski, Buffalo NY, actress (Maryann-Cybill, Birdcage)
• 1953 - "Keith" Jamaal Wilkes, NBA forward (Golden State-Rookie of Yr 1975)
• 1954 - Bulelani T Ngcuka, South African attorney/leader (UDF)
• 1955 - Ian Callen, cricketer (one Test Australia v India 1978, six wickets)
• 1955 - Jay Osmond, rocker (Osmond Brothers)
• 1955 - Joe Callis, rocker
• 1957 - Domonic L Pudwill Gorie, Lake Charles LA, USN/astronaut (sk: STS-91)
• 1958 - Kim Jones, Sonoma Calif, 5k runner
• 1959 - Brian Tochi, LA Calif, actor (Dr Alan Poe-St Elsewhere, Renegades)
• 1960 - Ravi Ratnayeke, cricketer (Sri Lankan pace bowler & opening batsman)
• 1961 - Doctor Robert, [Bruce R Howard], rocker (Blow Monkeys-Wicked Ways)
• 1961 - Peter Doohan, Australia, tennis star
• 1962 - Elizabeth Berridge, Westchester NY, actress (Amadeus, Funhouse)
• 1962 - Nancy Harvey, Swift Current Sask, LPGA golfer (1995 Youngstown-11th)
• 1963 - Jos van Eck, Dutch soccer player (Sparta)
• 1963 - Kenton Leonard, CFL cornerback (Calgary Stampeders)
• 1964 - Kelly Michael Gibson, New Orleans LA, PGA golfer (1995 Bob Hope-7th)
• 1967 - Kerryn McCann, Australian marathoner (Olympics-96)
• 1968 - Reggie Slack, CFL quarterback (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
• 1968 - Will Furrer, WLAF quarterback (Amsterdam Admirals)
• 1969 - Brian Lara, cricketer (WI left-hand bat Smashed world records in 1994)
• 1969 - Glen Young, NFL linebacker (SD Chargers)
• 1970 - Vania Thomas, Miss US Virgin Islands Universe (1997)
• 1971 - Greg Bishop, NFL guard (NY Giants)
• 1972 - Erik Maes, Dutch soccer player (MVV)
• 1972 - Jennifer Miriam, Oklahoma City OK, playmate (March, 1997)
• 1972 - Jill Savery, Ft Lauderdale Fl, synchronized swimmer (Olympics-gold-96)
• 1972 - Peter Ogilvie, Vancouver BC, 100m sprinter (Olympics-96)
• 1973 - Rich Yurkiewicz, NFL/WLAF linebacker (Atlanta Falcons, Amst Admirals)
• 1974 - Miles Joseph, West Springfield Mass, soccer forward (Olympics-gold-96)
• 1975 - Mark Johnson, Dayton Ohio, baseball pitcher (Olympics-bronze-96)
• 1975 - Murray William Burdan, Wellington NZ, swimmer (Olympics-96)
• 1976 - Ailleen Damiles, Miss Universe-Philippines/Miss Photogenic (1996)
• 1976 - Nancy Feber, Antwerp Belgium, tennis star
• 1977 - Amy D'Entremont, Stoneham Mass, figure skater (1995 NE Jr champ)
• 1977 - Jenna Von Oy, actress (Seven-Blossom)

Famous deaths for this day ..

• 0649 - Maruta of Tagrit, theology/1st mafriaan Jakobitische church, dies
• 1250 - Toeransa, sultan of Egypt, murdered
• 1459 - Pierozzi Antoninus, Italian archbishop of Florence/saint, dies
• 1488 - Jacob van Horne, Burgundy statesman, dies
• 1519 - Leonardo Da Vinci, artist/scientist, dies at 67
• 1567 - Marin Drzic, Croatian playwright (Dundo Maroje), dies
• 1669 - Pieter Jansz Post, master builder (Waag, Gouda), dies at 61
• 1685 - Adriaen van Ostade, Dutch painter, buried
• 1727 - Paul Aler, French jesuit/poet (Gradus ad Parnassum), dies at 70
• 1736 - Albert Seba, Amsterdam pharmacist, dies at 71
• 1799 - Henri-Joseph Rigel, composer, dies at 58
• 1818 - Herman W Daendels, governor-gen of Guinea (1815-18), dies at 55
• 1845 - August Pauly, German writer (Real Encyclopedia), dies at 48
• 1849 - David H Chass‚, baron/gen (fought Napoleon at Waterloo), dies at 84
• 1857 - LC Alfred the Musset, French poet (Lesson caprices Marianne), dies
• 1864 - Giacomo Meyerbeer, composer, dies at 72
• 1892 - Wilhelm Rust, composer, dies at 69
• 1897 - William Cleaver Francis Robinson, composer, dies at 63
• 1919 - Gustav Landauer, German socialist, dies
• 1937 - Arthur Somervell, composer, dies at 73
• 1945 - Martin Bormann, propoganda minister for Hitler, dies
• 1954 - Pauline de Cock-Manifarges, singer, dies at 82
• 1955 - Tadeusz Jarecki, composer, dies at 66
• 1957 - Joseph McCarthy, commie hunting senator (R-Wisc), dies at 47
• 1957 - Tadeusz Zygfryd Kassern, composer, dies at 53
• 1958 - Alfred Weber, German economist/sociologist, dies at 89
• 1959 - Yrl” Henrik Kilpinen, Finnish composer, dies at 67
• 1960 - Caryl Chessman, rapist executed after 12 years of appeals at 39
• 1961 - J C White, cricketer (49 wickets in 15 Tests for Engld 1921-31), dies
• 1963 - Jack Crawford, cricketer (469 runs & 39 wickets in 12 Tests), dies
• 1963 - Tomas Vackar, composer, dies at 17
• 1963 - Van Wyck Brooks, US historian (Ordeal of Mark Twain), dies at 77
• 1964 - Nancy N Witcher Astor, US/Eng feminist/ex of Waldorf Astor, dies
• 1968 - Donald L Hall, airplane designer (Spirit of St Louis), dies at 69
• 1969 - Franz JHMM von Papen, German chancellor (1932), dies at 89
• 1972 - Hugo Hartung, writer, dies at 69
• 1972 - J Edgar Hoover, head of FBI (1924-72)/cross dresser, dies at 77
• 1973 - Alan Carney, actor (Herbie-Take it from Me), dies at 61
• 1980 - Clarrie Grimmett, cricket (36 Tests for Australia, 216 wickets), dies
• 1982 - Helmut Dantine
• 1982 - Hugh Marlowe, actor (Jim Matthews-Another World), dies at 71
• 1983 - Marius F Duintjer, architect, dies
• 1984 - Jack Barry, game show emcee (Joker's Wild), dies at 66
• 1984 - Piet van Aken, Flemish writer (Failing God, Niggers), dies at 64
• 1985 - Hal LeRoy, dancer/actor (Harold Teen), dies at 71 after surgery
• 1985 - Milton S Eisenhower, US diplomat, dies at 85
• 1990 - David Rappaport, 3'11' actor (Wizard, LA Law), shoots himself at 38
• 1990 - Oleg Anatolyevich Yakovlev, Russian cosmonaut, dies at 49
• 1990 - William Levi Dawson, composer, dies at 90
• 1991 - Hal Bell, dies at 65
• 1991 - Leib Lensky, dies at 82
• 1992 - Joey Cuevas, dancer, dies at 34
• 1992 - Lee Salk, baby doctor/author, dies of cardiac arrest at 65
• 1992 - Margareth Wallmann, Austrian opera director, dies at 88
• 1992 - Philip Dunne, screenwriter, dies of cancer at 84
• 1992 - Wilbur Mills, (Rep-D-Ark)/involved with Fanne Foxe, dies at 82
• 1993 - Julio Gallo, wine maker (Gallo), dies in a car accident at 82
• 1993 - WLPM, the Short, Dutch MP (KVP, 1945-73), dies at 83
• 1993 - Will Weng, Sunday Times crossword puzzle editor (1968-78), dies at 86
• 1994 - Louis Calaferte, writer (Requiem of the Innocents), dies at 65
• 1994 - Wilson Charles Geoffery Baldwin, hero, dies at 75
• 1996 - Arthur Leslie Noel Douglas Houghton, civil servant, dies at 97
• 1996 - Emile Habibi, writer, dies at 73
• 1996 - Peter John Swales, football club chairman, dies at 63