• 1613 - Johann Jakob Wolleb, composer
• 1667 - Henricus Zwaardecroon, gov-gen of Neth-Indies
• 1708 - William Hayes, composer
• 1714 - Jean B Pigalle, French sculptor (Child with Bird Cage)
• 1715 - Claude Helvetius, Paris France, philosopher
• 1716 - George Sackville Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville
• 1722 - Prestonpans
• 1742 - Johann Friedrich Ludwig Sievers, composer
• 1748 - Emmanuel Aloys Forster, composer
• 1763 - Charles XIV, French marshall, king of Sweden & Norway (1818-44)
• 1770 - Alexander Carlyle, Moderator of General Assembly
• 1771 - Jacob Andries van Braam, colonial director (Suriname)
• 1778 - Ugo Foscolo, Italian poet (Ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis)
• 1781 - Achim v Arnim, writer
• 1781 - Ludwig Joachim "Achim" von Arnim, German poet (Des Knaben Wunderhorn)
• 1786 - Benjamin Robert Haydon, Plymouth, painter (Waiting for The Times)
• 1814 - Rufus King, Brig General (Union volunteers), died in 1876
• 1816 - Lloyd Tilghman, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1863
• 1819 - Abner Doubleday, Union general-major/inventor (baseball) [or Jun 26]
• 1826 - Julia Dent Grant, 1st lady (1862-76)
• 1828 - Johan T Buys, Dutch lawyer
• 1831 - Mary Mapes Dodge, NYC, writer (Hans Brinker & the Silver Skates)
• 1852 - Frederick Corder, composer
• 1852 - Pierre Brazza, explorer/colonial administrator (French Africa)
• 1855 - Arthur Hervey, composer
• 1871 - Warner Fabian, [Samuel H Adams], US journalist/writer (Average Jones)
• 1877 - Kees van Dongen, Netherland, French painter
• 1878 - A W "Dave" Nourse, cricketer ("Grand Old Man" of S African cricket)
• 1878 - R A Schr”cker, writer
• 1879 - Ludovicus H [Lode] Baekelmans, Flemish (stage)author (Tille)
• 1880 - Douglas MacArthur, Little Rock Ark, general (WW II), he did return!
• 1884 - Edward Sapir, Germany, linguist/antropologist (indians)
• 1884 - Roy Chapman Andrews, US, scientist/explorer
• 1886 - Joannes A Veraart, Dutch economist/MP (Jews of the Netherlands)
• 1887 - Enrique E Ecker, Cura‡ao, bacteriologist
• 1887 - Marc A "Pete" Mitscher, US lt-admiral (WW II-Task Force 58)
• 1891 - Ilya G Ehrenburg, Kiev Ukraine, writer (Fall of Paris, The Thaw)
• 1893 - Bessie Coleman, 1st black airplane pilot
• 1899 - Wyllis Cooper, Pekin Ill, TV narrator (Volume One)
• 1901 - Ervin Major, composer
• 1902 - Laurence "Bill" Craigie, jet pioneer
• 1902 - Menno ter Braak, Dutch writer/essayist (Carnaval of the Citizens)
• 1902 - Romney Brent, Saltillo Mexico, actor/writer (Dinner at the Ritz)
• 1904 - Douglas Evans, actor (South Pacific Trail)
• 1904 - Sean MacBride, Dublin, statesman/Amnesty Intl co-founder (Nobel '74)
• 1905 - Charles Lane, SF Calif, actor (Homer-Petticoat Junction, Lucy Show)
• 1905 - John Carmel Heenan, Essex, cardinal archbp of Westminster (1963-75)
• 1905 - Maria Augusta von Trapp, Austria, singer, inspired "Sound of Music"
• 1905 - Marquess of Bath, English large landowner/multi-millionaire
• 1907 - Eddie Ballantine, Chicago, orch leader (Don McNeill TV Club)
• 1907 - Henry Cotton, English golfer (British Open 1934, 1937, 1948)
• 1908 - Stephane Grappelli, British (?) jazz/violinist
• 1910 - Elmar Klos, Czech director (Adrift)
• 1910 - Marijan Lipovsek, composer
• 1911 - Norbert Schultze, composer
• 1911 - Polykarp Kusch, US, nuclear physicist: Nobel 1955
• 1912 - Cora Baird, NYC, puppeteer (Kukla, Fran & Ollie)
• 1913 - Jimmy Van Heusen, songwriter (Love & Marriage)
• 1913 - William Prince, Nichols NY, actor (City in Fear, Cyrano de Bergerac)
• 1914 - Kaye Webb, English writer/publisher (Puffin Club)
• 1915 - William Hopper, NYC, actor (Paul Drake-Perry Mason)
• 1916 - Lothar Jensch, composer
• 1918 - Nicolae Ceausescu, Romanian president (1967-90)
• 1919 - K C Ibrahim, cricketer (batted in 4 Tests India v WI 1948-49)
• 1920 - Derek Bond, Glasgow Scotland, actor (Nicholas Nickelby)
• 1920 - John Logan Gorlay, journalist
• 1921 - Akio Morita, Kasugaya Japan, CEO (Sony)
• 1921 - Frantisek Chaun, composer
• 1921 - Johannes Driessler, composer
• 1922 - Michael Bentine, England, author/comedian (Reluctant Jester)
• 1923 - Anne Jeffreys, NC, actress (Dick Tracy, Topper, General Hospital)
• 1924 - Warren Frank Benson, composer
• 1925 - David Jenkins, Bishop (Durham)
• 1925 - Desmond Cassidi, British admiral
• 1925 - Joan Leslie, Detroit, actress (High Sierra, Yankee Doodle Dandy)
• 1925 - Paul Newman, Cleve, racer/popcorn mogul/actor (Hud, Hombre, Hustler)
• 1926 - Charles Tidbury, former chairman (Whitbread & Company)
• 1926 - Jose Maria Valverde, philosopher poet/translator
• 1926 - Ronnie Hilton, singer (Moonraker)
• 1927 - Jos‚ Sim¢n Azcona Hoyo, president of Honduras (1986-90)
• 1927 - William Redfield, NYC, actor (Jimmy Hughes Rookie Cop, Marriage)
• 1928 - Eartha Kitt, SC, singer/actress (Catwoman-Batman)
• 1928 - Gene Snyder, (Rep-R-KY, 1963-65, 67- )
• 1928 - Philip Jos‚ Farmer, Indiana, science fiction novelist (Riverworld)
• 1928 - Roger Vadim, France, director (And God Created Women, Barbarella)
• 1929 - Jules Feiffer, NYC, cartoonist (Passionella)/author (Little Murders)
• 1929 - M R Turner, publisher
• 1930 - A N Solomons, chairman (Singer & Friedlander)
• 1930 - Anne Macfarlane, Master (Court of Protection)
• 1930 - Harry "Buddy" Melges Jr, Wisc, yachter (Oly-gold/bronze-1964, 72)
• 1931 - Mary Murphy, Wash DC, actress (A Man Alone, Maggie-Investigators)
• 1932 - Christopher Price, Director (Leeds Metropolitan U)
• 1932 - George H Clements, famous African
• 1932 - Ronald Allison, British author/broadcaster
• 1933 - Angela Davis, black revolutionary[1944]-
• 1934 - Huey "Piano" Smith, pianist (Having a Good Time)
• 1935 - Bob Uecker, Milwaukee Wisc, catcher/actor (Mr Belvedere)
• 1935 - Henry Jordan, Emporia Va, NFL defensive tackle (Cleveland, Green Bay)
• 1935 - Peter Ronnefeld, composer
• 1935 - Zbigniew Penherski, composer
• 1936 - Noel Harrison, London, singer/actor (Mark-Girl from UNCLE)
• 1937 - Gerrit Gerritse, Dutch MP (CDA)
• 1937 - Joseph Saidu Momoh, gen/president (Sierra Leone)
• 1937 - S J B Langdale, Headmaster (Shrewsbury School)
• 1938 - Margaret Daly, British MEP
• 1939 - Marshall Lieb, rocker (Teddy Bears)
• 1941 - Henry Jaglom, London England, actor (Eating, Lucky Ducks, Always)
• 1942 - Nigel Walmsley, chairman (Carlton UK Television)
• 1942 - Scott Glenn, Pittsburgh, actor (Right Stuff, Personal Best, Backdraft)
• 1942 - William McLennan, CEO (Central Statistical Office)
• 1943 - Jean Knight, vocalist (Mr Big Stuff)
• 1943 - Peter Kenton Winkler, composer
• 1943 - Sherian Grace Cadoria, brigadier general
• 1944 - Angela Yvonne Davis, black activist/professor
• 1945 - Jacqueline du Pr‚e, Oxford England, cellist
• 1945 - Mick Hill, cricketer (NSW all-rounder 1964-75)
• 1946 - Christopher Hampton, Azores, playwright (Oviri, Hotel du Lac)
• 1946 - Gene Siskel, movie critic (Siskel & Ebert)
• 1946 - Timothy Clifford, director (National Galleries of Scotland)
• 1947 - Patrick Dewaere, [PJMH Bordeaux], France, actor (Les Valseuses)
• 1948 - Corky Laing, rocker (Mountain)
• 1949 - Derek Holt, rocker (Climax Blues Band)
• 1949 - Paul Nurse, dr/director-general elect (Imperial Cancer Research Fund)
• 1950 - David Strathairn, actor (LA Confidential, Eight Men Out)
• 1950 - Jorg Haider, Austrian polical leader (Austrian Freedom Pary)
• 1951 - Andy Hummell, Memphis Tn, rock bassist (Big Star)
• 1951 - David Briggs, rock guitarist (Little River Band-Help is on it's Way)
• 1951 - Jarmila Kratochvilova, Czech, 400m/800m runner (Olympic-silver-1980)
• 1951 - Walt Willey, Ottawa Ill, actor (Jackson Montgomery-All My Children)
• 1952 - Mario Runco Jr, Bronx NY, Lt Cmdr USN/astronaut (STS 44, 54, 77)
• 1952 - Thomas Edward Henderson, SC, basketballer (Olympic-silver-1972)
• 1953 - Andr‚e C van Es, Dutch MP (PSP)
• 1953 - Bert Heerink, Amsterdam, rock vocalist
• 1953 - Lucinda Williams, singer
• 1954 - Kim Hughes, cricketer (brilliant Australian batsman 1977-84)
• 1954 - Martin Dunn, British editor (Today)
• 1955 - Lucia Mendez, Mexico, spanish singer (Lucia es Luna Moreno)
• 1956 - Lisa Boray, [Schulte Nordholt], Dutch singer (Lovers Until the End)
• 1956 - Simon Howard, English large landowner (Castle Howard)
• 1957 - Ashok Malhotra, cricketer (Indian batsman in 7 Tests 1982-84)
• 1957 - Eddie Van Halen, Nijmegan Neth, rock guitarist (Van Halen-Jump, 1984)
• 1957 - Shivlal Yadav, cricketer (Indian off-spinner 102 Test wickets 1979-87)
• 1958 - Anita Baker, Toledo Oh, singer (Giving You the Best That I Got)
• 1958 - B James Lowry, rocker (Boys Band)
• 1958 - Dave Rummells, Cedar Rapids IA, Nike golfer (1993 Buick-2nd)
• 1958 - Ellen DeGeneres, New Orleans LA, comediene (Ellen Morgan-Ellen)
• 1958 - Norman Lamont Hassan, British reggae musician (UB40-Red Red Wine)
• 1960 - Gary Plummer, NFL linebacker (San Diego Chargers, SF 49ers)
• 1960 - Jeanette Bolden, LA Calif, 4x100m runner (Olympic-gold-1984)
• 1961 - Wayne Gretzky, Brantford Ont, NHL great scorer (Oiler, King, Rangers)
• 1962 - Roshan Guneratne, cricketer (wicketless in only Test SL v Aust 1983)
• 1962 - Tim May, cricketer (Australian off-spinner 1987-95)
• 1962 - Tom Keifer, rock guitarist/vocalist (Cinderella-Heartbreak Station)
• 1963 - Andrew Ridgeley, England, rock guitarist (Wham-Wake Me Up)
• 1963 - Jazzie B, [Beresford Romeo], English rapper (Soul II Soul-Feel Free)
• 1963 - Simon O'Donnell, cricketer (Deniliquin NSW ODI all-rounder 1985-90)
• 1965 - Allison Hossack, Manitoba, actress (Olivia-Another World)
• 1965 - Lou Frazier, US baseball outfielder (Montreal Expos)
• 1965 - Tim McDonald, safety (San Francisco 49ers)
• 1967 - Jeff Branson, US baseball infielder (Cincinnati Reds)
• 1967 - Katie Peterson-Parker, Bethesda MD, LPGA golfer (1995 Oldsmobile-5th)
• 1967 - Tim Pugh, Lake Tahoe CA, pitcher (Cincinnati Reds, KC Royals)
• 1968 - Eric Davis, NFL cornerback (SF 49ers, Carolina Panthers)
• 1968 - Reggie Jordan, NBA guard (Minn Timberwolves)
• 1970 - Dan Carlson, US baseball pitcher (SF Giants)
• 1970 - Dean Malkoc, Vancouver, NHL defenseman (Vancouver Canucks)
• 1970 - Ronald Moore, NFL running back (NY Jets, St Louis Rams, Az Cardinals)
• 1971 - Jon Heidenreich, WLAF G (Frankfurt Galaxy)
• 1971 - Lamar Mills, WLAF DE (Amsterdam Admirals)
• 1971 - Lee Naylor, Australian 400m runner (Olympics-96)
• 1971 - Min Tang, Hunan China, tennis star (1995 Futures-Canberra AUS)
• 1972 - Harrison Houston, NFL wide receiver (Chic Bears)
• 1973 - Mark Brook, WLAF LB (Rhein Fire)
• 1973 - Tatsuki Katayama, hockey defenseman (Team Japan 1998)
• 1973 - Tony Ramirez, tackle (Detroit Lions)
• 1976 - Paul Byrne, Australian 800m ruuner (Olympics-96)
• 1977 - Cindy Cesar, Miss Mauritius Universe (1997)
• 1977 - Justin Gimelstob, NJ, tennis star (1994 doubles USTA Bakersfield)
• 1978 - Reesa Starr Jr
• 1997 - ? Pasaye, Palatine Ill, twin born 92 days after his brother (Oct 26)

Famous deaths for this day ..

• 1109 - Albericus of CŒteaux, French saint, dies
• 1706 - Guillaume Poitevin, composer, dies at 59
• 1795 - Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, composer, dies at 62
• 1798 - Christian Gottlob Neefe, German organist/composer, dies at 49
• 1803 - Georg von Pasterwiz, composer, dies at 72
• 1824 - Edward Jenner, discoverer (vaccination), dies
• 1824 - Th‚odore G‚ricault, French painter (Grand Derby d'epsom), dies
• 1849 - Thomas Lovell Beddoes, English poet (Death's Jest-Book), suicide at 45
• 1850 - Francis Jeffrey, Baron Jeffrey, judge/literary critic, dies
• 1855 - G‚rard de Nerval, [Labrunie], French poet/writer, dies at 46
• 1870 - Cesare Pugni, composer, dies at 67
• 1885 - Charles George Gordon, Brit gov-gen (Sudan), executed at 51
• 1891 - Nicholaus Otto, auto pioneer (internal combustion engine), dies
• 1893 - Abner Doubleday, credit with inventing baseball, dies on 74th birthday
• 1895 - Arthur Cayley, mathematician, dies
• 1904 - John P R Tak, Dutch liberal politician, dies at 64
• 1911 - Charles Wentworth Dilke, English undersecretary of State, dies at 67
• 1920 - Matthias Enzberger, German minister of finance, murdered
• 1922 - Luigi Denza, composer, dies at 75
• 1932 - William K Wrigley, owner (Wrigley Gum, Chicago Cubs), dies
• 1939 - Armand Calinescu, Romania's PM, assassinated by the iron guard
• 1942 - Gerard L F Philips, Dutch manufacturer (Philips), dies at 83
• 1943 - Nikolai Vavilov, geneticist, Saratovv labour camp, dies
• 1947 - Grace Moore, US soprano/actress (1 Night of Life), dies at 45
• 1947 - Gustav Adolf, crown prince of Sweden, dies in air crash
• 1948 - Ignaz Friedman, composer, dies at 65
• 1949 - Victor Fleming, director (Wizard of Oz, Gone With Wind), dies at 65
• 1950 - Betsy van den Arend, Dutch [Betje], actress (Miss Hobbs), dies at 78
• 1952 - Louis van Deyssel, Dutch writer (Diary of Franc Rozelaar), dies at 87
• 1953 - Martinus Nijhoff, Dutch poet/translator (spelling), dies at 58
• 1954 - Carl J Eldh, Swedish sculptor, dies at 80
• 1961 - Morris Nichols, cricketer (41 wkts in 14 Tests for Eng 1930-39), dies
• 1962 - Charles "Lucky" Luciano, NYC Mafia gangster, dies at 65
• 1962 - Fran Lhotka, composer, dies at 78
• 1963 - John Sigvard Olsen, comedian (Olsen & Johnson), dies at 70
• 1965 - Ali Mansoer, premier of Persia, murdered
• 1967 - Albert Remy, actor (Blows), dies at 55
• 1967 - Kenneth Thomson, actor (White Gold), dies of emphysema at 68
• 1973 - Edward G Robinson, [Goldenberg], actor (Little Caesar), dies at 79
• 1973 - Meijer Sluyser, Dutch journalist/commentator (VARA), dies at about 71
• 1974 - S v Vegesack, writer, dies at 85
• 1974 - Wiktor Labunski, composer, dies at 78
• 1975 - Lubov Orlova, actress (Moscow Laughs, Man of Music, Tanya), dies at 72
• 1977 - Margaret Hayes, actress (Robert Montgomery Presents), dies at 61
• 1978 - Leo Genn, actor (Lady Chatterley's Lover, Henry V), dies at 72
• 1979 - Nelson Rockefeller, former VP & (4X Gov-R-NY), dies at 70
• 1983 - Paul "Bear" Bryant, college football coach (Alabama), dies at 69
• 1985 - James Cameron, journalist, dies
• 1989 - Paul Daels, Flemish chairman (IJzerbedevaart committee), dies
• 1989 - St‚phane Steinier, Belgian journalist, kidnapped & murdered
• 1990 - FHP "Boy" Trip, Dutch minister, dies
• 1991 - Johnny van Doorn, Dutch writer/poet, dies at 46
• 1992 - Jose Ferrer, PR actor/director (Cyrano de Bergerac), dies at 80
• 1992 - Okke Jager, Dutch theologist/writer/poet, dies at 63
• 1993 - Axel Von Dem Bussche, German aristocrat, dies
• 1993 - Jan Gies, Dutch resistance fighter (helped Anne Frank), dies at 87
• 1993 - Robert Jacobsen, Danish sculptor (large iron sculptures), dies at 80
• 1995 - Bernardo Leighton, Chilian politician (1964-70), dies
• 1995 - Geoffrey Penwill Parsons, piano accompnaist, dies at 65
• 1995 - Louis Heren, journalist, dies at 65
• 1995 - Vic Buckingham, English soccer player/trainer (Ajax), dies at 79
• 1996 - David Schultz, wrestler (Oly-Gold-84), killed by John Du Pont
• 1996 - Harold Brodkey, writer, dies at 65
• 1996 - Henry Jay Lewis, conductor, dies at 63
• 1997 - Margaret Hesse, princess of Hesse/the Rhine, dies at 83
• 1997 - Sarah Lucas, theatre Administrator, dies at 53
• 1998 - S P Leary, Texan Blues drummer (Muddy Waters), dies at 67
• 1998 - Shinichi Suzuki, music teacher (Suzuki Method), dies at 99
• 1998 - Walter Edmonds, writer (Drums Along the Mohawk), dies at 93