• 1528 - Peter S Lotichius, [Peter Lotz], Neo latin poet (Collected Works)
• 1699 - Jean-Baptiste Sim‚on Chardin, French still life painter
• 1709 - Anna van Hannover, English princess/duchess of Brunswick-L�neburg
• 1734 - Daniel Boone, frontiersman/explorer (US Hall of Fame-1915)
• 1739 - Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf, composer
• 1741 - Joan Derk van Capellen, leader of Neth Democratic Patriots
• 1755 - Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, let them eat cake
• 1785 - Frederic Kalkbrenner, composer
• 1785 - Johann Leopold Fuchs, composer
• 1795 - James Knox Polk, NC, 11th Pres (D) (1845-1849)
• 1810 - Andrew Atkinson Humphreys, Mjr Gen (Union volunteers), died in 1883
• 1812 - Abraham I van Lier, theater director (Gran Th‚ƒtre-van Lier)
• 1815 - George Boole, mathematician (Boolean algebra)
• 1822 - James Byron Gordon, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1864
• 1826 - Robert Hopkins Hatton, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1862
• 1826 - William Haines Lytle, Brig General (Union volunteers), died in 1863
• 1828 - Byron Grimes, Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1880
• 1842 - Otto Reubke, composer
• 1843 - Caryl Florio, composer
• 1843 - Elek Erkel, composer
• 1843 - William James Robjohn, composer
• 1846 - Antonio Pena y Goni, composer
• 1847 - George Sorel, French Socialist thinker/author (violent revolutions)
• 1857 - Joseph F F Babinski, Polish/French neurologist (Babinski reflex)
• 1865 - Warren Gamaliel Harding, Ohio, (R) 29th pres (1921-23)
• 1876 - Eugeniusz Morawsky-Dabrowa, composer
• 1877 - Claire McDowell, NYC, actress (Big Parade)
• 1877 - Victor Trumper, cricketer (Australia batsman 1899-1912)
• 1879 - Jean Gilbert, [Max Winterfield], German composer (Prince Regent)
• 1880 - John Foulds, composer
• 1882 - Leo Perutz, writer
• 1883 - Frico Kafenda, composer
• 1885 - Harlow Shapley, US, astronomer (studied the galaxies)
• 1886 - Philip Merivale, Rehutia India, actor (Nothing But Trouble)
• 1890 - Henry Borginon, Flemish nationalist/senator
• 1892 - Alice Brady, NYC, actress (My Man Godfrey, Gay Divorcee, Zenobia)
• 1892 - Paul Abraham, Hungarian composer (Viktoria und ihr Huzar)
• 1894 - William Johnston, tennis champ (US Open-1915)
• 1897 - Dennis King, Coventry England, comedian (Devil's Brother)
• 1897 - Jacob A B "Jack" Bjerknes, Norwegian/US meteorologist (USAF in London)
• 1899 - Eddy [Charles E] du Perron, Dutch author/poet
• 1901 - James Dunn, NYC, actor (Tree Grows in Brooklyn, It's a Great Life)
• 1901 - Paul Ford, Balt Md, actor (Phil Silvers Show)
• 1902 - Gyula Illyes, Hungarian author/poet (Az Ismertlen Illyes)
• 1902 - Marius W Holtrop, economist/president (Netherlands Bank)
• 1905 - Fred Lipmann, watchmaker
• 1906 - Luchino Visconti, Milan Italy, director (Damned, Death in Venice)
• 1908 - Reginald Beckwith, York England, actor (Genevieve, Doctor in Love)
• 1910 - Georges Sch‚had‚, Lebanese poet/playwright (Monsieur Bob'le)
• 1911 - Odysseus Elytis Alepoudellis, Greece, poet (Nobel 1979)
• 1912 - Jouko Paavo Kalervo Tolonen, composer
• 1913 - Burt Lancaster, NYC, actor (From Here to Eternity, Elmer Gantry)
• 1913 - Ivor Roberts-Jones, sculptor
• 1914 - Ray Walston, New Orleans LA, actor (My Favorite Martian, Damn Yankees)
• 1915 - Douglas Gordon Lilburn, composer
• 1917 - Ann Rutherford, Toronto Canada, TV panelist (Leave It To the Girls)
• 1917 - Durward Knowles, England, yachtsman (Olympic-gold-1968-Bahamas)
• 1919 - Jorge de Sena, Portuguese engineer/poet (Reino da Estupidez)
• 1919 - Warren Stevens, Clark's Summit Pa, actor (Richard Boone Show)
• 1920 - Fabio Gonzalez-Zuleta, composer
• 1920 - Lewis Charles, NYC, actor (Feather & Father Gang)
• 1921 - Fernando Correia de Oliveira, composer
• 1921 - Willaim D Schaefer, Maryland, (Gov-D-Md)
• 1922 - John Pinsent, classical scholar
• 1927 - John Sainsbury, English billionaire
• 1928 - Geoffrey Pardoe, engineer
• 1929 - Harold Farberman, NYC, conductor/composer (Medea)
• 1929 - Milan Stibilj, composer
• 1929 - Rachel Ames, Portland Oregon, actress (Line Up, Audrey-Gen Hospital)
• 1930 - Denis Gerald Barrington, artist
• 1932 - Henri Namphy, Cap Hatien Haiti, President of Haiti (1986-88)
• 1932 - Romano L Mazzoli, (Rep-D-KY, 1971- )
• 1934 - Ken Rosewall, Sydney Australia, tennis star (US Open 1956)
• 1935 - Mohammad Munaf, cricketer (Pakistani pace bowler in 4 Tests 1959-62)
• 1936 - Rose Elizabeth Bird, California Supreme Court Justice
• 1937 - Earl "Speedoo" Carroll, NYC, rocker (Cadillacs, Coasters)
• 1938 - Jay Traynor, rocker (Jay & The Americans)
• 1938 - Patrick Buchanan, conservative political columnist
• 1938 - Ria Beckers-de Bruijn, Dutch MP (PPR)
• 1939 - Howard Wolpe, (Rep-D-MI, 1979- )
• 1939 - Pauline Neville-Jones, English diplomat
• 1940 - Gigi Proletti, Italian entertainer
• 1941 - Bruce Welch, [Cripps], rocker (Shadows Bognor Regis)
• 1941 - David Knapp Stockton, San Bernardino CA, PGA golfer (1970 PGA)
• 1942 - Shere Hite, St Joseph Missouri, sex therapist (Hite Report)
• 1942 - Stefanie Powers, Hollywood Ca, actress (Girl From UNCLE, Hart to Hart)
• 1943 - Oldrich Pelcak, Czechoslovakia, cosmonaut
• 1944 - Jeffrey Alan Hoffman, Bkln, PhD/astronaut (STS 51-D, 35, 46, 61, 75)
• 1944 - Liesel Westermann, German FR, discus thrower (Olympic-silver-1968)
• 1944 - Patrice Chereau, actress (Danton)
• 1946 - Alan Jones, Australia, auto racer (1980 World Champion)
• 1946 - Giuseppe Sinopoli, Venice Italy, conductor/composer (Sunnyata)
• 1947 - Dave Pegg, British pop bassist (Jethro Tull-Crest of a Wave)
• 1947 - David Anthony Ahern, composer
• 1948 - Rich Gooch, rock bassist (Quarterflash)
• 1951 - Kathy Hammond, US, 400m runner (Olympics-bronze-1972)
• 1952 - Kate Linder, Pasadena Ca, actress (Esther Valentine--Young & Restless)
• 1952 - Maxine Nightingale, English soul singer
• 1953 - Alfre Woodard, Tulsa Okla, actress (St Elsewhere, Extremities)
• 1955 - Frank Gilligan, Queens NY, singer (Mason Dixon-Karen Comes Around)
• 1955 - Mark Reynolds, San Diego Calif, star yachter (Olymp-8th-1988, 92, 96)
• 1957 - Rita Crockett, San Antonio Tx, volleyball player (Olympic-silver-1984)
• 1958 - Bobby Dall, rocker (Poison-Every Rose Has a Thorn)
• 1958 - Willie McGee, SF CA, outfielder (St Louis Cardinals, NL MVP-1985)
• 1960 - Adam Lingner, NFL center (Buffalo Bills)
• 1960 - Bruce Baumgartner, Haledon NJ, wrestler (Oly-gold/br-84, 88, 92, 96)
• 1960 - Mardi Jacquet, Chƒteauroux Calif, playmate (October, 1980)
• 1960 - Robert Harold Lohr, Cincinnati OH, PGA golfer (1988 Walt Disney)
• 1960 - Rosalyn Nideffer, Durban S Afr, tennis star (1993 Futures-Midland MI)
• 1960 - Sa‹d Aquita, Morocco, 5K runner (Olympic-gold-1984)
• 1961 - k.d. lang, [Kathy Dawn], Consort Alberta, country singer
• 1962 - Andrew Elt, singer (Sleeze Beez)
• 1962 - Donna Spangler, LA Calif, wrestler (Coal Miner's Daughter-GLOW)
• 1963 - Ines Diers, German DR, 400m freestyle swimmer (Olympic-gold-1980)
• 1963 - Susie Scott, San Diego Ca, playmate (May, 1983)
• 1964 - Arnold van Dongen, pop guitarist (Lo‹s Lane-Amsterdamned)
• 1964 - Kevin Gogan, NFL guard (Oakland Raiders, SF 49ers)
• 1964 - Michael D'Asaro II, Bkln NY, fencer-sabre
• 1965 - Chuck Klingbeil, NFL nose tackle (Miami Dolphins)
• 1966 - Orlando Merced, Hato Rey Puerto Rico, outfielder (Pitts Pirates)
• 1966 - Rosalyn Fairbank, South Africa, tennis player
• 1966 - Sean Kanan, actor (AJ-Gen Hospital, Rich Girl, Karate Kid Part 3)
• 1967 - Chris Port, NFL guard/tackle (NO Saints)
• 1967 - Darla Michele Pruett, Canton Georgia, Miss Georgia-America (1991)
• 1967 - Derek Porter, Belfast Ireland, Canadian rower (Oly-gold/silver-92/96)
• 1968 - Brandi Brandt, Santa Clara Calif, playmate (October, 1987)
• 1968 - Helle Michaelsen, Alborg Denmark, playmate (Aug, 1988)
• 1968 - Melissa Evridge, Lexington Ky, playmate (Aug, 1990)
• 1969 - Dwayne Gordon, NFL linebacker (SD Chargers, NY Jets)
• 1970 - Corbin Lacina, NFL guard (Buffalo Bills)
• 1971 - Pete Vordenberg, Rota Spain, US cross country skier (Olympics-1994)
• 1971 - Ricky Martin, PR, rocker (Menudo)/actor (Gen Hospital) [or Dec 24]
• 1972 - Alfred Schreuders, soccer player (RKC)
• 1972 - Jeni Stephens, Memphis Tennessee, Miss America-Tennessee (1997)
• 1972 - Marie Josee Gibeau, Lachine Quebec, kayaker (Olympics-96)
• 1973 - Jason Smith, Calgary, NHL defenseman (NJ Devils)
• 1974 - Alex Tanaka, actor (Saja-Swan's Crossing)
• 1974 - Jaroslav Spacek, NHL defenseman (Team Czech Oly-Gold-1998, (Sweden)
• 1974 - Ruslan Salei, NHL defenseman (Belarus, Oly-98, Anaheim)
• 1975 - Danny Cooksey, Moore Okla, actor (Sam-Diff'rent Strokes)
• 1990 - Natasha Smirnoff, daughter of Yakov Smirnov

Famous deaths for this day ..

• 1171 - Baudouin IV, count of Henegouwen (1120-71), dies
• 1171 - Dionysius bar Salibi, author (Diarbekir), dies
• 1483 - Henry Stafford, earl of Buckingham/constable of Engl, beheaded at 49
• 1588 - Wilhelmus Damasi, theologist/1st bishop of Roermond, dies at 63
• 1610 - Richard Bancroft, archbishop of Canterbury (1604-10), dies at 66
• 1635 - Aurelio Signoretti, composer, dies at 68
• 1697 - Constantine Huygens Jr, Poet/painter/cartoonist, buried
• 1716 - Engelbrecht K„mpfer, German/Neth VOC-surgeon, dies at 65
• 1717 - Johann Jacob Walther, composer, dies
• 1731 - Johann Matthias Leffloth, composer, dies at 26
• 1781 - Jos‚ F de Isla, Spanish Jesuit/author, dies at 78
• 1804 - Armand-Gaston Camus, French chairman of Council of 500, dies at 64
• 1845 - Chretien Urhan, composer, dies at 55
• 1870 - William F Brantly, Confederate (brig-general?), murdered at about 40
• 1875 - JWW Birch, 1st British resident of Perak Malakka, murdered
• 1882 - Cenobio Paniagua y Vasques, composer, dies at 61
• 1884 - Auguste Emmanuel Vaucorbeil, composer, dies at 62
• 1887 - Jenny Lind, [Swedish Nightingale], soprano, dies at 67
• 1909 - Theodor W Ahlwardt, German orientalist, dies at 81
• 1920 - Andr‚ Dumont, Belgian mine engineer (Limburgs coal basin), dies at 73
• 1925 - Antonius J Derkinderen, Dutch painter/etcher, dies at 65
• 1931 - Arthur James Cook, union leader (coal miners), dies at 47
• 1931 - Harry Musgrove, cricketer (Test for Australia 1885), dies
• 1935 - H B "Jock" Cameron, S Afr cricket capt (v England 1935, age 30), dies
• 1937 - Maude Valerie White, composer, dies at 82
• 1950 - George Bernard Shaw, Irish author (Pygmalion), dies at 94
• 1952 - Maire O'Neill, actress (Juno & the Paycock, Glamorous Night), dies
• 1956 - Jacob Weinberg, composer, dies at 77
• 1956 - Leo Baeck, Pres of World Union for Progressive Judaism, dies at 83
• 1958 - Adam von Ahn Carse, composer, dies at 80
• 1960 - Dimitri Mitropoulos, Greek/US conductor/composer, dies at 64
• 1961 - James Thurber, humorist (The Male Animal), dies at 66
• 1962 - Felice Lattuada, composer, dies at 80
• 1963 - Ngo Dinh Diem, president of South Vietnam (1955-63), murdered at 62
• 1964 - Haakon Stot˜n, Dutch obo‹st, dies at 49
• 1966 - Mississippi John Hurt, rocker, dies at 73
• 1966 - Sadao Araki, Japanese general/minister of War (1931-34), dies at 89
• 1968 - Ernst Hess, composer, dies at 56
• 1969 - Marion Lloyd Vince, fencer (National champ 1928, 31), dies at 63
• 1970 - Johannes Urzidil, Austria/US writer (Goethe in B”hmen), dies at 74
• 1970 - Richard Cushing, US cardinal to Boston, dies at 75
• 1971 - Martha Vickers, actress (Alimony), dies after long illness at 46
• 1977 - H E Nossak, writer, dies at 76
• 1980 - Edith Bunker, character on "All in the Family", dies
• 1980 - Willie Sutton, US bank robber, dies at 79
• 1984 - Margie V Barfield, US murderer, 1st woman electricuted in 22 years
• 1986 - Paul Frees, cartoon voice (Boris Badenov), dies at 66
• 1991 - Fran Stevens, singer, dies of cancer in Bronx NY at 72
• 1991 - Irwin Allen, dir (Land of the Giants, Poseidon Adventure), dies at 75
• 1992 - Hal Roach, producer (Keystone Kops), dies of pneumonia at 100
• 1993 - P A Jacob Mees, Dutch banker (Mees & Hope), dies at about 86
• 1994 - David Feinberg, AIDS activist/author, dies at 37
• 1994 - Egbert George "Pete" Pitterson, trumpeter, dies at 73
• 1994 - Noah Beery Jr, US actor (Gung Ho!, Heaven With a Gun), dies at 81
• 1995 - Alun Edward Islwyn Pask, rugby International, dies at 58
• 1995 - Alvaro Gomez Hurtado, VP of Columbia (1982-84), assassinated
• 1995 - Florence Greenberg, record company founder, dies at 82
• 1995 - Ivan Metropolitan Ioann Snychev, russion Orthodox Priest, dies at 68
• 1995 - Oliver Wendell Harrington, cartoonist, dies at 83
• 1995 - Rosalind Cash, actress (General Hospital), dies of cancer at 56
• 1995 - Sal Gliatto, baseball player, dies at 93
• 1996 - Alvaro Gomez Hurtado, Colombian politician, dies
• 1996 - Christopher Prater, screen printer, dies at 72
• 1997 - G Harry Stine, writer, dies at 69
• 1997 - Roy McMillan, baseball player (Reds), dies of heart failure at 68