• 1404 - Leon B Alberti, Italian humanist/architect (Della Pittura)
• 1516 - Mary I Tudor, [Bloody Mary], Greenwich, queen of England (1553-58)
• 1559 - Isaac Casaubon, naturalized English classical scholar, theologian
• 1609 - Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, English PM (1660-67)
• 1632 - Giovanni Battista Vitali, composer
• 1677 - Jacques Cassini, French astronomer (rings of Saturn)
• 1716 - Gaspard Fritz, composer
• 1743 - Count Alessandro Volta, Como Italy, physicist
• 1745 - Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta, inventor (battery)
• 1751 - Karl Haack, composer
• 1770 - Johann Christian Heinrich Rinck, composer
• 1771 - Friedrich Christian Ruppe, composer
• 1775 - Thomas Girtin, London, artist/watercolorist
• 1776 - John Parry, composer
• 1781 - Henry Martyn, Truro, missionary
• 1790 - Marshall Hall, Basford Nottinghamshire, physician
• 1795 - George Peabody, South Danvers Mass, merchant/philanthropist
• 1805 - Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough, Rear Admiral (Union Navy)
• 1815 - Henri Leys, Flemish painter
• 1817 - Lewis Addison Armistead, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1863
• 1817 - Walter Page Lane, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1892
• 1819 - Joseph Philbrick Webster, composer
• 1829 - Jean Jacques Alfred Mouton, Brig Gen (Confederate Army), died in 1864
• 1833 - James Deshler, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1863
• 1836 - Ramakrishna, Hooghly Bengal, Hindu saint (preached unity of religions)
• 1836 - Swami Ramakrishna [Gadadhar Chatterji], Indian mystic/hindu leader
• 1838 - Ernst Mach, Chirlitz-Turas Austria, physicist/philosopher/psychologist
• 1841 - Samuel Prowse Warren, composer
• 1844 - Willem Maris, Dutch painter (Hague School)
• 1848 - Louis Comfort Tiffany, glassmaker (stained glass windows)
• 1849 - Alexander L Kielland, Norwegian writer/politician (Garman og Worse)
• 1850 - George Henschel, composer
• 1853 - August Belmont Jr, breeder (Man 'O War)/founder (NY Jockey Club)
• 1857 - Max Klinger, German graphic artist/painter/sculptor
• 1858 - Louise M A, princess of Belgium
• 1859 - Sholem Aleichem, [Solomon Rabinowitz], author (Fiddler on the Roof)
• 1860 - Anders Zorn, Swedish painter/etcher/sculptor (Gustavus Vasa)
• 1875 - Walter Andrae, German archaeologist (Babylon, Assur)
• 1877 - Betsy Ranucci-Beckmann, [Theodora], Dutch author/actress (Dead Water)
• 1880 - Eric De Lamarter, composer
• 1883 - Tom Walls, Kingsthorpe England, actor/producer (Undercover)
• 1884 - Burt Mustin, Pitts Pa, actor (All in the Family, Andy Griffith Show)
• 1887 - Nikos Kasandsakis, writer
• 1888 - Gladys Cooper, England, actress (Margaret-Rogues)
• 1889 - Sybold van Ravesteyn, architect (Blijdorp, CS Rotterdam, Utrecht)
• 1890 - Adolphe Menjou, Pittsburgh, actor (Front Page, Star is Born)
• 1890 - Boris L Pasternak, Russian poet/writer (Dr Zhivago) [NS]
• 1890 - Edward Arnold, NYC, actor (Mr Smith Goes to Washington)
• 1890 - Lauri SA Haarla, Finnish (stage)writer (Juudas, Sukeltaja)
• 1891 - Chester Clute, NJ, actor (Niagra Falls)
• 1892 - Wendell Wilkie, presidential candidate (R-1940)/author (One World)
• 1894 - Andres Segovia, guitarist, Linares, Spain
• 1895 - George "The Gipper" Gipp, football star (Notre Dame)
• 1895 - Semjon Timoshenko, Russ marshal/inspector-general (WW II)
• 1896 - Andr‚ Breton, France, surrealist poet/writer (founder of surr‚alism)
• 1898 - Enzo Ferrari, racing car manufacturer, Modena
• 1898 - K'Tut Tantri, broadcaster/hotelier
• 1899 - Arthur Bryant, English historian (King Charles II)
• 1901 - Reginald Sheffield, London England, actor (Second Chance)
• 1903 - Nikolaj V Podgorny, pres USSR (1965-77)
• 1907 - Billy Dewolfe, Wollaston Mass, actor (Good Morning World)
• 1907 - Harm van Riel, Dutch politician (Dutch Liberal Party)
• 1909 - Matti Jarvinen, Finland, javelin thrower (Olympic-gold-1932)
• 1909 - Wallace Stegner, novelist/critic (Pulitzer-1971-Angle of Repose)
• 1912 - Heinz Khn, German premier (North-Rhine Westphalia)
• 1913 - Artur Axmann, nazi youth leader
• 1913 - Dane Clark, Bkln, actor (Wire Service, Bold Venture, Perry Mason)
• 1914 - Edward George Edwards, chemist
• 1914 - Pee Wee King, Milwaukee Wisc, country vocalist (Pee Wee King Song)
• 1915 - David van de Woestijne, Flemish pianist/composer (Les A‚ronautes)
• 1915 - Marcel Landowsky, composer
• 1916 - Betty Phyllis Gathergood, curator
• 1916 - Jean Drapeau, mayor of Montr‚al (1954- )
• 1917 - Phyllis Calvert, London, actress (Man in Grey)
• 1920 - Bill Cullen, Pitts, TV game show host (over 20 different games)
• 1920 - Jack Palance, [Walter Palanuik], Lattimer Pa, actor (City Slickers)
• 1921 - Barbara Hale, actress (Della Street-Perry Mason)
• 1922 - Eric Gairy, premier (Grenada)
• 1922 - Helen Gurley Brown, Portland Me, author/publisher (Cosmopolitan)
• 1923 - Allan Melvin, KC Mo, actor (Brady Bunch, Barney-All in Family)
• 1924 - Gnter Haese, German sculptor/graphic artist (Guggenheim prize 1967)
• 1925 - George Kennedy, NYC, actor (Cool Hand Luke, Airport, Blue Knight)
• 1926 - Harry "Little" Caesar, blues singer/actor (City Heat, Homer & Eddie)
• 1926 - Len Ford, NFL end (Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers)
• 1927 - Fazal Mahmood, cricketer (Pakistani medium-pace workhorse 1952-62)
• 1927 - John W Warner, (Sen-R-VA, 1979- ), married Liz Taylor
• 1927 - Tabe Bas, actor/opera vocalist (Leiser Wolf in Anatevka)
• 1928 - Jim McElreath, auto racer (1970 Ontario 500)
• 1929 - Leonard Cyril Deighton, English author (Ipcress File, Fighter)
• 1930 - Theodore C Freeman, Haverford Penn, capt USAF/astronaut
• 1931 - Dieter Schonbach, composer
• 1931 - Johnny Hart, cartoonist
• 1931 - Maxwell Thurman, US General
• 1931 - Swraj Paul, Indian/British industrial/multi-millionaire (Caparo)
• 1931 - Toni Morrison, Ohio, novelist (Tar Baby, Beloved, Song of Solomon)
• 1932 - Milos Forman, Czech/US director (Cuckoos Nest, Amadeus)
• 1933 - Bobby Robson, British soccer coach (PSV)
• 1933 - Elisabeth S "Elly" Belder-Ameling, Dutch soprano
• 1933 - Mary Ure, England, model/actress (Reflection of Fear, Windom's Way)
• 1933 - Yoko Ono Lennon, [Mrs John Lennon], Tokyo Japan, vocalist(?)
• 1934 - Aldo Ceccato, Milan Italy, conductor (Detroit Symph Orch 1973-77)
• 1936 - Marin Sorescu, poet/dramatist
• 1936 - Ronald William Eastman, cinematogrpaher
• 1937 - Jeff Farrell, US swimmer (Olympics-2 gold-1960)
• 1938 - Barry Knight, cricketer (England all-rounder mid-60s)
• 1938 - Elke Erb, writer
• 1938 - Manny Mota, baseball outfielder (LA Dodgers)
• 1939 - Claude Ake, political scientist
• 1939 - Marlos Nobre, composer
• 1939 - Petronella CM "Carletta" Banning, actress (Potasch & Perlemoer)
• 1941 - David Blue, [Cohen], Providence RI, rocker (Cupid's Arrow)
• 1941 - Herb Santiago, vocalist (Frankie Lymon & Teenagers-Why Do Fools Fall)
• 1941 - Irma Thomas, [Lee], US vocalist (It's Raining)
• 1945 - Judy Rankin, St Louis Mo, LPGA golfer (Vare Trophy 1976-77)
• 1945 - Michael Nader, St Louis Mo, actor (Peter-Gidget, Dex Dexter-Dynasty)
• 1947 - Carlos A Lopes, Portugal, marathon runner (Olympic-gold-1984)
• 1947 - Dennis De Young, Chicago Il, vocalist (Styx-Its Raining Again)
• 1947 - Eliot L Engel, (Rep-D-NY)
• 1947 - Princess Maria Christina, [Marijke], of Netherlands
• 1948 - Bruce Francis, cricketer (Australian opener in 3 Tests 1972)
• 1948 - Carolyn B Maloney, (Rep-D-NY)
• 1948 - Sinead Cusack, Ireland, actress (Waterland, Revenge)
• 1949 - Cybill Shepherd, Memphis Tn, actress (Moonlighting, Last Picture Show)
• 1950 - John Hughes, director (Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller)
• 1952 - Juice Newton, [Judy Cohen], Virginia, vocalist (Angel of the Morning)
• 1952 - Veronica "Randy" Crawford, US vocalist (One Day I'll Fly Away)
• 1953 - Derek Pellicci, rock drummer (Little River Band-Help Is On It's Way)
• 1953 - Nico Arzbach, rock guitarist/singer (Stampei, Dike)
• 1953 - Robin Bachman, Winnipeg, guitarist (BTO-You Aint Seen Nothing Yet)
• 1954 - John Travolta, Englewood NJ, actor (Welcome Back Kotter, Pulp Fiction)
• 1957 - Marita Koch, German DR, 400m sprinter (Oly-gold-1980)
• 1957 - Vanna White, [Rosich], N Myrtle Beach SC, TV host (Wheel of Fortune)
• 1958 - Peter Koech, Kiliburani Kenya, 3K steeplechaser (Olympic-silver-1988)
• 1960 - Andy Moog, NHL goalie (Oilers, Bruins, Olympics-Canada-1988)
• 1960 - Greta Scacchi, Milan Italy, actress (Coca-Cola Kid, White Mischief)
• 1960 - Roger Wijesuriya, cricketer (bowling avg 294 in 4 Tests for Sri Lanka)
• 1961 - Alycia Moulton, Sacramento CA, tennis star
• 1962 - Gary Reasons, NFL linebacker (NY Giants)
• 1962 - Julie Strain, Concord Calif, actress (Witchcraft IV)
• 1962 - Simon Fletcher, NFL linebacker (Denver Broncos)
• 1963 - John Gesek, NFL center (Washington Redskins)
• 1963 - Rob Andrew, English rugby player
• 1964 - Kevin Tapani, Des Moines IA, pitcher (Chic White Sox, Minn Twins)
• 1964 - Lisa Elaine Comshaw, Akron Ohio, actress (Scanner Cop, Lukas' Child)
• 1964 - Matt Dillon, New Rochelle NY, actor (Flamingo Kid, Tex, Kansas)
• 1965 - Dr Dre, [Andre Young], rap singer
• 1965 - Peter Martini, journalist
• 1966 - Kris King, Bracebridge, NHL left wing (Winnipeg Jets)
• 1966 - Phillip De Freitas, cricket pace bowler (in Dominica England 1986-95)
• 1967 - Colin Jackson, Cardiff England, 100m hurdler (Olympic-silver-1988)
• 1967 - John Valentin, Mineola NY, infielder (Boston Red Sox)
• 1967 - Matt Turner, US baseball pitcher (Florida Marlins)
• 1967 - Roberto Baggio
• 1968 - Molly Ringwald, Roseville Calif, actress (16 Candles, Pretty in Pink)
• 1969 - Alexander Mogilny, Khavarovsk, 1st soviet to defect to NHL (Sabres)
• 1969 - Igor Larionov, Voskresensk Russia, NHL forward (Team Russia, Detroit)
• 1970 - Tyler Green, US baseball pitcher (Phila Phillies)
• 1971 - George Teague, NFL safety (Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers)
• 1971 - Reggie Holt, WLAF safety (London Monarchs)
• 1972 - Lubomir Rybovic, Kosice CZE, hockey forward (Team Slovakia)
• 1972 - Marc Lillibridge, WLAF linebacker (Amsterdam Admirals)
• 1972 - Shani Lynn Nielsen, New Albany IN, Miss America (Indiana-Top 10-1997)
• 1974 - Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Russia, tennis star
• 1975 - Scott Tucker, Birmingham Ala, 400m/800m freestyle relay (Olympics-96)
• 1976 - Chanda Rubin, Lafayette LA, tennis star (1996 Australian Open doubles)
• 1976 - Jason Podollan, Vernon, NHL center (Florida Panthers)
• 1976 - Volker Schenk, WLAF RB (Frankfurt Galaxy)
• 1979 - Julia Greville, Perth Australia, swimmer (Olympics-96)
• 1980 - Alison Rachel Fitch, Hamilton NZ, swimmer (Olympics-96)

Famous deaths for this day ..

• 0999 - Gregory V, [Bruno] 1st German Pope, dies
• 1217 - Alexander Neckum de Sancto Albano, Engl encyclopedist, dies at 59
• 1397 - Enguerrand VII, French master of Coucy/count of Soissons, dies at 56
• 1455 - Fra Angelico, Italian monk/painter, dies
• 1478 - Duke of Clarence, forced drowning in a wine barrel
• 1535 - Agrippa von Nettesheim, German royal astrologer, dies at 48
• 1535 - Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim, physician/theologian, dies
• 1546 - Martin Luther, biblical scholar/religious reformer, dies at 62
• 1564 - Michelangelo Buonarroti, Italian sculptor/painter (David), dies at 88
• 1587 - Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots (1560-87), beheaded at 44 [OS=Feb 8]
• 1660 - Judith Jansdochter Leyster, Dutch painter, buried
• 1683 - Nicolaes Pietersz Berchem, Dutch landscape painter/etcher, dies at 62
• 1712 - Duke of Bourgondi‰, French king Louis XIV's grandson, dies
• 1745 - Nicola Fago, composer, dies at 67
• 1790 - Wilhelm Gottfried Enderle, composer, dies at 67
• 1799 - Maurus Haberhauer, composer, dies at 52
• 1803 - J W L Gleim, writer, dies
• 1807 - August G Meissner, German estheticus/literary, dies at 53
• 1807 - S von Laroche, writer, dies at 75
• 1817 - Giacomo Quarenghi, master builder (Hermitage Theater), dies at 72
• 1829 - Jan Krtitel Kuchar, composer, dies at 77
• 1830 - Charles G G, Earl of Merode, mayor (Brussels), dies at 67
• 1833 - Georg Johann Schinn, composer, dies at 64
• 1833 - Ignac Ruzitska, composer, dies at 55
• 1846 - Giovanni Liverati, composer, dies at 73
• 1861 - Louis C Luzac, Dutch minister of Internal affairs, dies at 74
• 1878 - Peter D Regout, industrialist (Sphinx, Maastricht), dies at 76
• 1885 - Charlotte Helen Sainton-Dolby, composer, dies at 61
• 1890 - Guyla Andr ssy Sr, earl/premier of Hungary (1867-71), dies at 66
• 1895 - Albrecht FR, arch duke of Austrian (Battle at Custozza), dies at 77
• 1898 - Frances Willard, founder (Woman's Christian Temperance), dies at 58
• 1899 - M Sophus Lie, Norwegian mathematician, dies at 56
• 1905 - Jules de Geyter, Belgian poet (International), dies at 75
• 1906 - Willem Doorenbos, literary/critic, dies at 85
• 1911 - Bill Murdoch, cricketer, dies while watching Aust v S Africa Test
• 1917 - Charles E Barber, US chief engraver (1879-1917), dies
• 1925 - James Lane Allen, US writer (Choir Invisible), dies at 75
• 1932 - Frederik Augustus III, King of Saxon (1904-18), dies at 66
• 1933 - James Corbett, (Gentleman Jim), heavyweight box champ (1892-97), dies
• 1938 - Alida JM Tartaud-Little, actress (Rotterdam Stage), dies at 64
• 1938 - Edward Anseele, Belgian minister of Rail, dies at 81
• 1938 - Louis JM de la Vall‚e-Poussin, (The Way to Nirvana), dies at 69
• 1939 - Ludwig Bonvin, composer, dies at 89
• 1943 - Henri Polak, Dutch union leader/politician (soc-dem), dies at 74
• 1949 - Niceto A Zamora y Torres, premier of Spain (1931-36), dies at 71
• 1950 - Voranc Prezikov, [Lovro Kuhar], Slavic author (Jamnica), dies at 56
• 1951 - Piet A W Hopmans, bishop of Breda (Crusade), dies at 85
• 1956 - Gustave Charpentier, French opera composer (Louise), dies at 95
• 1957 - Henry N Russell, co-author (temperature-luminosity graph), dies
• 1959 - Alfred Alessandrescu, composer, dies at 65
• 1959 - Eric Zeisl, composer, dies at 53
• 1959 - Jaroslav Kvapil, composer, dies at 66
• 1963 - Monte Blue, silent film actor (Apache), dies of heart attack at 73
• 1963 - Todd "Hugh" Gaitskell, leader British Labour Party, dies at 56
• 1966 - Anne Anema, Dutch lawyer/journalist/politician (ARP), dies at 94
• 1966 - Casimir von Paszthory, composer, dies at 79
• 1966 - Grigori Grigoyevich Nelyubov, Russian cosmonaut, dies at 31
• 1967 - Manuel Palau Boix, composer, dies at 74
• 1967 - Robert J Oppenheimer, creator of atomic bomb, dies at 62
• 1968 - Sigurd Erixon, etnologist (Atlas "ver Svensk Folkkultur), dies at 79
• 1969 - Dragisa Cvetkovic, Serbian premier of (Yugoslavia 1939-4.), dies at 76
• 1970 - Desiderius A Stracke, Flemish jesuit/literature historian, dies at 94
• 1973 - Franc Costello, US gangster, dies at 82
• 1975 - Chivu Stoica, [Stoica Chivu), premier of Romania (1955-61), dies at 66
• 1975 - Luigi Dallapiccola, composer, dies
• 1975 - Raymond Moley, US advisor to pres Roosevelt "Brain Trust", dies at 88
• 1975 - Syed Nazir Ali, cricketer (2 Tests for India, 4 wickets), dies
• 1976 - Anton Betzner, writer, dies at 81
• 1976 - Eddie Dowling, composer (Anywhere USA), dies at 81
• 1976 - Joseph Henabery, actor/director (Cobra), dies at 88
• 1977 - Andy Devine, [Jeremiah Schwartz], actor (Andy's Gang), dies at 71
• 1977 - Maria Realino, teacher (Botany of Cura‡ao), dies at 87
• 1977 - Ralph Graves, actor (Extra Girl), dies at 77
• 1978 - Charlotte Greenwood, actress (Oklahoma, Moon over Miami), dies at 84
• 1978 - Derrick De Marney, actor (Inheritance, Projected Man), dies at 71
• 1978 - Maggie McNamara, actress (3 Coins in a Fountain, Cardinal), dies at 49
• 1980 - Gale Robbins, actress (Fuller Brush Girl, Mr Hex), dies at 58
• 1982 - Edith Ngaio Marsh, NZ detective writer/producer, dies at 82
• 1982 - Tina Carver, actress (Inside Detroit, Uranium Boom), dies at 58
• 1985 - Willy Alberti, [Carel Verbruggen], Dutch singer, dies at 58
• 1990 - Hulk, fictional character in "Death of Incredible Hulk" on NBC, dies
• 1993 - Edward S "Ted" Haworth, US set designer (Sayonara, Marty), dies at 76
• 1993 - Jacqueline Hill, dies of cancer at 63
• 1993 - Leslie Norman, English director/producer (Dunkirk), dies at 82
• 1993 - Michael David Morrison, actor (Caleb-As the World Turns), dies at 33
• 1994 - Peter Caddy, founder of the Findhorn Community, dies at 76
• 1995 - Calder Willingham, US scriptwriter (End as a Man), dies at 72
• 1995 - Denny Cordel, rock music producer-Laverack, dies at 51
• 1995 - Eddie Williams, blues/Jazz Bassist, dies at 82
• 1995 - John Rhea "Yank" Lawson, trumpeter, dies at 83
• 1995 - Yank Lawson, US jazz trumpeteer (Stormy weather), dies at 84
• 1996 - Brian Daley, writer, dies at 48
• 1996 - Jack Thieuloy, writer, dies at 64
• 1996 - Nicholas Beriozoff, ballet master, dies at 89
• 1996 - Richard Leslie Hill, historian, dies at 94
• 1997 - Emily Hahn, writer, dies at 91
• 1997 - Enrique Peralta Azurdia, milt pres of Guatemala in (1963-66), dies
• 1997 - Eric William Fenby, musician, dies at 90
• 1998 - Harry Caray, sportscaster (Chicago Cubs), dies at 77
• 1998 - Mya Than Tint, Myanmarese author, dies of brain hemorrhage at 69
• 1998 - Robert Merrill, songwriter (Funny Girl), commits suicide at 76