• 1507 - Joost de Damhoudere, Flemish lawyer (Praxis rerum criminalium)
• 1562 - Lope Felix de Vega, Madrid Spain, dramatist/poet (Angelica, Arcadia)
• 1697 - Gerhard Tersteegen, German evangelist/poet (wrote in blood)
• 1712 - Charles-Michel abb‚ de l'Ep‚‚, French educator (school for the deaf)
• 1721 - Willem Crul, admiral (West-Indies)
• 1734 - Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Wenkel, composer
• 1737 - Christian Friedrich Penzel, composer
• 1741 - Johann Christian Frischmuth, composer
• 1752 - Johann Friedrich Reichardt, composer
• 1753 - Otto Carl Erdmann Kospoth, composer
• 1787 - Franz Xavier Gruber, Austria, organist/composer (Silent Night)
• 1823 - Joseph Alexander Cooper, Bvt Mjr Gen (Union volunteers), died in 1910
• 1825 - Edward Augustus Wild, Brig General (Union volunteers), died in 1891
• 1828 - Franjo Racki, Croatian historian/politician
• 1834 - Jean-Baptist Colyns, composer
• 1835 - Andrew Carnegie, Scottish/US industrialist/philanthropist
• 1839 - Stanislaw Duniecki, composer
• 1840 - Hugo Verriest, Flemish author/poet (Flemish Movement)
• 1844 - Karl F Benz, German designer/auto manufacturer (4-taktmotor)
• 1845 - Jos‚ Maria de Eca de Queiroz (Queir¢s), Portuguese author (Contos)
• 1846 - Carry Nation, scourge of barkeepers & drinkers
• 1852 - Johan N Salvator, [Johann Orth], archduke of Austria
• 1856 - Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev, Russia, composer (Oresteia)
• 1862 - Ethelbert Woodbridge Nevin, composer
• 1871 - Cornelis J "Cor" van Ast, actor/director (Ghost Hotel)
• 1873 - Dirk Sch„fer, Dutch pianist/composer (Javanese Rhapsody)
• 1877 - Harley Granville-Barker, London, dramatist/producer/critic
• 1878 - Georg Kaiser, writer
• 1880 - Leonard S Woolf, English author/husband of Virginia Woolf
• 1881 - John XXIII, [Angelo Roncalli], Bergamo Italy, 261st pope (1958-63)
• 1881 - Peder Gram, composer
• 1883 - Percy Marmont, London England, actor (Capt Apache)
• 1886 - Percy Holmes, cricketer (Engl, 555 partners with Sutcliffe for Yorks)
• 1886 - Rex Maupin, St Joseph Mo, orch leader (Tin Pan Alley TV)
• 1893 - Joseph W Krutch, US naturalist (Was Europe a Success?)
• 1895 - Anastas I Mikoyan, Armenia, member of Supreme Soviet
• 1895 - Ludvik Svoboda, Czech general/politician
• 1895 - Wilhelm Kempff, Juterbog Germany, pianist (Unter dem Zimbelstern)
• 1896 - Virgil Thomson, KC Mo, composer/music critic (4 Saints in 3 Acts)
• 1899 - Vera Reynolds, Richmond VA, silent screen actress (Lawless Woman)
• 1899 - William R Burnett, US, author (Little Caesar)
• 1900 - Arthur Schwartz, composer (Girl from Paris, Excuse my Dust)
• 1900 - Helen Gahagan Douglas, Nixon's 1st opponent/(Rep-D-Ca)
• 1901 - Tibor Serly, Losonc Hungary, violinist/composer (American Elegy)
• 1902 - Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins (#2), hall of famer
• 1903 - Martin Soames, traveller
• 1903 - William Dehart Hubbard, Cin Ohio, long jumper (Olympic-gold-1924)
• 1904 - Herbert Reynolds Inch, composer
• 1904 - Jessie Royce Landis, [Medbury], Chicago, actress (North by Northwest)
• 1904 - Lillian Copeland, US discus thrower (Olympic-gold-1932)
• 1909 - Hugh Davson, physiologist/writer
• 1909 - Manny Martindale, cricketer (fiery WI pace bowler of 30's)
• 1910 - Leon Poliakov, historian
• 1912 - Johannes D De Jong, Frisian poet/photographer (Kar £t twa)
• 1913 - Jack Davies, screenwriter
• 1914 - "Joltin'" Joe DiMaggio, Yankee Clipper (56 game hitting streak)
• 1914 - Eddie Boyd, blues vocal/pianist (Mississippi)
• 1915 - Augusto Pinochet, general/president (Chile)
• 1915 - George Mudie, cricketer (WI all-rounder in one Test 1935, 5 & 3-40)
• 1915 - Ron Hamence, cricketer (Australian batsman post-WWII)
• 1919 - Chaim Pearl, rabbi
• 1919 - Ricardo Montalban, Mx, actor (Fantasy Island, Star Trek II, Naked Gun)
• 1919 - Steve Brodie, Eldorado Ks, actor (Life & Legend of Wyatt Earp)
• 1922 - Ilja Hurnik, composer
• 1923 - Jaap van Meekren, Dutch TV host (AVRO/RTL4)
• 1923 - Mauno Koivisto, president of Finland (1982-94)
• 1924 - Paul Desmond, US jazz saxophonist
• 1924 - Tui St George Tucker, composer
• 1925 - Jeffrey Hunter, Orleans La, actor (Christopher Pike-Star Trek Cage)
• 1925 - Jos‚ Napoleon Duarte, president El Salvador
• 1926 - Murray Schisgal, playwright (Luv)
• 1926 - Poul [William] Anderson, US, sci-fi author (7 Hugos, Mirkheim)
• 1928 - James "Jimmy" Johnson, US gospel/blues singer/guitarist
• 1929 - Jack Hogan, Chapel Hill NC, ator (Combat, Adam 12, Sierra)
• 1929 - Theo Bruins, Dutch pianist/composer (Sei Studii)
• 1931 - Dickie Jeeps, English rugby international/chairman Sports Council
• 1933 - Kathryn Grant Crosby, Houston Texas, actress (Mr Cory, Big Circus)
• 1933 - Krzysztof Penderecki, Polish composer (Die Teufel von Loudon)
• 1933 - Lenny Moore, NFL back (Baltimore Colts)
• 1933 - Ramiro Cortes, composer
• 1933 - Rene Enriquez, SF Calif, actor (Ray Calletano-Hill Street Blues)
• 1935 - Gloria Steinem, Toledo Ohio, femnist/author (Ms)
• 1936 - Matt Clark, Washington DC, actor/director (Return to Oz, Horror Show)
• 1938 - Charles Starkwether, murderer (Texas Tower)
• 1938 - John "Jack" Baines, mountaineering publisher
• 1939 - Martin Feldstein, economist (1977 John Bates Clark Medal)
• 1939 - Rosanna Schiaffino, Genoa Italy, actress (Minotaur, Mazzabubu)
• 1940 - Percy Sledge, soul singer (When A Man Loves A Woman)
• 1940 - Richard Furrer, Worgl Germany, astronaut (STS 22)
• 1942 - Rosa Von Praunheim, [Holger Mischwitzky], Riga Latvia, dir (Affengeil)
• 1942 - Tracey Walter, Jersey City NJ, actor (Best of the West)
• 1943 - Roy Lynes, rocker (Status Quo)
• 1947 - John Larroquette, New Orleans LA, actor (Dan Fielding-Night Court)
• 1947 - Jonathan Kaplan, Paris France, director (Heart Like a Wheel)
• 1947 - Linda Laflamme, rocker
• 1947 - Val Fuentes, rocker (It's A Beautiful Day)
• 1948 - Storm Field, [Elliot], NY, weatherman (WABC TV, WCBS TV)
• 1949 - Kerry O'Keeffe, cricketer (Australian leg-spinner 1971-77)
• 1949 - Rita Jenrette, San Antonio Tx, wife of Rep John Jenrette (D-SC)
• 1949 - [Boris] Alexander Godunov, Sakhalin USSR, dancer/actor (Die Hard)
• 1951 - Bucky Dent, all star shortstop (Chicago White Sox, NY Yankees)
• 1951 - Johnny Rep, Dutch soccer player
• 1952 - Amelia Rorer, LPGA golfer
• 1952 - Ernest Harden Jr, Detroit Mich, actor (Marcus-Jeffersons)
• 1952 - Imran Khan Niaz, cricketer (Pakistan's greatest all-rounder)
• 1953 - Monique St Pierre, Weisbaden Germany, playmate of year (Nov, 1978)
• 1955 - Connie Palmen, Dutch author/widow of Ischa Me˜er
• 1956 - Ena Heese, South African costume designer (Willem of Orange)
• 1956 - Liana Vicens, Puerto Rico, 100m breaststroke (Olympics 1968)
• 1957 - Chico Walker, baseball player
• 1958 - Gary Coveyou, rocker
• 1959 - Steve Rothery, Brampton, guitarist, (Marillion-Clutching at Straws)
• 1960 - Amy Grant, Augusta GA, gospel/rock singer (Glory of Love, Baby Baby)
• 1960 - John F Kennedy Jr, NYC, son of JFK/lawyer/magazine publisher (George)
• 1960 - Kasey Smith, Queens NY, heavy metal artist (Danger Danger-Screw It)
• 1960 - Mary Ostergren, St Paul Minn, biathelete (Olympics-1994)
• 1961 - Amy Gibson, actress (General Hospital)
• 1961 - Kenny Monday, Tulsa Okla, 163 lbs freestyles wrestler (Oly-88, 92, 96)
• 1963 - Bernie Kosar, NFL quarterback (Miami Dolphins, Cleve Browns)
• 1963 - Steve Ave, St Germain Enlay France, US 1500m runner
• 1964 - Dan Saleaumua, NFL defensive tackle (KC Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks)
• 1964 - Kevin Jackson, Highland Falls NY, 180« lbs freestyle wrestler (Oly-96)
• 1964 - Nolan Jay Henke, Battle Creek MI, PGA golfer (1990 BC Open)
• 1964 - Wendy Wyland, Jackson Mich, platform diver (Olympic-bronze-1984)
• 1965 - Anthony Newman, NFL safety (New Orleans Saints)
• 1965 - Cris Carter, NFL wide receiver (Minn Vikings)
• 1965 - Jeff Norton, Acton, NHL defenseman (Edmonton Oilers)
• 1965 - Mike Gebhardt, Columbus Ohio, mistral yachter (Olympics-6th-1996)
• 1965 - Yasmin "Yaz" Farooq, Waupun Wisc, rower (Olympics-4th-92, 96)
• 1966 - Mark Whiten, Pensacola FL, outfielder (Atlanta Braves, NY Yankees)
• 1966 - Stacy Lattisaw, Wash DC, disco singer (Million Dollar Baby)
• 1967 - Andrea Stinson, WNBA guard (Charlotte Sting)
• 1967 - Anthony Nesty, swimmer (won Suriname's 1st gold olympic medal)
• 1967 - Curtis Baldwin, LA Calif, actor (Calvin-227)
• 1968 - John Johnstone, Liverpool NY, pitcher (Houston Astros)
• 1968 - Jory Husain, Milwaukee Wisc, actor (Jawaharial-Head of the Class)
• 1969 - Anthony Peeler, NBA guard (LA Lakers, Vancouver Grizzlies)
• 1969 - Donald Reynolds, WLAF defensive tackle (Frankfurt Galaxy)
• 1969 - Jacqueline Hennessy, Edmonton, actress (Dead Ringers)
• 1969 - Jillian Hennessy, Edmonton, twin actress (Claire-Law & Order, Paper)
• 1970 - Purvis Hunt, NFL/WLAF guard (Houston Oilers, Scottish Claymores)
• 1970 - Saskia Sibilo, Miss Suriname (1990)
• 1970 - Shane Pahukoa, NFL safety (NO Saints)
• 1971 - Christina Applegate, Hollywood, actress (Kelly-Married With Children)
• 1972 - Kevin Han, Shanghai China, US badminton player (Olympics-96)
• 1972 - Petteri Nummelin, Turku FIN, hockey defenseman (Team Finland)
• 1973 - Erick Strickland, NBA guard (Dallas Mavericks)
• 1973 - Yatil Green, wide receiver (Miami Dolphins)
• 1974 - Cynthia Geyn Brown, San Jose CA, playmate (May, 1995)
• 1978 - Lauren Hewitt, Australian 100m/200m runner (Olympics-96)
• 1978 - Laurie Miller, Miss Alaska Teen USA (1997)
• 1990 - Yasmin van der Meer, 15 millionth Netherlander

Famous deaths for this day ..

• 0992 - Mieszko I, Polish advisor to Pope John XV, dies
• 1120 - Countess of Perche, bastard daughter of English king Henry I, drowns
• 1120 - William, English crown prince/son of Henry I, drowns at 17
• 1185 - Lucius III, [Ubaldo Allucingoli], Italian Pope (1181-85), dies
• 1456 - Jacques Coeur, French merchant/banker, dies in battle
• 1640 - Giles Farnaby, composer, dies
• 1750 - Francesco Feroci, composer, dies at 77
• 1755 - Johann Georg Pisendel, German violist/composer, dies at 76
• 1773 - Carl Hockh, composer, dies at 66
• 1815 - Johann Peter Saloman, composer, dies at 70
• 1830 - Pierre Rode, composer, dies at 56
• 1854 - John G Lockhart, [scorpion], English biographer, dies at 60
• 1865 - Heinrich Barth, German historian/geographer (Central Africa), dies
• 1883 - Ludwig Erk, composer, dies at 76
• 1885 - Alfonso XII, king of Spain (1874-85), dies at 27
• 1885 - Thomas A Hendricks, 21st VP, dies at 66, 8 months after taking office
• 1887 - Johann J Bachofen, Swiss historic rights, dies at 71
• 1893 - Joseph W Krutch, US naturalist (Was Europe a Success?), dies
• 1895 - Edmond van der Straeten, Belgian lawyer/musicologist, dies at 68
• 1899 - Robert Lowry, composer, dies at 73
• 1901 - Josef Gabriel Rheinberger, German composer/music theorist, dies at 62
• 1913 - Robert S Ball, Irish mathematician/astronomer (Ball Screw), dies
• 1914 - Davorin Jenko, composer, dies at 79
• 1923 - Ernst Debes, German cartographer (Moon Atlas), dies at 83
• 1923 - Syd Callaway, cricket all-round (3 Tests for Australia 1891-95), dies
• 1935 - Maria H "Mina" Beersmans, Flemish actress (After 30 Years), dies at 72
• 1941 - Pedro Aguirre Cerda, president Chili (People's Front), dies
• 1944 - Kenesaw Mountain Landis, judge/baseball commisioner, dies at 78
• 1948 - Charles D Brown, actor (Eve Knew Her Apples), dies at 61
• 1949 - Luther "Bill" Robinson, "Bojangles" famed tap dancer, dies at 71
• 1951 - Raden Mas Noto Suroto, Indonesian poet (Wayang Songs), dies at 63
• 1952 - Antonio Guarnieri, composer, dies at 72
• 1952 - Jean-Fernand Vaubourgoin, composer, dies at 71
• 1958 - Charles F Kettering, invented auto self-starter, dies at 82
• 1959 - G‚rard Philipe, French actor (El Cid, Don Carlos), dies at 36
• 1964 - Clarence Kolb, actor (Mr Honeywell-My Little Margie), dies at 90
• 1967 - Ossip Zadkine, [Zadkin], Russ sculptor (Destroyed City), dies at 77
• 1968 - Marcel Labey, composer, dies at 93
• 1968 - Phil Lord, actor (Stud's Place), dies at 89
• 1968 - Upton B Sinclair, US author (Jungle), dies at 90
• 1970 - Yukio Mishima, Japanese author/nationalist (Harakiri), dies at 45
• 1971 - Hank Mann, actor (Keystone Kops), dies at 84
• 1972 - Hans H B Scharoun, German architect (Berlin Philharmonic), dies at 79
• 1973 - Laurence Harvey, actor (Of Human Bondage), dies of cancer at 45
• 1974 - Nick Drake, rocker, dies of a drug overdose at 26
• 1974 - Rosemary Lane, actress (Chatterbox, 4 Wives), dies at 61
• 1974 - [Sithu] U Thant, UN Sec-General (1961-72), dies in NY of cancer at 65
• 1975 - Moyna MacGill, actress (Strange Affair of Uncle Harry), dies
• 1977 - Richard Carlson, actor (Col MacKenzie-MacKenzie's Raiders), dies at 65
• 1980 - George Raft, NYC, actor (Scarface), dies at 85
• 1981 - Jack Albertson, actor (Chico & the Man), dies at 74
• 1982 - Robert Coote, actor (MacBeth), dies in NYC of a heart attack at 73
• 1987 - Anton F Pieck, illustrator (1001 Nights), dies at 92
• 1987 - Harold Washington, 1st black mayor of Chicago (D, 1983-87), dies at 65
• 1989 - Frank M Thomas, actor (Behind the Headlines, M'Liss), dies
• 1989 - Ratu Sir George Cakobau, Fiji cricketer/Gov-General, dies
• 1990 - Bill Vukovich, Indie 500 driver, dies in crash at 27
• 1991 - Bill Graham, rock promoter, dies
• 1991 - Eleanor Audley, voice (Wicked Stepmother-Cinderella), dies at 86
• 1993 - Anthony Burgess, novelist (Clockwork Orange), dies of cancer at 76
• 1993 - Claudia McNeil, actress (Raisin in the Sun), dies of diabetes at 77
• 1994 - Arthur Ballard, artist, dies at 79
• 1994 - Gerard John Toorenaar, Amsterdam police commissar, dies at 69
• 1995 - Ambrose Thibodeaux, cajun accordionist, dies at 92
• 1996 - Hugh Joseph Charles James L'Etang, medical writer, dies at 79
• 1996 - Michael Economides, restaurateur, dies at 86
• 1996 - Richard Stubbs, publicity adviser, dies at 87
• 1997 - Charles Hallahan, actor (Hunter), dies of heart attack at 54
• 1997 - Fenton Robinson, US blues guitarist (Tennessee Woman), dies at 62
• 1997 - Hastings Kamuzu Band, PM/Pres of Malawi (1964-66/66-94), dies