Today In History - Friday, April 17, 2026




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Welcome to Today In History for Friday, April 17, 2026.

On this day in history ..

0858 - Benedict III ends his reign as Catholic Pope
1421 - Dikes at Dort Holland breaks, 100,000 drown
1492 - Christopher Columbus signs contract with Spain to find Indies
1521 - Martin Luther is excommunicated from Roman Catholic Church
1524 - Giovanni Verrazano, a florentine navigator, discovers New York Bay
1534 - Sir Thomas More confined in London Tower
1555 - Siena surrenders for Spanish troops
1596 - Arch duke Albrecht of Austria occupies Calais
1629 - 1st commercial fishery established
1704 - 1st successful US newspaper; published in Boston by John Campbell
1711 - Charles VI Habsburg becomes king of Austria
1747 - French troops occupy Zeeuws-Flanders, Netherlands
1758 - Francis Williams, 1st US black college graduate, publishes poems
1793 - Battle of Warsaw
1808 - Bayonne Decree by Napoleon I of France orders seizure of US ships
1817 - 1st US school for deaf (Hartford, Conn)
1824 - Russia abandons all North American claims south of 54ø 40' N
1839 - Guatemala forms republic
1853 - Thorbecke govt resigns
1853 - US Marine Hospital at Presidio (SF) forms
1861 - Indianola TX-"Star of West" taken by Confederacy
1861 - Virginia is 8th state to secede
1863 - R Grierson's: La Grange, TN to Baton Rouge, LA
1864 - Battle of Plymouth, NC
1864 - Bread revolt in Savannah, Georgia
1864 - Grant suspends prisoner-of-war exchanges
1865 - Mary Surratt is arrested as a conspirator in Lincoln's assassination
1869 - 1st pro baseball games-Cin Reds 24, Cin amateurs 15
1875 - "Snooker" (variation of pool) invented by Sir Neville Chamberlain
1892 - 1st Sunday NL baseball game, Reds beat Cards 5-1
1895 - Treaty of Shimonoseki signed, ends 1st Sino-Japanese War (1894-95)
1900 - 7 high chiefs of American Samoa sign Instrument of Cession
1905 - US Supreme court judges maximum work day unconstitutional
1907 - Ellis Island, NY-11,745 immigrants arrive
1912 - 1st unofficial gold record (Al Jolson's "Ragging The Baby To Sleep")
1920 - American Professional Football Association forms (NFL)
1923 - Longest NL opening game, Phillies & Dodgers tie 5-5 in 14
1924 - Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures & Louis B Mayer Co merged to form MGM
1925 - NY Yankee Babe Ruth has ulcer surgery
1925 - Paul Painlev‚ follows Edouard Herriot on as French premier
1927 - Japan's Wakarsoeki govt falls/Baron Tanaka becomes premier
1930 - Abkhazian ASSR forms in Georgian SSR
1932 - Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia ends slavery
1933 - Chicago Bears win their 1st NFL Game beating NY Giants 23-21
1934 - New Fenway Park opens, Washington Senators beat Red Sox 6-5
1935 - Provincial-National elections (Musserts NSB achieves 7.9%/44 chairs)
1937 - Cartoon characters Daffy Duck, Elmer J Fudd & Petunia Pig, debut
1939 - Joe Louis KOs Jack Roper in 1 for heavyweight boxing title
1939 - SN Behrman's "No Time for Comedy," premieres in NYC
1939 - Stalin signs British-France-Russian anti-nazi pact
1941 - British troop land in Iraq/Yugoslavia; surrender to nazis
1941 - Office of Price Administration forms (handled rationing)
1942 - 12 Lancasters bombs MAN-factory in Augsburg
1942 - Operations begin to destroy Sobibor Concentration Camp
1943 - Admiral Yamamoto flies from Truk to Rabaul
1943 - SS-lt-general Jrgen Stoop arrives in Warsaw
1945 - 8th Air Force bombs Dresden
1945 - German occupiers flood Wieringermeer Neth
1945 - Mussolini flees from Sal• to Milan
1945 - US troops lands in Mindanao
1946 - Syria declares independence from French administration
1947 - Jackie Robinson bunts for his 1st major league hit
1951 - NY Yankee Mickey Mantle's 1st game, he goes 1 for 4
1953 - Mickey Mantle hits a 565' (172 m) HR in Wash DC's Griffith Stadium
1955 - Betty Jameson wins LPGA Babe Didrikson-Zaharias Golf Open
1956 - Bulgaria premier Tchervenkov resigns
1956 - Kominform disbands
1956 - Premium Savings Bonds introduced in Great Britain
1956 - USSR's Cominform (Parliament) dissolves
1956 - Willie Mosconi sinks 150 consecutive balls in a billiard tournament
1958 - Brussel's (Belgium) World Fair opens
1960 - American Samoa sets up a constitutional government
1960 - Cleveland Indians trade Rocky Colavito to Tigers for Harvey Kuenn
1961 - 1,400 Cuban exiles land in Bay of Pigs attempt to overthrow Castro
1961 - 33rd Academy Awards - "Apartment," Burt Lancaster & Liz Taylor win
1964 - "Cafe Crown" opens at Martin Beck Theater NYC for 3 performances
1964 - "High Spirits" opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 375 performances
1964 - 1st game at Shea Stadium, NY Mets lose to Pitts Pirates, 4-3
1964 - Ford Mustang formally introduced ($2368 base)
1964 - Jerrie Mock becomes 1st woman to fly solo around the world
1966 - 100th intl soccer meet between Netherlands-Belgium (3-1)
1966 - Carol Mann wins LPGA Raleigh Ladies Golf Invitational
1967 - Shortwave Radio NY Worldwide goes back on the air after a week off
1967 - Surveyor 3 launched; soft lands on Moon, April 20
1968 - "Fade Out-Fade In" closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 72 perfs
1968 - A's 1st game in Oakland-Alameda Stadium, lose 4-1 to Balt Orioles
1969 - Bernadette Devlin elected to British house of commons
1969 - Czechoslovakia's Communist Party chairman Alexander Dubcek deposed
1969 - Mont Expos Bill Stoneman no-hits Phillies, 7-0
1969 - Sirhan Sirhan is convicted of assassinating Sen Robert F Kennedy
1969 - The Band (formerly The Hawks), perform their 1st concert
1970 - Apollo 13 limps back safely, Beech-built oxygen tank no help
1970 - Paul McCartney's 1st solo album "McCartney" is released
1971 - Egypt, Libya & Syria form federation (FAR)
1971 - People's Republic Bangladesh forms, under sheik Mujib ur-Rahman
1972 - 1st Boston Women's Marathon won by Nina Kuscsik of NY in 3:10:26
1972 - 76th Boston Marathon won by Olavi Suomalainen of Finland in 2:15:39
1972 - Revised Dutch constitution proclaimed
1972 - Kiteman attempting to throw out 1st ball in Phillie Vet crashes into centerfield seats
1973 - 2nd Boston Women's Marathon won by Jacqueline Hansen of CA in 3:05:59
1973 - 77th Boston Marathon won by Jon Anderson of Oreg in 2:16:03
1974 - Bundy victim Susan Rancourt disappears from CWU, Ellensburg, WA
1974 - Moslem fundamentalists assault military academy in Heliopolis Egypt
1975 - Khmer Rouge captures Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Kampuchea Natl Day)
1975 - Penguins 6-Isles 4-Quarterfinals-Penguins hold 3-0 lead
1975 - Phnom Penh fell to Communist insurgents, ending Cambodia's 5-year war
1976 - NL greatest comeback, trailing 12-1 Phils win 18-16 in 10, Mike Schmidt hits 4 consecutive HRs
1977 - "I Love My Wife" opens at Barrymore Theater NYC for 864 performances
1977 - Christian-democrats win Belgium parliamentary election
1977 - Sandra Palmer wins LPGA Women's International Golf Tournament
1978 - 63,500,000 shares traded on NY stock exchange (record)
1978 - 7th Boston Women's Marathon won by Gayle Barron of Ga in 2:44:52
1978 - 82nd Boston Marathon won by Bill Rodgers of Mass in 2:10:13
1978 - Pulitzer prize awarded to Carl Sagan for "Dragons of Eden"
1979 - Brian Clark's "Whose Life is it Anyway?," premieres in London
1981 - Isle Potvin's 3 playoff power-play goals tie NHL record vs Oilers
1981 - Ranger's Anders Hedberg is 2nd to score on a Stanley Cup penalty shot
1982 - Canada adopts its constitution
1982 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1983 - 1st National Coin Week begins
1983 - Grete Waltz runs female world record marathon (2:25:29)
1983 - In Warsaw, police route 1,000 Solidarity supporters
1983 - India entered space age launching SLV-3 rocket
1983 - Lynn Adams wins LPGA Combanks Orlando Golf Classic
1983 - Nolan Ryan strikes out his 3,500th batter
1983 - Islanders tie NHL record with 3 shorthanded playoff goals vs Rangers Rangers 7-Isles 6-Patrick Div Finals-Isles hold 2-1 lead Wayne Gretzky scores 7 goals in one Stanley Cup playoff game
1984 - Braves pitcher Pascual Perez suspended due to cocaine usage
1984 - Libyan embassy demonstration, 1 shot dead
1986 - IBM produces 1st megabit-chip
1986 - Netherlands & Scilly Islands sign peace treaty (war of 1651)
1986 - Pulitzer prize awarded to Larry McMurtry for "Lonesome Dove"
1987 - Julius Erving becomes 3rd NBA player to score 30,000 points
1987 - Richard Wilbur appointed as US poet laureate
1987 - USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR
1988 - Ethiopian Belayneh Densimo runs world record marathon (2:06:50)
1988 - Nancy Lopez wins LPGA AI Star/Centinela Hospital Golf Classic
1989 - 18th Boston Women's Marath won by Ingrid Kristiansen of Nor in 2:24:33
1989 - 93rd Boston Marathon won by Abebe Mekonen of Ethiopia in 2:09:06
1989 - Maximum NY State unemployment benefits raised to $245 per week
1989 - Polish labor union granted legal status
1989 - Soviet-US agreement allows Soviets to fight US pros
1990 - Gas explodes on passenger train in Kumrahar India, 80 die
1991 - Dow Jones closes above 3,000 for 1st time (3,004.46)
1991 - Railroad workers go on strike in US
1993 - Police officers found guilty of violating Rodney Kings civil rights
1993 - STS-56 (Discovery) lands
1994 - "Little More Magic" closes at Belasco Theater NYC after 30 perfs
1994 - "Twilight - Los Angeles 1992" opens at Cort Theater NYC for 72 perfs
1994 - 55th PGA Seniors Golf Championship: Lee Trevino wins
1994 - Aruba govt of Oduber falls
1994 - Jennie Garth weds Dan Clark
1994 - Val Skinner wins LPGA Atlanta Women's Golf Championship
1995 - 24th Boston Women's Marathon won by Uta Pippig of Germany in 2:25:11
1995 - 99th Boston Marathon won by Cosmas Ndeti of Kenya in 2:09:22
1997 - John Bell, 115, recieves new pacemaker
1997 - NJ Devil Martin Brodeur is 2nd NHL goalie to score in a playoff game

Famous birthdays for this day ..

1539 - Tobias Stimmer, Swiss painter/cartoonist (Comedia)
1573 - Maximilian I, duke/ruler of Bayern (Catholic League)
1586 - John Ford, English dramatist ('Tis Pity She's a Whore)
1587 - Marco Ivan Lukacic, composer
1622 - Henry Vaughan, English poet (Silex Scintillans)
1644 - Abraham Jansz Storck, painter, baptized
1666 - Fran‡ois Valentijn, Dutch vicar/writer
1676 - Frederik I, van Hessen Kassel, King of Sweden (1720-51)
1683 - Johann David Heinichen, composer
1699 - Robert Blair, Scottish poet (Grave)
1715 - Johann Wolfgang Kleinknecht, composer
1719 - Christian Gottfried Krause, composer
1738 - Philip Hayes, composer
1741 - Johann Gottlieb Naumann, composer
1741 - Samuel Chase, judge (signed Decl of Ind)
1774 - Vaclav Jan Krtitel Tomasek, organist/pianist/composer
1788 - Joseph Gilbert Totten, Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1864
1797 - Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Tolbecque, Belgian composer/conductor
1809 - Philip St George Cocke, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1861
1811 - Ann Sheppard Mounsey, composer
1813 - Henry Washington Benham, Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1884
1820 - Gottfried Conradi, composer
1827 - French C Baeckelmans, Flemish architect (St Amanduskerk, Antwerp)
1837 - John Pierpont Morgan, US banker/CEO (US Steel)
1845 - Isabel Barrows, US, editor/penologist (Conference on Negro Question)
1863 - Johannes P Boskaljon, Cura‡ao composer/conductor
1868 - Charles R Gallas, Dutch lexicographer (French dictionary)
1869 - Johannes M Meulenhoff, Dutch publisher
1870 - Ray Stannard Baker, US, journalist (Puliter Prize 1940)
1876 - Ian Hay, Scotland, novelist/playwright (PIp, Carrying On)
1881 - Anton Wildgans, writer
1882 - Artur Schnabel, Lipnik Austria, pianist (Beethoven Piano Sonatas)
1883 - Hermann Darewsky, composer
1885 - Cecil Burleigh, composer
1885 - Isak Dinesen, Danish writer (Out of Africa, 7 Gothic Tales)
1885 - Karen Blixen-Finecke, [Dinesen], Danish writer (Out of Africa)
1885 - Tania Blixen, writer
1886 - Otto Lederer, Czechoslovakia, actor (Jazz Singer)
1890 - Art Acord, Glenwood Sevier UT, western actor (Arizona Kid, Hard Fists)
1892 - Jean PJC Haesaert, Flemish lawyer/sociologist
1894 - Nikita S Khrushchev, 1st secretary USSR (1953-64)
1895 - Bert Wheeler, actor (Nitwits, Hold 'em Jail, High Flyers, Rainmakers)
1896 - Senor Wences, ventriloquist (his hand acts as a puppet)
1897 - Antonius F "Anton" Coolen, Dutch author (Village by the River)
1897 - Harald Saeverud, Bergen Norway, composer (Saline) [NS]
1897 - Thornton N Wilder, US, novelist/playwright (Our Town)
1899 - Vincent Wigglesworth, entomologist
1901 - George Keyt, artist
1902 - Anton Beuving, lyricist (Ketelbinkie)
1903 - Gregor Piatigorsky, Ekaterinoslav Russia, cellist (or 4/20)
1903 - Nicolas Nabokov, Near Lubcha Minsk Russia, composer (Holy Devil)
1904 - Edward Chodorov, playwright/director (Story of Louis Pasteur)
1904 - Naoomal Jeoomal, cricketer (pioneer Indian Test opening batsman)
1905 - Arthur Lake, Corbin Ky, actor (Dagwood-Blondie)
1905 - Louis Jean Heydt, Montclair NJ, actor (Joe-Waterfront)
1906 - M Rooi, editor-in-chief (New Rotterdam Daily)
1909 - Alain Emile Louis Marie Poher, politician
1909 - Humphrey Sims Moore, pacifist/journalist
1909 - Patrick Reilly, diplomat
1911 - Earl of Lauderdale
1911 - Jean-Pierre Herve Bazin, writer
1911 - Mikhail Botvinnik, of USSR, world chess champion (1948-63)
1912 - Isador Caplan, lawyer/Aldeburgh Festival Pioneer
1913 - Paul Langton, Salt Lake City Utah, actor (Leslie-Peyton Place)
1913 - Richard Travis, Carlsbad NM, actor (Missile to the Moon)
1916 - Azijn Banana, [Oscar Enau], Antillean publicist
1916 - David Stafford-Clark, psychiatrist
1916 - Donald Gibson, British vice-admiral
1916 - Ryoei Saito, businessman
1916 - Sirimavo Bandaranaike, world's 1st woman PM (Sri Lanka, 1960..77)
1916 - Vinegar Banana, [Oscar Enau], Antillean publicist
1918 - Anne Shirley, UK, actress (Devil & Daniel Webster, Stella Dallas)
1918 - William Holden, Ill, actor (Stalag 17, Bridge Over River Kwai, SOB)
1920 - Bengt N Anderberg, Swedish poet/writer (Kain)
1920 - Joan "Maudie" Warburton, painter
1921 - Donald Barron, CEO (Midland Bank)
1923 - Harry Reasoner, Dakota City Iowa, newscaster (60 Minutes, ABC, CBS)
1923 - Lindsay Anderson, Bangalore India, director (Thursday's Children)
1923 - Lloyd Biggle Jr, US, sci-fi author (Silence is Deadly)
1923 - Norman Potter, cabinetmaker designer/writer
1924 - Patrick Sergeant, founder (Euromoney Publications)
1925 - Anne Harris, CEO (Natl Federation of Women's Institutes)
1925 - John Yates, bishop (Lambeth England)
1925 - Joyce Buck, actress/interior designer
1926 - Arthur Hockaday, director-Gen (Commonwealth War Graves Commission)
1926 - G M Hughes, professor/zoologist
1926 - Michael Vernon, CEO (RNLI)
1927 - Christopher Whelen, composer
1927 - Tadeusz Mazowiecki, premier of Poland (1989-90)
1928 - Cynthia Ozick, US, author (Pagan Rabbi & Other Stories)
1929 - Eileen Stamers-Smith, headmistress (Malvern Girls' College)
1929 - James Last, orchestra leader/composer/arranger
1929 - Lady (James) Mellon, CEO (Volunteer Development Scotland)
1930 - Chris Barber, jazz trombonist
1930 - Genevieve, Paris France, singer (Jack Paar Show, Scruples)
1931 - Joan Clague, director of nursing services (Marie Curie Foundation)
1931 - John Bartlett, tennis player (Davis Cup capt-Britain)
1931 - John Chalstrey, alderman/Lord Mayor (London)
1931 - Joyce Molyneux, chef
1931 - Ruth Etchells, principal (St John's College-Durham)
1932 - Graziella Sciutti, Italian opera singer
1932 - Han J A Hansen [Jansen], Dutch journalist (King Comes!)
1932 - Ramsay Melhuish, diplomat
1933 - Penelope Lively, writer
1933 - Tim Rathbone, MP
1934 - Don Kirshner, rock & roll producer (invented bubblegum music)
1936 - Lord Justice Aldous
1936 - Pete Graves, rocker (Moonglows)
1937 - Brian Sedgemore, British MP
1937 - Daffy Duck, animated character
1937 - Eduard N Stepanov, Russian cosmonaut
1937 - Galina Samsova, ballerina
1937 - Terry Dicks, British MP
1938 - David Dilks, vice-chancellor (Hull U)
1938 - K M P O'Brien, archbishop (St Andrews & Edinburgh)
1939 - Robin Knox-Johnston, yachtsman
1941 - Adolphus Hailstork, composer
1941 - Billy Fury, Liverpool, singer/guitarist (When Will You Say I Love You)
1941 - Max Stafford-Clark, artistic director (Royal Court Theatre)
1942 - Mario Brenta, writer/director (Maicol, Barnabo of the Mountains)
1943 - Roy Estrada, rocker (Morthers Of Invention)
1944 - John Lill, professor/pianist
1945 - Vincent A M van der Burg, Dutch MP (CDA)
1946 - Clare Francis, yachtswoman/novelist (Come Hell or High Water)
1946 - Henry Kelly, British broadcaster
1946 - J R Baines, professor (Egyptologist)
1948 - Jan Hammer, composer (Escape from TV, Miami Vice)
1948 - Viscount Bridport
1949 - Heini Hemmi, Switzerland, giant slalom (Olympic-gold-1976)
1949 - John Oates, NYC, rock guitarist/vocalist (Hall & Oates-Rich Girl)
1951 - Olivia Hussey, Buenos Aires, actress (Romeo & Juliet, Death on Nile)
1954 - Kim Tyler, Hollywood Calif, actress (Kyle-Please Don't Eat Daisies)
1954 - Riccardo Patrese, driver (Grand Prix)
1955 - Pete Shelley, vocal/guitar (Buzzcocks-Going Steady, Love Bites)
1955 - Peter Michalke, journalist
1955 - Rob Bolland, Dutch singer/guitarist (Bolland & Bolland)
1956 - "Sugar" Ray Charles Leonard, Wilming, boxer (Oly-gold-1976) [or 5/17]
1956 - Faye Young, WBL forward (NY Stars, NJ Stars)
1956 - Kaye Young, WBL forward (NY Stars, NJ Stars)
1956 - Pillow, [Therese Joan Bell], Calif, bodybuilder (Gold Classic 1983)
1957 - Byron Cherry, Atlanta Ga, actor (Coy-Dukes of Hazzard)
1958 - Sergei Yuriyevich Vozovikov, Russian major/cosmonaut
1959 - David Hearn, Wash DC, slalom single canoe (Olympics-9th-96)
1959 - Elizabeth Lindsey, actress (China Beach)
1959 - Stephen Singleton, Sheffield, rocker (ABC)
1959 - Teri Austin, Toronto Canada, actress (Terminal Choice, Knots Landing)
1960 - Michael Whitaker, showjumper
1961 - Boomer Esiason, NFL quarterback (NY Jets, Cincinnati Bengals)
1961 - Norman Cowans, cricketer (England fast bowler in 19 Tests 1982-85)
1961 - [Norman] Boomer Esiason, NFL QB (Cincinnati Bengals, NY Jets)
1962 - Nancy Hogshead, Iowa City, swimmer (Olympic-gold-1984)/model (jockey)
1964 - Ken Daneyko, Windsor, NHL defenseman (NJ Devils)
1964 - Raye Hollit, American Gladiator (Zap)
1966 - Lela Rochon, actress (Waiting to Exhale)
1966 - Susie Redman, Salem OH, LPGA golfer (1995 Nabisco Dinah Shore-2nd)
1967 - Aaron Wallace, NFL defensive end/linebacker (Oakland Raiders)
1967 - Leslie Bega, LA Calif, actress (Maria Tomlinson-Head of the Class)
1967 - Marquis Grisom, Atlanta GA, outfielder (Atlanta Braves, Cleve Indians)
1967 - Timothy Gibbs, Burbank Calif, actor (Father Murphy, Santa Barbara)
1968 - Maurits, Prince of Netherlands
1968 - Ritchie Woodhall, boxer
1968 - Roger Twose, cricketer (Warwickshire batsman, New Zealand 1995)
1969 - Alexander McQueen, fashion designer
1970 - Tony Sacca, WLAF quarterback (Barcelona Dragons)
1971 - David Oliver, Sechelt, NHL right wing (Edmonton Oilers)
1972 - Benjamin Dodwell, Australian rower (Olympics-96)
1972 - Gordon Laro, NFL tight end (Jacksonville Jaguars)
1972 - Keith Lyle, safety (St Louis Rams)
1972 - Muttiah Muralitharan, cricketer (leading Sri Lankan Test off-spinner)
1972 - Tony Boselli, NFL offensive tackle (Jacksonville Jaguars)
1973 - Brett Maher, Adelaide SA Australia, basketball guard (Olympics-96)
1973 - Gene Makowsky, CFL offensive linebacker (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
1973 - Jeff Lewis, NFL quarterback (Denver Broncos-Superbowl 32)
1973 - Kenneth Carlsen, Denmark, tennis star
1973 - Ross Aloisi, Australian soccer midfielder (Olyroos, Olympics-96)
1973 - Theo Ratliff, NBA forward/center (Detroit Pistons, Phila 76ers)
1974 - James Hamilton, linebacker (Jacksonville Jaguars)
1974 - Marcel Nijenhuis, soccer player (NEC)
1975 - Trifun Zivanovic, Santa Monica, fig skater (1995 Pac Coast Jr champ)
1976 - Nadine Thomas, Miss Jamaica Universe (1997)
1977 - Pascal de Vries, soccer player (FC Twente)
1978 - Bilal Abdul-samad, rocker (Boys)
1979 - Tram-Anh Tran, actress (Ghostwriters')
1980 - Crystal Carlson, Miss Maine Teen USA (1997)

Famous deaths for this day ..

0485 - Proclus, Greek mathematician, dies in Athens [or Apr 14]
0818 - Bernhard I, King of Italy, dies
0858 - Benedict III, Italian Pope (855-58), dies
1272 - Zita/Cita, Italian maid/saint, dies at about 59
1297 - Willem van Afflighem, Flemish poet/abbot St Truiden, dies at about 86
1427 - Jan IV, duke of Brabant/Limburg/wife of Jacoba van Bayern, dies
1574 - Joachim Camerarius, [Liebhard Kammerer], German philologist, dies
1630 - Christian I, ruler of Anhalt-Bernburg (battle of White Mt), dies
1679 - John van Kessel, Flemish painter, dies at 53
1711 - Jozef I, [Habsburg], emperor of Germany (1705-11), dies at about 32
1714 - Philipp Heinrich Erlebach, composer, dies at 56
1726 - Henri‰tte Amalia, ruler of Nassau-Dietz, dies at 49
1764 - Johann Mattheson, German composer/musicologist, dies at 82
1790 - Benjamin Franklin, US, (Poor Richards Almanac), dies at 84
1835 - William Henry Ireland, forger (Shakespearean manuscripts), dies
1837 - Edouard viscount de Walckiers, very wealthy slave trader, dies
1838 - J Schopenhauer, writer, dies at 71
1854 - Gottlob Wiedebein, composer, dies at 74
1863 - Daniel Smith Donelson, Conf gen/cousin of Andrew Jackson, dies at 61
1873 - Semyon Stepanovich Gulak-Artemovsky, composer, dies at 60
1890 - John Barnett, composer, dies at 87
1891 - Jules Eugene Abraham Alary, composer, dies at 77
1899 - Hans Balatka, composer, dies at 74
1915 - Johannes P Kelly, [Kellij], Dutch actor/operetta writer, dies at 60
1936 - Charles J M Ruys de Beerenbrouck, Dutch PM (1918-23, 29-33), dies
1944 - J T Hearne, cricketer (took 49 wkts in 12 Tests for England), dies
1945 - Hannie Schaft, "Girl with red hair," executed
1945 - Ion Pillat, Romaniams poet/senator (Umbra timpului), dies
1945 - Walter Model, German fieldmarshal, commits suicide at 54
1946 - John Iddon, cricketer (car accident 5 Tests for Eng 1934-35), dies
1948 - Johan P earl of Limburg Stirum, diplomat, dies at 75
1948 - Percy Sherwell, cricketer (S Afr captain in 13 Tests 1905-11), dies
1960 - Eddie Cochran, rocker, dies at 21 in a car crash
1962 - Louise Fazenda, dies of cerebral hemorrhage at 66
1968 - Margaret Seddon, dies at 95
1970 - Sergei U S Aleksi, patriarch of Russian-Orthodox church, dies at 92
1971 - Roberto Lupi, composer, dies at 62
1974 - Frank McGee, Today show host, dies of cancer at 52
1974 - Herbert Elwell, US composer (Happy Hypocrite), dies at 75
1974 - Vinnie Taylor, rocker (Canned Heat), dies of a drug overdose
1976 - Jean-Jacques Gailliard, Belgian painter, dies at 85
1977 - Marjorie Gateson, actress (One Man's Family), dies at 86
1983 - Felix Pappalardi, rocker (Cream, Mountain), dies
1983 - Mark W Clark, US general (WW II), dies at 87
1983 - Peter Potter, DJ (Peter Potter Show, Juke Box Jury), dies at 78
1985 - Ilona Bodden, writer, dies
1986 - Bessie Head, writer, dies
1987 - Carlton Barrett, Jamaican reggae drummer (No woman no cry), dies at 36
1987 - Dick Shawn, comedian (Producers), dies on stage at 57
1988 - Eva Novak, actress (Medicine Man), dies of pneumonia at 90
1988 - Louise Nevelson, sculptor, dies of brain tumor at 88
1989 - Charles Lampkin, dies
1990 - Ralph David Abernathy, US civil rights leader, dies
1991 - Jack Yellen, US poet (Sons o' Fun), dies at 97
1992 - Hank Penny, country music singer, dies at 73 of heart failure
1993 - Turgut ™zal, president of Turkey (1989-93), dies at 65
1994 - Peter Hacker, US journalist/actor (NBC, Broadcast News), dies at 69
1995 - A R A (Anton) Murray, cricketer (289 runs & 11 wkts in 10 Tests), dies
1995 - Nancy Mayhew Youngman, artist/educator, dies at 88
1996 - Eva Jones, poet/novelist, dies at 82
1996 - Jose Luis Lopez Aranguren, philosopher, dies at 86
1996 - Michele Carew, daughter of baseball great Rod, dies of Leukemia at 18
1997 - Chaim Herzog, President of Israel (1983-93), dies at 78