• 1600 - John Galle, Flemish engraver/printer, baptised
• 1601 - Louis XIII, king of France (1610-43)
• 1618 - Jacob Alting, Dutch ori‰ntalist/theologist
• 1637 - Hieronymus Gradenthaler, composer
• 1657 - Sophia, regent of Russia (1682-89)
• 1677 - Giovanni Carlo Maria Clari, composer
• 1696 - Alfonsus M de' Liguori, Ital theologist/bishop/religious order founder
• 1722 - Samuel Adams, revolutionary rabble rouser/(Lt Gov-Mass, 1789-94)
• 1729 - Michael Dennis, jesuit/author
• 1772 - S…ndor Kisfaludy, Hungary, poet/Austrian army (1793-1801)
• 1776 - Maria E J Versfelt, actress/mistress (General Moreau & Marshal Ney)
• 1783 - Agustˇn I de Iturbide, emperor of Mexico (1822-23)
• 1786 - Jose Mariano Elizaga, composer
• 1792 - George Cruikshank, London, caricaturist (Oliver Twist)
• 1803 - Samuel Francis DuPont, Rear Admiral (Union Navy), died in 1865
• 1809 - Raphael Semmes, Rear Admiral (Confederate Navy), died in 1877
• 1817 - Hiram R Revels, Fayetteville NC, 1st black US senator
• 1821 - Henri-Fr‚d‚ric Amiel, Swiss/French writer (Grains de Mil)
• 1824 - William Nelson, Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1862
• 1830 - William Babcock Hazen, Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1887
• 1835 - John Murray Corse, Mjr Gen (Union volunteers), died in 1893 [or 4/27]
• 1838 - Antony E J Modderman, Dutch minister of Justice (1879-83)
• 1840 - Alfred Thayer Mahan, US, naval officer (Influence of Sea Power)
• 1840 - Thomas Nast, political cartoonist of late 1800s America
• 1858 - Giuseppe Peano, Italian mathematician, founder of symbolic logic
• 1858 - Porsteinn Erlingsson, Iceland, poet (Pyrnar)
• 1862 - Louis Botha, Greytown S Africa, 1st PM of South Africa (1910-19)
• 1864 - Alexander Cohen, Dutch anarchist/author
• 1866 - Tryggve Andersen, Norwegian writer (Fra Cancelliraadens Dage)
• 1867 - Rosa Lewis, society caterer/owner (Cavandish Hotel-England)
• 1875 - Grazia Deledda, Italy, novelist (Old Man of the Mtn-Nobel 1926)
• 1879 - Cyril M Scott, English pianist/composer/author (Heroic Suite)
• 1880 - Jacques Thibaud, Bordeaux France, violinist (Caf‚ Rogue)
• 1881 - Ernest Samuel Williams, composer
• 1881 - Johanna "Annie" Bakker, Dutch revue-artist/singer/actress
• 1881 - William J Clothier, 1st pres of tennis hall of fame/(US Open-1906)
• 1887 - Anton Roemer, Dutch actor (Potasch & Perlemoer, Boefje)
• 1892 - John Mylong, Austria, actor (Robot Monsters)
• 1893 - Joannes DM Cornelissen, Dutch historian (Hooft & Tacitus)
• 1895 - George Raft, NYC, actor (Each Dawn I Die, Scarface, Some Like It Hot)
• 1896 - George Bender, Cleveland, (Rep/Sen-R-Oh)
• 1896 - Sam Ervin, (Sen-D-NC), Watergate committee chairman
• 1898 - Vincent (Miller) Youmans, US composer/songwriter (Tea for Two)
• 1902 - Miguel Aleman Valdes, Mexican attorney/president (1946-52)
• 1905 - Ernest Baier, Germany, figure skater (Olympic-gold-1936)
• 1905 - Vjekoslav Kaleb, Yugoslavia, writer (Splendor of the Fabric)
• 1906 - William Empson, English poet/critic (Milton's God)
• 1907 - Bernard Miles, British actor (In Which We Serve, Mermaid Theatre)
• 1908 - Shiv Verma, soldier
• 1909 - Jean Berger, composer
• 1910 - Donald Lindsay, headmaster (Malvern College)
• 1910 - Eve March, CA, actress (Curse of the Cat People)
• 1910 - Giles William Playfair, writer
• 1911 - Peter Muir Doig, politician
• 1912 - Gerben Wagenaar, resistance fighter/Dutch Communist MP
• 1912 - Tauno Marttinen, composer
• 1916 - Samuel S Stratton, (Rep-D-NY, 1959- )
• 1917 - Louis Auchincloss, Lawrence NY, lawyer/novelist (Watchfires)
• 1918 - Jame McCallion, Glasgow Scotland, actor (Mi Taylor-National Velvet)
• 1918 - Lord Shepherd
• 1918 - Martin Ryle, Britain, radio astronomer/astronomer royal (1972-82)
• 1919 - Charles H Percy, (Sen-R-Ill)
• 1919 - Earl of Clanwilliam
• 1920 - J K Gill, president (Saatchi & Saatchi)
• 1920 - William Conrad, Louisville Ky, actor (Bullwinkle Show, Cannon)
• 1921 - D E Nineham, theologian
• 1921 - Mil˘s Jancs˘, V c Hungary, director (My Way Home)
• 1922 - Arthur Penn, Phila, director (Miracle Worker, Bonnie & Clyde)
• 1922 - Carl Ballantine, actor (McHale's Navy)
• 1922 - James Wilson, composer
• 1923 - Mary McCarty, Winfield Ks, actress/singer (Starch-Trapper John MD)
• 1924 - Bud Powell, US jazz pianist/composer
• 1925 - Patrick Steptoe, scientist (perfected in vitro fertilization)
• 1925 - Viscount Rothermere, English press magnate (Daily Mail, Evening News)
• 1926 - Jayne Meadows, Wu Chang China, Mrs Steve Allen, actr (Dark Delusion)
• 1927 - Boris Porena, composer
• 1927 - Eli van der Merwe Louw, S Afr minister of Transport/Manpower
• 1927 - Patrick O'Neal, actor (King Rat, Night of the Iguana)
• 1927 - Red Robert Chudnick Rodney, jazz trumpeter
• 1928 - Earring George Mayweather, blues Harmonica Player
• 1928 - G H Martin, British keeper of Public Records
• 1928 - Margaret Rule, consultant (Mary Rose Trust)
• 1929 - Sada Thompson, Des Moines Ia, actress (Family, Pursuit of Happiness)
• 1930 - Igor Kipnis, Berlin Germany, harpsichordist/professor (Fairfield)
• 1930 - Roger Birch, Chief Constable (Sussex)
• 1931 - Gerald Warner, deputy secretary (Cabinet Office)
• 1932 - Mario Bertoncini, composer
• 1932 - Michael Colvin, MP
• 1932 - Peter Holmes, CEO (Shell Transport & Trading Company
• 1932 - Roger C Carmel, actor (Harry Mudd-Star Trek, In-Laws)
• 1933 - Kathleen Nolan, St Louis Mo, actress (Real McCoys, Janie, Broadside)
• 1934 - Barbara Howar, Nashville, reporter (Wash Post, Entertainment Tonight)
• 1934 - Claude Jarman Jr, Nashville Tn, actor (Rio Grande, Inside Straight)
• 1934 - DAER Peake, CEO (Kleinwort Benson Group)
• 1934 - Dick Schaap, sportscaster/author (Bo Knows Bo, Instant Replay)
• 1934 - Greg Morris, Cleveland Ohio, actor (Mission Impossible, Vega$)
• 1934 - Wilford Brimley, Salt Lake City Utah, actor (Gus-Our House, Cocoon)
• 1935 - Jerome Shipp, US, basketball (Olympic-gold-1964)
• 1936 - Gordon Honeycombe, broadcaster/author
• 1936 - Yuri Nikolayevich Stepanov, Russian cosmonaut
• 1938 - Alexander Graham, Lord Mayor of London
• 1939 - Jim Ross Lightfoot, (Rep-R-Iowa, 1985- )
• 1939 - Kathy Whitworth, Monahans Tx, golfer (7 time LPGA Player of Year)
• 1939 - Nicholas Haslam, interior designer
• 1940 - Josephine Barstow, opera singer
• 1941 - Don Cornelius, TV show host (Soul Train)
• 1941 - Roger J J Claessen, Belgian soccer star
• 1942 - Baroness Blackstone
• 1943 - Anna Gael, [Gyarmarthy], Budapest Hungary, Lady Weymouth
• 1943 - Bob Curiano, rock bassist (Mink Deville)
• 1943 - Randy Bachman, Winnipeg, rocker (Bachman-Turner Overdrive-Roll On)
• 1943 - Steve Boone, NC, rock vocalist/bassist (Lovin' Spoonful)
• 1944 - IDG Garnett, British Vice-Admiral
• 1945 - Misha Dichter, Shanghai China, pianist (Tchaikowsy 2nd prize-1966)
• 1946 - Peter H Kostmayer, (Rep-D-PA, 1977-81, 83- )
• 1946 - Ronald Fox, senior partner (Fox Williams)
• 1947 - A Martinez, Glendale Calif, actor (Whiz Kids, LA Law, Santa Barbara)
• 1947 - Denis Lawson, actor (Return of Jedi, Born Kicking, Chain)
• 1947 - Jacques Wallage, sociologist/Dutch undersecretary of Education
• 1947 - Liz Torres, Bronx NY, actress (Mahalia Sanchez-John Larroquette Show)
• 1947 - Meat Loaf, [Marvin Lee Aday], Dallas, rocker (Bat Out of Hell)
• 1948 - Barbara Dickson, singer
• 1948 - Michael Houlihan, director (Horniman Museum & Gardens)
• 1949 - Mike Schmidt, 3rd baseman & HR hitter (Phillies)
• 1949 - Robb Weller, TV host (Entertainment Tonight, Home Show)
• 1950 - Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Japan, actor (Lt A J Shimamura-Nash Bridges)
• 1952 - Del Russel, Pasadena Calif, actor (Richard-Arnie)
• 1952 - Doemitri Dorin Prunariu, Romania, cosmonaut (Soyuz 40)
• 1953 - Benjamin Gene Brown, SF Calif, 4X400 runner (Olympic-gold-1976)
• 1953 - Diane Abbott, MP
• 1953 - Greg Ham, Australia, rock saxophonist/flutist (Men At Work)
• 1953 - Heather Watts, LA Calif, ballerina (Dancing on My Grave)
• 1953 - Robbie Shakespeare, Jamaica, reggae bassist (Sly & Robbie-DJ Riot)
• 1957 - Bill Athey, cricketer (England batsman in 23 Tests 1980-88)
• 1957 - Richard Vagg, Australian baseball infielder (Olympics-1996)
• 1958 - Shaun Cassidy, LA Calif, actor/singer (Hardy Boys, Breaking Away)
• 1959 - Beth Heiden, Madison Wisc, 3000m speed skater (Olympic-bronze-1980)
• 1960 - Nick della Casa, British/Brazillian/Argentine cameraman (Emmy Award)
• 1961 - Christopher J Perry, Edenton NC, PGA golfer (1987 Kemper Open-2nd)
• 1962 - Dennis Paulson, San Gabriel CA, PGA golfer (1994 Freeport-McMoRan-4th)
• 1962 - Gavin Larsen, cricketer (NZ medium-pace all-rounder)
• 1963 - Caren Metschuck, German DR, 100m butterfly swimmer (Olympic-gold-1980)
• 1965 - Steve Kerr, NBA guard (Chicago Bulls)
• 1966 - Stephanie D Wilson, Boston Mass, astronaut
• 1967 - Jason Dungjen, Detroit Mich, pairs skater (& Kyoko Ina)
• 1968 - Mark Bradtke, Adelaide SA Aus, basketball center (Olympics-88, 92, 96)
• 1968 - Rob Moore, NFL wide receiver (NY Jets, Arizona Cardinals)
• 1968 - Scott Conover, NFL tackle (Detroit Lions)
• 1969 - Laura Wilson, Utica NY, cross country skier (Olympics-1994)
• 1969 - Lester Holmes, NFL guard (Phila Eagles)
• 1969 - Robert Jones, NFL linebacker (Dallas Cowboys)
• 1970 - Dwayne Davis, WLAF safety (Frankfurt Galaxy)
• 1970 - Mark Caldero, Okla City, vocalist (Color Me Badd-I Want to Sex You Up)
• 1971 - Alonzo Spellman, NFL defensive end (Chic Bears)
• 1971 - Erik Smit, Dutch soccer player (FC Utrecht)
• 1971 - Patrick Muldoon, CA, actor (Austin-Days of Our Lives, Melrose Place)
• 1971 - Ron Florine, NFL/WLAF tackle (KC Chiefs, Scotland Claymores)
• 1972 - Clara Hughes, Winnipeg Manitoba, cyclist (Olympics-2 bronze-96)
• 1972 - Gwyneth Paltrow, LA Calif, actress (Pallbearer, Emma, Hard Eight)
• 1972 - Laurie Shepard, Cordele, GA, female pitcher (Colo Silver Bullets)
• 1972 - Malachy Loye, cricketer (Northamptonshire & England "A" batsman)
• 1973 - Larry McSeed, CFL linebacker (Montreal Alouettes)
• 1973 - Tina Nicholson, WNBA guard (Cleveland Rockers)
• 1974 - Edward Thomas, CFL linebacker (Montreal Alouettes)
• 1974 - Lina Gaviria, Miss Universe-Colombia (1996)
• 1975 - Ed Gray, NBA guard (Atlanta Hawks)
• 1975 - Tajama Abraham, WNBA center (Sacramento Monarchs)

Famous deaths for this day ..

• 1259 - Ezzeline III da Romano, gentleman of Verona/"cruel monster", dies
• 1404 - William of Wykeham, chancellor/Bishop of Winchester, dies
• 1566 - Marcus A Vida, [Marcus Hieronymus], Italian humanist/poet/bishop, dies
• 1590 - Urban VII, [Giambattista Castagna], Italian Pope (1590), dies
• 1612 - Piotr Skarga, Polish theology/PM (Sanctity of Life), dies at 76
• 1617 - Johan Earnest count of Nassau-Siegen, dies
• 1641 - Fran‡ois van d'aerssen, mister of Sommelsdijk/diplomat, dies at 69
• 1651 - Maximilian I, duke/ruler of Bayern (Codex Maximilianus), dies at 78
• 1660 - St Vincent de Paul, Vincentian Cong founder, dies
• 1674 - Robert Arnauld d'andilly, French literary/financier/translator, dies
• 1674 - Thomas Traherne, English poet/mystic (Roman Forgeries), dies
• 1700 - Innocent XII, [Antonio Pignatelli], Pope (1691-1700), dies at 85
• 1784 - Boniface Stoecki, composer, dies at 38
• 1808 - Gaetano B Vestris, ballerina, dies at 79
• 1821 - Luis (Philippus) Brion, Cura‡aos admiral/supreme commander, dies at 39
• 1831 - Henry van Wine, archivist/founder General Rijksarchief, dies at 91
• 1831 - Joannis Capodistrias, Greek governor of Troezen, murdered at 55
• 1844 - Charles Nodier, French writer (History du chien the Brisquet), dies
• 1868 - Alexander Walewski, French earl/duke/diplomat/Foreign minister, dies
• 1870 - Henry TP Comstock, Canadian silver prospector, dies at 50
• 1875 - Edouard CorbiŠre, French captain/writer (Le Negrier), dies at 82
• 1891 - I Gontscharow, writer, dies
• 1915 - Conrad T van Deventer, Dutch jurist/MP (liberal), dies at 57
• 1915 - Kaspar C E Ritter von Zumbusch, German/Austrian sculptor, dies at 84
• 1915 - R‚my de Gourmont, French critic/writer (Physique L'Amour), dies at 57
• 1916 - Emile A G Verhaeren, Belgian writer (Les Heures du Soir), dies at 61
• 1917 - Edgar Degas, painter, Paris
• 1919 - Adelina [Adela JM] Patti, Italian soprano (Lucio), dies at 76
• 1919 - Robert Gleeson, cricketer (one Test for S Africa 1895-96), dies
• 1921 - Engelbert Humperdinck, Ger opera composer (Schneewittchen), dies at 67
• 1935 - Alan Gray, composer, dies at 79
• 1940 - Walter Benjamin, German/French literature critic/writer, dies at 48
• 1942 - Douglas Munro, only US Coast Guard with WW II-Med of Honor, dies
• 1943 - Waclaw Gieburowski, composer, dies at 65
• 1944 - Aimee Semple McPherson, Canada/US evangelist/faith healer, dies at 53
• 1944 - Aristide Maillol, Fr sculptor/graphic artist, dies in car crash at 82
• 1948 - Frank Cellier, actor (Spider, Quiet Wedding, Big Blockade), dies at 64
• 1953 - Jules-Marie Canneel, Flemish painter/caricaturist, dies at 72
• 1955 - Henri Liebrecht, Belgian stagewriter/journalist, dies at 71
• 1956 - Gerald Raphael Finzi, composer, dies at 55
• 1956 - Milburn Apt, in X-2 rocket plane reaches 3370 kph, but, dies in crash
• 1956 - [Mildred] Babe Didrikson-Zaharias, javelin (Oly-gold-32), dies at 45
• 1960 - Sylvia Pankhurst, English feminist/daughter of Emmeline, dies at 78
• 1961 - Hilda Doolittle, US poetess (Bid Me to Live), dies at 75
• 1962 - Francisco Brochado da Rocha, PM of Brazil (1962), dies at 52
• 1965 - Clara Bow, US actress, (Down to the Sea in Ships, Wings), dies at 60
• 1965 - Harry Reser, orch leader (Sammy Kaye Show), dies at 69
• 1967 - Felix F Yussupov, Russian monarch, dies at 80
• 1969 - Violet Farebrother, actress (Downhill, Easy Virtue), dies at 81
• 1972 - Rory Storm, lead singer (Rory Storm & Hurricane), commits suicide
• 1975 - Mark Frechette, actor (Zabriskie Point, Uomini Contro), dies at 27
• 1979 - Gracie Fields, actress (Queen of Hearts), dies at 81
• 1979 - Jimmy McCullough, musician (Wings), dies of a drug overdose
• 1981 - Coenraad van Emde Boas, Dutch sexologist, dies at 77
• 1981 - Robert Montgomery, actor/dir (Robert Montgomery Presents), dies at 77
• 1982 - Saad Sayd, [Abu Walid], Palestinian commandant in Lebanon, dies
• 1983 - Tino Rossi, singer/actor (Destins, Belle Menuniere), dies at 76
• 1984 - John Facenda, sportscaster (NFL Action), dies at 72
• 1985 - Lloyd Nolan, actor (Dr Chegley-Julia), dies of lung cancer at 83
• 1986 - Cliff Burton, rock bassist (Metallica), dies in bus crash at 24
• 1988 - William V Shannon, US ambassador to Ireland (1977-81), dies at 61
• 1991 - Huib Orizand, Dutch actor (Paul Vlanderen), dies
• 1991 - Jan Hart, director (Friends of Cura‡ao), dies
• 1991 - Oona Chaplin, daughter of Eugene O'Neill/wife of Charles, dies at 66
• 1992 - Keith Prentice, US actor (Boys in the Band), dies
• 1992 - Keith Prentice, US actor (Boys in the Band), dies of cancer at 52
• 1992 - Ray Gill, actor (Prelude to a Kiss), dies of AIDS at 42
• 1992 - Wim Van Exter, founder Unity Profession Central (1944), dies
• 1993 - Andrei Solovyiov, Russian photographer, dies in battle at 38
• 1993 - James H Doolittle, US air force general (Tokyo 1942), dies at 96
• 1994 - Gerald Bledsoe, DJ (Soul Alive, WWRL), dies of heart attack at 51
• 1994 - Guiseppe Martelli, physicist, dies at 71
• 1994 - Ruth Niehaus, dies
• 1995 - Alison "Night Bird" Steele, DJ (WNEW-FM, WXRK-FM), dies of cancer
• 1995 - Christopher Shaw, composer pianist/critic, dies at 71
• 1996 - Mohammed Najibullah, politician, dies at 55
• 1996 - Najibullah, Pres of Afghanistan Democratic Party (1986-90), executed