• 1494 - Jacopo Pontormo II, Italy, painter (Sepulture of Christ)
• 1550 - Camillus de Lellis, Italian soldier/monastery founder/saint
• 1688 - Christian August Jacobi, composer
• 1713 - John Stuart, 3rd earl of Bute, English premier (1760-63)
• 1726 - Giuseppi Paolucci, composer
• 1729 - Jean de Neufville, Dutch/US merchant (started 4th English war)
• 1767 - Ferdinand Franzl, composer
• 1767 - Friedrich Johann Eck, composer
• 1779 - Henry M Baron de Kock, Dutch officer/politician
• 1781 - Ferdinand K J, archduke of Austria-Este/gov-gen (Sicily)
• 1803 - Ralph Waldo Emerson, US, essayist/philosopher (Concord Hymn)
• 1818 - Jacob Burckhardt, Swiss cultural historian
• 1821 - Diederich Krug, composer
• 1830 - Jules de Geyter, Belgian poet (International)
• 1839 - John Eliot, English meteorologist
• 1845 - William Muldoon, Belfast NY, boxing commissioner (help find PAL)
• 1847 - Alphonse Goovaerts, composer
• 1847 - John Alexander Dowie, [Elijah the Restorer], US, evangelist
• 1852 - Louis FMF Franchet d'EspŠrey, [Desperate Frankey], Fren marshal (WW I)
• 1865 - Frederick Augustus III, King of Saxon (1904-18)
• 1865 - John Raleigh Mott, organizer (YMCA, Nobel 1946)
• 1865 - Pieter Zeeman, Dutch physicist (Zeeman effect, Nobel 1902)
• 1877 - Billy Murray, singer (Denver Nightengale)
• 1878 - Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, actor (Stormy Weather, Little Colonel)
• 1879 - W Maxwell Aitken lord Beaverbrook, Canada/English banker
• 1882 - Harry Fox, entertainer
• 1886 - Philip Murray, founded Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)
• 1888 - Miles Malleson, writer/actor (Phantom of Opera, Postman's Knock)
• 1889 - Gilardo Gilardi, composer
• 1889 - Igor Sikorsky, developed a working helicopter
• 1889 - Sverre Jordan, composer
• 1891 - Robert W P Peereboom, Dutch editor in chief (Haarlem Newspaper)
• 1894 - Dirk Vansina, Flemish playwright (Verschaeve Gives Evidence)
• 1896 - Jan N Bakhuizen van den Brink, theologist/church historian
• 1897 - Alan Kippax, cricketer (22 Tests for Australia 1924-34, brilliant bat)
• 1898 - Bennett Cerf, publisher (Random House) panelist (What's My Line)
• 1898 - Gene Tunney, world heavyweight boxing champion (1926-30)
• 1898 - Gustav Regler, writer
• 1898 - Mischa Levitzki, composer
• 1901 - Milenko Zivkovic, composer
• 1902 - Helvi Lemmikke Leiviska, composer
• 1904 - Kurt George Hugo Thomas, composer
• 1905 - Binnie Barnes, London, actress (Adv of Marco Polo, Diamond Jim)
• 1905 - Joseph C Harsch, Toledo Ohio, newscaster (Background)
• 1907 - Rachel Carson, conservationist/writer (silent springs)
• 1907 - U Nu, premier Burma (1948-58, 1960-62)
• 1908 - David Lean, British director (Lawrence of Arabia)
• 1908 - Theodore Roethke, US, poet (Words for the Wind)
• 1910 - Ernest Anderson, publicist
• 1912 - Eddie Maxwell, singer (Yes We Have No Bananas)
• 1913 - Joseph Peter Grace, businessman
• 1915 - Daniel Wolf, journalist
• 1916 - Lou van Rees, Dutch impresario [or May 29]
• 1916 - Virginia Ginny Simms, actress/singer (Kay Kyser Band)
• 1917 - Dorothy Sarnoff, US, actress(?)
• 1917 - Jimmy Hamilton, saxophonist
• 1917 - Steve Cochran, Eureka CA, actor (Mozambique, Gay Senotiys, Dallas)
• 1918 - Claude Akins, Nelson GA, actor (BJ & Bear, Movin' On, Lobo)
• 1918 - Peder Lunde, Norway, yachtsman (Olympic-silver-1952)
• 1919 - Gino Negri, composer
• 1919 - Lindsey Nelson, Pulaski Tn, sportscaster (NY Mets)
• 1921 - Hal David, lyricist (Promises Promises-Grammy 1969)
• 1923 - John Weitz, spy/author/fashion designer (Friends in High Places)
• 1925 - Aldo Clementi, composer
• 1925 - Jeanne Crain, Barstow Calif, actress (Man Without a Star)
• 1926 - Kitty Kallen, rocker
• 1926 - M von der Gr�n, writer
• 1926 - Miles D Davis, Alton Ill, jazz trumpeter (L'ascenseur pour l'‚chafaud)
• 1927 - Robert Ludlum, NYC, spy novelist (Bourne Identity)
• 1928 - Frigyes Hidas, composer
• 1928 - Mary Tuck, social researcher/civil servant
• 1929 - Beverly Sills, [Belle "Bubbles" Miriam Silverman], Bkln NY, soprano
• 1929 - David S Ruder, 23rd chairman of Security & Exchange Commission
• 1931 - John Gabriel, Niagara Falls NY, actor (Cat Gang, Fantasies)
• 1932 - Georgi Mikhailovich Grechko, USSR, cosmonaut (Soyuz 17, 26, T-14)
• 1932 - John Grogery Dunne, US writer (Up Close & Personal, True Confessions)
• 1932 - K C Jones, Taylor Tx, basketball player (Olympic-gold-1956)
• 1933 - Roger Bowen, actor (M*A*S*H, Main Event, What about Bob, Petulia)
• 1934 - David J Burke, Liverpool England, writer
• 1934 - Ron Nesson, press secretary (Gerald Ford)
• 1936 - Rusi Surti, cricketer (Indian slow lefty, hat-trick for Qld 1969)
• 1936 - Tom T Hall, Olive Hill Ky, country singer/writer (Harper Valley PTA)
• 1938 - Ludmil Buldakova, USSR, volleyball player (Olympic-gold-1972)
• 1938 - Raymond Carver, poet/short story writer (Furious Season)
• 1939 - Dixie Carter, TN, actress (Designing Women, Edge of Night)
• 1939 - Ian McKellen, England, actor (Keep, Plenty, Scarlet Pimpernel)
• 1942 - Bill Young, rocker
• 1942 - Brian "Blinky" Davison, rocker
• 1943 - John "Poli" Palmer, rocker (Family K)
• 1943 - Leslie Uggams, NYC, singer/actress (Leslie Uggams Show, Roots)
• 1943 - Poli Palmer, rocker (Family)
• 1943 - Sally Jesse Raphael, TV talk show host (Sally) [or Feb 25]
• 1943 - Wynand C Malan, South African lawyer/NP/DP-politician
• 1944 - Frank Oz, Heresford England, puppeteer (Sesame St, Muppet Show)
• 1944 - Robert Michael Payton, pizza magnate
• 1945 - Dave Lee Travis, DJ
• 1946 - Irnema Szewinski Kirszenstein, Poland, 200m runner (1968 Olym Gold)
• 1946 - Janet E[llen] Morris, US, sci-fi author (Golden Sword, Tempus)
• 1946 - Tommy Cecil, ferryman
• 1947 - Jessi Colter, [Miriam Johnson], Phoenix, country singer (I'm Not Lisa)
• 1947 - Karen Valentine, Santa Rosa CA, actress (Love Amer Style, Room 222)
• 1947 - Mitch Margo, Bkln, rocker (Tokens-Lion Sleeps Tonight)
• 1949 - Jamaica Kincaid, [Elaine P Richardson], Antigua/US journalist (NYer)
• 1949 - Lalith Kaluperuma, cricketer (two Tests for Sri Lanka 1982)
• 1951 - Clifford Archer, bassist (Atlantic Star-Touch a 4 Leaf Clover)
• 1953 - Donald Albert Weibring Jr, Quincy IL, PGA golfer (1979 Quad Cities)
• 1953 - Jane Priest, Perth Australia, Prince Charles' lover
• 1953 - Rich Alves, Pleasanton Calif, singer (Pirates of Miss-Fred Jake)
• 1954 - Alison Stern, wife of radio personality Howard Stern (Private Parts)
• 1955 - Connie Selleca, Bronx, actress (Hotel, Capt America II)
• 1956 - Tatsutoshi Goto, wrestler (WAR/NJPW)
• 1957 - Hillary Bailey Smith, Boston MA, actress (Nora-One Life to Live)
• 1958 - Claus Minah, singer (Scorpions)
• 1958 - Dorothy Straight, 4 year old author (How World Begun)
• 1958 - Klaus Meine, rocker (Scorpions-No One Like You)
• 1958 - Paul Weller, guitar (Jam-This is Modern World, Style Council)
• 1959 - Cathryn Harrison, London England, actress (Old Woman in Black Moon)
• 1960 - BenoŒt van Innis, Belgian cartoonist/painter/cartoonist (NY Post)
• 1961 - Hiro Saito, wrestler (All-Japan/NJPW/Calgary)
• 1962 - Amy Read, Birmingham MI, golfer (1994 Healthsouth Palm Beach-15th)
• 1962 - Zulqarnain, cricketer (last person in alphabetical order to play Test)
• 1963 - Mike Myers, Canada, comedian (SNL, Wayne's World) [or Jun 25]
• 1964 - David Shaw, St Thomas, NHL defenseman (Tampa Bay Lightning)
• 1965 - Mark Knight, Calif, rock guitarist (Bang Tango-Dancin' on Coals)
• 1965 - Remco Prins, Dutch rock guitarist/vocalist (Burma Shave-Stash)
• 1965 - Roef-Ragas, Dutch actor (Missing Link, Red Rain, Juju, Mykosch)
• 1965 - Stefka Kostadinova, Bulgaria high jumper (world record 1987)
• 1966 - Bill Haselman, Long Branch NJ, catcher (Boston Red Sox)
• 1966 - Dave Hollins, Buffalo NY, infielder (Minn Twins)
• 1966 - Melissa McNamara, Tulsa OK, LPGA golfer (1991 Stratton Mt Classic)
• 1967 - Danny Gonzales, jockey
• 1967 - Juan Jimenez, WLAF quarterback/receivers coach (Barcelona Dragons)
• 1967 - Luc Nilis, Belgian soccer player (RSC Anderlecht/PSV)
• 1967 - Ruthie Bolton, McClain Miss, basketball guard (Olympics-gold-96)
• 1968 - Debbi Miho Koyama, LPGA golfer (1995 US Women's Open-28th)
• 1968 - Kendall Gill, NBA guard/forward (NJ Nets)
• 1968 - Nathalie Schneyder, SF Calif, synchronized swimmer (Olympics-gold-96)
• 1968 - Shawn Bouwens, NFL guard (Jacksonville Jaguars)
• 1969 - Anne Heche, Ohio, actress (Donnie Brasco, Juror, Volcano)
• 1969 - Matt Borlenghi, LA Calif, actor (Brian Bodine-All My Children)
• 1970 - Danni Roche, Melbourne VIC Australia, field hockey midfielder (Oly-96)
• 1970 - Heather Simmons-Carrasco, Mt View Ca, synchro swimmer (Oly-alt-96)
• 1970 - Joey Eischen, West Covina CA, pitcher (LA Dodgers)
• 1970 - Lindsay Greenbush, LA, twin actress (Carrie-Little House on Prairie)
• 1970 - Michael B Enyaer, writer (Pilot One)
• 1970 - Robert Croft, cricketer (Glamorgan off-spinner, England 1996-)
• 1970 - Sandra Dopfer, Lustenau Austria, tennis star (1995 Futures-Lerida)
• 1970 - Sidney Greenbush, LA, twin actress (Carrie-Little House on Prairie)
• 1971 - Alan Kline, NFL tackle (NO Saints)
• 1971 - Justin Henry, Rye NY, actor (Kramer vs Kramer, 16 Candles)
• 1971 - Keith Hamilton, NFL defensive tackle (NY Giants)
• 1971 - Larry Thompson, CFL/NFL wide receiver (Seattle Seahawks, BC Lions)
• 1971 - Tim Kroeker, Chilliwack BC, 110m hurdler (Olympics-96)
• 1972 - Antonio Lang, NBA forward (Cleveland Cavaliers)
• 1972 - Tony Ronaldson, Adelaide SA Australia, basketball forward (Oly-96)
• 1973 - Duncan Free, Australian rower (Olympics-96)
• 1973 - Earl Mackey, NFL linebacker (Minn Vikings)
• 1973 - Jeff Smith, NFL/WLAF corner (Scotland Claymores/KC Chiefs)
• 1973 - Jos‚e Corbeil, Pointe-Claire Quebec, volleyball player (Olympics-96)
• 1973 - Maria Jose Gaidano, Buenos Aires Arg, tennis star (1993 Belg doubles)
• 1973 - Racquel Spurlock, WNBA center (Houston Comets)
• 1974 - Dennis Stallings, linebacker (Tennessee Oilers)
• 1975 - Adam Saathoff, Tuscon Ariz, running target (Olympics-1996)
• 1976 - Tarik Glenn, offensive tackle (Indianapolis Colts)

Famous deaths for this day ..

• 0615 - Boniface IV, Pope (608-15), dies
• 0709 - Aldhelmus of Ealdhelm, Engl abbot/bishop/poet/saint, dies at about 69
• 0946 - Edmund the Older, king of Wessex/England (939-46), dies
• 1085 - Gregory VII, [Ildebrando], Pope (1073-85), dies
• 1125 - Hendrik V, last Salische German king, dies
• 1261 - Alexander IV, [Rinaldo dei conti di Segni], Pope (1254-61), dies
• 1510 - Georges d'Amboise, French cardinal/viceroy in North Italy, dies at 49
• 1555 - Gemma Frisius, Frisian geographer/astronomer, dies at 46
• 1681 - Cald‚ron, writer, dies at 81
• 1765 - Pierre-Joseph Le Blan, composer, dies at 53
• 1826 - Christian Friedrich Ruppe, composer, dies at 72
• 1849 - Andreas Michiels, Dutch milt gov of West Sumatra, dies in battle at 52
• 1862 - Johann N Nestroy, Aust actor (Einmal Keine Sorgen Haben), dies at 60
• 1895 - Ahmed Djevdet Pasja, Turkish minister of Justice, dies at 73
• 1899 - Marie-Rosalie "Rosa" Bonheur, French painter, dies at 68
• 1914 - Paolo Giorza, composer, dies at 81
• 1916 - Jack Marsh, cricketer (Aboriginal bowler played for NSW 1900-03), dies
• 1917 - Leon Felix Augustin Joseph Vasseur, composer, dies at 72
• 1919 - Madame C J Walker, wealthy cosmetics manufacturer, dies at 51
• 1924 - Theodore Morse, composer, dies at 51
• 1926 - Symon Petlyura, leader of Ukraine (pogroms), assassinated at 47
• 1934 - Gustav Theodore Holst, English composer (Ode to Death), dies at 59
• 1936 - Jan Levoslav Bella, composer, dies at 92
• 1937 - Henry O Tanner, artist, dies
• 1946 - Patty Smith Hill, songwriter (Happy Birthday To You), dies at 78
• 1948 - Jacques Feyder, actor/director (kermesse h‚roique), dies at 59
• 1949 - Simon H Spoor, intelligence officer/general (WW II), dies at 47
• 1958 - Rolland Beaumont, cricketer (5 Tests for S Africa), dies
• 1964 - Vasily Andreyevich Zolotaryov, composer, dies at 92
• 1965 - Sonny Boy Williamson, [Aleck Miller], blues player, dies at 65
• 1968 - Charles K Feldman, [Gould], producer (Casino Royale), dies at 63
• 1968 - George KFW von K�chler, German marshal (Netherlands 1940), dies at 86
• 1971 - Jo Etha Collier, young black woman killed by 3 whites in Drew Miss
• 1971 - Mark Brunswick, composer, dies at 69
• 1971 - Terence De Marney, actor (Case Thomas-Johnny Ringo), dies at 62
• 1974 - Donald Crisp, actor/director (Beloved Brat, Dawn Patrol), dies at 91
• 1974 - Frank Ward, cricketer (4 Tests for Australia 1936-38), dies
• 1974 - Pam Morrison, wife of Door's vocalist Jim, dies of drug overdose
• 1981 - Rosa Ponselle, US singer (Metropolitan Opera), dies at 84
• 1981 - Roy Brown, rocker, dies at 55 of a heart attack
• 1981 - Roy James Brown, US boxer/singer (Good rockin' tonight), dies at 55
• 1982 - Larry J Blake, actor (Earth vs the Flying Saucers), dies at 68
• 1983 - Sydney Box, academy award producer, dies at 76
• 1984 - Piet Ketting, Dutch pianist/conductor/composer, dies at 79
• 1985 - Harold Hecht, choreographer, dies at 77 of cancer
• 1985 - Robert Nathan, US writer/poet (Portrait of Jennie), dies at 91
• 1986 - Chester Bowles, US senator/ambassador, dies at 85
• 1990 - Vic Tayback, actor (Mel-Alice), dies of a heart attack at 60
• 1991 - Dorothy Davis Bostwick, entertainer, dies
• 1992 - Danny Biasone, persuaded NBA to use 24 second clock, dies at 83
• 1992 - Johan B W Polak, publisher/publicist (Bloom of D‚cadence), dies at 63
• 1992 - Marshall Thompson, US actor (To Hell & Back), dies at 66
• 1992 - Nancy Walker, actress (Ida Morgenstein-Rhoda), dies of cancer at 71
• 1992 - Philip C Habib, US diplomat (Middle-East/Asia), dies at 72
• 1992 - Viktor Grishin, hardline soviet communist, dies at 78, dies
• 1993 - Dan Seymour, actor (Bombs over Burma, Intrigue, Watusi), dies at 78
• 1993 - Louise Tazewell, entertainer, dies at 93
• 1994 - Eric Gale, guitarist, dies at 55
• 1995 - Dany Robin, actress (Follow the Boys, Topaz, Julietta), dies at 68
• 1995 - Dick Curless, singer/songwriter, dies at 63
• 1996 - Bernard Charles Sendall, deputy director general of ITA, dies at 83
• 1996 - Buck, dog (Married with Children), dies at 13
• 1996 - David W Howe, test pilot, dies at 77
• 1996 - Enid Kathleen Hutchinson, adult educationalist, dies at 86
• 1996 - John Morrison, politician/landowner, dies at 89
• 1996 - Laurence Marks, journalist, dies at 67
• 1996 - Renzo de Felice, historian, dies at 67
• 1997 - Muhammad Fadhel, PM of Iraq (1953-54), dies