• 1578 - Philip III, King of Spain & Portugal (1598-1621)
• 1592 - Abraham Elsevier, book publisher/publisher
• 1629 - Christian Huygens, Holland, astronomer (discovered Saturn's rings)
• 1676 - Ernst Chreistian Hesse, composer
• 1710 - Marie A C de Camargo, Spanish/Italian/Belgian dancer
• 1718 - Emanuele Barbella, composer
• 1721 - William August duke of Cumberland, English army leader
• 1723 - John Wainwright, composer
• 1738 - Duck of Portland, (C) British PM (1783, 1807-09)
• 1762 - Giuseppe Valadier, Italian architect/archaeologist
• 1770 - George Canning, London, British PM (1827)
• 1782 - Carlo Coccia, composer
• 1797 - Adolphe Thiers, 1st president of 3rd French Republic (1871-77)
• 1803 - Friedrich von Amerling, Austrian painter
• 1809 - George W Vreede, Dutch lawyer/politician
• 1813 - Junius S Morgan, US, merchant/philanthropist (Metro Museum of Art)
• 1819 - Charles Halle, pianist/conductor/founder (Halle Orch)
• 1820 - Harry Thompson Hays, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1876
• 1831 - Gerhard Rohlfs, German explorer/ambassador in Abyssinia
• 1832 - James Hewett Ledlie, Brig General (Union volunteers), died in 1882
• 1842 - Sven August Korling, composer
• 1843 - Gustave Leon Huberti, composer
• 1852 - Henrique Oswald, composer
• 1857 - Edgar Stillman Kelley, Sparta Wisconsin, composer (Gulliver)
• 1862 - Pyotr A Stolypin, premier Russia (1906-11)
• 1866 - Anne Mansfield Sullivan, US, educated Helen Keller
• 1870 - Syd Gregory, cricketer (Australian batsman in 58 Tests 1890-1912)
• 1873 - Viktor Joseph Keldorfer, composer
• 1874 - Count Alexander, of Athlone, gov-gen (South-Africa/Canada)
• 1876 - Murray Bisset, cricketer (South African wicket-keeper 1899 & 1910)
• 1877 - Dani‰l Plooy, Dutch new testament scholar
• 1879 - James Branch Cabell, American novelist/essayist (Restless Heads)
• 1881 - Anton Wildgans, Austrian writer/director (Burg Theater)
• 1886 - Edward C Tolman, US psychologist (behaviorism)
• 1886 - Ernst R Curtius, German literature historian
• 1889 - Adolph Hitler, Austria, dictator of Nazi Germany (1936-45)[NS=Apr 20]
• 1889 - Arnold Toynbee, England, historian (Study of History)
• 1889 - Efim D Bogoljubov, Russian chess player
• 1889 - James Stephenson, actor (Letter, Espionage Agent, Nancy Drew)
• 1892 - Giorgio Cesana, Italy, coxswain, (Olympic-gold-1906)
• 1892 - Vere G Childe, British archaeologist/prehistorian
• 1895 - Mary Marquet, St Petersburg Russia, actress (Matter of Resistance)
• 1895 - Wiktor Labunski, composer
• 1897 - Barbara baroness Wootton of Abinger, English Lower house leader
• 1898 - Lee Tracy, Atlanta Ga, actor (Martin Kane-Martin Kane Private Eye)
• 1900 - Salvatore Baccaloni, Rome, actor (Merry Andrew, Rock-a-Bye Baby)
• 1901 - Alfred West, champion cyclist/record hair splitter (17 splits)
• 1901 - Martin Kessel, writer
• 1902 - Menachem A Schneerson, rebee (head of Lubavitcher Jews)
• 1904 - John Gielgud, London England, actor (Arthur, Ages of Man)
• 1904 - Lionel Birkett, cricketer (WI vice-capt on Australian tour 1930-31)
• 1904 - Reinout W van Bemmelen, Dutch geologist
• 1904 - Sonia Gaskell, Russian/Neth choreographer
• 1905 - Frits Philips, Dutch engineer/CEO (Philips)
• 1905 - Holmesdale Charles "Slinger" Nitschke, cricket batsman (S Aus & Test)
• 1906 - Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz, King Saudi-Arabia (1964-75)
• 1906 - Hunter Johnson, composer
• 1907 - Fran‡ois "Doc" Duvalier, dictator of Haiti
• 1907 - Otto F A H van Nispen, Dutch mayor (Pannerden)/MP (KVP)
• 1907 - Phyllis Konstam, London England, actress (Murder, Skin Game)
• 1910 - Werner Wolf Glaser, composer
• 1912 - Belinda Quirey, dance historian/teacher
• 1912 - Piet van Egmond, Dutch organist/conductor (Neth Chamber Orch)
• 1912 - Robert Doisneau, photographer
• 1913 - Everhard van Royen, Dutch flautist/founder (Alma musica)
• 1913 - Jean Fournet, French conductor
• 1913 - John Howard, Cleve Ohio, actor (Dave-My Three Sons)
• 1916 - Commandur Rajagopalachari Rangachari, cricketer (India 1947-48)
• 1916 - Denis ApIvor, composer
• 1916 - Emerson Buckley, composer
• 1917 - Valerie Hobson, North Ireland, actress (Great Expectations)
• 1918 - Mary Healy, New Orleans, actress (2nd Fiddle, He Married his Wife)
• 1920 - Eduardo Maturana, composer
• 1920 - John Paul Stevens, Supreme Court Justice
• 1922 - David Alexandrovich Toradze, composer
• 1922 - Maria Luisa Bemberg, film maker
• 1923 - William Darling, journalist
• 1924 - Shorty Rogers, [Milton M Rajonsky], composer
• 1925 - Abel Muzorewa, bishop/premier (Rhodesia)
• 1925 - Bill Harris, US guitarist (Clovers-Good Lovin')
• 1925 - H G Kischenchand, cricketer (5 Tests for India 1947-52)
• 1925 - Rod Steiger, West Hampton NY, actor (Illustrated Man, Pawnbroker)
• 1926 - Jan Carl Christian Maegaard, composer
• 1927 - Dany Robin, actress (Follow the Boys, Topaz, Jupiter, Julietta)
• 1927 - Gloria Jean, Buffalo NY, actress (Never Give a Sucker an Even Break)
• 1928 - Robert Mugabe, president (Zimbabwe, 1988- )
• 1929 - William Edgar Thornton, Faison NC, MD/astronaut (STS-8, 51-B, sk:49)
• 1930 - Bradford Dillman, SF Calif, actor (Piranha, Sudden Impact, Enforcer)
• 1930 - George W Gekas, (Rep-R-PA, 1983- )
• 1930 - Jay Robinson, NYC, actor (Born Again, Malibu Bikini Shop)
• 1933 - Buddy Knox, Happy Tx, rock vocalist (Party Doll, Lovey Dovey)
• 1933 - Morton Subotnick, LA Calif, composer (Wild Bull)
• 1934 - Bruce Pairaudeau, cricketer (WI opening bat in 13 Tests, 115 on debut)
• 1935 - Joan Darling, Boston, actress (Frieda-Owen Marshall)
• 1935 - Loretta Lynn, Butcher's Hollow Ky, singer (Coal Miner's Daughter)
• 1936 - Robert Herman Nichols, Louisville KY, PGA golfer (1986 Showdown)
• 1938 - Gloria Dean Randle Scott, educator/pres (Beaumont College)
• 1939 - Jennifer Fowler, composer
• 1940 - George Takei, actor (Hikaru Sulu-Star Trek)
• 1940 - Patricia Bruder, Bkln NY, actress (Ellen-As the World Turns)
• 1941 - Anatoli Pavlocich Fyodorov, cosmonaut
• 1941 - Julie Christie, Assam India, actress (Dr Zhivago)
• 1941 - Pete Rose, Cincinnati Reds, Charlie hustle (most hits in majors)
• 1941 - Ryan O'Neal, actor (Love Story, Paper Moon)
• 1942 - Valentin Vitaliyevich Lebedev, cosmonaut (Soyuz 13, 35, T-5)
• 1943 - Clarice Elaine Gaylord, director of research grants (EPA)
• 1943 - Yvonne Vriens-Auerbach, Dutch MP (CDA)
• 1945 - Derek Leckenby, rocker/actor (Mrs Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter)
• 1945 - Ritchie Blackmore, Engld, guitarist (Rainbow-Stone Cold, Deep Purple)
• 1945 - Steve Martin, Waco TX, writer/actor (Jerk, Housesitter)
• 1945 - Uwe Beyer, German DR, shot-putter (Olympic-gold-1976)
• 1946 - Patrick Fairley, guitarist (Marmalade-Oh La Di Oh La Do)
• 1946 - Tom Monteleone, US writer (Dark Star & Illumination)
• 1947 - Bob Massie, cricketer (Aust swing bowler, 16 wkts on debut v Eng 1972)
• 1948 - Chester G Atkins, (Rep-D-MA)
• 1948 - Larry Ferguson, Nassau, keyboardist (Hot Chocolate-You Sexy Thing)
• 1948 - Ty Grimes, rocker (Capt Beefheart Band Drums
• 1949 - John Shea, North Conway NH, actor (Honeymoon, New Life, Lois & Clark)
• 1949 - Michael Shea, Glendale NY, actor (Lucas- New Dick Van Dyke Show)
• 1950 - Anna M "Ansje" Beentjes, actress (Blindgangers)
• 1950 - Randolph Powell, Iowa City Iowa, actor (Alan-Dallas, Logan's Run)
• 1951 - Matima Kinuani Mpiosso, musician
• 1952 - Kenny Aaronson, rocker
• 1953 - Irina Rudolfovna Pronina, Russian cosmonaut
• 1954 - Bruce Sterling, US, sci-fi author (Involution Ocean, Schismatrix)
• 1955 - Simone Griffeth, Savannah Georgia, actress (Death Race 2000, Amanda's)
• 1958 - Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre, Prince of Monaco
• 1958 - Michael Patrick Hulbert, Elmira NY, PGA golfer (1989 BC Open)
• 1960 - Brian Forster, rocker (Partridge Family Drums)
• 1960 - Pat Symcox, cricketer (South African off-spinner 1993- )
• 1961 - John Clarke, actor (Mickey-Days of Our Life)
• 1962 - James Carpenter, Canton Conn, fencer-epee (Olympics-96)
• 1963 - Cynthia Cooper, WNBA guard (Houston Comets/Olympic-gold-1988)
• 1963 - Meg Mallon, Natick MA, LPGA golfer (1991 US Women's Open)
• 1964 - Allen James, Sacramento Calif, 50K walker (Olympics-24th-92, 96)
• 1964 - Greg Battle, CFL linebacker (Winnipeg Blue Bombers)
• 1964 - Jim Grabb, Tucson AZ, tennis star
• 1965 - Craig McDermott, cricket pace bowler (tireless Austr since 1984)
• 1965 - Stan Humphries, NFL quarterback (SD Chargers)
• 1966 - David Justice, baseball player (Atlanta Braves)/husband of Halle Barry
• 1966 - Greg Maddux, San Angelo TX, pitcher (Atlanta Braves)
• 1966 - Greg Myers, Riverside CA, catcher (Minn Twins)
• 1966 - Ricky Andrews, WLAF linebacker (Rhein Fire)
• 1967 - Barret Martin, rocker (Screaming Trees)
• 1967 - Jeff Finley, Edmonton, NHL defenseman (Winnipeg Jets)
• 1967 - Marla Wynne, Easton Penn, Miss Penn-America (1991) (top 10)
• 1967 - Steve Chiasson, Barrie, NHL defenseman (Calgary Flames)
• 1968 - Andrew Trim, Sydney NSW Australia, canoeist (Olympics-96)
• 1968 - Anthony Michael Hall, Boston Mass, comedian (SNL, Breakfast Club)
• 1968 - Jesse Levis, Philadephia PA, catcher (Milwaukee Brewers)
• 1969 - Brad Ausmus, New Haven CT, catcher (Detroit Tigers)
• 1969 - Brad Pennington, Salem IN, pitcher (California Angels)
• 1969 - David Archibald, Chilliwack, NHL center (Ottawa Senators)
• 1969 - Mark Macon, NBA guard (Detroit Pistons)
• 1969 - Tim Roberts, NFL defensive end (NE Patriots)
• 1970 - Brian Stablein, NFL wide receiver (Indianapolis Colts)
• 1970 - Jan Siemerink, Neth, tennis star
• 1970 - Steve Avery, Trenton MI, pitcher (Atlanta Braves)
• 1971 - Antonio London, NFL linebacker (Detroit Lions)
• 1971 - Gregory Zaun, Glendale CA, catcher (Baltimore Orioles)
• 1972 - Jason Mallett, CFL safety (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
• 1972 - Zev Lumelski, WLAF guard (Amsterdam Admirals)
• 1974 - Mike Allen Lambert, Honolulu HI, volleyball opposite hitter (Oly-96)
• 1975 - Petra Begerow, Germany, tennis star (1996 quarter Hilton Head)
• 1976 - Baedon Choppy, Australian field hockey forward (Olympics-96)
• 1976 - Jason Wiemer, Kimberley, NHL left wing (Tampa Bay Lightning)
• 1977 - Sarah Michelle Gellar, actress (Kendall-All My Children, Buffy)

Famous deaths for this day ..

• 0711 - Childebert III, king of French, dies at about 27
• 0911 - Sergius III, Italian Pope (904-11), dies
• 1099 - Conrad, bishop of Utrecht, stabbed to death
• 1240 - Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, Prince of Wales, dies
• 1427 - John IV, duke of Brabant, dies
• 1433 - Liduina van Schiedam, Dutch mystic (Christ's Bride)/saint, dies at 53
• 1471 - Richard Neville Warwick, 2nd earl of Salisbury, dies at 42
• 1552 - Laurentius Andreae, [Lars Andersson], Swedish church reformer, dies
• 1574 - Christoffel Palts, German general strategist, dies in battle
• 1574 - Hendrik, count of Nassau-Dillenburg, dies in battle
• 1574 - Louis, earl of Nassau-Dillenburg, dies in battle at 35
• 1655 - Johann Erasmus Kindermann, composer, dies at 39
• 1692 - Carlos de Gurrea, Spanish viceroy (Spanish Netherlands), dies
• 1695 - Jean de la Fontaine, French poet (Fables), dies at 73
• 1759 - Georg Friedrich H„ndel, organist/composer (Watermusic), dies at 74
• 1764 - Peder [Nielsen] Horrebow, Danish astronomer, dies at 84
• 1768 - Fran‡ois de Cuvilli‚s, Belgian architect of Bayern, dies
• 1813 - Joachim Nicolas Eggert, composer, dies at 34
• 1843 - Joseph Franz Karl Lanner, Austria, composer/violist, dies at 42
• 1874 - Hermanus J Abbring, Dutch author/engineer on Cura‡ao, dies at 86
• 1888 - William Fisk Sherwin, composer, dies at 62
• 1913 - Karl Hagenbeck, German animal trainer (Von Tieren), dies at 68
• 1914 - Paul Ehrenreich, German etnologist/mythologist, dies at 58
• 1915 - James Hutton Brew, Pioneer of West African Journalism, dies
• 1917 - Lew [Lejzer L] Zamenhof, Polish doc/linguist (Esperanto), dies at 57
• 1924 - Louis H Sullivan, architect (Wainwright building St Louis), dies at 67
• 1924 - Roland Napoleon Bonaparte, Fr officer/explorer (Surinam), dies at 65
• 1925 - Pieter D van Essen, Dutch artillery officer, dies at 54
• 1930 - W Majakowski, writer, dies at 36
• 1934 - Gerald du Maurier, British actor-manager (Unmarried, Escape), dies
• 1934 - Karl Dane, dies at 57
• 1941 - Jack Edmonson, Australian corporal in Tobruk (Victoria Cross), dies
• 1943 - Asser B Kleerekoper, SDAP-Second-Member of parliament, dies at 62
• 1943 - Geoffrey Turton Shaw, composer, dies at 63
• 1948 - Gerhard Ansch�tz, German professor, dies at 81
• 1948 - Walter P Reuther, Pres (United Auto Workers), shot at his home
• 1949 - Joseph A Cushman, US paleontologist, dies at 68
• 1953 - Emmanuel K de Bom, Flemish writer (Scheldelucht), dies at 84
• 1960 - Archibald McIndoe, plastic surgeon, dies
• 1964 - Bert McGirr, cricketer (2 Tests for NZ, 51 runs), dies
• 1964 - Earle Hodgins, actor (Guestward Ho!), dies at 64
• 1964 - Rachel L Carson, US biologist/author (Silent spring), dies at 56
• 1965 - Leonard Mudie, dies of heart ailment at 82
• 1965 - Perry E Smith, US murderer (In Cold Blood), hanged
• 1965 - Robert E Hickok, US murderer (In Cold Blood), hanged
• 1971 - Armand Spitz, developer of small educational planetarium, dies
• 1973 - Magda Janssens, Flemish actress (Nederlands in 7 Lessons), dies at 88
• 1973 - Minna Gombell, dies in Santa Monica CA
• 1975 - Fredric March, actor (Inherit the Wind), dies at 77
• 1976 - Gerard Roms‚e, Flemish nationalist, dies at 74
• 1976 - Maude Prickett, actress (Rosie-Hazel), dies at 60
• 1977 - Riekus Waskowsky, Dutch poet, dies at 44
• 1980 - Tom Fadden, actor (Duffeild-Broken Arrow, Cimarron City), dies at 84
• 1983 - Nina Dumbadze, Russian discus thrower (Oly-bronze-1952), dies at 64
• 1983 - Pete Farndon, rock bassist (Pretenders), dies
• 1983 - Willem F Bon, Dutch composer, dies at 42
• 1985 - Enver Hoxha, Albanian leader (1944-85), dies
• 1985 - Reginald Beane, pianist (Starlit Time, Once Upon a Tune), dies at 63
• 1986 - Jean Genˆt, French, playwright (Lesson NŠgres), dies at 75
• 1986 - Simone de Beauvoir, French author (DeuxiŠme Sexe), dies at 86
• 1987 - Karl Holler, composer, dies at 79
• 1988 - Herbert Reynolds Inch, composer, dies at 83
• 1988 - Johan Franco, composer, dies at 79
• 1989 - Lance Pierre, cricketer (Test WI v Engl 1948, DNB, 7 overs 0-28), dies
• 1990 - Martin Kessel, writer, dies on 89th birthday
• 1990 - Peter Dunn, actor (Invaders from Mars) dies
• 1992 - David Miller, dies of cancer at 82
• 1992 - Sammy Price, US boogie-woogie pianist, dies
• 1993 - Jo Boer, Dutch painter/writer/author (Heir, dies at 85
• 1993 - Sam Ntombani, ANC-secretary in Soweto South-Africa, shot to death
• 1994 - Harry Touw, Dutch comic (Fred Hach‚ Show), dies at 70
• 1994 - Selometsi Baholo, vice-premier of Lesotho, murdered
• 1995 - Brian Coffey, poet, dies at 89
• 1995 - Burl Ives, folk singer/actor (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), dies at 85
• 1995 - Donald Keech, entrepreneur, dies at 74
• 1995 - James Daniel "Danny" Turner, saxophonist, dies at 75
• 1995 - Michael Scott Montague Fordham, jungian analyst educator, dies at 89
• 1996 - Benjamin "Zik" Azikiwe Nnamdi, politician, dies at 91
• 1996 - Gaylord Birch, drummer (Pointer Sisters, Herbie Hancock), dies at 50
• 1996 - Manuel A "Manny" Greenhill, record producer, dies at 80
• 1996 - Mervyn Levy, artist/critic, dies at 81
• 1996 - William K Everson, film historian, dies at 67