• 1543 - Alfonso Ferrabosco, composer
• 1641 - Fran‡ois Michel le Tellier, French statesman (Marquis de Louvois)
• 1657 - Hendrik Casimir II, Dutch Fieldmarshal (Nassau)
• 1685 - Tiberius Hemsterhuis, Dutch Classical prof, baptized
• 1689 - Charles de Montesquieu, France, philosopher/writer (Letters Persanes)
• 1726 - Hendrik D F L, prince of Prussia/diplomat
• 1732 - Jean-Guillain Cardon, composer
• 1751 - Ferdinand Kauer, composer
• 1779 - Peter Roget, thesaurus fame/inventor (slide rule, pocket chessboard)
• 1782 - Daniel Webster, Salisbury NH, orator/politician/lawyer
• 1793 - William Henry Havergal, composer
• 1795 - Anna Paulowna Romanova, monarch of Russia/daughter of czar Paul I
• 1809 - Richard Caswell Gatlin, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1896
• 1813 - Joseph Farwell Glidden, inventor (1st coml useable barbed wire)
• 1815 - James Chesnut Jr, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1885
• 1815 - Richard Yates Gov, MC (Union), died in 1873
• 1817 - Jacques Gregoir, composer
• 1818 - Johannes van Vloten, Dutch literary/theologist
• 1820 - Abraham Buford, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1884
• 1829 - Louis van Haecke, Flemish chaplain/author (Blood to Bridge)
• 1831 - Edward Ferrero, Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1899
• 1835 - C‚sar A Cui, Vilna Lithuania, fort architect/composer
• 1835 - Jan van Droogenbroeck, Flemish poet
• 1840 - Austin Dobson, England, poet/critic/biographer
• 1840 - Ernst Rudorff, composer
• 1841 - Alexis-Emmanuel Chabrier, France, composer (Le Roi Malgr‚ Lui)
• 1849 - Edmund Barton, 1st PM of Australia (1900-03)
• 1854 - Thomas A Watson, needed by Bell, inventor assistant (Telephone)
• 1856 - Daniel Nathan Hale Williams, surgeon (1st open heart operation)
• 1856 - John Hyatt Brewer, composer
• 1857 - Otto von Below, German commandant (WW I)
• 1861 - Hans Goldschmidt, German chemist
• 1861 - Raymond Huntington Woodman, composer
• 1867 - Rub‚n Dar¡o, national poet (Nicaragua)
• 1869 - Willem De Vreese, Flemish linguist/biblographer
• 1870 - Berend Modderman, printer (Drukkers yearbook)
• 1871 - Franz Blei, [Peregrinus Steinh”vel], Austrian painter/critic
• 1872 - Paul Leautaud, [Maurice Boissard], France, writer (Petit ami)
• 1878 - Hendrik Baels, Belgian politician
• 1879 - Henri-Honor‚ Giraud, French general/member of parliament
• 1880 - Paul Ehrenfest, Austria/Neth physicist (adiabates hypothesis)
• 1881 - Gaston Gallimard, French publisher (Librairie Gallimard) [or 1908]
• 1882 - Alan Alexander Milne, English author (Winnie-the-Pooh)
• 1882 - Jacob Clay, Dutch philospher/phyicist (Mesones)
• 1882 - Sylvia Pankhurst, English feminist
• 1884 - Arthur Ransome, English author (Swallows & Amazons)
• 1886 - Antoine Pevsner, French sculptor
• 1886 - Peter Alma, Dutch painter/graphic artist
• 1892 - Oliver Hardy, Harlem Ga, comedy team member (Laurel & Hardy)
• 1893 - John Lawrence Seymour, composer
• 1893 - Jorge Guill‚n, Valladolid Spain, poet/critic (C ntico, Final)
• 1894 - Wilhelm HC Tenhaeff, Dutch parapsychologist
• 1896 - Hans H Holm, Norwegian poet (Jonsoknatt)
• 1901 - Arie Querido, Dutch social psychiatrist
• 1903 - Berthold Goldschmidt, German/British (opera)composer (Beatrice Cenci)
• 1904 - Cary Grant, England, actor (Arsenic & Old Lace, North by Northwest)
• 1904 - Henri-Georges Adam, French etcher/painter/sculptor (Grand Nude)
• 1905 - Chick Chandler, Kingston NY, actor (Barney-One Happy Family)
• 1906 - Hans Aeschbacher, Swiss sculptor (Venus de Six-Tours)
• 1907 - Janos Ferencsik, Budapest Hungary, conductor (Budapest Opera)
• 1908 - Albert P Morano, (Rep-R-Conn, 1951-59)
• 1908 - Jacob Bronowsky, British mathematician/cultural historian
• 1910 - Arthur John Howard, actor (Frieda, Last Holiday, Paradiso, Glass Cage)
• 1911 - Gabor Darvas, composer
• 1912 - Charles Moeller, Belgian theologist (Humanism et saintete)
• 1912 - Ren‚ Gabri‰ls, Belgian billiard pro (7 World/9 European championships)
• 1912 - William Sansom, English writer (Loving Eye)
• 1913 - Danny Kaye, Bkln NY, UNICEF/comedian/actor (Danny Kaye Show)
• 1914 - Arno Schmidt, writer
• 1916 - Alec Coxon, cricketer (England pace bowler in one Test, 2-90 & 1-82)
• 1917 - Oscar Lewenstein, impressario
• 1918 - Adriano Mandarino Hypolito, priest
• 1918 - Bohuslav Jeremias, composer, dies at 58
• 1918 - Ton Brandsteder, CEO/founder (Sony Nederland)
• 1919 - Juan Antonio Orrego-Salas, Santiago Chile, composer
• 1921 - Bruce Woodcock, boxer
• 1922 - Constance Moore, Sioux City Iowa, actress (Window on Main Street)
• 1922 - Yehezkiel Braun, composer
• 1924 - Donald Baverstock, TV producer
• 1925 - Anthony Joly de Lotbiniere, TV producer
• 1925 - Gilles Deleuze, philosopher
• 1925 - Roepie Kruize, Dutch field hockey player (Olympic-Bronze-48/Silver-52)
• 1932 - Joe Schmidt, NFL Hall-of-Famer
• 1932 - Robert Anton Wilson, US, sci-fi author (Trick Top Hat)
• 1933 - David Bellamy, English botanist/tv-program maker
• 1933 - John Boorman, producer/dir (Exorcist II, Deliverance, Zardoz)
• 1933 - Ray Dolby, sound expert/inventor (Dolby noise limiting system)
• 1933 - Vladimir Yevgrafovich Bugrov, cosmonaut
• 1935 - Raymond Briggs, English author (Fungus the Bogeyman)
• 1939 - Bernard Glassman, NY, Zen teacher/head (Zen Center of NY)
• 1941 - Bobby Goldsboro, Marianna Fla, singer (Honey)
• 1941 - David Ruffin, Miss, vocalist (Temptations-Papa Was a Rolling Stone)
• 1941 - Iva Zanicchi, actress (Ragazza Tutta d'Oro)
• 1943 - Dave Greene, rocker
• 1944 - Larry "Legs" Smith, rocker (Bonzo Dog Band-Urban Spaceman)
• 1944 - Relus ter Beek, Dutch Minister of defense (PvdA)
• 1946 - Katia Ricclarelli, actress (Falstaff, Otello, Turandot)
• 1948 - Takeshi Kitano, Tokyo Japan, actor (Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence)
• 1950 - Claudia de Colombia, Bogato Columbia, spanish singer (Yo Creo En Ti)
• 1950 - Gilles Villeneuve, Canadian auto racer
• 1950 - John Hughes, director (Breakfast Club, 16 Candles, Weird Science)
• 1953 - Brett Hudson, Portland Ore, comedian (Bonkers, Hudson Brothers Show)
• 1955 - Johannes AM "Hans" van Tongeren, Dutch actor (Hunk)
• 1955 - Kevin Costner, LA Calif, actor (Fandango, Silverado, Bull Durham)
• 1955 - Mable Fergerson, LA Calif, 4x400m runner (Olympic-silver-1972)
• 1956 - Mark Collie, Waynesboro Tn, country singer (Another Old Soldier)
• 1957 - Tom Bailey, rock vocalist/keyboardist (Thompson Twins-Doctor Doctor)
• 1958 - Jeffrey N Williams, Superior Wisc, Major Army/astronaut
• 1958 - Larry Smith, NBA player
• 1959 - Bob Rosenberg, rocker (Will To Power)
• 1961 - Mark D Messier, Edmonton Alberta, NHL Center (Edmonton, NY Rangers)
• 1962 - Alison Arngrim, actress (Nellie-Little House of the Prairie)
• 1962 - David O'Connor, equestrian 3-day (Olympics-silver-96)
• 1963 - Jane Horrocks, Lancashire England, actress (Absolutely Fabulous)
• 1964 - Brady Anderson, Silver Spring MD, outfielder (Baltimore Orioles)
• 1964 - Jenny Holliday, Australian softball pitcher (Olympics-bronze-96)
• 1965 - Richard Dunwoody, British(?) jockey)
• 1967 - Kim Perrot, WNBA guard (Houston Comets)
• 1967 - M C Tab, [Sharon Richard], NYC, rapper
• 1967 - Peter Cox Jr, Bronxville NY, fencer-sabre (Olympics-96)
• 1969 - Larry Webster, defensive tackle (Baltimore Ravens)
• 1969 - Marvin Pope, CFL defensive end (Calgary Stampeders)
• 1970 - Leo Araguz, NLF/WLAF punter (Oakland Raiders, Rhein Fire)
• 1971 - Andre Coleman, NFL wide receiver/kick returner (SD Chargers)
• 1971 - Greg Engel, NFL center (SD Chargers)
• 1972 - Dwayne Carswell, NFL tight end (Denver Broncos-Superbowl 32)
• 1972 - Mike Lieberthal, Glendale CA, catcher (Phila Phillies)
• 1972 - Ryan Kuehl, defensive tackle (Washington Redskins)
• 1972 - Steven Conley, linebacker (Pittsburgh Steelers)
• 1972 - Vinod Kambli, cricketer (prolific Indian batsman 1993-)
• 1973 - Crispian Mills, London, vocalist/guitarist (Kula Shaker)
• 1973 - Edward Jasper, defensive tackle (Philadelphia Eagles)
• 1973 - Junior Burrough, NBA forward (Boston Celtics)
• 1973 - Regilio Vreede, soccer player (Blue White, RKC)
• 1974 - Devon Odessa, actor (Sharon-My So Called Life, Girl of Limberlost)
• 1974 - Shane Burton, defensive tackle (Miami Dolphins)
• 1975 - Derek Smith, linebacker (Washington Redskins)
• 1976 - Laurence Courtois, Kortrijk Belg, tennis star (1995 finalist Jakarta)
• 1976 - Vincent Polvliet, soccer player (FC Utrecht)
• 1981 - Kimberly Gloudemans, Miss California Teen USA (1997)
• 1981 - Latoya Farley, Miss Oklahoma Teen USA (1996)

Famous deaths for this day ..

• 1367 - Pedro I, king of Portugal (1357-67), dies at 46
• 1479 - Louis IX, the Rich, duke of Bayern (U of Ingolstadt), dies at 61
• 1580 - Antonio Scandello, Italian composer (Passion of John), dies at 63
• 1659 - Benedikt Lechler, composer, dies at 64
• 1664 - Moise Amyrault, French theologist/vicar, dies
• 1666 - Adriaen A Bloemaert, Dutch landscape painter, dies at about 56
• 1677 - John A van Riebeeck, Dutch founder Cape Colony, dies at 57
• 1730 - Peter II, czar of Russia (1727-30), dies at 14
• 1760 - Claudio Casciolini, composer, dies at 62
• 1769 - Hakuin Ekaku, Zen teacher (reformer of Rinzai school), dies in Japan
• 1854 - Juda Turo, American philanthropist, dies
• 1862 - John Tyler, 10th US pres (1841-45), dies in Richmond Va at 71
• 1875 - Joseph Philbrick Webster, composer, dies at 55
• 1886 - Michal Czajchovski, [Sadik Pasja], writer, dies
• 1890 - Amadeus I FM, king of Spain (1870-73), dies at 44
• 1902 - Filippo Marchetti, composer, dies at 70
• 1906 - Bartolom‚ Mitre, president of Argentina (1862-70), dies at 84
• 1913 - Edmond R H Regout, Dutch industrialist/politician, dies at 49
• 1919 - John C F, son of English king George V, dies at 13
• 1921 - Adolf von Hildebrand, German sculptor, dies at 73
• 1923 - Wallace Reid, actor (Birth of a Nation), dies at 31
• 1936 - Rudyard Kipling, author (Gunga Din, Nobel 1907), dies at 70
• 1940 - Kazimierz P Tetmajer, Polish writer/poet (Young Poland), dies at 74
• 1951 - Robert Mark, US chairman (Caste World Congress), dies at 41
• 1954 - Sydney Greenstreet, actor (Conflict, Maltese Falcon), dies at 74
• 1962 - Raymond Moulaert, composer, dies at 86
• 1963 - Johnnie Moyes, journalist/cricketer (S Aust batsman), dies
• 1966 - Kathleen Norris, US author, dies at 85
• 1967 - Albert Conti, actor (Eagle, Jazz Heaven, Topaz), dies at 79
• 1967 - Barney Ross, welterweight Boxing Champ (1934), dies at 57
• 1967 - Harry Antrim, actor (Ma & Pa Kettle), dies of heart attack at 83
• 1967 - Reese "Goose" Tatum, basketballer (Harlem Globetrotters), dies at 45
• 1967 - Simon FHJ Berkelbach van der Sprenkel, vicar/theologist, dies at 84
• 1968 - Bert Wheeler, actor (Rainmakers, High Flyers, Dixiana), dies at 72
• 1968 - John Ridgely, actor (Air Force, Possessed, Big Sleep), dies at 58
• 1968 - Lee Tracy, actor (Martin Kane-Martin Kane Private Eye), dies at 69
• 1970 - David O McKay, 9th Mormon president, dies at 96
• 1971 - Catherine Calvert, actress (Fires of Faith), dies of stroke at 80
• 1972 - Rudolf Wittelsbach, composer, dies at 69
• 1976 - Ad Verhoeven, soccer player (Xerxes, Sparta), dies in crash [or 1/17]
• 1976 - Sonia Dresdel, actor (Fallen Idol, Secret Tent), dies at 67
• 1977 - Carl Zuckmayer, German/Swiss/US playwright (Second Wind), dies at 80
• 1977 - Paul Nordoff, US composer (Frog Prince), dies at 67
• 1977 - Yvonne Printemps, actress (Paris Waltz, Voyage to America), dies at 81
• 1978 - Carl Betz, actor (Alex Stone-Donna Reed Show), dies at 67
• 1978 - Ivan Ivonovich Dzerzhinsky, composer, dies at 68
• 1979 - Cyril Mockridge, composer, dies at 82
• 1980 - Cecil Beaton, British photographer, dies at 76
• 1982 - Burnet Corwin Tuthill, US composer (Laurentia), dies at 93
• 1982 - Ram¢n (J) Sender (Garc‚s), Spanish writer, dies at 79
• 1982 - Trent Lehman, actor (Butch-Nanny & the Professor), dies at 20
• 1984 - Malcolm H Kerr, 9th pres of American U of Beirut, shot dead
• 1985 - Mahmoud Taha, Sudanese Moslem leader, hanged at 76
• 1985 - Wilfrid Brambell, actor (Hard Day's Night, Boys), dies at 72
• 1986 - Claire James, actress (Jack Armstrong), dies
• 1989 - Bruce Chatwin, British writer, dies at 49
• 1990 - Melanie Appleby, rocker (Mel & Kim), dies of liver cancer at 23
• 1991 - Hamilton Fish, congressman (NY), dies at 102
• 1991 - Lillian Bond, actress (Air Mail, Pick-up, Blond Cheat), dies at 83
• 1991 - Nita Krebs, actor (Munchkin-Wizard of Oz), dies of heart attack at 85
• 1992 - John Remme, entertainer, dies of AIDS at 56
• 1992 - Tom Elios, entertainer, dies
• 1993 - M Eleonore Lippits, 1st Dutch female missionary doctor, dies at 85
• 1993 - Mia Meijer, Dutch playwright/director (Machine Child), dies
• 1993 - Mike Templeton, 2nd person to receive a heart pump, dies at 34
• 1994 - Arthur Altman, songwriter, dies at 83
• 1995 - Adolph F J Butenandt, German bio-chemist (Nobel 1939), dies at 91
• 1995 - Charles Baskerville, vocalist, dies at 54
• 1995 - Joseph Kagan, businessman, dies at 79
• 1996 - Leonor Fini, painter, dies at 87
• 1996 - Minnesota Fats, [Rudolf Wanderone Jr], billiard hustler, dies at 82
• 1996 - N T Rama Rao, PM of Andhra Pradesh India (1983-84, 84-89, 94-95), dies
• 1997 - Myfanwy Piper, librettist, dies at 85
• 1997 - Neville Crump, racehorse trainer, dies at 86
• 1997 - Paul Tsongas, (Sen-D-Mass), dies at 55