• 1515 - St Philippus Nerius, [Philippo Neri], Italian merchant/priest
• 1620 - Jean Picard, French astronomer
• 1664 - Matthew Prior, English poet
• 1676 - Anthony Collins, English philosopher (A discourse on free-thinking)
• 1693 - Thomas Pelham-Holles 1st duke of Newcastle, Engl minister of finance
• 1706 - Pierre Lyonet, zoologist/cryptologist (Anatomy of Wilgehoutrups)
• 1748 - Louis-Henry Paisible, composer
• 1758 - Elizabeth Hamilton, author (Cats: A Celebration)
• 1762 - Willem GF Bentinck, Dutch earl/politician/organist
• 1779 - Gottlob Wiedebein, composer
• 1797 - Franz Schoberlechner, composer
• 1802 - David Hunter, Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1886
• 1804 - Victor Schoelcher, Guadeloupe, abolished french slavery
• 1810 - Henri V Regnault, French physicist/chemist
• 1815 - Stewart Van Vliet, Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1901
• 1816 - Paul Julius Baron von Reuter, founded Reuters news service
• 1817 - John Gilbert, painter/illustrator
• 1817 - Joseph K Barnes, Major General (Union Army), died in 1883
• 1821 - Vasile Alecsandri, Romania, poet/ Foreign Minister/diplomat
• 1822 - Ludwig Theodore Gouvy, composer
• 1826 - James Gillpatrick Blunt, Major General (Union volunteers)
• 1828 - John Rutter Brooke, Bvt Major General (Union volunteers)
• 1832 - Henrietta Marie Morse King, cattlewoman
• 1856 - Harry A P Eyres, British diplomat (Constantinople, Albania)
• 1856 - Louise Blanchard Bethune, 1st US woman architect
• 1857 - A S C Wallis, [AdŠle SC von Antal-Opzoomer], Dutch writer
• 1863 - C[harles] Aubrey Smith, London England, actor (Prisoner of Zenda)
• 1864 - Frances Folsom Cleveland, 1st lady (1885-89, 93-97)
• 1865 - Robert Kahn, composer
• 1885 - Frances Parkinson Keyes, novelist (Dinner at Antoine)
• 1886 - John-French Cantr‚, Flemish wood carver/painter/cartoonist
• 1888 - Jacques Feyder, [Fr‚d‚rix], Belg/French actor/director (Anna Christie)
• 1892 - Anton Schnack, German writer/poet
• 1892 - Gijsbert Friedhoff, architect (tax office Wibautstraat, Amsterdam)
• 1892 - Lenore Ulric, US actress (Notorious, Better Woman) [or 1894]
• 1893 - Hans Fallada, writer
• 1895 - H G "Nummy" Deane, South African cricket Test captain (1927-31)
• 1895 - Ken Maynard, Texas, cowboy/actor/producer (Bigfoot)
• 1896 - Jean Rivier, Villemomble France, composer (V‚nitienne)
• 1898 - Ernest Willem Mulder, composer
• 1898 - Sara Carter, Virginia, vocalist/guitarist (Carter Family)
• 1899 - Ernest Hemmingway, Oak Park, for whom the bell tolled... (Nobel 1954)
• 1899 - Hart Crane, US, poet (Bridge)
• 1901 - Allyn Joslyn, Milford Pa, actor (They Won't Forget, Cafe Society)
• 1902 - Belcampo, [Herman P Sch”nfeld Wichers], Dutch writer
• 1903 - Theodore Karyotakis, composer
• 1905 - Diana Trilling, writer
• 1906 - Daniel Ayala Perez, composer
• 1907 - Ross Alexander, Brooklyn NY, actor (Boulder Dam, Capt Blood)
• 1909 - Iorwerth Eiddon Stephen Edwards, Egyptologist
• 1911 - Jozef Cyrankiewicz, premier Poland (1947..70)
• 1911 - Marshall McLuhan, Canada, writer (Medium is the Massage)
• 1914 - Philippe AriŠs, French historian
• 1915 - Duke of Norfolk
• 1915 - Floyd McDaniel, blues singer/guitarist
• 1915 - Maurice Laing, English contractor/multi-millionaire
• 1920 - Constantly, [A Nieuwenhuys], painter (Uprising of Homo Ludens)
• 1920 - Isaac Stern, Kreminiecz Russia, violinist (debut SF Symph)
• 1920 - Manuel Valls Gorina, composer
• 1921 - Billy Taylor, Greenville NC, orch leader (David Frost Show)
• 1922 - Kay Starr, Dougherty Okla, singer (Rock & Roll Waltz, Club Oasis)
• 1923 - Henny Alma, [Hendrika den Broek], Dutch actress (Soldier of Orange)
• 1924 - Don Knotts, Morgantown WV, actor (Amdy Griffth Show, 3's Company)
• 1925 - Al Checco, Pittsburgh PA, actor (Extreme Close-up)
• 1925 - Lovro Zupanovic, composer
• 1926 - Gerald Ian Lacey, architect/town planner
• 1926 - Karel Reisz, director (Everybody Wins, Isadora, Who'll Stop the Rain)
• 1926 - Norman Jewison, director (Moonstruck, ...and Justice For All)
• 1926 - Paul Burke, New Orleans, actor (Thomas Crown Affair) [or Jan 21]
• 1927 - Stefan Niculescu, composer
• 1930 - Gene Alec Littler, San Diego CA, PGA golfer (1961 US Open)
• 1931 - Leon Schidlowsky, composer
• 1933 - Brigitte Reimann, writer
• 1933 - John C Gardner, scholar/writer (Grendel, Sunlight Dialogues)
• 1934 - Chandu Borde, cricket batsman (55 Tests for India 1959-67)
• 1934 - Edolphus Towns, (Rep-D-New York, 1983- )
• 1935 - Julian Pettifer, English TV-host
• 1935 - Kaye Stevens, Pitts, singer/comedienne (Jerry Lewis Show)
• 1938 - Anton Emil Kuerti, composer
• 1938 - Janet Reno, US attorney general (1993- )
• 1938 - Les Aspin, (Rep-D-Wisc, 1971-93)/Minister of Defense (1993-94)
• 1940 - James E Clyburn, (Rep-D-South Carolina)
• 1941 - Jim Bates, (Rep-D-CA, 1983- )
• 1942 - Fred Hetzel, NBA star (SF, Cincinnati, Milwaukee Bucks)
• 1942 - Kim Fowley, Philippines/US rock vocalist/producer/songwriter
• 1942 - Patricia Elliot, Gunnison Co, actress (Renee-Empire, One Life to Live)
• 1943 - David Downing, NYC, actor (Backstairs at the White House)
• 1943 - Edward Herrmann, Wash DC, actor (Day of the Dolphin, Reds)
• 1943 - Jerry McGee, New Lexingon OH, PGA golfer (1975 Pensacola Open)
• 1944 - Buchi Emecheta, Nigerian/English writer (Price of Bride)
• 1944 - Paul Wellstone, (Sen-D-Minnesota)
• 1944 - Tony Scott, director (Top Gun, Revenge, Days of Thunder)
• 1945 - Alton Maddox, NY black activist/attorney (Tawana Brawley case)
• 1945 - Barry Richards, extraordinary cricket batsman (4 Tests for S Africa)
• 1945 - Geoff Dymock, Australian cricket left-arm pace bowler (1974-80)
• 1945 - Leigh Lawson, Atherston England, actress (Fire & Sword, Charlie Boy)
• 1946 - Barry "Bean" Whitwam, rocker
• 1946 - Zbigniew Kaczmarek, Poland, lightweight (Olympic-gold-1976)
• 1947 - Cat Stevens, [Yusaf Islam], rock vocalist (Peace Train, Father & Son)
• 1947 - Chetan Chauhan, Indian cricket opener (Gavaskar's partner for a while)
• 1947 - John J Duncan Jr, (Rep-R-Tennessee)
• 1947 - Wendell Burton, San Antonio Tx, actor (Lucas-New Dick Van Dyke Show)
• 1948 - Art Hindle, Halifax Nova Scotia, actor (Jeff-Dallas, Berrengers)
• 1948 - Garry Trudeau, political cartoonist (Doonesbury)
• 1949 - Ludmila Smirnova, USSR, pairs figure skater (Olympic-silver-1972)
• 1950 - Larry Tolbert, rock drummer (Raydio)
• 1951 - Diana Dennis, Portland Oregon, body builder (Women Physique World)
• 1951 - Doug Collins, US, basketball player (Olympic-silver-1972)
• 1951 - Slick Watts, NBA (Seattle SuperSonic)
• 1952 - Robin Williams, Chicago Ill, comedian (Mork & Mindy, Awakenings)
• 1955 - Henry Preistman, rocker (Christians-Harvest the World)
• 1955 - Tacho Ocheriski, singer (Putting on the Ritz)
• 1957 - Jon Lovitz, Tarzana Calif, actor (SNL, League of their Own, Critic)
• 1959 - Stuart Young-Black, Cheshire England, Canadian equestrian (Oly-96)
• 1960 - Lance Guest, Saratoga Calif, actor (Lance-Lou Grant)
• 1960 - Matt Mulhern, Phila, actor (Biloxi Blues)
• 1961 - Don Wilson, CFL linebacker (BC Lions)
• 1961 - Henry Ellard, NFL wide receiver (Washington Redskins)
• 1961 - Jim Martin, Oakland CA, rock guitarist (Faith No More-Real Thing)
• 1962 - Ike Eisenmann, Houston Tx, actor (Scott-Fantastic Journey)
• 1964 - Susan Swift, Houston Tx, actress (Chisholms)
• 1965 - Mike Bordick, Marquette MI, infielder (Oakland A's)
• 1966 - Larisa Neiland, Lvov Ukraine, tennis star (1996 Essen winner)
• 1967 - Lance Painter, Bedford England, pitcher (Colorado Rockies)
• 1967 - Tore Meinecke, West Germany, tennis star
• 1968 - Brandi Chastain, San Jose Calif, soccer forward (Olympics-96)
• 1968 - Christian Perthaler, hockey forward (Team Austria 1998)
• 1968 - Dina Ammaccapane, Bayport NY, LPGA golfer (1994 Sara Lee Classic-4th)
• 1968 - Johnnie Barnes, NFL wide receiver (Pitts Steelers, Amsterdam Admirals)
• 1968 - Lyle Odelein, Quill Lake Sask, NHL defenseman (Team Canada, Montreal)
• 1968 - Robert Anthony Gamez, Las Vegas NV, PGA golfer (1990 Nestle)
• 1970 - Bryce Florie, Charleston FLA, pitcher (San Diego Padres)
• 1970 - Steven "Scrappy" Segaloff, New Haven, Conn, rower (Olympics-5th-1996)
• 1972 - Dennis Military man, soccer player (Sparta/Vitesse)
• 1972 - Joe Rudolph, NFL guard (Phila Eagles)
• 1972 - Kimera Bartee, Omaha NE, outfielder (Detroit Tigers)
• 1972 - Lilach Parisky, Israel, Women's foil fencer (Oly-1996)
• 1972 - Martin Miller, CFL safety (BC Lions)
• 1972 - Shinjiro Otani, wrestler (NJPW)
• 1973 - Ali Landry, Louisiana, Miss Universe-USA (1996)
• 1973 - Stephen Clarke, Sutton Coldfield Engld, Canada swimmer (Oly-br-92, 96)
• 1973 - Steve Taneyhill, WLAF QB (Frankfurt Galaxy)
• 1974 - Andrea L'Huillier, Miss Universe-Chile (1996)
• 1975 - Mike Sellers, CFL defensive end (Edmonton Eskimos)
• 1975 - Ravindra Pushpakumara, Sri Lankan cricketer (Test pace bowler)
• 1977 - Allison Wagner, 200m/400m medley swimmer (Olympics-silver-96)
• 1977 - Sarah Biasini, daughter of actress Romy Schneider
• 1978 - Kyoko Iwosoki, Japan, 100m breaststroke swimmer (Oly-gold-92, 96)

Famous deaths for this day ..

• 1160 - Peterus Lombardus, Italian theologist/bishop of Paris, dies
• 1425 - Manuel Paleologus, Byzantine Emperor (1391-1425)/writer, dies
• 1540 - John I Z polyai, prince of Transsylvania/king of Hungary, dies
• 1544 - Ren‚ of Chalon [Renatus of Nassau], prince of Orange, slain in battle
• 1683 - Lord William Russell, English plotter against Charles II, beheaded
• 1717 - Niccol• Amenta, Italian poet (La Gostanza), dies
• 1782 - Placidus Cajetan von Camerloher, composer, dies at 63
• 1796 - Robert Burns, Scottish poet (Auld Lang Syne), dies at 37
• 1821 - Maurice J M prince de Broglie, bishop of Ghent, dies at about 55
• 1831 - Emil Aarestrup, Danish physician/poet (Ritornellen), dies at 55
• 1861 - Francis Stebbins Bartow, Confederate colonel, dies in battle at 44
• 1870 - Josef Strauss, Austrian composer (Dynamids), dies at 42
• 1888 - Matthias J Scheeben, German theologist (Natur und Gnade), dies at 53
• 1891 - Franco Faccio, Italian composer/conductor, dies at 51
• 1910 - Johan Peter Selmer, composer, dies at 66
• 1917 - Christopher J Forster, British RAF-pilot/capt, dies in battle
• 1922 - Djemal Pasha, dictator of Turkey, murdered
• 1927 - J J Lyons, cricketer (14 Tests for Australia), dies
• 1928 - Ellen A Terry, Brits actress/dir (Imperial Theatre), dies at 81
• 1943 - Charles William Paddock, 100m runner (Olympic-gold-1920), dies at 42
• 1944 - Gerrit van den Bosch, led illegal Dutch CPN party, dies in Dachau
• 1944 - Henning von Tresckow, Gen-Maj, "July 20th plotter", commits suicide
• 1948 - Arshile Gorky, abstract expressionist, dies at 43
• 1948 - Donald Nichols Tweedy, composer, dies at 58
• 1950 - Albert Riemenschneider, composer, dies at 71
• 1957 - Bernard Spooner, US inventor (bulletproof jacket), dies
• 1957 - Rockley Wilson, cricketer (bro of Clem, Test for England 1921), dies
• 1966 - Eugeen Calleen, Flemish sculptor, dies at 83
• 1967 - Albert J Luthuli, president South Africa (ANC), dies
• 1967 - Basil Rathbone, actor (Sherlock Holmes), dies of heart attack at 75
• 1967 - Jimmy Foxx, baseball hall of famer (Det Tigers/534 HRs), dies at 59
• 1967 - Pierre Kemp, Dutch poet (English paint box), dies at 80
• 1968 - Ruth St Denis, US choreography, dies at about 90
• 1972 - Jigme Dori Wangchuck, King of Bhutan, dies
• 1973 - Russell Hardie, dies after long illness at 69
• 1974 - Willem F K Hussem, painter/poet (Steltlopen on Sea), dies at 74
• 1975 - Billy West, actor (Jimmy the Gent, Jealousy), dies at 82
• 1975 - Fie Carelsen, actress (Malle Gevallen), dies at 85
• 1976 - Christopher Ewart-Biggs, British ambassador to Ireland, assassinated
• 1979 - Ludwig Renn, writer, dies at 90
• 1982 - Dave Garroway, TV host (Today Show), dies at 69
• 1982 - Jean J A Girault, French director (Gendarme Saint-Tropez), dies at 58
• 1984 - Michael Osborne, rock guitarist/vocalist (Axe), dies at 34
• 1985 - Mickey Shaughnessy, actor (Chicago Teddy Bears), dies at 65
• 1985 - Vicki Vola, actress (Miss Miller-Mr District Attorney)
• 1986 - Paulo Correia, Guinee-Bissaus colonel/putschist, executed
• 1986 - Virginia Hewitt, actress (Carol-Space Patrol), dies at 60
• 1990 - Manuel Puig, Argentina writer (Buenos Aires Affair), dies at 57
• 1990 - Sacha Piteoff, dies of heart failure at 70
• 1990 - Stanley Shapiro, dies of leukemia at 65
• 1991 - Theodore Wilson, dies at 47
• 1993 - Henk Kersting, bureau chef (Associated Press-WW II), dies at 88
• 1993 - Piet Wielinga, TV producer (Dutch Glory), dies at 56
• 1993 - Robert J Glass, film producer (ET), is killed at 53
• 1994 - Dorothy Collins, singer (Your Hit Parade), dies at 67
• 1994 - John Ernest, constructionist Artist, dies at 72
• 1994 - Marjorie Dorothy Chandler Collins, jazz singer, dies at 67
• 1995 - Edwin "Russell" House, saxophonist, dies at 65
• 1995 - Elleston Trevor, author, dies
• 1995 - Jon Boulle, motorcyclist, dies at 59
• 1996 - Francis James Claude Piggott, soldier, dies at 85
• 1996 - Gerald McArthur, detective, dies at 70
• 1996 - Herb Edelman, actor (Odd Couple, St Elsewhere), dies of emphysema 62
• 1996 - James Tye, safety expert, dies at 74
• 1996 - John Kevin Moorhouse, test pilot, dies at 50
• 1996 - Macha Louis Rosenthal, critic/poet, dies at 79
• 1996 - Wolf Morris, actor (Padmasambhava-Dr Who), dies at 71