• 1517 - Gioseffo Zarlino, composer
• 1573 - Ambrosius Metzger, composer
• 1573 - Giulio Cesare Monteverdi, composer
• 1601 - Pieter de Bloot, Dutch landscape painter
• 1607 - James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby
• 1612 - Hendrik Casimir I, count of Nassau-Dietz/mayor of Frisia
• 1614 - Nicolas Saboly, composer
• 1620 - Georg F von Waldeck, German commander-in-chief
• 1623 - Fran‡ois-Xavier de Laval
• 1633 - Nathaniel Crew, English bishop (Durham)
• 1734 - Julien-Amable Mathieu, composer
• 1734 - Robert Morris, merchant (signed Declaration of Independence)
• 1741 - Theodor Gotlieb von Hippel, East Prussian author/mayor of K”ningsberg
• 1750 - Gerrit J Pijman, Dutch minister of War (1798-1800, 1803-06)
• 1759 - Fran‡ois Devienne, composer
• 1778 - Franz Anton graaf von Kolowrat, Austrian premiere of Bohemia (1848)
• 1784 - Carl Wilhelm Henning, composer
• 1787 - Louis Angely, German, comedy writer (Sieben M„dchen in Uniform)
• 1797 - Franz Peter Schubert, Lichtenthal Aust, composer (Unfinished Symphony)
• 1798 - Karl Gottlieb Reissiger, composer
• 1802 - Jan C J van Speijk, Dutch naval hero
• 1804 - J¢zsef Bajza, Hungarian author/poet/critic
• 1810 - Daniel Ruggles, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1897
• 1812 - John Randolph Tucker, Capt (Confederate Navy), died in 1883
• 1813 - Samuel Sarphati, Amsterdam, physician/pharmacist/social activist
• 1817 - Antony Winkler Prins, Dutch writer (Groiler Encyclopaedia)
• 1818 - William Raine Peck, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1871
• 1830 - James G Blaine, the "Plumed Knight"
• 1836 - Henryk Szulc, composer
• 1863 - F Henri Berz, French existensialist philosopher (Revue the Synthesis)
• 1866 - Emil Strauss, Germany, writer (Naked Man)
• 1866 - Henry Forster, cricketer (Oxford blue 1887-89, later Aust Gov-General)
• 1868 - Theodore William Richards, chemist (atomic weights, Nobel-1914)
• 1869 - Henry graaf Carton de Wiart, Belgian literary/premier (1920-21)
• 1872 - Zane Grey, American West novelist (Riders of the Purple Sage)
• 1877 - Max Ettlinger, German philosopher
• 1878 - Willem J M van Eysinga, Dutch international law jurist
• 1881 - Irving Langmuir, inventor (tungsten filament lamp/Nobel 1932)
• 1881 - Joseph A Cushman, US, palaentologist
• 1882 - Anna Pavlova, St Petersburg Russia, ballerina/choreographer
• 1882 - Josephus RH van Schaik, Dutch lawyer/vice-premier
• 1884 - Nicholas Joy, Paris France, actor (Boss Lady)
• 1886 - Alfonso Lopez, Colombia, statesman (Pres UN security council-1948)
• 1889 - F R Foster, cricketer (330 runs & 45 wickets for England)
• 1890 - Adolf Bach, German language/sociologist (Deutsche Namenkunde)
• 1891 - Max Drischner, composer
• 1892 - Eddie Cantor, NYC, comedian (Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater)
• 1893 - Freya Stark, English explorist/author
• 1894 - Percy Helton, NY, actor (Jail Busters, Harbor of Missing Men)
• 1901 - Blaz Arnic, composer
• 1901 - Marie Luise Kaschnitz, writer
• 1902 - Alva Myrdal, Uppsala Sweden, diplomat (Nobel Peace Prize-1982)
• 1902 - Jean C M Picart le Doux, France, carpet designer
• 1902 - Julian H Steward, US anthropologist/professor
• 1903 - Gardner Cowles, Iowa, publisher/founder (Look Magazine)
• 1903 - Tallulah Bankhead, Huntsville Ala, actress (Lifeboat, Die Die Darling)
• 1904 - E van Ruller, Dutch journalist/ARP-alderman/co-founder (Trouw)
• 1904 - L‚on N H Jungschl„ger, head of military intelligence (Neth-Indies)
• 1905 - Anna Blaman, [Johanna P Vrugt], Dutch writer (Wife & Friend)
• 1905 - Charles de Trooz, Belgian literary (Le Magister et Ses MaŒtres)
• 1905 - John O'Hara, Pottstown Penn, novelist (Appointment at Samarra)
• 1906 - Benjamin Frankel, composer
• 1906 - R W Bonham, founder (International Braille Chess Association)
• 1908 - Ren‚ Simone Mathieu, France, doubles tennis star (Wimbledon 1934)
• 1909 - Foley Newns, British colonial administrator
• 1909 - Miron Grindea, literary editor
• 1910 - Herbert Ashworth, CEO (Nationwide Building Society)
• 1911 - A G Ogston, president (Trinity College-Oxford)
• 1911 - Christina Foyle, book seller
• 1913 - Don Hutson, NFL end (Packers)
• 1913 - Hector Iglesias Villoud, composer
• 1913 - Wayne Millner, NFL end (Boston/Washington Redskins)
• 1914 - Carey Lofton, Blountsville Fla, actor (Skinner-Troubleshooters)
• 1914 - Jersey Joe Walcott, heavyweight boxing champ (1951-52)
• 1914 - Louis Osman, architect/artist/goldsmith
• 1915 - Bobby Hackett, Providence RI, trumpeteer/orch leader (Air Time '57)
• 1915 - Garry Moore, [Thomas Garrison Morfit], Balt, host (I've Got a Secret)
• 1915 - John Profumo, president (Toynbee Hall)
• 1915 - Thomas Merton, France, Trappist monk/poet/essayist (7 Storey Mt)
• 1915 - William Crosbie, artist
• 1916 - Ciro D Crown, premier of Dutch Antilles (1968-69)
• 1916 - Frank A Parker, tennis champ (US Open-1944)
• 1916 - Violet Cane, statistician
• 1917 - Erich Geiringer, general practitioner campaigner
• 1917 - Jose Maceda, composer
• 1919 - Jackie Robinson, Ga, 1st black major league baseball player (Dodgers)
• 1919 - Lord Lowry
• 1920 - Patrick Heron, painter
• 1920 - Robert Hersant, press baron
• 1920 - Stewart L Udall, St Johns Ariz, US Secretary of Interior (1961-69)
• 1921 - Carol Channing, Wash, actress (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Hello Dolly)
• 1921 - John Agar, Chicago, actor (Fort Apache, Sands of Iwo Jima)
• 1921 - Mario Lanza, Phila, actor/singer (Great Caruso, Toast of New Orleans)
• 1922 - Michael Wilford, diplomat
• 1922 - William Sylvester, Oakland Calif, actor (2001, Gorgo, Gemini Man)
• 1923 - Eddie Ryder, NYC, actor (Slick Jones-General Hospital)
• 1923 - Joanne Dru, Logan WV, actress (Guestwood Ho, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon)
• 1923 - Norman Mailer, NJ, NYC mayoral candidate/novelist (Naked & the Dead)
• 1924 - Robert Gatehouse, former High Court judge
• 1924 - Tengiz Abuladze, filmmaker
• 1925 - Benjamin Hooks, civil rights leader
• 1925 - Charles Aidman, Frankfort Ind, narrator (New Twilight Zone)
• 1925 - Fred Catherwood, MP
• 1926 - Jean Simmons, London England, actress (Thorn Birds, Guys & Dolls)
• 1926 - Prunella Briance, founder (National Childbirth Trust)
• 1928 - Chuck Willis, rock vocalist (C C Rider)
• 1928 - Eric Ash, rector (Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine)
• 1928 - Richard Buckley, royal equerry
• 1928 - Robert Clatworthy, sculptor
• 1929 - Rudolf M”ssbauer, Germany, physicist (Nobel 1961)
• 1930 - Lynn Carlin, LA Calif, actress (Joan Hunter-James at 15)
• 1931 - Bill Watson, cricketer (NSW & Australian opening batsman mid-50s)
• 1931 - Christopher Chataway, British MP/athlete (world record 5k)
• 1931 - Ernie Banks, "Mr Cub" Chicago Cubs, Hall-of-Famer (1st baseman)
• 1931 - Jean Burroughs, educationalist
• 1931 - Nicholas Gordon Lennox, diplomat
• 1932 - Pieter Brattinga, Dutch graphic artist
• 1932 - Rick Hall, country/R&B singer
• 1933 - Joseph D Early, (Rep-D-MA, 1975- )
• 1933 - Walter Paulis, mineworker/pilot/Dutch MP (CDA)
• 1934 - Brian Bolus, cricketer (England opening batsman early 60's)
• 1934 - James Franciscus, Clayton Mo, actor (Mr Novak, Longstreet, Hunter)
• 1934 - Ron Weatherburn, jazz pianist
• 1935 - Bojidar Dimov, composer
• 1935 - Oe Kenzaburo, Japanese novelist (Catch, Personal Matter)
• 1936 - Marvin Junior, singer (Dells-Oh What a Night)
• 1937 - Philip Glass, Baltimore Md, minimal composer (Einstein on the Beach)
• 1937 - Steve Karmen, Bronx NY, jingle writer (I Love NY, This Bud's for You)
• 1937 - Suzanne Pleshette, NYC, actress (Birds, Emily-Bob Newhart Show)
• 1938 - Ajip Rosidi, Indonesian poet/writer (Madjalah Sunda, Pesta)
• 1938 - Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, queen of Netherlands (1980- )
• 1938 - James G Watt, Colo, US Secretary of Interior (1981-83)
• 1940 - Jessica Walter, Bkln NY, actress (Play Misty For Me, Amy Prentiss)
• 1940 - Stuart Margolin, Davenport Iowa, actor (Love American Style)
• 1941 - George S Mickelson, (Gov-SD)
• 1941 - Richard A Gephardt, (Rep-D-MO, 1977- )
• 1941 - Sharon Miller, LPGA golfer
• 1942 - Derek Jarman, actor/director (Angelic Conversation, Edward II)
• 1942 - Gerald Chanberlain, rocker
• 1944 - Anton Korteweg, Dutch poet (For the Good Order)
• 1944 - Charley Musselwhite, blues musician (Stand Back, Louisiana Fog)
• 1944 - Eugene Terre Blanche, S Afr leader of Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging
• 1944 - John Inverarity, cricketer (Australian batsman 1968-72)
• 1945 - Noah Creshevsky, composer
• 1946 - Glynn Turman, NYC, actor (Lew-Peyton Place, Manimal, Centennial)
• 1946 - Jonathan Banks, Wash DC, actor (Armed & Dangerous, Cold Steel)
• 1946 - Subroto Guha, cricketer (right arm swing bowler for India 1967-69)
• 1946 - Terry Kath, rocker (Chicago-If You Leave Me Now)
• 1947 - Jim Nollman, composer
• 1947 - Nolan Ryan, pitcher (Mets, Angels, Astros) (7 no-hitters, 5,714 Ks)
• 1949 - Carol Hawkins, actress (Dialing for Dingbats)
• 1951 - Harry Casey, [KC], rock vocalist (KC & Sunshine Band-Give It)
• 1951 - Phil Manzanera, rock guitarist (Roxy Music-Let's Stick Together)
• 1951 - Presiley Baxendale, British QC
• 1952 - Rosanne Musgrave, headmistress (Blackheath HS)
• 1953 - Aart Mol, Dutch bassist (Catapult)
• 1954 - Adrian Vandenberg, Amsterdam Neth, rock guitarist (Whitesnake)
• 1954 - Sheik Faoud Ahamul Bacchus, cricketer (West Indian bat late 70's)
• 1955 - Virginia Ruzici, Romania, tennis star
• 1956 - Johnny Rotten, [John Lydon], rocker (Sex Pistols-God Save the Queen)
• 1956 - Lloyd Cole, rocker
• 1956 - Trevor A Manuel, South African UDF/ANC-leader
• 1957 - Brett "the Hitman" Hart, Alberta Canada, WWF champion
• 1957 - Shirley F Babashoff, Calif, swimmer (Olympics-6 silver/2 gold-72, 76)
• 1958 - Rafael Santana, shortstop (NY Mets, NY Yankees)
• 1958 - Tom Schuman, pianist (Spyro Gyra-Morning Dance)
• 1959 - Anthony LaPaglia, actor (Murder One)
• 1959 - Kelly Lynch, actress (Drugstore Cowboy)
• 1960 - Elaine Roque, Santa Monica Ca, beach volleyballer (Olympics-96)
• 1961 - Lloyd Cole, guitar/vocals (& the Commotions-Rattlesnakes)
• 1963 - John Dye, Amory Mass, actor (Andrew-Touched by an Angel)
• 1963 - Scott Ian Rosenfeld, Bayside NY, rocker (Anthrax-Protest & Survive)
• 1964 - Oto Hascak, hockey forward (Team Slovakia 1998)
• 1964 - Remi Bouchard, Lasalle Que, Canadian Tour golfer (1989 India Open)
• 1964 - Sharon Cain, San Antonio TX, team handball center back (Olympics-1996)
• 1965 - Adam Johnson, Portland Ore, beach volleyballer (Olympics-96)
• 1965 - Bianca Yasmin Salahshourian, Fairfield Conn, Miss Conn-America (1991)
• 1965 - Bobby Dollas, Montreal, NHL defenseman (Anaheim Mighty Ducks)
• 1965 - Kim Clarke, Tulsa Okla, team handball back court (Olympics-88, 92, 96)
• 1965 - Ren‚ Trost, Dutch soccer player (Roda JC)
• 1966 - Al Jaworsky, [Alan Doughty], pop bassist (Jesus Jones)
• 1966 - Charles Dimry, NFL cornerback (Tampa Bay Bucs, Phila Eagles)
• 1966 - Jamie Taras, CFL guard (BC Lions)
• 1968 - Doug Pederson, NFL quarterback (Green Bay Packers-Superbowl 31)
• 1968 - Michael Sinclair, NFL defensive end (Seattle Seahawks)
• 1968 - Steve Phoenix, US baseball pitcher (Oakland Athletics)
• 1969 - Mathew Pallister, Sydney NSW Australia, canoeist (Olympics-96)
• 1970 - Greg Skrepenak, NFL tackle (Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers)
• 1970 - Rachel Jean Marteen, Atlanta GA, playmate (Aug, 1995)
• 1970 - Travis Hannah, NFL/WLAF receiver (Houston Oilers, Frankfurt Galaxy)
• 1971 - Brandi Sherwood, Miss USA-Idaho (1997, 2nd)
• 1971 - Corey Holliday, NFL wide receiver (Pitts Steelers)
• 1971 - Minnie Driver, actress (Good Will Hunting)
• 1972 - Ben Cavil, guard (Baltimore Ravens)
• 1972 - Fritz Fequiere, WLAF guard (Barcelona Dragons, London Monarchs)
• 1972 - Marvin Coleman, CFL defensive back (Calgary Stampeders)
• 1972 - Pulu Poumele, guard (San Diego Chargers)
• 1972 - Reinier Robbemond, Dutch soccer player (Dordrecht '90)
• 1973 - Latario Rachal, WLAF/NFL receiver (Amsterdam Admirals, SD Chargers)
• 1974 - Bob Mulder, soccer player (Appingedam, FC Groningen)
• 1974 - Lorenzo Styles, NFL linebacker (Atlanta Falcons)
• 1974 - Othella Harrington, NBA forward (Houston Rockets)
• 1974 - Pavi Sald, ice hockey defenseman (Finland, Oly-98)
• 1974 - Tory Toogood, Australian rower (Olympics-96)
• 1975 - Kenard Lang, defensive end (Washington Redskins)
• 1977 - Naomi Darrell, Miss Bermuda Universe (1997)
• 1985 - Andrew Giuliani, son of Rudy (Mayor-R-NYC, 1994-2002)

Famous deaths for this day ..

• 1561 - Menno Simonsz, Dutch priest/vicar (Foundation Book), dies
• 1580 - Hendrik, Portuguese cardinal/epilepticus/regent (1578-80), dies
• 1606 - Guy Fawkes, convicted in the "Gunpowder Plot", executed at 35
• 1788 - Charles E Stuart, English pretender to the throne, dies at 67
• 1788 - Francesco Zannetti, composer, dies at 50
• 1788 - [Bonnie Prince] Charles E Stuart, English pretender, dies at 67
• 1828 - Alexandros Ypsilanti, Greek resistance fighter, dies at 35
• 1861 - Franciscus J van Vree, Dutch Catholic foreman, dies at 53
• 1864 - Hamilton Rowan Gamble, US judge/governor of Missouri (1861-64), dies
• 1891 - Ernest Meissonier, French painter/etcher/sculptor, dies at 75
• 1919 - Paul Lindau, German playwright/critic (Estimate), dies at 79
• 1922 - Heinrich Reinhardt, composer, dies at 56
• 1933 - John Galsworthy, England, writer (Forsythe, Nobel 1932), dies at 65
• 1939 - George Thornton, cricketer (1 Test for S Africa 1902, 1* & 1-20), dies
• 1940 - Ren‚ "Sascha" Schickele, German writer (Erbe am Rhein), dies at 56
• 1945 - Eddie Slovik, 1st US executed for desertion since Civil War at 25
• 1949 - Henri de Vries, [Hendricus Walterop], actor (Cleopatra), dies at 84
• 1954 - Edwin H Armstrong, US radio inventor (FM), commits suicide at 63
• 1954 - Florence Bates, actress (Kismet, I Remember Mama), dies at 65
• 1955 - John R Mott, US theologist/founder (YMCA, Nobel 1946), dies at 89
• 1960 - Lowell Gilmore, actor (Calcutta, Roadblock), dies at 53
• 1966 - Elizabeth Patterson, actress (Tall Story), dies at 90
• 1967 - Chief Thundercloud, actor (Ambush, Colt 45, Typhoon), dies at 100
• 1967 - Otto Dibelius, German theologian/bishop, dies at 86
• 1969 - Alexander Mikhaylovich Dzegelyonok, composer, dies at 77
• 1970 - Slim Harpo, [James Moore], rocker, dies at 28
• 1972 - Bir Bikram Shah Deva Mahendra, king of Nepal (1955-72), dies at 51
• 1972 - Howard Barlow, conductor (Voice of Firestone), dies at 79
• 1972 - Istvan Szelenyi, composer, dies at 67
• 1973 - Ragnar Frisch, Norwegian economist (Nobel 1969), dies at 77
• 1974 - Glenn Morris, olympian/actor (Tarzan's Revenge), dies at 61
• 1974 - Harry Baum, actor (Crime & Punishment), dies at 58
• 1974 - Paul Haesaerts, Flemish architect/painter (Flandre), dies at 72
• 1974 - Roger Pryor, actor (Lady by Choice), dies at 72
• 1974 - Samuel Goldwyn, Polish/English/US film magnate (MGM), dies at 91
• 1980 - J P Duminy, cricket (30 runs at 5 & 1 wkt at 39 in 3 Test S Af), dies
• 1987 - Yves All‚gret, French director (Such a lovely tiny beach), dies at 79
• 1989 - Jack Douglas, humorist (My Brother Was an Only Child), dies at 80
• 1989 - Yasushi Akutagawa, composer, dies at 63
• 1992 - Mel Hein, NFLer (NY Giants), dies at 82
• 1992 - Wim van Heumen, field hockey coach (Netherlands), dies at 63
• 1994 - Pierre Boulle, French writer (Executioner), dies at 81
• 1995 - George Abbott, playwright/actor/producer (Damn Yankees), dies at 105
• 1995 - James Johnson, English MP (Labour, 1950..83), dies at 86
• 1996 - Gustave Solomon, mathematician, dies at 65
• 1997 - Eve Lister, actress/singer (No Limit, Hyde Park), dies at 84