• 1632 - Baruch "Benedict" de Spinoza, Amsterdam, rationalist philosopher
• 1642 - Anne Hilarion de Cotentin, earl of Tourville/knight/admiral/marshal
• 1655 - Charles XI, King of Sweden (1660-97)
• 1690 - Charles Theodore Pachelbel, composer
• 1712 - Willem Bachiene, theologist/geographer/astronomer (Ecclesiastical)
• 1713 - Junipero Serra, priest had a mission in California
• 1713 - Laurence Sterne, Ireland, novelist/satirist (Tristram Shandy)
• 1740 - John Bacon, English sculptor
• 1747 - Felice Alessandri, composer
• 1766 - J J Friedrich Weinbrenner, German architect/archaeologist
• 1768 - Jean-Engelbert Pauwels, composer
• 1784 - Zachary Taylor, (Whig) 12th Pres (Mar 5, 1849-July 9, 1850)
• 1795 - Josif Josifovich Genishta, composer
• 1806 - Omar Pasha, [Michael Lats], Croatian governor/viceroy of Bosnia/Iraq
• 1811 - Ditler G Monrad, Danish theologist/bishop/premier (1863- )
• 1815 - James Hewward Trapier, N Gen (Confederate Army), died in 1865
• 1817 - Juan de la Cruz Moreno Maisonave, Guatemala
• 1824 - Karel M M Verlat, Flemish painter/graphic artist
• 1826 - Collodi, [Carlo Lorenzini], Italian author (Pinocchio)
• 1829 - William Passmore Carlin, Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1903
• 1847 - Bram Stoker, Irish theater manager/author (Dracula)
• 1848 - Lilli Lehmann, opera singer
• 1849 - Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of childrens book (My Secret Garden)
• 1864 - Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, France, painter (At the Moulin Rouge)
• 1868 - Scott Joplin, US, entertainer/composer (The Entertainer)
• 1873 - L Martov, [Yuly O Tsederbaum], Russian revolutionary
• 1876 - Walter Griffin, US architect, city planner; designed Canberra, Aust
• 1877 - Alben W Barkley, Graves County Ky, (35th Vice Pres-D-1949-53)
• 1878 - Mark N Tod, English classicist/historian
• 1884 - Michel de Klerk, architect (Amsterdam School)
• 1886 - Georges Vandertongerloo, Flemish artist (L'art et Son Avenir)
• 1888 - Cathleen Nesbitt, Belfast Ireland, actress (Agatha-Farmer's Daughter)
• 1888 - Dale Carnegie, author (How to Win Friends & Influence People)
• 1888 - Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Cologne Germany, actor (Metropolis, Spies)
• 1889 - Albert J Sylvester, England, ballroom dancer (Alex Moor Award-1977)
• 1889 - Cissy van Marxfield, [Setske Beek-de Haan], Dutch author
• 1892 - Isidor Achron, composer
• 1893 - Fern Andra, Watseka IL, actress (Eyes of the World)
• 1894 - Herbert Sutcliffe, cricketer (all-time great opening batsman for Engl)
• 1899 - Jan Adam Maklakiewicz, composer
• 1900 - Cornelius Kee, composer
• 1900 - Jerzy Bonawentura Toeplitz, film maker/teacher
• 1901 - Andre Victor Tchelistcheff, winemaker
• 1902 - Fernand Braudel, French historian
• 1905 - Irene Wicker, singer/actress (Singing Lady)
• 1906 - Andreina Pagnani, Rome Italy, actress (Il Commandante)
• 1906 - Eduard Ludwig, German architect (Air Bridge monument Berlin)
• 1908 - Harry Kemelman, US detective author (rabbi-omnibus)
• 1908 - Libertad Lamaraque, Agentina, actress (Madreselva, Puerta Cerrada)
• 1908 - Ray Carter, Chicago Ill, orch leader (Arthur Murray Dance Party)
• 1909 - Hans Melchior Brugk, composer
• 1909 - Hotze de Roos, Dutch youth book author (Chameleon)
• 1910 - Lennox Brown, cricketer (S Afr leg-spinner on 1931-32 Aust/NZ tour)
• 1911 - Kirby Grant, Butte Mont, actor (Sky King)
• 1911 - Walter Goetz, illustrator cartoonist/painter
• 1912 - Bernard Delfgaauw, Dutch philosopher (Johnson murderer!)
• 1912 - Garson Kanin, Rochester NY, playwright/producer (Double Life)
• 1912 - Geraldine Fitzgerald, Dublin Ire, actress (Pawnbroker, Easy Money)
• 1912 - Theodore "Teddy" Wilson, US jazz pianist/arranger
• 1913 - Gisela Mauermeyer, Germany, discus thrower (Olympic-gold-1936)
• 1914 - Elise Hoomans, Dutch director/actress (Jane Eyre)
• 1916 - Forrest J Ackerman, invented the term "sci-fi"
• 1917 - Howard Duff, Bremerton Wash, actor (Flamingo Road, Knots Landing)
• 1917 - Richard Bilderback Hervig, composer
• 1917 - Rita Corita, [Hendrika Sturm], Dutch singer
• 1918 - Roley Jenkins, cricketer (English leg-spinner 1948-52)
• 1918 - Tom "Stubby" Fouts, Carroll County Ind, actor (Polka-go-round)
• 1918 - William Strethan "Wild Bill" Davis, musician
• 1919 - John Silverlight, journalist
• 1920 - Anthony Griffin, sailor
• 1920 - Joseph Olutola Olu Odutola Oguntala, soho club owner
• 1921 - Joe "Ducky" Medwick, baseball player
• 1921 - John V Lindsay, (Mayor-R/D-NY, 1965-73)
• 1925 - Alun Owen, North Wales, writer (Hard Days Night)/actor (Servant)
• 1925 - William F Buckley Jr, NYC, right-wing curmudgeon (Firing Line)
• 1926 - Alan Owen, English author (Maggie May, Ronnie Barker Show)
• 1926 - Alfred "Fred" Benavente, director/actor (Farce Majeur)
• 1927 - Alfred Kraus, Las Palmas Canary Islands, tenor (La Scala)
• 1927 - Emma Lou Diemer, composer
• 1929 - Eileen Barton, Bkln, singer (Broadway Open House)
• 1930 - C T Patankar, cricketer (kept wicket in one Test India v NZ 1955-56)
• 1930 - Dante Lavelli, AAFC/NFL end (Cleveland Browns)
• 1930 - Ken Barrington, cricketer (tough England batsman)
• 1932 - Fred Titmus, cricketer (long-running England off-spinner)
• 1932 - Katalin Juh sz-Nagy, Hungary, foils (Olympic-gold-1964)
• 1934 - Alfred Schnittke, Russia, composer (St Florian)
• 1934 - Claudio Prieto, composer
• 1934 - Martin Charnin, Broadway lyricist (Annie, West Side Story)
• 1935 - Ronald V Dellums, Oakland Calif, (Rep-D-Calif, 1971- )
• 1938 - Oscar Robertson, Charlotte Tenn, NBAer (Oly-gold-60)
• 1938 - Wynne Bradburn, cricketer (father of Grant NZ batsman v S Africa 1964)
• 1939 - Jim Northrup, baseball player
• 1939 - Jim Yester, Birmingham Alabama, rock vocalist/guitarist (Association)
• 1939 - Yoshinobu Miyake, Japan, featherweight (Olympic-gold-1964, 68)
• 1940 - Paul Tagliabue, commissioner (NFL)
• 1940 - Wendell Morris Logan, composer
• 1941 - Donald "Duck" Dunn, TN, bassist (Booker T-Mar-Keys, Walkin' the Dog)
• 1941 - Gary Boyle, rocker (Isotope)
• 1941 - John de Andrea, US sculptor
• 1941 - Pete Best, drummer (Beatles)
• 1942 - Bayani Mendoza de Leon, composer
• 1942 - Billy Connolly, Scotland, comedian/actor (Blue Money)
• 1942 - Marlin Fitzwater, press secretary (George Bush)
• 1943 - Barry Milburn, cricketer (NZ wicket-keeper in three Tests 1969)
• 1943 - Jo‰l Robert, Belgian motorcyclist
• 1943 - Lee Michaels, rocker
• 1943 - Richard Tee, US pianist (Stuff, Strokin')
• 1943 - Robin Williamson, rocker (Incredible String Band)
• 1944 - Bev Bevan, rocker (ELO)
• 1944 - Claudia Dreifus, interviewer/author (7 Stories)
• 1944 - Dan Glickman, (Rep-D-KS, 1977- )
• 1944 - Jules Deelder, Dutch poet (T of Vondel)
• 1946 - Bev[erley] Bevan, Birmingham England, rock drummer (ELO)
• 1946 - Ted Bundy, Burlington VT, serial murderer
• 1947 - Dwight Schultz, Balt Md, actor (A-Team)
• 1948 - Ashok Gandotra, cricketer (in Rio de Janiero Two Tests for India 1969)
• 1948 - Spider Robinson, Canada, sci-fi author (3 Hugo, Callahan's Secret)
• 1948 - Steve Yeager, catcher (LA Dodger)
• 1949 - Anita Louis, US singer (Soul Children, I'll Be the Other Woman)
• 1949 - Martin Duiser, pop producer (Vanessa, Lee Towers)
• 1950 - Damon Evans, Balt Md, actor (Lionel-The Jeffersons)
• 1950 - Stanley Livingston, actor (Chip-My 3 Sons)
• 1951 - Chet Edwards, (Rep-D-Texas)
• 1951 - Gaby Landhage, Goteborg Sweden, model (Model of the Rear)
• 1951 - Graham Price, British rugby player
• 1952 - Brijesh Patel, cricketer (Indian batsman 1974-77)
• 1953 - Tod Machover, composer
• 1955 - Clement Burke, rock drummer (Blondie)
• 1955 - Ian Botham, cricketer (all time great all-rounder Extrovert)
• 1955 - Scott Mabon Hoch, Raleigh NC, PGA golfer (1982 USF&G Classic)
• 1956 - Doug Davidson, actor (Young & Restless)
• 1957 - Chris Hayes, Calif, rock guitarist (Huey Lewis & The News)
• 1957 - Denise Crosby, Hollywood Calif, actress (Tasha-Star Trek: Next Gen)
• 1958 - Alain Chabat, actor (French Twist, Six Days Six Night)
• 1958 - Carmel, [McCourt], England, rocker (Storm, More More More)
• 1961 - Carl Sundquist, Indianapolis Ind, cyclist (Olympics-96)
• 1962 - John Squire, English pop guitarist (Stone Roses, She Bangs the Drums)
• 1962 - Lesa Ann Pedriana, Milwaukee Wisc, playmate (April, 1984)
• 1962 - Randy Velarde, Midland TX, infielder (NY Yankees, Calif Angels)
• 1963 - Lisa Howard, actress (Days of Our Life, Rolling Vengeance)
• 1965 - Nyla Jane Carroll, New Plymouth NZ, 5k/10k/marathoner (Olympics-96)
• 1966 - Joseph "Run" Simmons, rapper (Run DMC)
• 1966 - Ledell Eackles, NBA guard (Wash Wizards/Bullets)
• 1967 - Al Martin, Covina CA, outfielder (Pitts Pirates)
• 1967 - Ben McDonald, Baton Rouge LA, pitcher (Milwaukee Brewers)
• 1967 - Cal Eldred, baseball player
• 1968 - Dave Hansen, Long Beach CA, infielder (LA Dodgers)
• 1968 - Dave Jukes, Toronto Ont, Canadian Tour golfer (1991 Kawartha Lakes)
• 1968 - Dawn Robinson, singer (En Vogue)
• 1968 - Ken Johnson, Quincy Mass, 3x40 rifle (Olympics-1996)
• 1969 - Romesh Kaluwitharana, cricket (big-hit SL batsman, ton on Test debut)
• 1970 - Brett Wallerstedt, NFL linebacker (Cin Bengals)
• 1970 - Chad Taylor, musician (Live)
• 1970 - Chris Hall, WLAF safety (Frankfurt Galaxy)
• 1970 - Doug Brien, kicker (New Orleans Saints)
• 1970 - Jason Jacome, Tulsa OK, pitcher (KC Royals)
• 1970 - Kelly Blair, Prosser Wash, heptathlete
• 1970 - Lemanski Hall, NFL linebacker (Houston/Tennessee Oilers)
• 1970 - Nancy Mason, Belleville Ill, WPVA volleyballer (Nationals-17th-1995)
• 1971 - Keith Primeau, Toronto, NHL forward (Carolina, Detroit)
• 1971 - Tony Cline, NFL tight end (Buffalo Bills)
• 1972 - Barry Potomski, Windsor, NHL left wing (LA Kings)
• 1972 - Fred Brathwaite, Ottawa, NHL goalie (Edmonton Oilers)
• 1973 - Donny Brady, defensive back (Baltimore Ravens)
• 1973 - Kendel Shello, DL (Indianapolis Colts)
• 1975 - Carly Jarmon, Mesquite Texas, Miss America-Texas (1996)
• 1976 - Chen Lu, China, figure skater (Olympics-Bronze-94)
• 1977 - Kimi Fairchild, Miss Louisiana Teen USA (1996)

Famous deaths for this day ..

• 1115 - Mathilde, markgravin of Toscane, dies
• 1192 - Albert I van Leuven/Luik, Belgian bishop of Luik/saint, dies at 27
• 1555 - French Vervoort, Flemish mystic (Bruylocht Cleedt), dies at about 65
• 1571 - Jan Blahoslav, Czech bishop, dies at 48
• 1572 - John Knox, Scottish preacher, dies at about 67
• 1615 - Sethus Calvisius, composer, dies at 59
• 1650 - Manuel Cardoso, composer, dies at 83
• 1674 - Franciscus van Enden, Flemish jesuit/free thinker, executed at 72
• 1722 - Johann Adam Reincken, German organist/composer, dies at 99
• 1822 - Karl Jacob Wagner, composer, dies at 50
• 1827 - Harman W Muntinghe, lawyer/colonial director, dies at 54
• 1838 - Karl Ludwig Hellwig, composer, dies at 65
• 1840 - Cornelis RT Krayenhoff, fortress architect/cartographer, dies at 82
• 1842 - Pehr Frigel, composer, dies at 92
• 1848 - William Lamb 2nd viscount Melbourne, British PM (1834..41), dies at 69
• 1863 - Claudius Charles Wilson, Confederate brig-gen, dies in battle at 32
• 1880 - Hanri Reber, composer, dies at 73
• 1885 - Alfonso XII, king of Spain (1875-85), dies at 27
• 1899 - Abdullah ibn Mohammed al-Ta'a'ishi, mahdi of Sudan (1883-99), dies
• 1903 - Charles Dupee Blake, composer, dies at 56
• 1914 - Louis de Raet, Belgian economist/Flemish People Party, dies
• 1916 - John Francis Barnett, composer, dies at 79
• 1923 - Michel de Klerk, architect (Amsterdam School), dies at 39
• 1929 - Georges Clemenceau, French journalist/premier (1917-20), dies at 88
• 1943 - Martin Raschke, German author/war correspondent, dies at 38
• 1943 - Reina Prince Geerligs, [Leentjes Vandendriesch], anti-fascist, dies
• 1944 - EMHCH Houtappel, resistance fighter: in Neuengamme, dies
• 1944 - Vaclav Stepan, composer, dies at 54
• 1946 - Alfonso Broqua, composer, dies at 70
• 1948 - Raoul Armand Georg Koczalski, composer, dies at 64
• 1953 - George Alexander Russell, composer, dies at 73
• 1953 - Robert H Lightfoot, English theologist/exegetist, dies at 70
• 1957 - Norma Talmadge, US actress (Within the Law), dies
• 1958 - Edgar A Robert Cecil viscount of Chelwood, (Nobel 1937), dies at 94
• 1959 - Lyman Bryson, educator (UN Casebook), dies at 71
• 1959 - Yuri N Libedinski, Ukrainen writer (Commissioners), dies at 60
• 1960 - Salomon "Sam" de Wolff, zionist/socialist theorist, dies at 82
• 1961 - Ruth Chatterton, actress (Female, Dodsworth), dies after illness at 67
• 1962 - James J Kilroy, tank inspector (Kilroy was here), dies at 60
• 1963 - Lee Harvey Oswald, JFK's assassinator, shot dead by Jack Ruby
• 1964 - John Fabricius, playwright, dies at 55
• 1967 - Arnold J d'ailly, mayor of Amsterdam (1946-56), dies at 65
• 1970 - Evgeny Karlovich Tikotsky, composer, dies at 76
• 1972 - Hall Overton, US composer (Enchanted Pear Tree), dies at 52
• 1977 - Richard Carlson, actor/director (Little Foxes, Hunted), dies at 65
• 1980 - George Raft, actor (Scarface, Johnny Angel, Mr Ace), dies at 85
• 1985 - Cees Buddingh', Dutch poet/writer/interpreter/translator, dies at 67
• 1989 - Guus Weitzel, Dutch radio host, dies at 85
• 1990 - Bulent Arel, composer, dies at 72
• 1990 - Nistani Keiji, philosopher, dies in Kyoto Japan
• 1991 - Anton Furst, production designer (Batman), dies at 47
• 1991 - Eric Carr, drummer (Kiss-Beth), dies of cancer at 41
• 1991 - Freddie Mercury, British singer (Queen), dies of AIDS at 45
• 1992 - Henri J de Koster, Dutch Min of Defense (1971-73), dies at 78
• 1992 - Mary Smithuysen, Dutch dancer/actress (Bridge Too Far), dies
• 1992 - Theo Edison, son of Thomas Edison, dies at 94
• 1993 - Albert Collins, blues guitarist (Don't Lose Your Cool), dies at 61
• 1993 - Germaine Emilie Madame Gres Krebs, haute Couturist, dies at 89
• 1993 - Imad Aqal, Palestinian Hamas leader, dies at 24
• 1993 - Jan Schrauwen, Dutch sculptor, dies at 36
• 1993 - Wu Yi Shen, mayor of Shen Yang China, dies in helicopter
• 1994 - Ivo Perilli, Italian screenplay/director (Ragazzo), dies at 92
• 1994 - Jo Vis, Dutch resistance fighter (Yad Vashem), dies at 88
• 1994 - Tommy Boyce, songwriter (Boyce & Hart), dies at 55
• 1995 - Jeffrey Lynn, actor (Tony Rome, Butterfield 8, Up Front), dies at 89
• 1995 - Stuart Henry, disc jockey, dies at 53
• 1995 - Woiciech Woytek Wiesidlowski Lowski, dancer, dies at 56
• 1996 - Edison Vasalievich Denisov, composer, dies at 67
• 1996 - Michael James O'Hehir, commentator/journalist, dies at 76
• 1996 - Sorley MacLean Somhairle MacChaluim, poet, dies at 85