• 1501 - Girolamo Cardano, Italy, mathematician/astrologer (Ars Magna-1545)
• 1583 - Albrecht Eusebius Wenzel von Wallenstein, German general
• 1625 - Johan de Witt, statesman/advisor of Holland
• 1667 - Jean-Louis Lully, composer
• 1717 - Horace Walpole, England, British horror writer (Cattle of Ontario)
• 1739 - Grigorij A Potemkin, Monarch of Tauris/friend of Catherine II
• 1748 - Philipp Meissner, composer
• 1755 - John Marshall, Va, 4th Supreme Court Chief Justice (1801-35)
• 1762 - William Lisle Bowles, English poet (14 Sonnets)
• 1773 - Johann Philipp Christian Schulz, composer
• 1780 - Henry F C Tollens, merchant/poet (Vienna Neˆrlands Blood)
• 1806 - George Alexander Osborne, composer
• 1817 - Ram¢n de Campoamor Campoosorio, Spanish poet (Doloras)
• 1821 - Cyprian K Norwid, Polish painter/poet/playwright (Wanda)
• 1824 - Truman Seymour, Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1891
• 1825 - Frances E W Harper, famous African
• 1827 - Henry Warner Slocum, Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1894
• 1829 - James St Clair Morton, Brig General (Union volunteers), died in 1864
• 1833 - Henry Alanson Barnum, Bvt Major General (Union volunteers)
• 1848 - Pieter Louis Tak, literary (The Chronicle)
• 1859 - Julius Klengel, cellist/composer
• 1860 - Samuel Rutherford Crockett, novelist
• 1870 - Georges Claude, inventor (neon light)
• 1884 - Ismet In”n, [Moestafa Ismet], Turkish gen/premier/president
• 1885 - Herman Bouber, Dutch actor/playwright (Sailor's Wives)
• 1886 - James Burke, NYC, actor (Mystery Theater, Great Guy)
• 1890 - Alan Herbert, England, journalist/writer (Punch, Helen)
• 1892 - Sam[uel] de Vries, actor (Wandering Jew)
• 1893 - Julia Faye, Richmond VA, actress (10 Commandments, Samson & Delilah)
• 1895 - Andr‚ Cournand, physician
• 1896 - F Scott Fitzgerald, St Paul Minn, author (Great Gatsby)
• 1898 - Charlotte D baroness of Pallandt, Dutch sculptress
• 1898 - Howard W Florey, Aust, pathologist; purified penicillin (Nobel '45)
• 1899 - Eduardo Hernandez Moncada, composer
• 1902 - Cheryl Crawford, producer (Touch of Venus, Brigadoon)
• 1904 - Cemal Resit Rey, composer
• 1904 - Owen Saunders, mechanical engineer
• 1906 - Victor Wong, LA Cal, actor (Mission to Moscow, Son of Kong, King Kong)
• 1907 - Pierre Moulaert, composer
• 1910 - Cao Yu, dramatist
• 1910 - Frank Pelleg, composer
• 1910 - Jean Servais, Angers Belgium, actor (Every Man is My Enemy)
• 1910 - Leonarda da Vinci MacLaren, founder (LSE)
• 1911 - Konstantin Chernenko, USSR leader
• 1912 - Don Porter, Miami Okla, actor (Russ Lawrence-Gidget, Ann Sothern Show)
• 1912 - Ian Serraillier, children author
• 1913 - Lawrence Hugh ?, US astronomer (Gaseous nebulae)
• 1914 - Andrzej Panufnik, Warsaw Poland, composer (Tragic Overture)
• 1914 - Hein J M Jordans, Dutch conductor
• 1914 - Herb Jeffries, Detroit Mich, actor (Where's Huddles)
• 1915 - Larry Gates, St Paul Minn, actor (Guiding Light, Body Snatchers)
• 1915 - Margarita J Aliger, Russian poetess (Zoja) [OS]
• 1915 - Seymour Egerton, CEO (Coutis Bank)
• 1916 - John Lapsley, British air marshal
• 1917 - Colin Cowe, senior bursar (Magdalen College Oxford)
• 1917 - William Putnam Bundy, London, editor (Lvaggerier & Vagaries)
• 1918 - Audra Lindley, LA Calif, actress (Helen Roper-3's Company, Ropers)
• 1918 - Richard Hoggart, author/warden (Goldsmith's College London)
• 1919 - Dayton Allen, NYC, comedian (Steve Allen Show)
• 1919 - Vaclav Nelhybel, Polanka Czechoslovakia, composer (Everyman)
• 1921 - Jim McKay, Phila Pa, sportscaster (ABC's Wide World of Sports)
• 1921 - Leonard Overton, British glider pilot (Arnhem 1944)
• 1921 - Leonardo Lopez Salzedo, composer
• 1922 - Cornell MacNeil, US, singer/actor (La Traviata)
• 1922 - David Lane, CEO (Commission for Racial Equality)
• 1922 - Theresa Merritt, Newport News Va, actress (Mama-That's My Mama)
• 1923 - Ladislav Fuks, writer
• 1924 - Jean-Pierre Warner, British high court judge
• 1924 - Sheila MacRae, London England, actress (Jackie Gleason Show)
• 1924 - Simpson Guillen, cricketer (wicket-keeper for West Indies & NZ)
• 1924 - Walter Fufido, Bronx NY, Iwo Jima casualty (WW II)
• 1927 - Richard Swift, composer
• 1929 - George McNicol, principal (Aberdeen University)
• 1930 - John Watts Young, SF Calif, astronaut (Gem 3 10, Apol 10 16, STS 1 9)
• 1931 - Anthony Newley, Engld, actor (Dr Doolitte, Garbage Pail Kids)/composer
• 1931 - Brian Glanville, author/journalist
• 1931 - Cardiss Collins, (Rep-D-Illinois, 1973- )
• 1932 - Svetlana Beriozova, ballerina
• 1933 - Catherine Pestell, principal (Somerville College Oxford)
• 1933 - Mervyn Brown, diplomat
• 1934 - Bernard Nevill, textile designer
• 1934 - John Brunner, [Kilian Houston], UK, sci-fi author (100th Millennium)
• 1934 - Manfred W”rner, German general/sect-gen (NATO, 1988-94)
• 1934 - Robert Lang, actor (Night Watch)/director
• 1935 - Barbara Brilliant, TV host/producer
• 1935 - Lawrence Urquhart, CEO (Burmah Castrol)
• 1936 - Jim Henson, Greenville Miss, muppeteer (Sesame Street, Muppet Show)
• 1937 - Alan Grose, British vice-admiral
• 1940 - Barbara Allbut, Orange NJ, rock vocalist (Angels)
• 1941 - John Mackey, NFL tight end (Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers)
• 1941 - Linda Eastman McCartney, NYC, Mrs Paul McCartney, rocker (Wings-Ram)
• 1942 - Gerry Marsden, rock vocalist (Gerry & Pacemakers-Ferry crossed Mersey)
• 1942 - Phyllis "Jiggs" Allbut Meister, Orange NJ, rocker (Angels)
• 1943 - Lee Aaker, LA Calif, actor (Rusty-Rin Tin Tin)
• 1945 - Catherine Burns, NYC, actress (Last Summer, One Life to Live, Catcher)
• 1945 - David A[llen] Drake, US, sci-fi author (Cross the Stars, Rolling Hot)
• 1946 - "Mean" Joe Greene, NFL tackle (Pitts Steelers), Coke spokesman
• 1946 - Carson Van Osten, rocker
• 1946 - Jacqueline Courtney, NJ, actress (Another World, One Life to Live)
• 1946 - Jerry Donahue, rocker (Fairport Convention)
• 1946 - Marc Edward Neikrug, composer
• 1946 - Pat Pocock, cricketer (intermittent England off-spinner 1968-85)
• 1946 - Richard Spring, British MP
• 1946 - Robert Jackson, MP/minister of British Civil Service
• 1947 - Richard Northcott, producer (9« Weeks)
• 1948 - Bernadette Hingley, British priest
• 1948 - Gordon Clapp, North Conway NH, actor (Greg Medavoy-NYPD Blue)
• 1948 - Phil Hartman, Brantford Ontario, actor (SNL, Peewee's Playhouse)
• 1950 - Mohinder Amarnath, cricketer (son of Lala Indian batsman of 70's/80's)
• 1951 - Terry Metcalf, Seattle, NFL, CFL running back (St Louis, Toronto)
• 1952 - Joseph P Kennedy II, (Rep-D-Massachusetts)
• 1954 - Stephen Jones, art historian
• 1956 - Ilona Briesenick-Slupianek, German DR, shot-putter (Olympic-gold-1980)
• 1958 - Kevin Sorbo, actor (Hercules Legendary Journeys, Kull The Conquerer)
• 1961 - Dillard Pruitt, Greenville SC, PGA golfer (1991 Chattanooga Classic)
• 1962 - Arden Knoll, Saskatoon Sask, Canadian Tour golfer (1994 Klondike-2nd)
• 1964 - Gene Watkins, Waco Tx, actor (James Walsh-As the World Turns)
• 1964 - Rafael Palmeiro, Havana Cuba, 1st baseman (Baltimore Orioles)
• 1966 - Atul Bedade, cricketer (Indian ODI batsman 1994- )
• 1966 - Bernard Gilkey, St Louis MO, outfielder (NY Mets)
• 1966 - Kevin Koslofski, Decatur Ill, outfielder (Milwaukee Brewers)
• 1966 - Paul Michael Valley, actor (Ryan Harrison-Another World)
• 1967 - Chris Swan, rower (Olympics-1996)
• 1967 - Frank Cornish, NFL center/guard (Jacksonville Jaguars, Phila Eagles)
• 1967 - Roland Jansen, soccer player (Willem II)
• 1969 - Andrew Greene, NFL guard (Miami Dolphins, Saskatchewan Roughriders)
• 1969 - Gene Hunt, R&B musician (Acid Man)
• 1969 - John Morton, WLAF WR (Frankfurt Galaxy)
• 1969 - Lisa Matthews, Peoria Ill, playmate (Apr, 1990)
• 1969 - Megan Ward, LA Calif, actress (Kimberly Sayers-Dark Skies)
• 1970 - Jeanette Kollasch, Evanston Ill, WPVA volleyballer (Pismo-17th-1995)
• 1970 - Kristin Talbot, Schuylerville NY, speed skater (Olympics-1994)
• 1970 - Mario Cristobal, WLAF guard (Amsterdam Admirals)
• 1970 - Paul Spoljaric, pitcher (Toronto Blue Jays)
• 1970 - Winfred Tubbs, NFL linebacker (NO Saints)
• 1971 - Shane Conrad, actress (Cody-High Mountain Rangers)
• 1972 - Jeff Hill, NFL wide receiver (Cin Bengals)
• 1973 - Rodrick Rhodes, NBA forward (Houston Rockets)
• 1974 - Kiwane Garris, NBA guard (Denver Nuggets)
• 1974 - Matt McKeon, Florissant MO, soccer midfielder (Olympics-gold-96)

Famous deaths for this day ..

• 0366 - Liberius, Italian Pope (352-66), dies
• 0768 - Pippin III, the short, King of France, dies at 53
• 0786 - Al-Hadi, Arabic kalief of Islam (185-86), dies
• 0911 - Ludwig III, the child, last Carolingian German King (899-911), dies
• 1143 - Innocent II, [Gregorio de' Papareschi], Ital Pope (1130-43), dies
• 1180 - Manuel I Comnenus, Byzantine emperor (1143-80), dies
• 1228 - Stefanus I Nemanjic de Eerstgekroonde, king of Serbia (1217-28), dies
• 1230 - Alfonso IX, king of Le¢n/Castili‰, dies
• 1435 - Isabella of Bayern, Queen of France (Treaty of Troyes), dies
• 1517 - Frederik IV, of Baden, bishop of Utrecht, dies
• 1536 - Janus Secundus, neo latin poet (Basia), dies at 24
• 1545 - Albrecht von Brandenburg, archbishop/monarch of Mainz, dies at 55
• 1568 - Antoon van Stralen, Flemish mayor of Antwerp, beheaded at about 47
• 1755 - Georg Gebel, composer, dies at 45
• 1790 - John Keyse Sherwin, engraver/painter, dies
• 1813 - Andre-Ernest-Modeste Gretry, composer, dies at 72
• 1815 - John Sevier, indian fighter (Gov/Rep-Tn), dies at 70
• 1834 - A J Pedro I van Alcantara, Emperor of Brazil (1822-31), dies
• 1855 - Alexandre Stievenard, composer, dies at 86
• 1856 - Henry, 1st viscount Hardinge of Lahore, gov-gen of India, dies
• 1865 - Frantiszek Soltyk, composer, dies at 81
• 1875 - William Walker, composer, dies at 66
• 1881 - Luigi Ferdinando Casamorata, composer, dies at 74
• 1892 - Cornelis A van Sypesteyn, Dutch governor of Suriname, dies at 69
• 1892 - Patrick S Gilmore, composer, dies at 62
• 1894 - Martinus Nijhoff, founder Nijhoff's book publisher (Van Dale), dies
• 1896 - Francis SK Fitzgerald, US writer (Great Gatsby, Zelda), dies
• 1896 - Percy McDonnell, cricketer (19 Tests 1880-88, 3 centuries), dies
• 1898 - Bartel Wilton, ship builder, dies at 70
• 1910 - Rudolf Dellinger, composer, dies at 53
• 1919 - Frank Laver, cricketer (15 Tests for Aust 1899-1909), dies
• 1934 - Edwin Lehare, composer, dies at 69
• 1939 - Carl Laenmie, film producer, dies
• 1948 - Warren William, actor (Fear, Wolf Man, Madame X), dies at 53
• 1949 - Pierre Breville, composer, dies at 88
• 1951 - Georges Rency, Belgian poet/literature, dies at 75
• 1951 - Phillippus Paracelsus, physician/alchemist, dies at 48
• 1953 - Berthold Viertel, writer, dies at 68
• 1960 - Matyas Seiber, composer, dies at 55
• 1960 - Melanie Klein, [Reizes], child psycho-analyst, dies
• 1961 - Sumner Welles, US diplomat (Good Neighbor Policy), dies at 68
• 1964 - Paul E Kahle, German ori‰ntalist, dies
• 1967 - Orville Caldwell, Deputy Major (LA-1940), dies at 71
• 1967 - Robert H van Gulik, diplomat/writer (Judge Tie), dies
• 1968 - Harry Robert Wilson, composer, dies at 67
• 1968 - Robert Arthur Ley, sci-fi author (Telepath, Power of X), dies at 47
• 1968 - Virginia Valli, actress (Flames, Guilty?, Storm), dies of stroke at 70
• 1975 - Clive Morton, actor (Goodbye Mr Chips, Moonraker), dies at 71
• 1975 - Ian Hunter, actor (Sir Richard-Robin Hood), dies at 75
• 1976 - Bruno VeSota, actor/director (Chopper, Teenage Doll), dies at 54
• 1976 - Romney Brent, actor/writer (Dinner at the Ritz), dies at 74
• 1978 - Ruth Etting, US dancer/singer (Ziegfeld Follies), dies at 80
• 1981 - Patsy Kelly, actress (Brigid Murphy-Cop & the Kid), dies at 71
• 1982 - Sarah Churchill, actress (Royal Wedding, Spring Meeting), dies at 67
• 1983 - Isobel Baillie, oratorio singer, dies
• 1984 - Neil Hamilton, actor (Com Gordon-Batman), dies of asthma at 85
• 1990 - Jay Currin, stuntman/actor (Back to the Beach, Serial), dies at 34
• 1991 - Mary Lawrence, actress (Best Man), dies of respiratory failure at 73
• 1991 - Theodore Geisel, author (Dr Seuss), dies of cancer at 87
• 1993 - Zita Johann, Hungarian/US actress (Mummy), dies at 89
• 1994 - Colin Berry Haycraft, publisher, dies at 65
• 1994 - David Napley, solicitor, dies at 79
• 1994 - Otto F Walther, Swiss publisher/author (Der Stumme), dies at 66
• 1996 - Iorwerth Eiddon Stephen Edwards, egyptologist, dies at 87
• 1996 - Mark Frankel, actor (Solitaire for 2, Simon-Sisters), dies at 34
• 1996 - Pavel Anatolievich Sudoplatov, spy, dies at 89
• 1997 - Jonathon Silver, entrepreneur/arts patron, dies at 47