Events

2020

The August Complex fire in California burns more than one million acres of land.

2015

More than 96 people are killed and hundreds injured following a series of air-raids by the Syrian Arab Air Force on the rebel-held market town of Douma.

2015

Trigana Air Flight 267, an ATR 42, crashes in Oksibil, Bintang Mountains Regency, killing all 54 people on board.

2013

The ferry St. Thomas Aquinas collides with a cargo ship and sinks at Cebu, Philippines, killing 61 people with 59 others missing.

2012

South African police fatally shoot 34 miners and wound 78 more during an industrial dispute at Marikana near Rustenburg.

2010

AIRES Flight 8250 crashes at Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport in San Andrés, San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia, killing two people.

2008

The Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago is topped off at 1,389 feet (423 m), at the time becoming the world's highest residence above ground-level.

2005

West Caribbean Airways Flight 708, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, crashes in Machiques, Venezuela, killing all 160 people on board.

1991

Indian Airlines Flight 257, a Boeing 737-200, crashes during approach to Imphal Airport, killing all 69 people on board.

1989

A solar particle event affects computers at the Toronto Stock Exchange, forcing a halt to trading.

1987

Northwest Airlines Flight 255, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, crashes after takeoff in Detroit, Michigan, killing 154 of the 155 on board, plus two people on the ground.

1986

A Sudan Airways Fokker F27 Friendship is shot down near Malakal in present day South Sudan, killing 60.

1975

Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam symbolically hands over land to the Gurindji people after the eight-year Wave Hill walk-off, a landmark event in the history of Indigenous land rights in Australia, commemorated in a 1991 song by Paul Kelly and an annual celebration.

1972

In an unsuccessful coup d'état attempt, the Royal Moroccan Air Force fires upon Hassan II of Morocco's plane while he is traveling back to Rabat.

1966

Vietnam War: The House Un-American Activities Committee begins investigations of Americans who have aided the Viet Cong. The committee intends to introduce legislation making these activities illegal. Anti-war demonstrators disrupt the meeting and 50 people are arrested.

1964

Vietnam War: A coup d'état replaces Dương Văn Minh with General Nguyễn Khánh as President of South Vietnam. A new constitution is established with aid from the U.S. Embassy.

1960

Cyprus gains its independence from the United Kingdom.

1960

Joseph Kittinger parachutes from a balloon over New Mexico, United States, at 102,800 feet (31,300 m), setting three records that held until 2012: High-altitude jump, free fall, and highest speed by a human without an aircraft.

1954

The first issue of Sports Illustrated is published.

1946

Mass riots in Kolkata begin; more than 4,000 people would be killed in 72 hours.

1946

The All Hyderabad Trade Union Congress is founded in Secunderabad.

1945

The National Representatives' Congress, the precursor of the current National Assembly of Vietnam, convenes in Sơn Dương.

1944

First flight of a jet with forward-swept wings, the Junkers Ju 287.

1943

World War II: 317 Greek civilians are murdered by soldiers of the German 1st Mountain Division in the village of Kommeno, Greece.

1942

World War II: US Navy L-class blimp L-8 drifts in from the Pacific and eventually crashes in Daly City, California. The two-man crew cannot be found.

1933

Christie Pits riot takes place in Toronto, Ontario.

1930

The first color sound cartoon, Fiddlesticks, is released by Ub Iwerks.

1930

The first British Empire Games are opened in Hamilton, Ontario, by the Governor General of Canada, the Viscount Willingdon.

1929

The 1929 Palestine riots break out in Mandatory Palestine between Palestinian Arabs and Jews and continue until the end of the month. In total, 133 Jews and 116 Arabs are killed.

1927

The Dole Air Race begins from Oakland, California, to Honolulu, Hawaii, during which six out of the eight participating planes crash or disappear.

1923

The United Kingdom gives the name "Ross Dependency" to part of its claimed Antarctic territory and makes the Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand its administrator.

1920

Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians is hit on the head by a fastball thrown by Carl Mays of the New York Yankees. Next day, Chapman will become the second player to die from injuries sustained in a Major League Baseball game.

1920

The congress of the Communist Party of Bukhara opens. The congress would call for armed revolution.

1920

Polish–Soviet War: The Battle of Radzymin concludes; the Soviet Red Army is forced to turn away from Warsaw.

1918

The Battle of Lake Baikal was fought between the Czechoslovak Legion and the Red Army.

1916

The Migratory Bird Treaty between Canada and the United States is signed.

1913

Tōhoku Imperial University of Japan (modern day Tohoku University) becomes the first university in Japan to admit female students.

1913

Completion of the Royal Navy battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary.

1906

The 8.2 Mw Valparaíso earthquake hits central Chile, killing 3,882 people.

1900

The Battle of Elands River during the Second Boer War ends after a 13-day siege is lifted by the British. The battle had begun when a force of between 2,000 and 3,000 Boers had surrounded a force of 500 Australians, Rhodesians, Canadians and British soldiers at a supply dump at Brakfontein Drift.

1896

Skookum Jim Mason, George Carmack and Dawson Charlie discover gold in a tributary of the Klondike River in Canada, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush.

1891

The Basilica of San Sebastian, Manila, the first all-steel church in Asia, is officially inaugurated and blessed.

1876

Richard Wagner's Siegfried, the penultimate opera in his Ring cycle, is premiered at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus.

1870

Franco-Prussian War: The Battle of Mars-la-Tour is fought, resulting in a Prussian victory.

1869

Battle of Acosta Ñu: A Paraguayan battalion largely made up of children is massacred by the Brazilian Army during the Paraguayan War.

1863

The Dominican Restoration War begins when Gregorio Luperón raises the Dominican flag in Santo Domingo after Spain had recolonized the country.

1859

The Grand Duchy of Tuscany formally deposes the exiled House of Lorraine.

1858

U.S. President James Buchanan inaugurates the new transatlantic telegraph cable by exchanging greetings with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. However, a weak signal forces a shutdown of the service in a few weeks.

1844

Governor-general of the Philippines Narciso Claveria, signs a decree to reform the country's calendar by skipping Tuesday, December 31, as a solution to anomalies that had existed since Ferdinand Magellan's arrival in 1521.

1841

U.S. President John Tyler vetoes a bill which called for the re-establishment of the Second Bank of the United States. Enraged Whig Party members riot outside the White House in the most violent demonstration on White House grounds in U.S. history.

1837

Three African soldiers in the 1st West India Regiment – Daaga, Edward Coffin and Maurice Ogston – were executed for their role in the St. Joseph Mutiny in the British colony of Trinidad.

1819

Peterloo Massacre: Seventeen people die and over 600 are injured in cavalry charges at a public meeting at St. Peter's Field, Manchester, England.

1812

War of 1812: American General William Hull surrenders Fort Detroit without a fight to the British Army.

1793

French Revolution: A levée en masse is decreed by the National Convention.

1792

Maximilien Robespierre presents the petition of the Commune of Paris to the Legislative Assembly, which demanded the formation of a revolutionary tribunal.

1780

American Revolutionary War: Battle of Camden: The British defeat the Americans near Camden, South Carolina.

1777

American Revolutionary War: The Americans led by General John Stark rout British and Brunswick troops under Friedrich Baum at the Battle of Bennington in Walloomsac, New York.

1652

Battle of Plymouth: Inconclusive naval action between the fleets of Michiel de Ruyter and George Ayscue in the First Anglo-Dutch War.

1570

The Principality of Transylvania is established after John II Zápolya renounces his claim as King of Hungary in the Treaty of Speyer.

1550

Rabbi Moses Isserles issues his ruling in the Bragadin-Giustiniani dispute, one of the earliest instances of a copyright suit over any book.

1513

Battle of the Spurs (Battle of Guinegate): King Henry VIII of England and his Imperial allies defeat French Forces who are then forced to retreat.

1328

The House of Gonzaga seizes power in the Duchy of Mantua, and will rule until 1708.

963

Nikephoros II Phokas is crowned emperor of the Byzantine Empire.

942

Start of the four-day Battle of al-Mada'in, between the Hamdanids of Mosul and the Baridis of Basra over control of the Abbasid capital, Baghdad.

-1

Wang Mang consolidates his power in China and is declared marshal of state. Emperor Ai of Han, who died the previous day, had no heirs.

Births

2001

Jannik Sinner, Italian tennis player

1999

Karen Chen, American figure skater

1997

Greyson Chance, American musician

1996

Sophie Cunningham, American basketball player

1996

Caeleb Dressel, American swimmer

1993

Cameron Monaghan, American actor and model

1992

Diego Schwartzman, Argentinian tennis player

1991

José Eduardo de Araújo, Brazilian footballer

1991

Evanna Lynch, Irish actress

1991

Young Thug, American rapper, singer and songwriter

1990

Godfrey Oboabona, Nigerian footballer

1989

Cedric Alexander, American wrestler

1989

Wang Hao, Chinese race walker

1989

Moussa Sissoko, French footballer

1988

Ismaïl Aissati, Moroccan footballer

1988

Ryan Kerrigan, American football player

1988

Rumer Willis, American actress

1987

Carey Price, Canadian ice hockey player

1987

Eri Kitamura, Japanese voice actress and singer.

1986

Yu Darvish, Japanese baseball player

1986

Martín Maldonado, Puerto Rican baseball player

1986

Shawn Pyfrom, American actor

1985

Cristin Milioti, American actress

1984

Matteo Anesi, Italian speed skater

1984

Candice Dupree, American basketball player

1984

Konstantin Vassiljev, Estonian footballer

1983

Nikolaos Zisis, Greek basketball player

1982

Cam Gigandet, American actor

1982

Joleon Lescott, English footballer

1981

Roque Santa Cruz, Paraguayan footballer

1980

Vanessa Carlton, American singer-songwriter

1980

Bob Hardy, English bass player

1980

Emerson Ramos Borges, Brazilian footballer

1980

Piet Rooijakkers, Dutch cyclist

1979

Paul Gallacher, Scottish footballer

1979

Ian Moran, Australian cricketer

1975

Didier Agathe, French footballer

1975

Jonatan Johansson, Finnish footballer, coach, and manager

1975

George Stults, American actor

1975

Taika Waititi, New Zealand director, screenwriter and actor

1974

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Guyanese cricketer

1974

Didier Cuche, Swiss skier

1974

Krisztina Egerszegi, Hungarian swimmer

1974

Iván Hurtado, Ecuadorian footballer and politician

1974

Ryan Longwell, American football player

1972

Stan Lazaridis, Australian footballer

1972

Emily Strayer, American singer and musician

1971

Stefan Klos, German footballer

1970

Bonnie Bernstein, American journalist and sportscaster

1970

Manisha Koirala, Nepalese actress in Indian films

1970

Seth Peterson, American actor

1968

Arvind Kejriwal, Indian civil servant and politician, 7th Chief Minister of Delhi

1968

Andy Milder, American actor

1968

Mateja Svet, Slovenian skier

1968

Wolfgang Tillmans, German photographer

1967

Mark Coyne, Australian rugby league player

1967

Ulrika Jonsson, Swedish journalist, actress, and author

1966

Eddie Olczyk, American ice hockey player, coach, and commentator

1964

Jimmy Arias, American tennis player and sportscaster

1963

Aloísio Pires Alves, Brazilian footballer and manager

1963

Christine Cavanaugh, American voice artist (died 2014)

1962

Steve Carell, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

1961

Christian Okoye, American football player

1960

Rosita Baltazar, Belizean choreographer, dancer, and dance instructor (died 2015)

1960

Timothy Hutton, American actor, producer and director

1960

Franz Welser-Möst, Austrian-American conductor and director

1959

Marc Sergeant, Belgian cyclist and manager

1958

Madonna, American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and director

1958

Angela Bassett, American actress

1958

Anne L'Huillier, French physicist

1958

José Luis Clerc, Argentinian tennis player and coach

1957

Laura Innes, American actress and director

1957

R. R. Patil, Indian lawyer and politician, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra (died 2015)

1956

Vahan Hovhannisyan, Armenian soldier and politician (died 2014)

1955

Jeff Perry, American actor

1955

James Reilly, Irish surgeon and politician, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

1954

James Cameron, Canadian director, producer, and screenwriter

1954

George Galloway, Scottish-English politician and broadcaster

1953

Kathie Lee Gifford, American talk show host, singer, and actress

1953

James "J.T." Taylor, American R&B singer-songwriter

1952

Reginald VelJohnson, American actor

1951

Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Nigerian businessman and politician, 13th President of Nigeria (died 2010)

1950

Hasely Crawford, Trinidadian runner

1950

Marshall Manesh, Iranian-American actor

1950

Jeff Thomson, Australian cricketer

1949

Scott Asheton, American drummer (died 2014)

1949

Paul Pasqualoni, American football player and coach

1949

Bill Spooner, American guitarist and songwriter

1948

Earl Blumenauer, American politician, U.S. Representative from Oregon

1948

Barry Hay, Indian-born Dutch rock musician

1948

Mike Jorgensen, American baseball player and manager

1948

Pierre Reid, Canadian educator and politician (died 2021)

1948

Joey Spampinato, American singer-songwriter and bass player

1947

Carol Moseley Braun, American lawyer and politician, United States Ambassador to New Zealand

1947

Katharine Hamnett, English fashion designer

1946

Masoud Barzani, Iranian-Kurdish politician, President of Iraqi Kurdistan

1946

Lesley Ann Warren, American actress

1945

Bob Balaban, American actor, director, and producer

1945

Russell Brookes, English race car driver (died 2019)

1945

Suzanne Farrell, American ballerina and educator

1945

Gary Loizzo, American guitarist, singer, recording engineer, and record producer (died 2016)

1945

Nigel Terry, British stage and film actor (died 2015)

1944

Kevin Ayers, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2013)

1943

Woody Peoples, American football player (died 2010)

1942

Lesley Turner Bowrey, Australian tennis player

1942

Barbara George, American R&B singer-songwriter (died 2006)

1942

Robert Squirrel Lester, American soul singer (died 2010)

1940

Bruce Beresford, Australian director and producer

1939

Seán Brady, Irish cardinal

1939

Trevor McDonald, Trinidadian-English journalist and academic

1939

Billy Joe Shaver, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2020)

1939

Eric Weissberg, American singer, banjo player, and multi-instrumentalist (died 2020)

1937

David Anderson, Canadian journalist, lawyer, and politician

1937

David Behrman, American composer and producer

1937

Ian Deans, Canadian politician (died 2016)

1937

Boris Rõtov, Estonian chess player (died 1987)

1936

Anita Gillette, American actress and singer

1936

Alan Hodgkinson, English footballer and coach (died 2015)

1935

Cliff Fletcher, Canadian businessman

1935

Andreas Stamatiadis, Greek footballer and coach

1934

Angela Buxton, British tennis player (died 2020)

1934

Diana Wynne Jones, English author (died 2011)

1934

Douglas Kirkland, Canadian-American photographer (died 2022)

1934

Ketty Lester, American singer and actress

1934

Pierre Richard, French actor, director, and screenwriter

1934

John Standing, English actor

1934

Sam Trimble, Australian cricketer (died 2019)

1933

Reiner Kunze, German poet and translator

1933

Tom Maschler, English author and publisher (died 2020)

1933

Julie Newmar, American actress

1933

Stuart Roosa, American colonel, pilot, and astronaut (died 1994)

1930

Robert Culp, American actor, director, and screenwriter (died 2010)

1930

Frank Gifford, American football player, sportscaster, and actor (died 2015)

1930

Leslie Manigat, Haitian educator and politician, 43rd President of Haiti (died 2014)

1930

Flor Silvestre, Mexican singer and actress (died 2020)

1929

Bill Evans, American pianist and composer (died 1980)

1929

Helmut Rahn, German footballer (died 2003)

1929

Fritz Von Erich, American wrestler and trainer (died 1997)

1928

Ann Blyth, American actress and singer (died 2026)

1928

Eydie Gormé, American singer (died 2013)

1928

Ara Güler, Turkish photographer and journalist (died 2018)

1928

Eddie Kirkland, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2011)

1928

Wyatt Tee Walker, American pastor, theologian, and activist (died 2018)

1927

Lois Nettleton, American actress (died 2008)

1925

Willie Jones, American baseball player (died 1983)

1925

Mal Waldron, American pianist and composer (died 2002)

1924

Fess Parker, American actor (died 2010)

1924

Inez Voyce, American baseball player (died 2022)

1923

Millôr Fernandes, Brazilian journalist and playwright (died 2012)

1922

James Casey, English comedian, radio scriptwriter and producer (died 2011)

1922

Ernie Freeman, American pianist and bandleader (died 2001)

1920

Charles Bukowski, German-American poet, novelist, and short story writer (died 1994)

1919

Karl-Heinz Euling, German captain (died 2014)

1917

Matt Christopher, American author (died 1997)

1917

Roque Cordero, Panamanian composer and educator (died 2008)

1916

Iggy Katona, American race car driver (died 2003)

1915

Al Hibbler, American baritone singer (died 2001)

1913

Menachem Begin, Belarusian-Israeli politician, Prime Minister of Israel, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1992)

1912

Ted Drake, English footballer and manager (died 1995)

1911

E. F. Schumacher, German economist and statistician (died 1977)

1910

Gloria Blondell, American actress (died 1986)

1910

Mae Clarke, American actress (died 1992)

1909

Paul Callaway, American organist and conductor (died 1995)

1908

Orlando Cole, American cellist and educator (died 2010)

1908

William Keepers Maxwell, Jr., American editor, novelist, short story writer, and essayist (died 2000)

1904

Minoru Genda, Japanese general, pilot, and politician (died 1989)

1904

Wendell Meredith Stanley, American biochemist and virologist, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1971)

1902

Georgette Heyer, English author (died 1974)

1902

Wallace Thurman, American author and playwright (died 1934)

1900

Ida Browne, Australian geologist and palaeontologist (died 1976)

1895

Albert Cohen, Greek-Swiss author and playwright (died 1981)

1895

Liane Haid, Austrian-Swiss actress and singer (died 2000)

1895

Arthur Rose Eldred, First Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America (died 1951)

1894

George Meany, American plumber and labor leader (died 1980)

1892

Hal Foster, Canadian-American author and illustrator (died 1982)

1892

Otto Messmer, American cartoonist and animator, co-created Felix the Cat (died 1983)

1888

T. E. Lawrence, British colonel, diplomat, writer and archaeologist (died 1935)

1888

Armand J. Piron, American violinist, composer, and bandleader (died 1943)

1884

Hugo Gernsback, Luxembourger-American author and publisher (died 1967)

1882

Désiré Mérchez, French swimmer and water polo player (died 1968)

1877

Roque Ruaño, Spanish priest and engineer (died 1935)

1876

Ivan Bilibin, Russian illustrator and stage designer (died 1942)

1868

Bernarr Macfadden, American bodybuilder and publisher, founded Macfadden Publications (died 1955)

1865

Mary Gilmore, Australian socialist, poet and journalist (died 1962)

1864

Elsie Inglis, Scottish surgeon and suffragette (died 1917)

1862

Amos Alonzo Stagg, American baseball player and coach (died 1965)

1860

Martin Hawke, 7th Baron Hawke, English-Scottish cricketer (died 1938)

1860

Jules Laforgue, Uruguayan-French poet and author (died 1887)

1858

Arthur Achleitner, German author (died 1927)

1856

Aparicio Saravia, Uruguayan general and politician (died 1904)

1855

James McGowen, Australian politician, 18th Premier of New South Wales (died 1922)

1848

Vladimir Sukhomlinov, Russian general (died 1926)

1845

Gabriel Lippmann, Luxembourger-French physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1921)

1842

Jakob Rosanes, Ukrainian-German mathematician, chess player, and academic (died 1922)

1832

Wilhelm Wundt, German physician, psychologist, and physiologist (died 1920)

1831

John Jones Ross, Canadian lawyer and politician, 7th Premier of Quebec (died 1901)

1824

John Chisum, American cattle baron (died 1884)

1821

Arthur Cayley, English mathematician and academic (died 1895)

1820

Andrew Rainsford Wetmore, Canadian lawyer and politician, 1st Premier of New Brunswick (died 1892)

1816

Octavia Taylor, daughter of Zachary Taylor (died 1820)

1816

Sara Prinsep, British salon organiser (died 1887)

1815

John Bosco, Italian priest and educator (died 1888)

1761

Yevstigney Fomin, Russian pianist and composer (died 1800)

1744

Pierre Méchain, French astronomer and surveyor (died 1804)

1682

Louis, Duke of Burgundy (died 1712)

1650

Vincenzo Coronelli, Italian monk, cosmographer, and cartographer (died 1718)

1645

Jean de La Bruyère, French philosopher and author (died 1696)

1637

Countess Emilie Juliane of Barby-Mühlingen (died 1706)

1573

Anne of Austria, Queen of Poland (died 1598)

1565

Christina, Grand Duchess of Tuscany (died 1637)

1557

Agostino Carracci, Italian painter and etcher (died 1602)

1401

Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut (died 1436)

1378

Hongxi Emperor of China (died 1425)

1355

Philippa, 5th Countess of Ulster (died 1382)

Deaths

2023

Howard S. Becker, American sociologist (born 1928)

2021

Sean Lock, English comedian and actor (born 1963)

2019

Peter Fonda, American actor, director, and screenwriter. (born 1940)

2019

Richard Williams, Canadian-British animator (born 1933)

2018

Aretha Franklin, American singer-songwriter (born 1942)

2018

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Indian poet and 12th Prime Minister of India (born 1924)

2018

Wakako Yamauchi, American-Japanese writer (born 1924)

2016

João Havelange, Brazilian water polo player, lawyer, and businessman (born 1916)

2016

John McLaughlin, American television personality (born 1927)

2015

Jacob Bekenstein, Mexican-American physicist, astronomer, and academic (born 1947)

2015

Anna Kashfi, British actress (born 1934)

2015

Shuja Khanzada, Pakistani colonel and politician (born 1943)

2015

Mile Mrkšić, Serb general (born 1947)

2014

Patrick Aziza, Nigerian general and politician, Governor of Kebbi State (born 1947)

2014

Vsevolod Nestayko, Ukrainian author (born 1930)

2014

Mario Oriani-Ambrosini, Italian-South African lawyer and politician (born 1960)

2014

Peter Scholl-Latour, German journalist, author, and academic (born 1924)

2013

David Rees, Welsh mathematician and academic (born 1918)

2012

Princess Lalla Amina of Morocco (born 1954)

2012

Martine Franck, Belgian photographer and director (born 1938)

2012

Abune Paulos, Ethiopian patriarch (born 1935)

2012

William Windom, American actor (born 1923)

2011

Mihri Belli, Turkish activist and politician (born 1916)

2010

Dimitrios Ioannidis, Greek general (born 1923)

2008

Dorival Caymmi, Brazilian singer-songwriter and actor (born 1914)

2008

Ronnie Drew, Irish musician, folk singer and actor (born 1934)

2008

Masanobu Fukuoka, Japanese farmer and author (born 1913)

2007

Bahaedin Adab, Iranian engineer and politician (born 1945)

2006

Alfredo Stroessner, Paraguayan general and dictator; 46th President of Paraguay (born 1912)

2005

Vassar Clements, American fiddler (born 1928)

2005

Tonino Delli Colli, Italian cinematographer (born 1922)

2005

William Corlett, English novelist and playwright (born 1938)

2005

Frère Roger, Swiss monk and mystic (born 1915)

2004

Ivan Hlinka, Czech ice hockey player and coach (born 1950)

2004

Balanadarajah Iyer, Sri Lankan journalist and poet (born 1957)

2004

Carl Mydans, American photographer and journalist (born 1907)

2004

Robert Quiroga, American boxer (born 1969)

2003

Idi Amin, Ugandan field marshal and politician, 3rd President of Uganda (born 1928)

2002

Abu Nidal, Palestinian terrorist leader (born 1937)

2002

Jeff Corey, American actor (born 1914)

2002

John Roseboro, American baseball player and coach (born 1933)

1998

Phil Leeds, American actor (born 1916)

1998

Dorothy West, American journalist and author (born 1907)

1997

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Pakistani musician and Qawwali singer (born 1948)

1997

Sultan Ahmad Nanupuri, Bangladeshi Islamic scholar and teacher (born 1914)

1993

Stewart Granger, English-American actor (born 1913)

1992

Mark Heard, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1951)

1991

Luigi Zampa, Italian director and screenwriter (born 1905)

1990

Pat O'Connor, New Zealand wrestler and trainer (born 1925)

1989

Amanda Blake, American actress (born 1929)

1986

Ronnie Aird, English cricketer and administrator (born 1902)

1986

Jaime Sáenz, Bolivian author and poet (born 1921)

1984

Duško Radović, Serbian children's writer, poet, journalist, aphorist and TV editor (born 1922)

1983

Earl Averill, American baseball player (born 1902)

1979

John Diefenbaker, Canadian lawyer and politician, 13th Prime Minister of Canada (born 1895)

1978

Alidius Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer, Dutch soldier and politician, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies (born 1888)

1977

Elvis Presley, American singer and actor (born 1935)

1973

Selman Waksman, Ukrainian-American biochemist and microbiologist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1888)

1972

Pierre Brasseur, French actor and screenwriter (born 1905)

1971

Spyros Skouras, Greek-American businessman (born 1893)

1963

Joan Eardley, British artist (born 1921)

1961

Abdul Haq, Pakistani linguist and scholar (born 1870)

1959

William Halsey, Jr., American admiral (born 1882)

1959

Wanda Landowska, Polish-French harpsichord player (born 1879)

1958

Jacob M. Lomakin, Soviet Consul General in New York City, journalist and economist (born 1904)

1957

Irving Langmuir, American chemist and physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1881)

1956

Bela Lugosi, Hungarian-American actor (born 1882)

1952

Lydia Field Emmet, American painter and academic (born 1866)

1949

Margaret Mitchell, American journalist and author (born 1900)

1948

Babe Ruth, American baseball player and coach (born 1895)

1945

Takijirō Ōnishi, Japanese admiral (born 1891)

1938

Andrej Hlinka, Slovak priest, journalist, and politician (born 1864)

1938

Robert Johnson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1911)

1921

Peter I of Serbia (born 1844)

1920

Henry Daglish, Australian politician, Premier of Western Australia (born 1866)

1916

George Scott, English footballer (born 1885)

1914

Carl Theodor Schulz, German-Norwegian gardener (born 1835)

1911

Patrick Francis Moran, Irish-Australian cardinal (born 1830)

1904

Prentiss Ingraham, American soldier and author (born 1843)

1900

José Maria de Eça de Queirós, Portuguese journalist and author (born 1845)

1899

Robert Bunsen, German chemist and academic (born 1811)

1893

Jean-Martin Charcot, French neurologist and academic (born 1825)

1888

John Pemberton, American pharmacist and chemist, invented Coca-Cola (born 1831)

1887

Webster Paulson, English civil engineer (born 1837)

1886

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Indian mystic and philosopher (born 1836)

1878

Richard Upjohn, English-American architect (born 1802)

1861

Ranavalona I, Queen consort of Kingdom of Madagascar and then sovereign (born 1778)

1855

Henry Colburn, English publisher (born 1785)

1836

Marc-Antoine Parseval, French mathematician and theorist (born 1755)

1791

Charles-François de Broglie, marquis de Ruffec, French soldier and diplomat (born 1719)

1733

Matthew Tindal, English philosopher and author (born 1657)

1705

Jacob Bernoulli, Swiss mathematician and theorist (born 1654)

1678

Andrew Marvell, English poet and author (born 1621)

1661

Thomas Fuller, English historian and author (born 1608)

1532

John, Elector of Saxony (born 1468)

1518

Loyset Compère, French composer (born 1445)

1492

Beatrice of Silva, Dominican nun

1443

Ashikaga Yoshikatsu, Japanese shōgun (born 1434)

1419

Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia (born 1361)

1358

Albert II, Duke of Austria (born 1298)

1339

Azzone Visconti, founder of the state of Milan (born 1302)

1327

Roch, French saint (born 1295)

1297

John II of Trebizond (born 1262)

1285

Philip I, Count of Savoy (born 1207)

1258

Theodore II Laskaris, Byzantine-Greek emperor (born 1222)

1225

Hōjō Masako, Japanese regent and onna-bugeisha (born 1156)

1153

Bernard de Tremelay, fourth Grand Master of the Knights Templar

1027

George I of Georgia (born 998)

963

Marianos Argyros, Byzantine general (born 944)

856

Theutbald I, bishop of Langres

79

Empress Ma, Chinese Han dynasty consort (born 40)

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