Events

2018

A tsunami caused by an eruption of Anak Krakatau in Indonesia kills at least 430 people and injures almost a thousand more.

2018

The 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown, the second-longest shutdown of the U.S. federal government in history, begins.

2017

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2397 against North Korea is unanimously approved.

2016

A study finds the VSV-EBOV vaccine against the Ebola virus between 70 and 100% effective, making it the first proven vaccine against the disease.

2012

Bashir Ahmad Bilour of Awami National Party and eight others are killed in a Pakistan Taliban bomber suicide attack in Dhaki Nalbandi area near Qissa Khwani Bazaar.

2010

The repeal of the Don't ask, don't tell policy, the 17-year-old policy banning homosexuals serving openly in the United States military, is signed into law by President Barack Obama.

2008

An ash dike ruptures at a solid waste containment area for a Tennessee Valley Authority coal-fired power plant in Roane County, Tennessee, releasing 4.2 million m3 (1.1 billion US gal) of coal fly ash slurry in the largest industrial spill in U.S. history.

2001

Burhanuddin Rabbani, political leader of the Northern Alliance, hands over power in Islamic State of Afghanistan to the interim government headed by President Hamid Karzai.

2001

Richard Reid attempts to destroy a passenger airliner by igniting explosives hidden in his shoes aboard American Airlines Flight 63.

1999

Just after taking off from London Stansted Airport, Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509 crashes into Hatfield Forest near Great Hallingbury, killing all four people on board.

1997

Acteal massacre: Attendees at a prayer meeting of Roman Catholic activists for indigenous causes in the small village of Acteal in the Mexican state of Chiapas are massacred by paramilitary forces.

1997

Somali Civil War: Hussein Farrah Aidid relinquishes the disputed title of President of Somalia by signing the Cairo Declaration, in Cairo, Egypt. It is the first major step towards reconciliation in Somalia since 1991.

1996

Airborne Express Flight 827 crashes in Narrows, Virginia, killing all six people on board.

1992

During approach to Tripoli International Airport, a Boeing 727 operating as Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 1103 collides in mid-air with a Libyan Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, killing 157 people.

1990

Lech Wałęsa is elected President of Poland.

1990

Final independence of Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia after termination of trusteeship.

1989

Romanian Revolution: Communist President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu is overthrown by Ion Iliescu after days of bloody confrontations. The deposed dictator and his wife Elena flee Bucharest in a helicopter as protesters erupt in cheers.

1989

German reunification: Berlin's Brandenburg Gate re-opens after nearly 30 years, effectively ending the division of East and West Germany.

1987

In Zimbabwe, the political parties ZANU and ZAPU reach an agreement that ends the violence in the Matabeleland region known as the Gukurahundi.

1984

"Subway vigilante" Bernhard Goetz shoots four would-be muggers on a 2 express train in Manhattan section of New York, United States.

1978

The pivotal Third Plenum of the 11th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is held in Beijing, with Deng Xiaoping reversing Mao-era policies to pursue a program for the reform and opening up.

1975

U.S. President Gerald Ford creates the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in response to the 1970s energy crisis.

1974

Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli vote to become the independent nation of Comoros. Mayotte remains under French administration.

1973

A Royal Air Maroc Sud Aviation Caravelle crashes near Tangier-Boukhalef Airport in Tangier, Morocco, killing 106.

1971

The international aid organization Doctors Without Borders is founded by Bernard Kouchner and a group of journalists in Paris, France.

1968

Cultural Revolution: People's Daily posted the instructions of Mao Zedong that "The intellectual youth must go to the country, and will be educated from living in rural poverty."

1965

In the United Kingdom, a 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) speed limit is applied to all rural roads including motorways for the first time.

1964

The first test flight of the SR-71 (Blackbird) takes place at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, United States.

1963

The cruise ship Lakonia burns 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of Madeira, Portugal with the loss of 128 lives.

1948

Sjafruddin Prawiranegara established the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (Pemerintah Darurat Republik Indonesia, PDRI) in West Sumatra.

1945

U.S. President Harry S. Truman issues an executive order giving World War II refugees precedence in visa applications under U.S. immigration quotas.

1944

World War II: Battle of the Bulge: German troops demand the surrender of United States troops at Bastogne, Belgium, prompting the famous one word reply by Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe: "Nuts!"

1944

World War II: The People's Army of Vietnam is formed to resist Japanese occupation of Indochina, now Vietnam.

1942

World War II: Adolf Hitler signs the order to develop the V-2 rocket as a weapon.

1940

World War II: Himara is captured by the Greek army.

1939

Indian Muslims observe a "Day of Deliverance" to celebrate the resignations of members of the Indian National Congress over their not having been consulted over the decision to enter World War II with the United Kingdom.

1937

The Lincoln Tunnel opens to traffic in New York City.

1921

Opening of Visva-Bharati College, also known as Santiniketan College, now Visva Bharati University, India.

1920

The GOELRO economic development plan is adopted by the 8th Congress of Soviets of the Russian SFSR.

1906

An Mw 7.9 earthquake strikes Xinjiang, China, killing at least 280.

1894

The Dreyfus affair begins in France, when Alfred Dreyfus is wrongly convicted of treason.

1891

Asteroid 323 Brucia becomes the first asteroid discovered using photography.

1890

Cornwallis Valley Railway begins operation between Kentville and Kingsport, Nova Scotia.

1888

The Christmas Meeting of 1888, considered to be the official start of the Faroese independence movement.

1885

Itō Hirobumi, a samurai, becomes the first Prime Minister of Japan.

1864

American Civil War: Savannah, Georgia, falls to the Union's Army of the Tennessee, and General Sherman tells President Abraham Lincoln: "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah".

1851

India's first freight train is operated in Roorkee, to transport material for the construction of the Ganges Canal.

1825

The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., burns.

1808

Ludwig van Beethoven conducts and performs in concert at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna, with the premiere of his Fifth Symphony, Sixth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto and Choral Fantasy.

1807

The Embargo Act, forbidding trade with all foreign countries, is passed by the U.S. Congress at the urging of President Thomas Jefferson.

1790

The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Alexander Suvorov and his Russian armies.

1788

Nguyễn Huệ proclaims himself Emperor Quang Trung, in effect abolishing on his own the Lê dynasty.

1769

Sino-Burmese War: The war ends with the Qing dynasty withdrawing from Burma forever.

1489

The forces of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, take control of Almería from the Nasrid ruler of Granada, Muhammad XI.

1216

Pope Honorius III approves the Dominican Order through the papal bull of confirmation Religiosam vitam.

1135

Three weeks after the death of King Henry I of England, Stephen of Blois claims the throne and is privately crowned King of England, beginning the English Anarchy.

880

Luoyang, eastern capital of the Tang dynasty, is captured by rebel leader Huang Chao during the reign of Emperor Xizong.

856

Damghan earthquake: An earthquake near the Persian city of Damghan kills an estimated 200,000 people, the sixth deadliest earthquake in recorded history.

401

Pope Innocent I is elected, the only pope to succeed his father in the office.

69

Vespasian is proclaimed Emperor of Rome; his predecessor, Vitellius, attempts to abdicate but is captured and killed at the Gemonian stairs.

Births

2006

Callan McKenna, Scottish footballer

2003

Joe Anders, American-British actor

2002

David Datro Fofana, Ivorian footballer

2001

Camila Osorio, Colombian tennis player

2001

Jack Draper, British tennis player

2000

Joshua Bassett, American actor and singer

1998

G Hannelius, American actress and singer

1998

Latto, American rapper and singer

1998

Casper Ruud, Norwegian tennis player

1994

Rúben Lameiras, Portuguese footballer

1993

Sergi Darder, Spanish footballer

1993

Raphaël Guerreiro, Portuguese footballer

1993

Meghan Trainor, American singer-songwriter and producer

1992

Michaela Hončová, Slovak tennis player

1992

Nick Johnson, American basketball player

1992

Moonbyul, South Korean rapper, vocalist and songwriter

1991

DaBaby, American rapper

1990

Jean-Baptiste Maunier, French actor and singer

1989

Jordin Sparks, American singer-songwriter and actress

1989

Jacob Stallings, American baseball player

1988

Scott Darling, American ice hockey player

1988

Mohamed El Shenawy, Egyptian footballer

1988

Leigh Halfpenny, Welsh rugby player

1987

Zack Britton, American baseball player

1987

Éder, Bissau-Portuguese footballer

1986

Dennis Armfield, Australian footballer

1986

Fatih Öztürk, Turkish footballer

1984

Basshunter, Swedish singer, record producer and DJ

1984

Greg Finley, American actor

1983

José Fonte, Portuguese footballer

1983

Doc Gallows, American wrestler

1983

Viola Kibiwot, Kenyan runner

1982

Britta Heidemann, German fencer

1982

Alinne Moraes, Brazilian actress and model

1981

Marina Kuptsova, Russian high jumper

1980

Chris Carmack, American actor, singer, and model

1980

Marcus Haislip, American basketball player

1979

Jamie Langfield, Scottish footballer and coach

1978

Danny Ahn, South Korean singer

1978

Joy Ali, Fijian boxer (died 2015)

1978

Emmanuel Olisadebe, Nigerian-Polish footballer

1977

Steve Kariya, Canadian ice hockey player and coach

1976

Katleen De Caluwé, Belgian sprinter

1976

Jason Lane, American baseball player and coach

1976

Aya Takano, Japanese author and illustrator

1975

Sergei Aschwanden, Swiss martial artist

1975

Dmitri Khokhlov, Russian footballer and manager

1975

Marcin Mięciel, Polish footballer

1975

Stanislav Neckář, Czech ice hockey player

1975

Takuya Onishi, Japanese astronaut

1974

Rei Hance, American actress

1972

Mark Hill, English musician, producer and songwriter

1972

Kirk Maltby, Canadian ice hockey player and scout

1972

Vanessa Paradis, French singer-songwriter and actress

1971

Ajeenkya Patil, Indian economist and academic

1970

Gary Anderson, Scottish darts player

1970

Ted Cruz, Canadian-American lawyer and politician

1969

Myriam Bédard, Canadian biathlete

1969

Mark Robins, English footballer and manager

1968

Emre Aracı, Turkish composer, conductor, and historian

1968

Luis Hernández, Mexican footballer

1968

Lori McKenna, American singer-songwriter

1968

Dina Meyer, American actress

1967

Richey Edwards, Welsh singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 1995)

1967

Stéphane Gendron, Canadian lawyer and politician

1967

Rebecca Harris, English businesswoman and politician

1967

Dan Petrescu, Romanian footballer and manager

1966

Dmitry Bilozerchev, Russian gymnast and coach

1966

Marcel Schirmer, German singer-songwriter and bass player

1966

David Wright, English lawyer and politician

1965

David S. Goyer, American screenwriter

1965

Urszula Włodarczyk, Polish heptathlete and triple jumper

1964

Mike Jackson, American baseball player

1964

Angela James, Canadian ice hockey player

1964

Simon Kirby, English businessman and politician

1963

Giuseppe Bergomi, Italian footballer and coach

1963

Brian McMillan, South African cricketer and educator

1963

Luna H. Mitani, Japanese-American painter and illustrator

1962

Ralph Fiennes, English actor

1961

Yuri Malenchenko, Russian colonel, pilot, and astronaut

1960

Jean-Michel Basquiat, American painter and poet (died 1988)

1960

Luther Campbell, American rapper and actor

1960

Paul Kuniholm, Artist

1959

Bernd Schuster, German footballer and manager

1958

Frank Gambale, Australian guitarist, songwriter, and producer

1958

David Heavener, American singer-songwriter, producer, actor, and director

1957

Stephen Conway, English bishop

1957

Carole James, English-Canadian educator and politician

1957

Peter Mortimer, Australian rugby league player

1956

Jane Lighting, English businesswoman

1955

Galina Murašova, Lithuanian discus thrower

1955

Lonnie Smith, American baseball player

1955

Thomas C. Südhof, German-American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

1954

Hideshi Matsuda, Japanese racing driver

1954

Derick Parry, Nevisian cricketer

1953

Ian Turnbull, Canadian ice hockey player

1953

Tom Underwood, American baseball player (died 2010)

1952

Sandra Kalniete, Latvian politician and diplomat, former Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs

1951

Lasse Bengtsson, Swedish journalist

1951

Charles de Lint, Dutch-Canadian author and critic

1951

Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, British landowner, businessman and philanthropist (died 2016)

1951

Tony Isabella, American comic book writer, editor, actor, artist and critic

1951

Jan Stephenson, Australian golfer

1950

Manfred Moore, American football player and rugby league player (died 2020)

1949

Maurice Gibb, Manx-English singer-songwriter and producer (died 2003)

1949

Robin Gibb, Manx-English singer-songwriter and producer (died 2012)

1949

Ray Guy, American football player (died 2022)

1948

Steve Garvey, American baseball player and sportscaster

1948

Don Kardong, American runner, journalist, and author

1948

Rick Nielsen, American singer-songwriter and guitarist

1948

Chris Old, English cricketer and coach

1948

Lynne Thigpen, American actress and singer (died 2003)

1947

Brian Daley, American author and screenwriter (died 1996)

1947

Dilip Doshi, Indian cricketer

1946

Roger Carr, English businessman

1946

C. Eugene Steuerle, American economist and author

1945

Frances Lannon, English historian and academic

1945

Sam Newman, Australian footballer and sportscaster

1945

Diane Sawyer, American journalist

1944

Mary Archer, English chemist and academic

1944

Steve Carlton, American baseball player

1944

Barry Jenkins, English drummer

1943

Stefan Janos, Slovak-Swiss physicist and academic

1943

Paul Wolfowitz, American banker and politician, 25th United States Deputy Secretary of Defense

1942

Jerry Koosman, American baseball player

1942

Dick Parry, English saxophonist (died 2026)

1940

Luis Francisco Cuéllar, Colombian rancher and politician (died 2009)

1940

Mike Molloy, English journalist, author, and illustrator

1938

Matty Alou, Dominican-American baseball player and scout (died 2011)

1938

Lucien Bouchard, Canadian lawyer and politician, 27th Premier of Quebec

1938

Red Steagall, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and poet

1937

Charlotte Lamb, English author (died 2000)

1937

Eduard Uspensky, Russian author, poet, and playwright (died 2018)

1937

Ken Whitmore, English author and playwright

1936

James Burke, Irish historian and author

1936

Héctor Elizondo, American actor and director

1935

Paulo Rocha, Portuguese director and screenwriter (died 2012)

1934

David Pearson, American race car driver (died 2018)

1933

John Hartle, English motorcycle racer (died 1968)

1932

Phil Woosnam, Welsh soccer player and manager (died 2013)

1931

Gisela Birkemeyer, German hurdler and coach (died 2024)

1931

Carlos Graça, São Toméan lawyer and politician, Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe (died 2013)

1930

Ardalion Ignatyev, Russian sprinter and educator (died 1998)

1929

Wazir Mohammad, Indian-Pakistani cricketer (died 2025)

1928

Fredrik Barth, German-Norwegian anthropologist and academic (died 2016)

1926

Alcides Ghiggia, Italian-Uruguayan footballer and manager (died 2015)

1926

Roberta Leigh, English writer, artist and TV producer (died 2014)

1925

Lewis Glucksman, American businessman and philanthropist (died 2006)

1925

Lefter Küçükandonyadis, Turkish footballer and manager (died 2012)

1924

Frank Corsaro, American actor and director (died 2017)

1923

Peregrine Worsthorne, English journalist and author (died 2020)

1922

Ruth Roman, American actress (died 1999)

1922

Jim Wright, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 56th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (died 2015)

1921

Dimitri Fampas, Greek guitarist and composer (died 1996)

1921

Hawkshaw Hawkins, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 1963)

1917

Gene Rayburn, American game show host and actor (died 1999)

1915

Barbara Billingsley, American actress (died 2010)

1915

Phillip Glasier, English author and academic (died 2000)

1913

Giorgio Oberweger, Italian discus thrower and hurdler (died 1998)

1912

Elias Degiannis, Greek commander (died 1943)

1912

Lady Bird Johnson, American beautification activist; 38th First Lady of the United States (died 2007)

1911

Danny O'Dea, English actor (died 2003)

1909

Patricia Hayes, English actress (died 1998)

1908

Giacomo Manzù, Italian sculptor and academic (died 1991)

1907

Peggy Ashcroft, English actress (died 1991)

1905

Pierre Brasseur, French-Italian actor and screenwriter (died 1972)

1905

Pierre Levegh, French ice hockey player and racing driver (died 1955)

1905

Kenneth Rexroth, American poet, translator, and academic (died 1982)

1903

Haldan Keffer Hartline, American physiologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1983)

1901

Andre Kostelanetz, Russian-American conductor and composer (died 1980)

1900

Marc Allégret, French director and screenwriter (died 1973)

1899

Gustaf Gründgens, German actor and director (died 1963)

1898

Vladimir Fock, Russian physicist and mathematician (died 1974)

1894

Edwin Linkomies, Finnish academic, professor and the Prime Minister of Finland (died 1963)

1892

Herman Potočnik, Slovenian-Austrian engineer (died 1929)

1889

George Hutson, English runner and soldier (died 1914)

1888

J. Arthur Rank, 1st Baron Rank, English businessman, founded Rank Organisation (died 1972)

1887

Srinivasa Ramanujan, Indian mathematician and theorist (died 1920)

1885

Deems Taylor, American conductor and critic (died 1966)

1884

St. Elmo Brady, African American chemist and educator (died 1966)

1883

Marcus Hurley, American cyclist (died 1941)

1883

Edgard Varèse, French-American composer (died 1965)

1880

Fred Woolley, Australian rugby league player (died 1955)

1878

Myer Prinstein, Polish-American jumper (died 1925)

1876

Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Egyptian-Italian poet and composer (died 1944)

1874

Franz Schmidt, Austrian cellist, pianist, and composer (died 1939)

1872

Camille Guérin, French veterinarian and bacteriologist (died 1961)

1869

Dmitri Egorov, Russian mathematician and academic (died 1931)

1869

Edwin Arlington Robinson, American poet and playwright (died 1935)

1868

Jaan Tõnisson, Estonian journalist, lawyer, and politician, 2nd Prime Minister of Estonia (died 1941?)

1865

Charles Sands, American golfer and tennis player (died 1945)

1862

Connie Mack, American baseball player and manager (died 1956)

1858

Giacomo Puccini, Italian composer and educator (died 1924)

1856

Frank B. Kellogg, American lawyer and politician, 45th United States Secretary of State, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1937)

1853

Teresa Carreño, Venezuelan-American singer-songwriter and pianist (died 1917)

1853

Evgraf Fedorov, Russian mathematician, crystallographer, and mineralogist (died 1919)

1853

Sarada Devi, Indian mystic and philosopher (died 1920)

1850

Victoriano Huerta, Mexican general and politician, 35th President of Mexico (died 1916)

1839

John Nevil Maskelyne, English magician (died 1917)

1819

Franz Abt, German composer and conductor (died 1870)

1819

Pierre Ossian Bonnet, French mathematician and academic (died 1892)

1807

Johan Sebastian Welhaven, Norwegian author, poet, and critic (died 1873)

1805

John Obadiah Westwood, English entomologist and archaeologist (died 1893)

1799

Nicholas Callan, Irish priest and physicist (died 1864)

1765

Johann Friedrich Pfaff, German mathematician and academic (died 1825)

1723

Carl Friedrich Abel, German viol player and composer (died 1787)

1696

James Oglethorpe, English general and politician, 1st Colonial Governor of Georgia (died 1785)

1694

Hermann Samuel Reimarus, German philosopher and academic (died 1768)

1666

Guru Gobind Singh, Indian guru and poet (died 1708)

1639

Jean Racine, French poet and playwright (died 1699)

1591

Tommaso Dingli, Maltese architect and sculptor (died 1666)

1569

Étienne Martellange, French architect (died 1641)

1550

Cesare Cremonini, Italian philosopher and author (died 1631)

1546

Kuroda Yoshitaka, Japanese daimyō (died 1604)

1459

Sultan Cem, Ottoman politician (died 1495)

1300

Khutughtu Khan Kusala, Mongolian emperor (died 1329)

1183

Chagatai Khan, Mongol ruler (died 1242)

1178

Emperor Antoku of Japan (died 1185)

1095

Roger II of Sicily (died 1154)

948

Kang Kam-ch'an, Korean official and general (died 1031)

244

Diocletian, Roman emperor (died 311)

Deaths

2025

Chris Rea, English singer-songwriter (born 1951)

2023

Leon Coates, English composer (born 1937)

2019

Ram Dass, American spiritual teacher and author (born 1931)

2018

Paddy Ashdown, British politician (born 1941)

2018

Simcha Rotem, last survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (born 1924)

2018

Herman Sikumbang, Indonesian guitarist (born 1982); casualty during 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami

2017

Gonzalo Morales Sáurez, Costa Rican painter (born 1945)

2016

Chad Robinson, Australian rugby league player (born 1980)

2015

Peter Lundblad, Swedish singer-songwriter (born 1950)

2015

Freda Meissner-Blau, Australian activist and politician (born 1927)

2014

John Robert Beyster, American physicist and academic (born 1924)

2014

Christine Cavanaugh, American actress (born 1963)

2014

Joe Cocker, English singer-songwriter (born 1944)

2014

Bernard Stone, American lawyer and politician (born 1927)

2013

Diomedes Díaz, Colombian singer-songwriter (born 1956)

2013

Hans Hækkerup, Danish lawyer and politician (born 1945)

2013

Oscar Peer, Swiss author, playwright, and philologist (born 1928)

2012

Chuck Cherundolo, American football player and coach (born 1916)

2012

Ryan Freel, American baseball player (born 1976)

2012

Cliff Osmond, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1937)

2012

Lim Keng Yaik, Malaysian physician and politician (born 1939)

2010

Fred Foy, American soldier and announcer (born 1921)

2009

Luis Francisco Cuéllar, Colombian rancher and politician (born 1940)

2009

Albert Scanlon, English footballer (born 1935)

2007

Charles Court, Australian politician, 21st Premier of Western Australia (born 1911)

2007

Adrian Cristobal, Filipino journalist and playwright (born 1932)

2006

Elena Mukhina, Russian gymnast (born 1960)

2006

Galina Ustvolskaya, Russian composer (born 1919)

2004

Doug Ault, American baseball player and manager (born 1950)

2002

Desmond Hoyte, Guyanese lawyer, politician and President of Guyana (born 1929)

2002

Joe Strummer, English singer-songwriter (born 1952)

2001

Ovidiu Iacov, Romanian footballer (born 1981)

2001

Walter Newton Read, American lawyer and second chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission (born 1918)

1997

Sebastian Arcos Bergnes, Cuban-American dentist and activist (born 1931)

1996

Jack Hamm, American cartoonist and television host (born 1916)

1995

Butterfly McQueen, American actress and dancer (born 1911)

1995

James Meade, English economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1907)

1993

Don DeFore, American actor (born 1913)

1992

Harry Bluestone, English violinist and composer (born 1907)

1992

Frederick William Franz, American religious leader (born 1893)

1989

Samuel Beckett, Irish author, poet, and playwright, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1906)

1988

Chico Mendes, Brazilian trade union leader and activist (born 1944)

1987

Luca Prodan, Italian-Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1953)

1986

Mary Burchell, English author and activist (born 1904)

1986

David Penhaligon, Cornish Liberal Politician (born 1944), Member of Parliament (MP) for Truro (1974–1986)

1985

D. Boon, American singer and musician (born 1958)

1979

Darryl F. Zanuck, American director and producer (born 1902)

1974

Sterling North, American author and critic (born 1906)

1974

Carlos Alberto Sacheri, Argentinian philosopher (born 1933)

1971

Godfried Bomans, Dutch journalist and author (born 1913)

1969

Enrique Peñaranda, 45th President of Bolivia (born 1892)

1968

Raymond Gram Swing, American journalist (born 1887)

1965

Richard Dimbleby, English journalist (born 1913)

1962

Ross McLarty, Australian politician, 17th Premier of Western Australia (born 1891)

1960

Ninian Comper, Scottish-English architect (born 1864)

1959

Gilda Gray, Polish-American actress and dancer (born 1901)

1957

Frank George Woollard, English engineer (born 1883)

1950

Frederick Freake, English polo player (born 1876)

1944

Harry Langdon, American actor, comedian, and vaudevillian (born 1884)

1943

Beatrix Potter, English children's book writer and illustrator (born 1866)

1942

Franz Boas, German-American anthropologist and linguist (born 1858)

1941

Karel Hašler, Czech actor, director, composer, and screenwriter (born 1879)

1940

Nathanael West, American author and screenwriter (born 1903)

1939

Ma Rainey, American singer (born 1886)

1925

Amelie Beese, German pilot and engineer (born 1886)

1925

Frank Munsey, American publisher, banker, political financier and author (born 1854)

1924

Karl Denke, German serial killer and cannibal (born 1860)

1919

Hermann Weingärtner, German gymnast (born 1864)

1918

Aristeidis Moraitinis, Greek lieutenant and pilot (born 1891)

1917

Frances Xavier Cabrini, Italian-American nun and saint (born 1850)

1915

Rose Talbot Bullard, American medical doctor and professor (born 1864)

1902

Richard von Krafft-Ebing, German-Austrian psychiatrist and author (born 1840)

1899

Dwight L. Moody, American evangelist and publisher, founded Moody Publishers (born 1837)

1891

Paul de Lagarde, German biblical scholar and orientalist (born 1827)

1884

John Chisum, American cattle baron (born 1824)

1880

George Eliot, English novelist and poet (born 1819)

1870

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, Spanish journalist, poet, and playwright (born 1836)

1867

Jean-Victor Poncelet, French mathematician and engineer (born 1788)

1853

Manuel María Lombardini, Mexican general and politician. President (1853) (born 1802)

1828

William Hyde Wollaston, English chemist and physicist (born 1766)

1806

William Vernon, English-American merchant (born 1719)

1788

Percivall Pott, English physician and surgeon (born 1714)

1767

John Newbery, English publisher (born 1713)

1681

Richard Alleine, English minister and author (born 1611)

1666

Guercino, Italian painter (born 1591)

1660

André Tacquet, Flemish priest and mathematician (born 1612)

1646

Petro Mohyla, Ruthenian metropolitan and saint (born 1596)

1641

Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, 2nd Prime Minister of France (born 1560)

1603

Mehmed III, Ottoman sultan (born 1566)

1572

François Clouet, French miniaturist (born c. 1510)

1554

Alessandro Bonvicino, Italian painter (born 1498)

1530

Willibald Pirckheimer, German lawyer and author (born 1470)

1419

Antipope John XXIII

1115

Olaf Magnusson, King of Norway (born 1099)

1100

Bretislav II of Bohemia (born 1060)

1060

Cynesige, Archbishop of York

1012

Baha' al-Dawla, Buyid amir of Iraq

731

Yuan Qianyao, official of the Chinese Tang dynasty

69

Vitellius, Roman emperor (born 15)

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