Events

2019

The first known case of COVID-19 is traced to a 55-year-old man who had visited a market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.

2013

Fifty people are killed when Tatarstan Airlines Flight 363 crashes at Kazan Airport, Russia.

2013

A rare late-season tornado outbreak strikes the Midwest. Illinois and Indiana are most affected with tornado reports as far north as lower Michigan. In all around six dozen tornadoes touch down in approximately an 11-hour time period, including seven EF3 and two EF4 tornadoes.

2012

At least 50 schoolchildren are killed in an accident at a railway crossing near Manfalut, Egypt.

2003

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's tenure as the governor of California begins.

2000

A catastrophic landslide in Log pod Mangartom, Slovenia, kills seven, and causes millions of SIT of damage. It is one of the worst catastrophes in Slovenia in the past 100 years.

2000

Alberto Fujimori is removed from office as president of Peru.

1997

In Luxor, Egypt, 62 people are killed by six Islamic militants outside the Temple of Hatshepsut, known as Luxor massacre.

1993

United States House of Representatives passes a resolution to establish the North American Free Trade Agreement.

1993

In Nigeria, General Sani Abacha ousts the government of Ernest Shonekan in a military coup.

1990

Fugendake, part of the Mount Unzen volcanic complex, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, becomes active again and erupts.

1989

Cold War: Velvet Revolution begins: In Czechoslovakia, a student demonstration in Prague is quelled by riot police. This sparks an uprising aimed at overthrowing the communist government (it succeeds on December 29).

1986

The flight crew of Japan Airlines Flight 1628 are involved in a UFO sighting incident while flying over Alaska.

1983

The Zapatista Army of National Liberation is founded in Mexico.

1973

Watergate scandal: In Orlando, Florida, U.S. President Richard Nixon tells 400 Associated Press managing editors "I am not a crook."

1973

The Athens Polytechnic uprising against the military regime ends in a bloodshed in the Greek capital.

1970

Vietnam War: Lieutenant William Calley goes on trial for the My Lai Massacre.

1970

Luna programme: The Soviet Union lands Lunokhod 1 on Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains) on the Moon. This is the first roving remote-controlled robot to land on another world and is released by the orbiting Luna 17 spacecraft.

1969

Cold War: Negotiators from the Soviet Union and the United States meet in Helsinki, Finland to begin SALT I negotiations aimed at limiting the number of strategic weapons on both sides.

1968

British European Airways introduces the BAC One-Eleven into commercial service.

1968

Viewers of the Raiders–Jets football game in the eastern United States are denied the opportunity to watch its exciting finish when NBC broadcasts Heidi instead, prompting changes to sports broadcasting in the U.S.

1967

Vietnam War: Acting on optimistic reports that he had been given on November 13, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson tells the nation that, while much remained to be done, "We are inflicting greater losses than we're taking...We are making progress."

1962

President John F. Kennedy dedicates Washington Dulles International Airport, serving the Washington, D.C., region.

1957

Vickers Viscount G-AOHP of British European Airways crashes at Ballerup after the failure of three engines on approach to Copenhagen Airport. The cause is a malfunction of the anti-icing system on the aircraft. There are no fatalities.

1953

The remaining human inhabitants of the Blasket Islands, County Kerry, Ireland, are evacuated to the mainland.

1950

Lhamo Dondrub is officially named the 14th Dalai Lama.

1950

United Nations Security Council Resolution 89 relating to the Palestine Question is adopted.

1947

The Screen Actors Guild implements an anti-Communist loyalty oath.

1947

American scientists John Bardeen and Walter Houser Brattain observe the basic principles of the transistor, a key element for the electronics revolution of the 20th century.

1940

The Tartu Art Museum is established in Tartu, Estonia.

1939

Nine Czech students are executed as a response to anti-Nazi demonstrations prompted by the death of Jan Opletal. All Czech universities are shut down and more than 1,200 students sent to concentration camps. Since this event, International Students' Day is celebrated in many countries, especially in the Czech Republic.

1903

The Russian Social Democratic Labour Party splits into two groups: The Bolsheviks (Russian for "majority") and Mensheviks (Russian for "minority").

1896

The Western Pennsylvania Hockey League, which later became the first ice hockey league to openly trade and hire players, began play at Pittsburgh's Schenley Park Casino.

1894

H. H. Holmes, one of the first modern serial killers, is arrested in Boston, Massachusetts.

1885

Serbo-Bulgarian War: The decisive Battle of Slivnitsa begins.

1878

First assassination attempt against Umberto I of Italy by anarchist Giovanni Passannante, who was armed with a dagger. The King survived with a slight wound in an arm. Prime Minister Benedetto Cairoli blocked the aggressor, receiving an injury in a leg.

1869

In Egypt, the Suez Canal, linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, is inaugurated.

1863

American Civil War: Siege of Knoxville begins: During the Knoxville campaign, Confederate forces under General James Longstreet besiege the city of Knoxville, Tennessee and its Union defenders led by General Ambrose Burnside.

1858

Modified Julian Day zero.

1858

The city of Denver, Colorado is founded.

1856

American Old West: On the Sonoita River in present-day southern Arizona, the United States Army establishes Fort Buchanan in order to help control new land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.

1837

An earthquake in Valdivia, south-central Chile, causes a tsunami that leads to significant destruction along Japan's coast.

1831

Ecuador and Venezuela are separated from Gran Colombia.

1820

Captain Nathaniel Palmer becomes the first American to see Antarctica. (The Palmer Peninsula is later named after him.)

1811

José Miguel Carrera, Chilean founding father, is sworn in as President of the executive Junta of the government of Chile.

1810

Sweden declares war on its ally the United Kingdom to begin the Anglo-Swedish War, although no fighting ever takes place.

1800

The United States Congress holds its first session in Washington, D.C.

1796

French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of the Bridge of Arcole: French forces defeat the Austrians in Italy.

1777

Articles of Confederation (United States) are submitted to the states for ratification.

1775

The city of Kuopio, Finland (belonging to Sweden at this time) is founded by King Gustav III of Sweden.

1603

English explorer, writer and courtier Sir Walter Raleigh goes on trial for treason.

1558

Elizabethan era begins: Queen Mary I of England dies and is succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth I.

1511

Henry VIII of England concludes the Treaty of Westminster, a pledge of mutual aid against the French, with Ferdinand II of Aragon.

1494

French King Charles VIII occupies Florence, Italy.

1405

Sharif ul-Hāshim establishes the Sultanate of Sulu.

1292

John Balliol becomes King of Scotland.

1183

Genpei War: The Battle of Mizushima takes place off the Japanese coast, where Minamoto no Yoshinaka's invasion force is intercepted and defeated by the Taira clan.

887

Emperor Charles the Fat is deposed by the Frankish magnates in an assembly at Frankfurt, leading his nephew, Arnulf of Carinthia, to declare himself king of the East Frankish Kingdom in late November.

Births

2005

Anna Tanaka, Japanese singer and model

2004

Linda Nosková, Czech tennis player

2001

Kate Douglass, American swimmer

2000

Joanne Züger, Swiss tennis player

1999

Gabi Gonçalves, Brazilian politician

1997

Dragan Bender, Croatian basketball player

1997

Julian Ryerson, Norwegian footballer

1997

Yugyeom, South Korean singer

1996

Minkah Fitzpatrick, American football player

1996

Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Australian rugby league player

1996

Roope Hintz, Finnish ice hockey player

1995

Elise Mertens, Belgian tennis player

1995

Panashe Muzambe, Scottish rugby union player

1994

Raquel Castro, American actress and singer

1994

Rose Ayling-Ellis, British actress

1993

Taylor Gold, American snowboarder

1992

Damiris Dantas, Brazilian basketball player

1992

Katarzyna Kawa, Polish tennis player

1992

Danielle Kettlewell, Australian synchronised swimmer

1990

Elías Díaz, Venezuelan baseball player

1989

Ryan Griffin, American football player

1989

Seth Lugo, American baseball player

1989

Roman Zozulya, Ukrainian footballer

1988

Justin Cooper, American actor

1987

Justine Michelle Cain, English actress

1987

Craig Noone, English footballer

1987

Gemma Spofforth, English swimmer

1986

Everth Cabrera, Nicaraguan baseball player

1986

Fabio Concas, Italian footballer

1986

Aaron Finch, Australian cricketer

1986

Nani, Portuguese footballer

1986

Greg Rutherford, English long jumper

1985

Luis Aguiar, Uruguayan footballer

1985

Sékou Camara, Malian footballer (died 2013)

1985

Carolina Neurath, Swedish journalist

1984

Amanda Evora, American figure skater

1984

Park Han-byul, South Korean model and actress

1983

Viva Bianca, Australian actress, producer, and screenwriter

1983

Ioannis Bourousis, Greek basketball player

1983

Ryan Bradley, American figure skater

1983

Ryan Braun, American baseball player

1983

Trevor Crowe, American baseball player

1983

Jodie Henry, Australian swimmer

1983

Harry Lloyd, English actor, producer, and screenwriter

1983

Nick Markakis, American baseball player

1983

Scott Moore, American baseball player

1983

Christopher Paolini, American author

1982

Katie Feenstra-Mattera, American basketball player

1982

Yusuf Pathan, Indian cricketer

1982

Hollie Smith, New Zealand singer-songwriter and guitarist

1981

Sarah Harding, English singer, dancer, and actress (died 2021)

1981

Doug Walker, American actor, comedian, film critic, internet personality, and filmmaker

1980

Jay Bradley, American wrestler

1979

Matthew Spring, English footballer

1978

Glen Air, Australian rugby league player

1978

Zoë Bell, New Zealand actress and stuntwoman

1978

Tom Ellis, Welsh actor

1978

Rachel McAdams, Canadian actress

1978

Reggie Wayne, American football player

1977

Ryk Neethling, South African swimmer

1976

Brandon Call, American actor

1976

Diane Neal, American actress and director

1975

Kinga Baranowska, Polish mountaineer

1975

Lee Carseldine, Australian cricketer

1975

Jerome James, American basketball player

1974

Eunice Barber, Sierra Leonean-French heptathlete and long jumper

1974

Berto Romero, Spanish comedian and actor

1973

Andreas Hedlund, Swedish singer-songwriter and producer

1973

Eli Marrero, Cuban baseball player, coach, and manager

1973

Bernd Schneider, German footballer

1973

Alexei Urmanov, Russian figure skater and coach

1973

Leslie Bibb, American actress and producer

1972

Kimya Dawson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist

1972

Joanne Goode, English badminton player

1972

Lorraine Pascale, English model and chef

1972

Leonard Roberts, American actor

1971

David Ramsey, American actor

1971

Tonje Sagstuen, Norwegian handball player, journalist, newspaper editor, and gambling executive

1970

Paul Allender, English guitarist and songwriter

1970

Tania Zaetta, Australian actress

1969

Ryōtarō Okiayu, Japanese voice actor and singer

1969

Jean-Michel Saive, Belgian table tennis player

1969

Rebecca Walker, American author

1968

Sean Miller, American basketball player and coach

1967

Tab Benoit, American singer-songwriter and guitarist

1967

Ronnie DeVoe, American singer, producer, and actor

1966

Ben Allison, American bassist and composer

1966

Jeff Buckley, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 1997)

1966

Kate Ceberano, Australian singer-songwriter and actress

1966

Richard Fortus, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer

1966

Daisy Fuentes, Cuban-American model and actress

1966

Sophie Marceau, French actress, director, and screenwriter

1966

Alvin Patrimonio, Filipino basketball player and manager

1965

Darren Beadman, Australian jockey

1965

Pam Bondi, American politician and attorney, 87th U.S. Attorney General

1965

Amanda Brown, Australian violinist and composer

1964

Susan Rice, American academic and politician, 24th United States National Security Advisor

1964

Mitch Williams, American baseball player and sportscaster

1963

Adrian Branch, American basketball player and sportscaster

1963

Daniel Scott, American novelist and short story writer

1963

Dylan Walsh, American actor

1962

Dédé Fortin, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2000)

1961

Robert Stethem, American soldier (died 1985)

1961

Pat Toomey, American businessman and politician

1960

Michael Hertwig, German footballer and manager

1960

Jonathan Ross, English actor and talk show host

1960

RuPaul, American drag queen performer, actor, and singer

1960

Steve Stipanovich, American basketball player

1959

Terry Fenwick, English footballer and manager

1959

William R. Moses, American actor and producer

1959

Jaanus Tamkivi, Estonian politician

1958

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, American actress and singer

1957

Jim Babjak, American guitarist and songwriter

1956

Angelika Machinek, German glider pilot (died 2006)

1956

Jim McGovern, Scottish politician

1955

Peter Cox, English singer-songwriter

1955

Yolanda King, American actress and activist (died 2007)

1955

Dennis Maruk, Ukrainian-Canadian ice hockey player

1954

Chopper Read, Australian criminal and author (died 2013)

1953

Babis Tennes, Greek footballer and manager

1952

David Emanuel, Welsh fashion designer

1952

Ties Kruize, Dutch field hockey player

1952

Runa Laila, Bangladeshi singer

1952

Cyril Ramaphosa, South African businessman and politician, fifth President of South Africa

1951

Butch Davis, American football player and coach

1951

Werner Hoyer, German economist and politician

1951

Dean Paul Martin, American singer, actor, and pilot (died 1987)

1951

Stephen Root, American actor

1951

Jack Vettriano, Scottish painter and philanthropist (died 2025)

1950

Roland Matthes, German swimmer (died 2019)

1949

John Boehner, American businessman and politician, 53rd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

1949

Nguyễn Tấn Dũng, Vietnamese soldier and politician, eighth Prime Minister of Vietnam

1949

Michael Wenden, Australian swimmer

1948

Howard Dean, American physician and politician, 79th Governor of Vermont

1948

East Bay Ray, American guitarist

1948

Howard Fineman, American journalist and television commentator (died 2024)

1947

Rod Clements, British singer-songwriter, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist

1946

Martin Barre, English guitarist and songwriter

1946

Terry Branstad, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 39th Governor of Iowa and U.S. Ambassador to China (2017-2020)

1946

Petra Burka, Dutch-Canadian figure skater and coach

1945

Lesley Abdela, English journalist and activist

1945

Jeremy Hanley, English accountant and politician, British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

1945

Elvin Hayes, American basketball player and sportscaster

1945

Roland Joffé, English-French director, producer, and screenwriter

1945

Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Algerian politician, 8th President of Algeria

1944

Jim Boeheim, American basketball player and coach

1944

Malcolm Bruce, English-Scottish journalist, academic, and politician

1944

Gene Clark, American singer-songwriter and musician (died 1991)

1944

Danny DeVito, American actor, director, and producer

1944

Rem Koolhaas, Dutch architect and academic, designed the Seattle Central Library

1944

Lorne Michaels, Canadian-American screenwriter and producer, created Saturday Night Live

1944

Tom Seaver, American baseball pitcher (died 2020)

1944

Sammy Younge Jr., American civil rights activist (died 1966)

1943

Lauren Hutton, American model and actress

1942

Derek Clayton, English-Australian runner

1942

Partha Dasgupta, Bangladeshi economist and academic

1942

Bob Gaudio, American singer-songwriter, keyboard player, and producer

1942

Lesley Rees, English endocrinologist and academic

1942

István Rosztóczy, Hungarian-Japanese microbiologist and physician (died 1993)

1942

Martin Scorsese, American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor

1940

Luke Kelly, Irish singer, folk musician and actor (died 1984)

1939

Auberon Waugh, English journalist and author (died 2001)

1938

Charles Guthrie, Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank, Scottish general (died 2025)

1938

Gordon Lightfoot, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2023)

1937

Peter Cook, English comedian, actor, and screenwriter (died 1995)

1936

Crispian Hollis, English Roman Catholic bishop

1935

Bobby Joe Conrad, American football player

1935

Toni Sailer, Austrian skier and actor (died 2009)

1935

Masatoshi Sakai, Japanese record producer (died 2021)

1934

Jim Inhofe, American soldier and politician, senior senator of Oklahoma (died 2024)

1934

Anthony King, Canadian-English Psephologist and academic (died 2017)

1934

Terry Rand, American basketball player (died 2014)

1933

Dan Osinski, American baseball player (died 2013)

1933

Orlando Peña, Cuban-American baseball player and scout

1932

Jeremy Black, English admiral (died 2015)

1930

Bob Mathias, American decathlete, actor, and politician (died 2006)

1929

Gorō Naya, Japanese actor and director (died 2013)

1929

Norm Zauchin, American baseball player (died 1999)

1928

Arman, French-American painter and sculptor (died 2005)

1928

Rance Howard, American actor, producer, and screenwriter (died 2017)

1928

Colin McDonald, Australian cricketer (died 2021)

1927

Robert Drasnin, American clarinet player and composer (died 2015)

1927

Fenella Fielding, English actress (died 2018)

1927

Nicholas Taylor, Canadian geologist, businessman, and politician (died 2020)

1925

Jean Faut, American baseball player and bowler (died 2023)

1925

Rock Hudson, American actor (died 1985)

1925

Charles Mackerras, American-Australian oboe player and conductor (died 2010)

1923

Hubertus Brandenburg, Swedish bishop (died 2009)

1923

Mike Garcia, American baseball player (died 1986)

1923

Aristides Pereira, Cape Verdean politician, first President of Cape Verde (died 2011)

1923

Bert Sutcliffe, New Zealand cricketer and coach (died 2001)

1922

Stanley Cohen, American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2020)

1922

Jack Froggatt, English footballer (died 1993)

1921

Albert Bertelsen, Danish painter and illustrator (died 2019)

1920

Camillo Felgen, Luxembourgian singer-songwriter (died 2005)

1920

Gemini Ganesan, Indian actor and director (died 2002)

1919

Kim Heungsou, Korean painter and educator (died 2014)

1917

Ruth Aaronson Bari, American mathematician (died 2005)

1916

Shelby Foote, American historian and author (died 2005)

1911

Christian Fouchet, French lawyer and politician, French Minister of the Interior (died 1974)

1907

Israel Regardie, English occultist and author (died 1985)

1906

Soichiro Honda, Japanese engineer and businessman, co-founded the Honda Motor Company (died 1991)

1906

Rollie Stiles, American baseball player (died 2007)

1905

Astrid of Sweden (died 1935)

1905

Mischa Auer, Russian-American actor (died 1967)

1905

Arthur Chipperfield, Australian cricketer (died 1987)

1904

Isamu Noguchi, American sculptor and architect (died 1988)

1902

Eugene Wigner, Hungarian physicist and mathematician, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1995)

1901

Walter Hallstein, German academic and politician, first President of the European Commission (died 1982)

1901

Lee Strasberg, Ukrainian-American actor and director (died 1982)

1899

Douglas Shearer, Canadian-American engineer (died 1971)

1897

Frank Fay, American actor, singer, and screenwriter (died 1961)

1897

Gregorio López y Fuentes, Mexican journalist, author, and poet (died 1966)

1896

Lev Vygotsky, Belarusian-Russian psychologist and philosopher (died 1934)

1891

Lester Allen, American screen, stage, vaudeville, circus actor, and film director (died 1949)

1887

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, English field marshal (died 1976)

1886

Walter Terence Stace, English-American philosopher, academic, and civil servant (died 1967)

1878

Grace Abbott, American social worker (died 1939)

1878

Augustus Goessling, American swimmer and water polo player (died 1963)

1877

Frank Calder, English-Canadian journalist and businessman (died 1943)

1868

Korbinian Brodmann, German neurologist and academic (died 1918)

1866

Voltairine de Cleyre, American author and activist (died 1912)

1857

Joseph Babinski, French neurologist and academic (died 1932)

1854

Hubert Lyautey, French general and politician, French Minister of War (died 1934)

1835

Andrew L. Harris, American general and politician, 44th Governor of Ohio (died 1915)

1827

Petko Slaveykov, Bulgarian journalist and poet (died 1895)

1816

August Wilhelm Ambros, Austrian composer and historian (died 1876)

1793

Charles Lock Eastlake, English painter, historian, and academic (died 1865)

1790

August Ferdinand Möbius, German mathematician and astronomer (died 1868)

1769

Charlotte Georgine, duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (died 1818)

1765

Jacques MacDonald, French general (died 1840)

1755

Louis XVIII, king of France (died 1824)

1753

Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg, American pastor and botanist (died 1815)

1749

Nicolas Appert, French chef, invented canning (died 1841)

1729

Maria Antonia Ferdinanda, Sardinian queen consort (died 1785)

1685

Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Canadian commander and explorer (died 1749)

1681

Pierre François le Courayer, French theologian and author (died 1776)

1612

Dorgon, Chinese prince and regent (died 1650)

1602

Agnes of Jesus, French Catholic nun (died 1634)

1587

Joost van den Vondel, Dutch poet and playwright (died 1679)

1576

Roque González de Santa Cruz, Paraguayan missionary and saint (died 1628)

1503

Bronzino, Italian painter (died 1572)

1493

John Neville, 3rd Baron Latimer, English politician (died 1543)

1453

Alfonso, Asturian prince (died 1468)

1412

Zanobi Strozzi, Italian painter (died 1468)

1019

Sima Guang, Chinese politician (died 1086)

9

Vespasian, Roman emperor (died 79)

Deaths

2024

Macoto Takahashi, Japanese manga artist (born 1934)

2021

Young Dolph, American rapper (born 1985)

2019

Tuka Rocha, Brazilian race car driver (born 1982)

2015

John Leahy, English lawyer and diplomat, High Commissioner to Australia (born 1928)

2015

Rahim Moeini Kermanshahi, Iranian poet and songwriter (born 1926)

2014

John T. Downey, American CIA agent and judge (born 1930)

2014

Bill Frenzel, American lieutenant and politician (born 1928)

2014

Ray Sadecki, American baseball player (born 1940)

2014

Patrick Suppes, American psychologist and philosopher (born 1922)

2013

Zeke Bella, American baseball player (born 1930)

2013

Alfred Blake, English colonel and lawyer (born 1915)

2013

Syd Field, American screenwriter and producer (born 1935)

2013

Doris Lessing, British novelist, poet, playwright, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1919)

2013

Alex Marques, Portuguese footballer (born 1993)

2013

Mary Nesbitt Wisham, American baseball player (born 1925)

2012

Ponty Chadha, Indian businessman and philanthropist (born 1957)

2012

Armand Desmet, Belgian cyclist (born 1931)

2012

Lea Gottlieb, Hungarian-Israeli fashion designer, founded the Gottex Company (born 1918)

2012

Freddy Schmidt, American baseball player (born 1916)

2012

Billy Scott, American singer-songwriter (born 1942)

2012

Bal Thackeray, Indian cartoonist and politician (born 1926)

2012

Margaret Yorke, English author (born 1924)

2011

Kurt Budke, American basketball player and coach (born 1961)

2008

George Stephen Morrison, American admiral (born 1919)

2008

Pete Newell, American basketball player and coach (born 1915)

2007

Aarne Hermlin, Estonian chess player (born 1940)

2006

Ruth Brown, American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1928)

2006

Ferenc Puskás, Hungarian footballer and manager (born 1927)

2006

Bo Schembechler, American football player and coach (born 1929)

2005

Marek Perepeczko, Polish actor and director (born 1942)

2004

Mikael Ljungberg, Swedish wrestler and manager (born 1970)

2004

Alexander Ragulin, Russian ice hockey player (born 1941)

2003

Surjit Bindrakhia, Indian singer (born 1962)

2003

Arthur Conley, American-Dutch singer-songwriter (born 1946)

2002

Abba Eban, South African-Israeli soldier and politician, third Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1915)

2002

Frank McCarthy, American painter and illustrator (born 1924)

2001

Michael Karoli, German guitarist and songwriter (born 1948)

2001

Harrison A. Williams, American lieutenant, lawyer, and politician (born 1919)

2000

Louis Néel, French physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1904)

1998

Kea Bouman, Dutch tennis player (born 1903)

1998

Esther Rolle, American actress (born 1920)

1995

Alan Hull, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1945)

1993

Gérard D. Levesque, Canadian lawyer and politician, fifth Deputy Premier of Quebec (born 1926)

1992

Audre Lorde, American poet, essayist, memoirist, and activist (born 1934)

1990

Robert Hofstadter, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1915)

1989

Costabile Farace, American criminal (born 1960)

1988

Sheilah Graham Westbrook, English-American actress, author, and journalist (born 1904)

1987

Paul Derringer, American baseball player (born 1906)

1986

Georges Besse, French businessman (born 1927)

1982

Eduard Tubin, Estonian composer and conductor (born 1905)

1979

John Glascock, English singer and bass player (born 1951)

1976

Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Bangladeshi scholar and politician (born 1880)

1973

Mirra Alfassa, French-Indian spiritual leader (born 1878)

1971

Gladys Cooper, English actress (born 1888)

1968

Mervyn Peake, English poet, author, and illustrator (born 1911)

1968

Abdul Wahed Bokainagari, Bengali politician (born 1876)

1962

Olivia Dahl (born 1955), daughter of Roald Dahl and Patricia Neal

1959

Heitor Villa-Lobos, Brazilian guitarist and composer (born 1887)

1958

Mort Cooper, American baseball player (born 1913)

1955

James P. Johnson, American pianist and composer (born 1894)

1954

Yitzhak Lamdan, Russian-Israeli poet and journalist (born 1899)

1947

Victor Serge, Russian historian and author (born 1890)

1940

Eric Gill, English sculptor and typeface designer (born 1882)

1940

Raymond Pearl, American biologist and academic (born 1879)

1938

Ante Trumbić, Croatian lawyer and politician, 20th Mayor of Split (born 1864)

1937

Jack Worrall, Australian footballer, cricketer, and coach (born 1860)

1936

Ernestine Schumann-Heink, German-American singer (born 1861)

1929

Herman Hollerith, American statistician and businessman (born 1860)

1928

Lala Lajpat Rai, Indian author and politician (born 1865)

1924

Gregory VII of Constantinople (born 1850)

1923

Eduard Bornhöhe, Estonian author (born 1862)

1922

Robert Comtesse, Swiss lawyer and politician, 29th President of the Swiss Confederation (born 1847)

1917

Auguste Rodin, French sculptor and illustrator (born 1840)

1910

Ralph Johnstone, American pilot (born 1886)

1905

Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, (born 1817)

1902

Hugh Price Hughes, Welsh theologian and educator (born 1847)

1897

George Hendric Houghton, American pastor and theologian (born 1820)

1865

James McCune Smith, American physician and author (born 1813)

1835

Carle Vernet, French painter and lithographer (born 1758)

1818

Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen Consort of Great Britain and Ireland, Electress/Queen of Hanover (born 1744)

1812

John Walter, English Insurance underwriter and founder of The Times newspaper (born 1738/1739)

1808

David Zeisberger, Czech-American pastor and missionary (born 1721)

1796

Catherine the Great, of Russia (born 1729)

1780

Bernardo Bellotto, Italian painter and illustrator (born 1720)

1776

James Ferguson, Scottish astronomer and instrument maker (born 1710)

1768

Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle, English lawyer and politician, Prime Minister of Great Britain (born 1693)

1747

Alain-René Lesage, French author and playwright (born 1668)

1713

Abraham van Riebeeck, South African-Indonesian merchant and politician, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies (born 1653)

1708

Ludolf Bakhuizen, German-Dutch painter (born 1631)

1690

Charles de Sainte-Maure, duc de Montausier, French general and politician (born 1610)

1668

Joseph Alleine, English pastor and author (born 1634)

1665

John Earle, English bishop (born 1601)

1648

Thomas Ford, English viol player, composer, and poet (born 1580)

1643

Jean-Baptiste Budes, Comte de Guébriant, French general (born 1602)

1632

Gottfried Heinrich Graf zu Pappenheim, Bavarian field marshal (born 1594)

1624

Jakob Böhme, German mystic (born 1575)

1600

Kuki Yoshitaka, Japanese commander (born 1542)

1592

John III of Sweden (born 1537)

1562

Antoine of Navarre (born 1518)

1558

Mary I of England (born 1516)

1558

Reginald Pole, English cardinal and academic (born 1500)

1558

Hugh Aston, English composer (born 1485)

1525

Eleanor of Viseu, queen of João II of Portugal (born 1458)

1494

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, Italian philosopher and author (born 1463)

1492

Jami, Persian poet and saint (born 1414)

1417

Gazi Evrenos, Ottoman general (born 1288)

1326

Edmund FitzAlan, 9th Earl of Arundel, English politician (born 1285)

1307

Hethum II, King of Armenia (born 1266)

1307

Leo III, King of Armenia (born 1289)

1231

Elizabeth of Hungary (born 1207)

1188

Usama ibn Munqidh, Arab chronicler (born 1095)

1104

Nikephoros Melissenos, Byzantine general (born 1045)

935

Chen Jinfeng, empress of Min (born 893)

935

Wang Yanjun, emperor of Min (Ten Kingdoms)

885

Liutgard of Saxony (born 845)

641

Emperor Jomei of Japan (born 593)

594

Gregory of Tours, Roman bishop and saint (born 538)

375

Valentinian I, Roman emperor (born 321)

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