This Day in History


Famous Birthdays

1336- Timur -Turkic ruler (d. 1405)

1498- Jean, Cardinal of Lorraine -(d. 1550)

1597- John Davenport (minister)|John Davenport -English minister, co-founded the New Haven Colony (d. 1670)

1598- Johann Crüger -German composer (d. 1662)

1627- Johann Caspar Kerll -German organist and composer (d. 1693)

1634- Countess Albertine Agnes of Nassau -(d. 1696)

1648- Henri de Massue, Earl of Galway -French soldier and diplomat (d. 1720)

1649- James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth -Dutch-English general (d. 1685)

1680- Philippe Néricault Destouches -French playwright (d. 1754)

1686- James Craggs the Younger -English politician (d. 1721)

1691- Johann Matthias Gesner -German scholar (d. 1761)

1717- Georg Matthias Monn -Austrian organist, composer, and educator (d. 1750)

1770- Thomas Johann Seebeck -German physicist (d. 1831)

1773- Étienne Aignan -French author and academic (d. 1824)

1794- Theobald Boehm -German flute player and composer (d. 1881)

1802- Elias Lönnrot -Finnish physician and philologist (d. 1884)

1806- Isambard Kingdom Brunel -English engineer, designed the Clifton Suspension Bridge (d. 1859)

1807- James Bannerman -Scottish theologian (d. 1868)

1821- Charles Baudelaire -French poet and critic (d. 1867)

1830- Eadweard Muybridge -English-American photographer (d. 1904)

1835- Leopold II of Belgium -(d. 1909)

1846- Paolo Tosti -Italian-English composer and educator (d. 1916)

1865- Erich Ludendorff -German general (d. 1937)

1865- Charles Proteus Steinmetz -Polish-American mathematician and engineer (d. 1923)

1867- Chris Watson -Chilean-Australian politician, 3rd Prime Minister of Australia (d. 1941)

1867- Charles Winckler -Danish tug of war competitor (d. 1932)

1872- Léon Blum -French politician, Prime Minister of France (d. 1950)

1875- Jacques Futrelle -American journalist and author (d. 1912)

1880- Jan Letzel -Czech architect (d. 1925)

1882- Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin -(d. 1946)

1883- Frank King (cartoonist)|Frank King -American cartoonist (d. 1969)

1888- Sol Hurok -Ukrainian-American talent manager (d. 1974)

1893- Victor Gollancz -English publisher, founded Victor Gollancz Ltd (d. 1967)

1893- Rahul Sankrityayan -Indian historian and author (d. 1963)

1895- Mance Lipscomb -American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1976)

1895- Michel Simon -Swiss-French actor (d. 1975)

1897- John B. Gambling -American radio host (d. 1974)

1898- Curly Lambeau -American football player and coach (d. 1965)

1898- Paul Robeson -American singer, actor, and activist (d. 1976)

1900- Allen Jenkins -American actor (d. 1974)

1901- Jean Bruchési -Canadian historian (d. 1979)

1901- Paul Willis (actor)|Paul Willis -American actor (d. 1960)

1902- Théodore Monod -French explorer and scholar (d. 2000)

1903- Ward Bond -American actor (d. 1960)

1904- Sharkey Bonano -American singer, trumpet player, and bandleader (d. 1972)

1905- J. William Fulbright -American politician (d. 1995)

1906- Rafaela Aparicio -Spanish actress (d. 1996)

1906- Antal Doráti -Hungarian-American conductor and composer (d. 1988)

1908- Joseph Krumgold -American author and screenwriter (d. 1980)

1908- Victor Vasarely -Hungarian painter (d. 1997)

1910- Abraham A. Ribicoff -American politician, 80th Governor of Connecticut (d. 1998)

1912- Lev Kopelev -Russian author (d. 1997)

1913- Smaro Stefanidou -Greek actress (d. 2010)

1915- Daniel Johnson, Sr. -Canadian politician, 20th Premier of Quebec (d. 1968)

1917- Johannes Bobrowski -German songwriter and poet (d. 1965)

1917- Ron Burgess (footballer)|Ronnie Burgess -Welsh footballer (d. 2005)

1917- Brad Dexter -American actor (d. 2002)

1918- Jørn Utzon -Danish architect, designed the Sydney Opera House (d. 2008)

1919- J. Presper Eckert -American engineer, invented the ENIAC (d. 1995)

1921- Jean-Marie Balestre -French businessman (d. 2008)

1921- Frankie Thomas -American actor (d. 2006)

1922- Carl Amery -German author and activist (d. 2005)

1923- Leonard Levy -American historian and author (d. 2006)

1925- Virginia Gibson -American actress, singer, and dancer (d. 2013)

1925- Art Kane -American photographer (d. 1995)

1926- Hugh Hefner -American publisher, founded Playboy Enterprises

1928- Paul Arizin -American basketball player (d. 2006)

1928- Tom Lehrer -American singer-songwriter, pianist, and mathematician

1928- Aubrey Woods -English actor and singer (d. 2013)

1929- Sharan Rani Backliwal -Indian sarod player and scholar (d. 2008)

1929- Paule Marshall -American author

1930- Nathaniel Branden -Canadian-American psychotherapist and author

1930- F. Albert Cotton -American chemist (d. 2007)

1930- Wallace McCain -Canadian businessman, founded McCain Foods (d. 2011)

1931- Richard Hatfield -Canadian politician, 26th Premier of New Brunswick (d. 1991)

1932- Jim Fowler -American zoologist and television host

1932- Armin Jordan -Swiss conductor (d. 2006)

1932- Peter Moores -English businessman and philanthropist

1932- Carl Perkins -American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1998)

1933- Jean-Paul Belmondo -French actor

1933- Fern Michaels -American author

1933- Richard Rose (political scientist)|Richard Rose -American political scientist

1934- Bill Birch -New Zealand politician, 38th Minister of Finance (New Zealand)|New Zealand Minister of Finance

1934- Tom Phillis -Australian motorcycle racer (d. 1962)

1935- Aulis Sallinen -Finnish composer and academic

1935- Avery Schreiber -American actor (d. 2002)

1936- Jerzy Maksymiuk -Polish pianist, composer, and conductor

1936- Valerie Solanas -American author (d. 1988)

1937- Simon Brown, Baron Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood -English lieutenant, lawyer, and judge

1937- Sid and Marty Krofft|Marty Krofft -Canadian screenwriter and producer

1937- Valerie Singleton -English television and radio host

1938- Viktor Chernomyrdin -Russian businessman and politician, 30th Prime Minister of Russia (d. 2010)

1938- Rockin' Sidney -American singer (d. 1998)

1939- Michael Learned -American actress

1940- Jim Roberts (ice hockey b. 1940)|Jim Roberts -Canadian ice hockey player and coach

1941- Kay Adams (singer)|Kay Adams -American singer

1941- Hannah Gordon -Scottish actress

1941- Chu Song-woong -South Korean actor (d. 1985)

1942- Brandon deWilde -American actor (d. 1972)

1942- Margo Smith -American singer-songwriter

1943- Terry Knight -American singer-songwriter and producer (Terry Knight and the Pack) (d. 2004)

1944- Joe Brinkman -American baseball player and umpire

1945- Steve Gadd -American drummer (Stuff (band)|Stuff, Steps Ahead, and Sunlightsquare)

1945- Peter Gammons -American journalist

1946- Nate Colbert -American baseball player

1946- Mike Hancock (British politician)|Mike Hancock -English politician

1946- Alan Knott -English cricketer

1946- Sara Parkin -Scottish activist and politician

1946- David Webb (footballer)|David Webb -English footballer, coach, and manager

1947- Giovanni Andrea Cornia -Italian development economist

1948- Jaya Bachchan -Indian actress and politician

1948- Michel Parizeau -Canadian ice hockey player and coach

1948- Patty Pravo -Italian singer

1949- Tony Cragg -English sculptor

1952- Robert Clark (author)|Robert Clark -American author

1952- Tania Tsanaklidou -Greek singer and actress

1953- John Howard (singer-songwriter)|John Howard -English singer-songwriter and pianist

1953- Hal Ketchum -American singer-songwriter and guitarist

1954- Ken Kalfus -AMerican journalist and author

1954- Dennis Quaid -American actor, singer, and producer

1954- Iain Duncan Smith -Scottish lieutenant and politician, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

1955- Joolz Denby -English poet and author

1955- Kate Heyhoe -American author

1956- Michael Hashim -American saxophonist

1956- Miguel Ángel Russo -Argentinian footballer and coach

1956- Vahur Sova -Estonian architect

1957- Seve Ballesteros -Spanish golfer (d. 2011)

1957- Martin Margiela -Belgian fashion designer

1958- Tony Sibson -English boxer

1958- Nigel Slater -English journalist and author

1959- Bernard Jenkin -English politician, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

1960- Jaak Aab -Estonian politician, Minister of Social Affairs of Estonia

1961- Mark Kelly (keyboardist)|Mark Kelly -Irish keyboard player (Marillion and DeeExpus)

1961- Kirk McCaskill -Canadian-American baseball and hockey player

1962- John Eaves -American production designer and illustrator

1962- Ihor Podolchak -Ukrainian director, producer, and screenwriter

1962- Imran Sherwani -English field hockey player

1962- Jeff Turner -American basketball player, coach, and sportscaster

1963- Marc Jacobs -American-French fashion designer

1963- Joe Scarborough -American journalist, lawyer, and politician

1964- Rob Awalt -German-American football player

1964- Daniel Escobar -American actor (d. 2013)

1964- Lisa Guerrero -American actress and journalist

1964- Soyo Oka -Japanese pianist and composer

1964- Peter Penashue -Canadian politician

1964- Margaret Peterson Haddix -American author

1964- Rick Tocchet -Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach

1965- Jay Wesley Neill -American murderer (d. 2002)

1965- Mark Pellegrino -American actor

1965- Paulina Porizkova -Czech-American model and actress

1965- Jeff Zucker -American businessman

1966- Cynthia Nixon -American actress

1967- Natascha Engel -German-English politician

1967- Alex Kahn -American puppeteer

1969- Linda Kisabaka -German runner

1970- Chorão -Brazilian singer-songwriter (Charlie Brown Jr.) (d. 2013)

1970- Mike Barz -American journalist

1970- Tricia Penrose -English actress and singer

1971- Peter Canavan -Irish footballer and manager

1971- Leo Fortune-West -English footballer and manager

1971- Austin Peck -American actor

1971- Jacques Villeneuve -Canadian race car driver

1972- Bernard Ackah -German-Japanese martial artist and kick-boxer

1972- Neve McIntosh -Scottish actress

1972- Angelica Sin -American porn actress

1972- Siiri Vallner -Estonian architect

1973- Spencer Rice -Canadian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

1974- Jenna Jameson -American porn actress and model

1974- Alexander Pichushkin -Russian serial killer

1975- Anna Coren -Australian journalist

1975- Robbie Fowler -English footballer and manager

1975- David Gordon Green -American director and screenwriter

1976- Kyle Peterson -American baseball player and sportscaster

1976- Blayne Weaver -American actor and screenwriter

1977- Marko Lepik -Estonian footballer

1977- Gerard Way -American singer-songwriter and producer (My Chemical Romance)

1978- Jorge Andrade -Portuguese footballer

1978- Vesna Pisarović -Croatian singer

1978- Rachel Stevens -English singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress (S Club)

1978- Veronica Taylor -American voice actress

1979- Katsuni -French porn actress

1979- Billy Brandt -American porn actor

1979- Albina Dzhanabaeva -Russian singer and actress (Nu Virgos)

1979- Albert Hammond, Jr. -American singer-songwriter and guitarist (The Strokes)

1979- Keith Nobbs -American actor

1979- Keshia Knight Pulliam -American actress

1979- Jeff Reed (American football)|Jeff Reed -American football player

1979- Mark Ruiz -Puerto Rican diver

1979- Ben Silverstone -English actor and lawyer

1980- Clueso -German singer-songwriter and producer

1980- Sarah Ayton -English sailor

1980- Yoanna House -American model

1980- Jerko Leko -Croatian footballer

1980- Ryan Northcott -Canadian actor

1980- Isabelle Severino -French gymnast and actress

1980- Rachel Specter -American actress

1980- Lee Yo-won -South Korean actress

1981- Moran Atias -Israeli actress and model

1981- Milan Bartovič -Czech ice hockey player

1981- A. J. Ellis -American baseball player

1981- Arlen Escarpeta -Belizean-American actor

1981- Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold|Eric Harris -American murderer, committed the Columbine High School massacre (d. 1999)

1981- Ireneusz Jeleń -Polish footballer

1981- Dennis Sarfate -American baseball player

1981- Melissa Witek -American model, Miss Florida USA|Miss Florida USA 2005

1982- Jay Baruchel -Canadian actor

1982- Carlos Hernández (footballer)|Carlos Hernández -Costa Rican footballer

1982- Kathleen Munroe -Canadian-American actress

1983- Ryan Clark (actor)|Ryan Clark -Australian actor

1983- Willie Colon (American football)|Willie Colon -American football player

1984- Linda Chung -Canadian-Hong Kong actress and singer

1984- Adam Loewen -Canadian baseball player

1984- Lili Mirojnick -American actress

1984- Óscar Razo -Mexican footballer

1985- Antonio Nocerino -Italian footballer

1985- David Robertson (baseball)|David Robertson -American baseball player

1985- Tomohisa Yamashita -Japanese actor and singer (News (band)|NEWS, Kitty GYM, and Shūji to Akira)

1986- Mike Hart (American football)|Mike Hart -American football player

1986- Brian Larsen -American singer-songwriter and producer

1986- Luca Marin -Italian swimmer

1986- Leighton Meester -American actress and singer

1987- Kassim Abdallah -French-Comorian footballer

1987- Graham Gano -American football player

1987- Craig Mabbitt -American singer (Escape the Fate, Blessthefall, The Word Alive, and The Dead Rabbitts)

1987- Jesse McCartney -American singer-songwriter and actor (Dream Street)

1987- Jarrod Mullen -Australian rugby player

1987- Jazmine Sullivan -American singer and actress

1988- Uee -South Korean singer, dancer, and actress (After School (band)|After School)

1988- Michel Alves Baroni -Brazilian footballer

1988- Dino Imperial -Filipino actor

1988- Jeremy Metcalfe -English race car driver

1989- Danielle Kahle -American figure skater

1990- Ram Bahadur Bomjon -Nepalese monk

1990- David Jones-Roberts -Australian actor

1990- Kristen Stewart -American actress

1990- Ryan Williams (American football)|Ryan Williams -American football player

1991- Ryan Kelly (basketball)|Ryan Kelly -American basketball player

1992- Joshua Ledet -American singer

1994- Joey Pollari -American actor

1998- Elle Fanning -American actress

1999- Isaac Hempstead-Wright -English actor

2000- Jackie Evancho -American singer and actress