On This Day: December 25 - Historical Events, Births & Deaths

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67 Events 238 Births 133 Deaths

2024 Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crashes in Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 of its occupants. ↗
2021 The James Webb Space Telescope is launched. ↗
2020 An explosion in Nashville, Tennessee, occurs, leaving three civilians in the hospital. ↗
2019 Twenty people are killed and thousands are left homeless by Typhoon Phanfone in the Philippines. ↗
2016 A Russian Defence Ministry Tupolev Tu-154 carrying members of the Alexandrov Ensemble crashes into the Black Sea shortly after takeoff, killing all 92 people on board. ↗
2012 An Antonov An-72 plane crashes close to the city of Shymkent, killing 27 people. ↗
2012 Air Bagan Flight 011, a Fokker 100, crashes on approach to Heho Airport in Heho, Myanmar, killing two people. ↗
2007 A Siberian tiger named Tatania escapes her exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo and attacks three people, killing one and injuring two more. ↗
2004 The Cassini orbiter releases Huygens probe which successfully landed on Saturn's moon Titan on January 14, 2005. ↗
2003 UTA Flight 141, a Boeing 727-223, crashes at the Cotonou Airport in Benin, killing 141 people. ↗
2003 The ill-fated Beagle 2 probe, released from the Mars Express spacecraft on December 19, stops transmitting shortly before its scheduled landing. ↗
1999 Cubana de Aviación Flight 310, a Yakovlev Yak-42, crashes near Bejuma, Carabobo State, Venezuela, killing 22 people. ↗
1996 The body of American child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey was found in her family's Boulder, Colorado, home. Her murder remains unsolved. ↗
1991 Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as President of the Soviet Union (the union itself is dissolved the next day). Ukraine's referendum is finalized and Ukraine officially leaves the Soviet Union. ↗
1989 Romanian Revolution: Deposed President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena, are condemned to death and executed after a summary trial. ↗
1986 Iraqi Airways Flight 163, a Boeing 737-270C, is hijacked and crashes in Arar, Saudi Arabia, killing 63 people. ↗
1977 Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin meets in Egypt with its president Anwar Sadat. ↗
1976 EgyptAir Flight 864, a Boeing 707-366C, crashes on approach to Don Mueang International Airport, killing 71 people. ↗
1968 Apollo program: Apollo 8 performs the first successful Trans-Earth injection (TEI) maneuver, sending the crew and spacecraft on a trajectory back to Earth from Lunar orbit. ↗
1968 Kilvenmani massacre: Forty-four Dalits (untouchables) are burnt to death in Kizhavenmani village, Tamil Nadu, a retaliation for a campaign for higher wages by Dalit laborers. ↗
1963 Turkish Cypriot Bayrak Radio begins transmitting in Cyprus after Turkish Cypriots are forcibly excluded from Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. ↗
1962 The Soviet Union conducts its final above-ground nuclear weapon test, in anticipation of the 1963 Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. ↗
1951 A bomb explodes at the home of Harry T. Moore and Harriette V. S. Moore, early leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, killing Harry instantly and fatally wounding Harriette. ↗
1950 The Stone of Scone, traditional coronation stone of British monarchs, is taken from Westminster Abbey by Scottish nationalist students. It later turns up in Scotland on April 11, 1951. ↗
1946 The first European self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction is initiated within the Soviet Union's F-1 nuclear reactor. ↗
1941 Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, appointed commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet on December 17, arrives at Pearl Harbor. ↗
1941 World War II: Battle of Hong Kong ends, beginning the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. ↗
1941 Admiral Émile Muselier seizes the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, which become the first part of France to be liberated by the Free French Forces. ↗
1932 A magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Gansu, China kills 275 people. ↗
1927 B. R. Ambedkar and his followers burn copies of the Manusmriti in Mahad, Maharashtra, to protest its treatment of Dalit people. ↗
1915 The National Protection War breaks out against the Empire of China, as military leaders Cai E and Tang Jiyao proclaim the independence of Yunnan and begin a campaign to restore the Republic. ↗
1914 World War I: A series of unofficial truces occur across the Western Front to celebrate Christmas. ↗
1870 Wagner's Siegfried Idyll is first performed. ↗
1868 Pardons for ex-Confederates: United States President Andrew Johnson grants an unconditional pardon to all Confederate veterans. ↗
1837 Second Seminole War: American general Zachary Taylor leads 1,100 troops against the Seminoles at the Battle of Lake Okeechobee. ↗
1831 The Great Jamaican Slave Revolt begins; up to 20% of Jamaica's slaves mobilize in an ultimately unsuccessful fight for freedom. ↗
1826 The Eggnog Riot at the United States Military Academy concludes after beginning the previous evening. ↗
1815 The Handel and Haydn Society, oldest continually performing arts organization in the United States, gives its first performance. ↗
1814 Rev. Samuel Marsden holds the first Christian service on land in New Zealand at Rangihoua Bay. ↗
1809 Dr. Ephraim McDowell performs the first ovariotomy, removing a 22-pound tumor. ↗
1793 Northwest Indian War: General "Mad Anthony" Wayne and a 300 man detachment identify the site of St. Clair's 1791 defeat by the large number of unburied human remains at modern Fort Recovery, Ohio. ↗
1776 American Revolutionary War: General George Washington and the Continental Army cross the Delaware River at night to attack Hessian forces serving Great Britain at Trenton, New Jersey, the next day. ↗
1766 Mapuches in Chile launch a series of surprise attacks against the Spanish starting the Mapuche uprising of 1766. ↗
1758 Halley's Comet is sighted by Johann Georg Palitzsch, confirming Edmund Halley's prediction of its passage. This was the first passage of a comet predicted ahead of time. ↗
1725 J. S. Bach leads the first performance of the Christmas cantata Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110, making laughter audible in singing. ↗
1724 J. S. Bach leads the first performance of Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91, in Leipzig, based on Luther's 1524 Christmas hymn. ↗
1559 Pope Pius IV is elected, four months after his predecessor's death. ↗
1553 Battle of Tucapel: Mapuche rebels under Lautaro defeat the Spanish conquistadors and executes the governor of Chile, Pedro de Valdivia. ↗
1492 The carrack Santa María, commanded by Christopher Columbus, runs onto a reef off Haiti due to an improper watch. ↗
1261 Eleven-year-old John IV Laskaris of the restored Eastern Roman Empire is deposed and blinded by orders of his co-ruler Michael VIII Palaiologos. ↗
1130 Count Roger II of Sicily is crowned the first king of Sicily. ↗
1100 Baldwin of Boulogne is crowned the first King of Jerusalem in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. ↗
1076 Coronation of Bolesław II the Generous as king of Poland. ↗
1066 William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy is crowned king of England, at Westminster Abbey, London. ↗
1046 Henry III is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Clement II. ↗
1025 Coronation of Mieszko II Lambert as king of Poland. ↗
1013 Sweyn Forkbeard takes control of the Danelaw and is proclaimed king of England. ↗
1000 The foundation of the Kingdom of Hungary: Hungary is established as a Christian kingdom by Stephen I of Hungary. ↗
820 Eastern Emperor Leo V is murdered in a church of the Great Palace of Constantinople by followers of Michael II. ↗
800 The coronation of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor, in Rome. ↗
597 Augustine of Canterbury and his fellow-labourers baptise in Kent more than 10,000 Anglo-Saxons. ↗
508 Clovis I, king of the Franks, is baptized into the Catholic faith at Reims, by Saint Remigius. ↗
350 Vetranio meets Constantius II at Naissus (Serbia) and is forced to abdicate his imperial title. Constantius allows him to live as a private citizen on a state pension. ↗
336 First documentary sign of Christmas celebration in Rome. ↗
333 Roman Emperor Constantine the Great elevates his youngest son Constans to the rank of Caesar. ↗
274 A temple to Sol Invictus is dedicated in Rome by Emperor Aurelian. ↗
36 Forces of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han, under the command of Wu Han, conquer the separatist Chengjia empire, reuniting China. ↗

2000 Wilfried Singo, Ivorian footballer ↗
1999 Adut Akech, South Sudanese-Australian fashion model ↗
1996 Emiliano Buendía, Argentine footballer ↗
1993 Emi Takei, Japanese actress, fashion model and singer ↗
1992 Mitakeumi Hisashi, Japanese sumo wrestler ↗
1991 Avu-chan, Japanese musician, songwriter, actor, model and producer ↗
1988 Eric Gordon, American basketball player ↗
1988 Lukas Hinds-Johnson, German rugby player ↗
1988 Joãozinho, Brazilian footballer ↗
1987 Ceyhun Gülselam, Turkish footballer ↗
1987 Demaryius Thomas, American football player (died 2021) ↗
1985 Martin Mathathi, Kenyan runner ↗
1985 Rusev, Bulgarian-American professional wrestler ↗
1985 Perdita Weeks, Welsh actress ↗
1984 Chris Cahill, Samoan footballer ↗
1984 Alastair Cook, English cricketer ↗
1984 Jessica Origliasso, Australian singer, actress, and fashion designer ↗
1984 Lisa Origliasso, Australian singer, actress, and fashion designer ↗
1984 Chris Richard, American basketball player ↗
1982 Shawn Andrews, American football player ↗
1982 Rob Edwards, Welsh footballer ↗
1982 Ethan Kath, Canadian keyboard player, songwriter and producer ↗
1982 Chris Rene, American singer-songwriter and producer ↗
1981 Trenesha Biggers, American wrestler and model ↗
1981 Camille Herron, American ultramarathon runner ↗
1981 Christian Holst, Danish-Faroese footballer ↗
1981 Willy Taveras, Dominican baseball player ↗
1980 Laura Sadler, English actress (died 2003) ↗
1980 Marcus Trufant, American football player ↗
1979 Ferman Akgül, Turkish singer-songwriter ↗
1979 Laurent Bonnart, French footballer ↗
1979 Robert Huff, English race car driver ↗
1979 Hyun Young-min, South Korean footballer ↗
1978 Simon Jones, Welsh cricketer ↗
1978 Joel Porter, Australian footballer and manager ↗
1978 Jeremy Strong, American actor ↗
1977 Ali Tandoğan, Turkish footballer ↗
1977 Israel Vázquez, Mexican boxer (died 2024) ↗
1976 Tuomas Holopainen, Finnish keyboard player, songwriter, and producer ↗
1976 Atko Väikmeri, Estonian footballer ↗
1976 Armin van Buuren, Dutch DJ and record producer ↗
1975 Hideki Okajima, Japanese baseball player ↗
1975 Choi Sung-yong, South Korean footballer and manager ↗
1975 Marcus Trescothick, English cricketer ↗
1973 Robbie Elliott, English footballer and coach ↗
1973 Chris Harris, American wrestler ↗
1973 Daisuke Miura, Japanese baseball player and coach ↗
1973 Alexandre Trudeau, Canadian journalist and director ↗
1972 Mac Powell, American singer-songwriter and producer ↗
1972 Qu Yunxia, Chinese runner ↗
1971 Dido, English singer-songwriter ↗
1971 Noel Hogan, Irish musician and songwriter ↗
1971 Justin Trudeau, Canadian educator and politician, 23rd Prime Minister of Canada ↗
1970 Emmanuel Amunike, Nigerian footballer and manager ↗
1970 Rodney Dent, American basketball player ↗
1969 Nicolas Godin, French musician ↗
1969 Noel Goldthorpe, Australian rugby league player ↗
1969 Frederick Onyancha, Kenyan runner ↗
1968 Helena Christensen, Danish model and actress ↗
1968 Jim Dowd, American ice hockey player ↗
1967 Andreas Haitzer, Austrian politician ↗
1967 Jason Thirsk, American bass player (died 1996) ↗
1966 Toshi Arai, Japanese race car driver ↗
1965 Ed Davey, English politician, Leader of the Liberal Democrats ↗
1965 Dmitri Mironov, Russian ice hockey player ↗
1965 David Rath, Czech physician and politician ↗
1964 Ian Bostridge, English tenor ↗
1964 Gary McAllister, Scottish footballer and manager ↗
1964 Bob Stanley, British musician and writer ↗
1962 Francis Dunnery, English musician ↗
1961 Íngrid Betancourt, Colombian political scientist and politician ↗
1959 Michael P. Anderson, American colonel, pilot, and astronaut (died 2003) ↗
1959 Ramdas Athawale, Indian poet and politician ↗
1958 Cheryl Chase, American voice actress and singer ↗
1958 Rickey Henderson, American baseball player and coach (died 2024) ↗
1958 Konstantin Kinchev, Russian singer-songwriter and guitarist ↗
1958 Alannah Myles, Canadian singer-songwriter and actress ↗
1957 Mansoor Akhtar, Pakistani cricketer ↗
1957 Chris Kamara, English footballer and sportscaster ↗
1957 Shane MacGowan, English-Irish singer-songwriter (died 2023) ↗
1954 Annie Lennox, Scottish singer-songwriter and pianist ↗
1953 Kaarlo Maaninka, Finnish runner ↗
1952 Tolossa Kotu, Ethiopian runner and coach ↗
1952 CCH Pounder, Guyanese-American actress ↗
1952 Desireless, French singer and songwriter ↗
1951 Warren Robinett, American video game designer ↗
1950 Peter Boardman, English mountaineer and author (died 1982) ↗
1950 Karl Rove, American political strategist and activist ↗
1950 Manny Trillo, Venezuelan baseball player and manager ↗
1949 Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira, Brazilian singer ↗
1949 Nawaz Sharif, Pakistani politician, 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan ↗
1949 Sissy Spacek, American actress ↗
1948 Merry Clayton, American singer and actress ↗
1948 Kay Hymowitz, American sociologist and writer ↗
1948 Barbara Mandrell, American singer-songwriter and actress ↗
1948 Joel Santana, Brazilian footballer and manager ↗
1946 Jimmy Buffett, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor (died 2023) ↗
1945 Rick Berman, American screenwriter and producer ↗
1945 Mike Pringle, Zambian-Scottish lawyer and politician ↗
1945 Noel Redding, English singer-songwriter and bass player (died 2003) ↗
1945 Ken Stabler, American football player and sportscaster (died 2015) ↗
1944 Kenny Everett, British comedian and broadcaster (died 1995) ↗
1944 Jairzinho, Brazilian footballer ↗
1944 Sam Strahan, New Zealand rugby player (died 2019) ↗
1943 Wilson Fittipaldi Júnior, Brazilian race car driver and businessman (died 2024) ↗
1943 Ravish Malhotra, Indian pilot and military officer ↗
1943 Eve Pollard, English journalist and author ↗
1943 Hanna Schygulla, German actress ↗
1943 Jacqui McShee, English singer ↗
1942 Françoise Dürr, French tennis player and coach ↗
1942 Barbara Follett, English politician ↗
1942 Barry Goldberg, American keyboard player, songwriter, and producer (died 2025) ↗
1942 Enrique Morente, Spanish singer-songwriter (died 2010) ↗
1941 Kenneth Calman, Scottish physician and academic ↗
1940 Hilary Spurling, English journalist and author ↗
1939 Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Pakistani businessman and politician ↗
1939 Bob James, American keyboard player, songwriter, and producer ↗
1939 Akong Rinpoche, Tibetan-Chinese spiritual leader (died 2013) ↗
1938 Duane Armstrong, American painter ↗
1938 Noel Picard, Canadian ice hockey player (died 2017) ↗
1937 Maung Aye, Burmese military officer ↗
1937 O'Kelly Isley Jr., American R&B/soul singer-songwriter (died 1986) ↗
1936 Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy ↗
1936 Ismail Merchant, Indian-English director and producer (died 2005) ↗
1935 Sadiq al-Mahdi, Sudanese politician, Prime Minister of Sudan (died 2020) ↗
1935 Stephen Barnett, American scholar and academic (died 2009) ↗
1935 Jeanne Hopkins Lucas, American educator and politician (died 2007) ↗
1933 Basil Heatley, English runner (died 2019) ↗
1932 Mabel King, American actress and singer (died 1999) ↗
1930 Emmanuel Agassi, Iranian-American boxer and coach (died 2021) ↗
1930 Armenak Alachachian, Armenian basketball player and coach (died 2017) ↗
1930 Mary Rose Tuitt, Montserrat politician (died 2005) ↗
1929 Christine M. Jones, American educator and politician (died 2013) ↗
1929 China Machado, Chinese-born Portuguese-American fashion model, editor and television producer (died 2016) ↗
1929 Chris Kenner, American singer and songwriter (died 1976) ↗
1928 Irish McCalla, American actress and model (died 2002) ↗
1928 Dick Miller, American actor, director, and screenwriter (died 2019) ↗
1927 Nellie Fox, American baseball player and coach (died 1975) ↗
1927 Ram Narayan, Indian sarangi player (died 2024) ↗
1926 Enrique Jorrín, Cuban violinist and composer (died 1987) ↗
1925 Carlos Castaneda, Peruvian-American anthropologist and author (died 1998) ↗
1925 Ned Garver, American baseball player (died 2017) ↗
1925 Sam Pollock, Canadian businessman (died 2007) ↗
1924 Rod Serling, American screenwriter and producer, created The Twilight Zone (died 1975) ↗
1924 Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Indian poet and politician, 10th Prime Minister of India (died 2018) ↗
1923 René Girard, French-American historian, philosopher, and critic (died 2015) ↗
1923 Louis Lane, American conductor and educator (died 2016) ↗
1922 William Demby, American author (died 2013) ↗
1921 Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah, Indian-Pakistani journalist and author (died 2000) ↗
1921 Steve Otto, Polish-Canadian lawyer and politician (died 1989) ↗
1919 Naushad Ali, Indian composer and director (died 2006) ↗
1919 Paul David, Canadian cardiologist and politician, founded the Montreal Heart Institute (died 1999) ↗
1919 Noele Gordon, English actress (died 1985) ↗
1918 Anwar Sadat, Egyptian lieutenant and politician, 3rd President of Egypt, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1981) ↗
1917 Arseny Mironov, Russian scientist, engineer, pilot, oldest active researcher in aircraft aerodynamics and flight testing (died 2019) ↗
1917 Lincoln Verduga Loor, Ecuadorian journalist and politician (died 2009) ↗
1916 Ahmed Ben Bella, Algerian soldier and politician, 1st President of Algeria (died 2012) ↗
1915 Pete Rugolo, Italian-American composer and producer (died 2011) ↗
1914 James Fletcher Jnr, New Zealand businessman (died 2007) ↗
1914 Oscar Lewis, American anthropologist of Latin America (died 1970) ↗
1913 Candy Candido, American singer, bass player, and voice actor (died 1999) ↗
1913 Tony Martin, American singer (died 2012) ↗
1911 Louise Bourgeois – French-American sculptor and painter (died 2010) ↗
1909 Zora Arkus-Duntov, Belgian-American engineer (died 1996) ↗
1908 Quentin Crisp, English author and illustrator (died 1999) ↗
1908 Ernest L. Massad, American general (died 1993) ↗
1908 Jo-Jo Moore, American baseball player (died 2001) ↗
1907 Cab Calloway, American singer-songwriter and bandleader (died 1994) ↗
1907 Mike Mazurki, Ukrainian-American wrestler and actor (died 1990) ↗
1907 Glenn McCarthy, American businessman, founded the Shamrock Hotel (died 1988) ↗
1906 Lew Grade, Baron Grade, Ukrainian-English film producer (died 1998) ↗
1906 Ernst Ruska, German physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1988) ↗
1904 Gerhard Herzberg, German-Canadian physicist and chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1999) ↗
1904 Philip Vera Cruz, Filipino-American labor leader and farmworker (died 1994) ↗
1903 Antiochos Evangelatos, Greek composer and conductor (died 1981) ↗
1902 William Bell, American tuba player and educator (died 1971) ↗
1902 Barton MacLane, American actor, playwright, and screenwriter (died 1969) ↗
1901 Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (died 2004) ↗
1899 Humphrey Bogart, American actor (died 1957) ↗
1891 Kenneth Anderson, Indian-English general and politician, Governor of Gibraltar (died 1959) ↗
1891 Clarrie Grimmett, New Zealand-Australian cricketer (died 1980) ↗
1890 Noel Odell, English geologist and mountaineer (died 1987) ↗
1889 Lila Bell Wallace, American publisher and philanthropist, co-founded Reader's Digest (died 1984) ↗
1887 Conrad Hilton, American entrepreneur (died 1979) ↗
1886 Malak Hifni Nasif, Egyptian poet and activist (died 1918) ↗
1886 Kid Ory, American trombonist and bandleader (died 1973) ↗
1884 Samuel Berger, American boxer (died 1925) ↗
1884 Evelyn Nesbit, American model and actress (died 1967) ↗
1883 Hugo Bergmann, Czech-Israeli philosopher and academic (died 1975) ↗
1883 Hana Meisel, Belarusian-Israeli agronomist and politician (died 1972) ↗
1878 Louis Chevrolet, American race car driver and businessman, co-founded Chevrolet (died 1941) ↗
1878 Noël, Countess of Rothes, British philanthropist, social leader and heroine of Titanic disaster (died 1956) ↗
1878 Joseph M. Schenck, Russian-American film producer (died 1961) ↗
1876 Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Indian-Pakistani lawyer and politician, 1st Governor-General of Pakistan (died 1948) ↗
1876 Adolf Otto Reinhold Windaus, German chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1959) ↗
1875 Francis Aveling, Canadian psychologist and priest (died 1941) ↗
1875 Theodor Innitzer, Austrian cardinal (died 1955) ↗
1874 Lina Cavalieri, Italian soprano and actress (died 1944) ↗
1873 Otto Frederick Hunziker, Swiss-American agriculturalist and educator (died 1959) ↗
1872 Helena Rubinstein, Polish-American businesswoman and philanthropist (died 1965) ↗
1869 Charles Finger, English-American journalist and author (died 1941) ↗
1865 Evangeline Booth, English 4th General of The Salvation Army (died 1950) ↗
1861 Francis Henry Buzzacott, American hunter, explorer and army scout famous for writing Buzzacott's Masterpiece (died 1947) ↗
1861 Madan Mohan Malaviya, Indian educator, lawyer, and politician, President of the Indian National Congress (died 1946) ↗
1856 Pud Galvin, American baseball player and manager (died 1902) ↗
1829 Patrick Gilmore, Irish-American composer and bandleader (died 1892) ↗
1825 Stephen F. Chadwick, American lawyer and politician, 5th Governor of Oregon (died 1895) ↗
1821 Clara Barton, American nurse and humanitarian, founder of the American Red Cross (died 1912) ↗
1810 L. L. Langstroth, American apiarist, clergyman and teacher (died 1895) ↗
1776 Sydney, Lady Morgan, Irish author and poet (died 1859) ↗
1771 Dorothy Wordsworth, English diarist and poet (died 1855) ↗
1766 Christmas Evans, Welsh Nonconformist preacher (died 1838) ↗
1757 Benjamin Pierce, American general and politician, 17th Governor of New Hampshire (died 1839) ↗
1745 Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Caribbean-French violinist, composer, and conductor (died 1799) ↗
1730 Filippo Mazzei, Italian-American physician and philosopher (died 1816) ↗
1728 Johann Adam Hiller, German composer and conductor (died 1804) ↗
1717 Pope Pius VI (died 1799) ↗
1716 Johann Jakob Reiske, German physician and scholar (died 1774) ↗
1711 Jean-Joseph de Mondonville, French violinist and composer (died 1772) ↗
1700 Leopold II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (died 1758) ↗
1686 Giovanni Battista Somis, Italian violinist and composer (died 1763) ↗
1674 Thomas Halyburton, Scottish minister and theologian (died 1712) ↗
1665 Lady Grizel Baillie, Scottish-English poet and songwriter (died 1746) ↗
1652 Archibald Pitcairne, Scottish physician, anatomist, and scholar (died 1713) ↗
1642 Isaac Newton – English physicist and mathematician (died 1727) ↗
1628 Noël Coypel, French painter and educator (died 1707) ↗
1601 Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha (died 1675) ↗
1584 Margaret of Austria, Queen of Spain (died 1611) ↗
1583 Orlando Gibbons, English organist and composer (died 1625) ↗
1564 Johannes Buxtorf, German Calvinist theologian (died 1629) ↗
1505 Christine of Saxony, German noblewoman (died 1549) ↗
1493 Antoinette de Bourbon, French noblewoman (died 1583) ↗
1490 Francesco Marinoni, Italian Roman Catholic priest (died 1562) ↗
1461 Christina of Saxony, Queen consort of Denmark (died 1521) ↗
1424 Margaret Stewart, Dauphine of France (died 1445) ↗
1400 John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (died 1487) ↗
1281 Alice de Lacy, 4th Countess of Lincoln (died 1348) ↗
1250 John IV Laskaris, Byzantine emperor (died 1305) ↗

2024 Britt Allcroft, English writer (born 1943) ↗
2024 Bill Bergey, American football player (born 1945) ↗
2024 Jax Dane, American professional wrestler (born 1976) ↗
2024 M. T. Vasudevan Nair, Indian author and screenwriter (born 1933) ↗
2024 Osamu Suzuki, Japanese businessman (born 1930) ↗
2023 Jim Breaks, British wrestler (born 1940) ↗
2022 Fabián O'Neill, Uruguayan footballer (born 1973) ↗
2021 Wayne Thiebaud, American artist (born 1920) ↗
2020 K. C. Jones, American basketball player and coach (born 1932) ↗
2019 Ari Behn, Norwegian writer (born 1972) ↗
2018 Sulagitti Narasamma, Indian midwife (born 1920) ↗
2017 D. Herbert Lipson, American magazine publisher (Philadelphia, Boston) (born 1929) ↗
2016 Valery Khalilov, Russian military musician and composer (born 1952) ↗
2016 George Michael, British singer and songwriter (born 1963) ↗
2016 Vera Rubin, American astronomer (born 1928) ↗
2015 George Clayton Johnson, American author and screenwriter (born 1929) ↗
2015 Dorothy M. Murdock, American author and historian (born 1961) ↗
2014 Ricardo Porro, Cuban-French architect (born 1925) ↗
2014 Geoff Pullar, English cricketer (born 1935) ↗
2014 David Ryall, English actor (born 1935) ↗
2013 Anthony J. Bryant, American historian and author (born 1961) ↗
2013 David R. Harris, English geographer, anthropologist, archaeologist and academic (born 1930) ↗
2013 Wayne Harrison, English footballer (born 1967) ↗
2013 Mike Hegan, American baseball player and sportscaster (born 1942) ↗
2013 Lola Lange, Canadian rural feminist and appointee to the Royal Commission on the Status of Women (born 1922) ↗
2013 Mel Mathay, Filipino politician, 8th Mayor of Quezon City (born 1932) ↗
2012 Erico Aumentado, Filipino journalist, lawyer, and politician (born 1940) ↗
2012 Halfdan Hegtun, Norwegian radio host and politician (born 1918) ↗
2012 Joe Krivak, American football player and coach (born 1935) ↗
2012 Turki bin Sultan, Saudi Arabian politician (born 1959) ↗
2012 Şerafettin Elçi, Turkish lawyer, politician, government minister (born 1938) ↗
2011 Giorgio Bocca, Italian journalist (born 1920) ↗
2011 Jim Sherwood, American saxophonist (born 1942) ↗
2011 Simms Taback, American author and illustrator (born 1932) ↗
2010 Carlos Andrés Pérez, Venezuelan politician, 66th President of Venezuela (born 1922) ↗
2009 Vic Chesnutt, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1964) ↗
2008 Eartha Kitt, American singer and actress (born 1927) ↗
2007 Des Barrick, English cricketer (born 1927) ↗
2007 Jim Beauchamp, American baseball player and coach (born 1939) ↗
2006 James Brown, American singer-songwriter (born 1933) ↗
2005 Derek Bailey, English guitarist (born 1930) ↗
2005 Robert Barbers, Filipino police officer, lawyer, and politician, 15th Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (born 1944) ↗
2005 Birgit Nilsson, Swedish operatic soprano (born 1918) ↗
2005 Joseph Pararajasingham, Sri Lankan journalist, businessman, and politician (born 1934) ↗
2004 Gennadi Strekalov, Russian engineer and astronaut (born 1940) ↗
2003 Nicholas Mavroules, American politician (born 1929) ↗
2001 Alfred A. Tomatis, French otolaryngologist and academic (born 1920) ↗
2000 Neil Hawke, Australian cricketer and footballer (born 1939) ↗
2000 Willard Van Orman Quine, American philosopher and academic (born 1908) ↗
1998 John Pulman, English snooker player (born 1923) ↗
1997 Anatoli Boukreev, Kazakh mountaineer and explorer (born 1958) ↗
1997 Denver Pyle, American actor (born 1920) ↗
1996 Bill Hewitt, Canadian sportscaster (born 1928) ↗
1995 Emmanuel Levinas, Lithuanian-French philosopher and academic (born 1906) ↗
1995 Dean Martin, American singer and actor (born 1917) ↗
1995 Chang Kee-ryo, Korean surgeon (born 1914) ↗
1995 Vincent Patriarca, Italian-American aviator and mercenary (born 1914) ↗
1994 Zail Singh, Indian politician, 7th President of India (born 1916) ↗
1993 Pierre Victor Auger, French physicist and academic (born 1899) ↗
1992 Monica Dickens, British-American nurse and author (born 1915) ↗
1991 Wilbur Snyder, American football player and wrestler (born 1929) ↗
1989 Benny Binion, American poker player and businessman (born 1904) ↗
1989 Elena Ceaușescu, Romanian politician, First Lady of Romania (born 1916) ↗
1989 Nicolae Ceaușescu, Romanian general and politician, 1st President of Romania (born 1918) ↗
1989 Betty Garde, American actress (born 1905) ↗
1989 Frederick F. Houser, American judge and politician, 34th Lieutenant Governor of California (born 1905) ↗
1989 Billy Martin, American baseball player and manager (born 1928) ↗
1989 Robert Pirosh, American director and screenwriter (born 1910) ↗
1988 Shōhei Ōoka, Japanese author and critic (born 1909) ↗
1988 Edward Pelham-Clinton, 10th Duke of Newcastle, English entomologist and lepidopterist (born 1920) ↗
1983 Joan Miró – Spanish painter and sculptor (born 1893) ↗
1980 Fred Emney, English actor and comedian (born 1900) ↗
1979 Joan Blondell, American actress and singer (born 1906) ↗
1979 Jordi Bonet, Canadian painter and sculptor (born 1932) ↗
1977 Charlie Chaplin, English actor and director (born 1889) ↗
1975 Gaston Gallimard, French publisher, founded Éditions Gallimard (born 1881) ↗
1975 Gunnar Kangro, Estonian mathematician and author (born 1913) ↗
1973 İsmet İnönü, Turkish general and politician, 2nd President of Turkey (born 1884) ↗
1973 Gabriel Voisin, French pilot and engineer (born 1880) ↗
1970 Michael Peto, Hungarian-English photographer and journalist (born 1908) ↗
1963 Tristan Tzara, Romanian-French poet, playwright, painter, and critic (born 1896) ↗
1961 Owen Brewster, American captain, lawyer, and politician, 54th Governor of Maine (born 1888) ↗
1961 Otto Loewi, German-American pharmacologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1873) ↗
1957 Charles Pathé, French record producer, founded Pathé Records (born 1863) ↗
1956 Robert Walser, Swiss author and playwright (born 1878) ↗
1953 Patsy Donovan, Irish-American baseball player and manager (born 1865) ↗
1953 William Haselden, British cartoonist (born 1872) ↗
1952 Margrethe Mather, American photographer (born 1886) ↗
1950 Neil Francis Hawkins, English politician (born 1903) ↗
1949 Leon Schlesinger, American animator and producer, founded Warner Bros. Cartoons (born 1884) ↗
1947 Gaspar G. Bacon, American lawyer and politician, 51st Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts (born 1886) ↗
1946 W. C. Fields, American actor, comedian, juggler, and screenwriter (born 1880) ↗
1944 George Steer, South African-English journalist and author (born 1909) ↗
1941 Richard S. Aldrich, American lawyer and politician (born 1884) ↗
1940 Agnes Ayres, American actress (born 1898) ↗
1938 Karel Čapek – Czech author and playwright (born 1890) ↗
1935 Paul Bourget, French author and critic (born 1852) ↗
1933 Francesc Macià, Catalan colonel and politician, 122nd President of Catalonia (born 1859) ↗
1930 Jakob Mändmets, Estonian journalist and author (born 1871) ↗
1928 Miles Burke, American boxer (born 1885) ↗
1926 Emperor Taishō of Japan (born 1879) ↗
1925 Karl Abraham, German psychoanalyst and author (born 1877) ↗
1921 Vladimir Korolenko, Russian journalist, author, and activist (born 1853) ↗
1916 Albert Chmielowski, Polish saint, founded the Albertine Brothers (born 1845) ↗
1880 Fridolin Anderwert, Swiss lawyer and politician, President of the Swiss National Council (born 1828) ↗
1875 Young Tom Morris, Scottish golfer (born 1851) ↗
1868 Linus Yale, Jr., American engineer and businessman (born 1821) ↗
1866 Hayrullah Efendi, Ottoman physician, historian, and official (born 1818) ↗
1824 Barbara von Krüdener, German mystic and author (born 1764) ↗
1824 William Lawless, Irish revolutionary, later French Army general (born 1772) ↗
1796 Velu Nachiyar, Queen of Sivagangai (born 1730) ↗
1784 Yosa Buson, Japanese poet and painter (born 1716) ↗
1758 James Hervey, English priest and author (born 1714) ↗
1730 Henry Scott, 1st Earl of Deloraine, Scottish peer and general (born 1676) ↗
1708 Jørgen Thormøhlen, German-Norwegian merchant (born c.1640) ↗
1683 Kara Mustafa Pasha, Ottoman general and politician, 111th Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire (born 1634) ↗
1676 William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle, English soldier and politician, Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire (born 1592) ↗
1676 Matthew Hale, English lawyer and jurist, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (born 1609) ↗
1635 Samuel de Champlain, French soldier, geographer, and explorer (born 1567) ↗
1634 Lettice Knollys, English noblewoman (born 1543) ↗
1553 Pedro de Valdivia, Spanish explorer and politician, 1st Royal Governor of Chile (born 1500) ↗
1505 George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent, English politician (born 1454) ↗
1406 Henry III of Castile (born 1379) ↗
1395 Elisabeth, Countess of Neuchâtel, Swiss ruler ↗
1294 Mestwin II, Duke of Pomerania ↗
1156 Peter the Venerable, French abbot and saint (born 1092) ↗
1156 Sverker the Elder, king of Sweden ↗
1147 Guy II, Count of Ponthieu (born c. 1120) ↗
940 Makan ibn Kaki, Iranian general ↗
936 Zhang Jingda, general of Later Tang ↗
820 Emperor Leo V ↗
795 Pope Adrian I ↗
304 Saint Anastasia ↗