1769 – Susette Gontard, German muse to German poet Friedrich Hölderlin and inspiration for Hölderlin’s novel Hyperion, born in Hamburg, Germany (d. 1802)
1865 – Erich von Drygalski, German geographer, glaciologist and polar explorer, born in Königsberg, East Prussia (d. 1949)
1874 – Vsevolod Meyerhold [Karl Kasimir Theodor], Russian theatrical director and actor (Houligan), born in Penza Oblast, Russian Empire (d. 1940)
1909 – Harald Genzmer, German composer, born in Blumenthal, Germany (d. 2007)
1925 – Burkhard Heim, German physicist (Heim theory), born in Potsdam, Germany (d. 2001)
1939 – Barry Mann [Imberman], American pop songwriter (“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”), and singer (“Who Put the Bomp In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp”), born in Brooklyn, New York City
1940 – J. M. Coetzee, South African novelist, born in Cape Town, South Africa
1957 – Mohammed Valli Moosa, South African politician and veteran of the freedom struggle, born in Johannesburg, South Africa
1963 – Travis Tritt, American country vocalist (“Country Club”), born in Marietta, Georgia
1982 – Behn Gillece, American jazz vibraphonist, composer, and educator, born in New Jersey