1851 – James Fenimore Cooper, 1st major American novelist (The Last of the Mohicans), dies of dropsy at 61
1905 – Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, Italian-French explorer of the Congo (Brazzaville named after him), dies at 53
1916 – Pierre Duhem, French naturalist, philosopher and historian, dies at 55
1974 – Vera Vague [Barbara Jo Allen], American actress (Sleeping Beauty, Follow the Leader), dies at 66
1974 – Pieter Y Adriani, Dutch tax lawyer, dies at 95
1982 – John Gardner, American writer (Life and Times of Chaucer High), dies in a motorcycle accident at 49
1989 – Eddie McLeod, New Zealand cricketer (one Test for NZ), dies at 88
2009 – Keith Floyd, English celebrity cook and restaurateur (Floyd on Fish), dies of a heart attack at 65
2019 – John Ralston, American College Football Hall of Fame linebacker, coach and executive (Cal, Stanford, Denver Broncos), dies at 92
2021 – Norm MacDonald, Canadian stand-up comedian, writer, and actor (Saturday Night Live, 1993-98; Dirty Work; The Norm Show), dies of cancer at 61