1596 – Leonhard Rauwolf, German physician and botanist (b. 1535 or 1540)
1840 – Franz Pecháček, Austrian-German composer, dies at 47
1927 – Herman Gorter, Dutch socialist and poet (May, Tiny Hero’s Poem), dies at 62
1978 – Willy Messerschmitt, German aircraft builder, dies at 80
1980 – Bill Evans, American jazz pianist (Peace Piece; Waltz For Debbie), dies of a bleeding ulcer at 51
2004 – Johnny Ramone, American lead guitarist of the punk rock band The Ramones, dies of prostate cancer at 55
2005 – Sidney Luft, American movie director, dies at 89
2007 – Gordon “Specs” Powell, American jazz and studio drummer and percussionist (Red Norvo; Teddy Wilson; CBS Orchestra, 1943-72), dies of kidney disease at 85
2007 – Colin Steele McRae, British rally driver, dies following a helicopter crash at 39
2020 – Wang Zhiliang, Chinese table tennis player and coach (World Table Tennis C’ships gold, doubles 1963), dies from a stroke at 79