1766 – Giuseppe Castiglione, Italian Jesuit brother and missionary to China, dies at 77
1826 – Joseph Graetz, German organist, composer, and music educator, dies at 65
1918 – Anna Demidova, Russian lady in waiting of Tsarina Alexandra, executed at 40
1928 – Alvaro Obregon, President of Mexico is assassinated
1959 – Billie Holiday [Eleanora Fagan], American jazz singer (“I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm”; “Strange Fruit”), and songwriter (“God Bless The Child”; “Lady Sings the Blues”), dies of cirrhosis of the liver at 44
1961 – Ty Cobb, American Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder (AL MVP 1911; Triple Crown 1909; 12 × AL batting champion; Detroit Tigers) and manager (Detroit Tigers 1921-26), dies of cancer at 74
1967 – John Coltrane, American jazz saxophonist and composer (“Blue Train”; “My Favorite Things”; “A Love Supreme”), dies of liver cancer at 40
1987 – Howard McGhee, American be-bop bebop jazz trumpeter, dies at 69
2005 – Edward Heath, British Prime Minister (Conservative: 1970-74), dies of cancer at 89
2005 – (Lorenzo) “Laurel” Aitken, Cuban-Jamaican singer and one of the pioneers of Caribbean pop and ska music, dies of a heart attack at 78