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April 17

On This Day in History

April 17

April 17 is the 107th day of the year (108th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. 258 days remain until the end of the year.

Lottery News On This Day

2026: Ohio man has the "best day of his life" after winning the lottery twice in one day. An Ohio man just had the luckiest day of his life when he won a top-tier prize in one lottery game and then $300,000 in another.
2025: DC Lottery introduces Washington D.C.'s first $50 scratch-off ticket. The DC Lottery launched its first-ever $50 scratch-off ticket this month, raising the bar for the most expensive lottery ticket available in the District.
2023: Virginia woman wins $175,000 with 35 lottery tickets in one Pick 4 drawing. A Virginia lottery player is walking away from a single Pick 4 drawing with $175,000 in winnings after buying 35 tickets.
2023: North Carolina woman credits long line for $100,000 lottery prize. While the saying goes that patience is a virtue, in a North Carolina woman's case, it's impatience that won the day and granted her a six-figure lottery prize.
2020: Coronavirus impacting North Carolina lottery sales. The North Carolina Education Lottery has increased sales — which climbed to $2.6 billion in 2018, according to the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries — every year since it was established in 2005. Then COVID-19 hit.
2020: Maine lottery sales drop during coronavirus pandemic. Fewer people are going outside because of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, which is impacting the number of lottery tickets people are buying.
2019: NC man 'counting his blessings' after winning lottery ticket almost blew away. A North Carolina man is "counting his blessings" after beating the almost 1-in-a-million odds to win a lottery prize, according to the NC Education Lottery.
2017: Arkansas lottery players now can buy tickets with debit cards. Starting this summer, retailers selling tickets for the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery will be authorized to accept payment by debit cards, thanks to a new law that zipped through the Legislature in 23 days with little fanfare.
2017: Bill allowing Oklahoma Lottery to increase prizes heads to the Senate floor. A bill moving through the Oklahoma statehouse would allow the state's lottery to increase prizes in hopes of generating more dollars for schools and boost the payout to education by about $100 million over the next five years.
2016: Chinese media reports plans to restart online lottery sales. Chinese media is reporting that the government plans to restart its online lottery operations after ordering their suspension over a year ago.
2015: Michigan man multiplies winnings to $5 million. Adding the $1 Megaplier option to a Mega Millions play turned a $1-million prize into $5 million for a Michigan man.
2014: Iowa Lottery no longer sharing Illinois Lottery drawings. Beginning Wednesday, April 16, Iowa Lottery players finally got their own Pick 3 and Pick 4 lottery numbers.
2013: Online lottery plans criticized by some West Michigan lawmakers. Lounging on the couch at home playing Keno and buying lottery tickets on your iPhone or computer doesn't sit well with some West Michigan lawmakers.
2012: Lottery winner who kept cashing welfare checks charged with fraud. A Michigan lottery winner was charged with fraud Tuesday for collecting food stamps and public health insurance despite pocketing a $735,000 jackpot.
2012: Illinois Mega Millions winner to come forward. The final winner of the record $656 million Mega Millions jackpot will accept a check for $218.6 million on Wednesday in the southern Illinois town of Red Bud where the winning ticket was purchased, the Illinois Lottery said Monday.
2012: Some Baptists want Texas Lottery Commission shut down. As lawmakers look at whether the Texas Lottery Commission is operating effectively, influential Baptists are suggesting the lottery shouldn't merely be tweaked. They want it abolished.
2009: Nevada Assembly passes lottery bill. The Nevada Assembly voted Wednesday for a lottery in the nation's No. 1 gambling state, despite arguments that it would compete with slot machines and other games of chance.
2009: N.Y. looks to join Powerball lottery. The New York Lottery is seeking to enter the 32 jurisdictions currently selling the Powerball lottery as a way to increase state revenue and stop jackpot seekers from heading to other states to play.
2009: Colorado Lottery reviewing partnership with Mega Millions. The Colorado Lottery, along with other members of the Multi State Lottery Association (MUSL), is reviewing the option of selling tickets for the multi-state Mega Millions lottery game.
2008: Man dons disguise to claim lottery jackpot. A New York lottery winner said he disguised himself with a marker-drawn beard when he accepted his prize to protect his new fortune from thieves.
2007: Ohio Lottery to begin Sunday draws in May. For the first time in its 33-year history, the Ohio Lottery plans to hold Sunday drawings, as well as adding a new Pick 10 game.
2007: Vancouver lottery winner loses in divorce case. A $10 million lottery windfall brought an estranged Vancouver couple back together, but eight years later, the marriage wound up in divorce court with a $2.2 million bank account issue in dispute.
2007: Michigan Lottery commissioner to resign. Michigan Lottery commissioner Gary Peters will step down Aug. 10 to take a public policy spot at Central Michigan University, state officials announced Monday.
2007: Tennessee couple wins Powerball lottery 10x promotion. A Murfreesboro, Tennessee, couple struck it rich over the weekend from a Powerball promotion that turned a $200,000 second-prize win into a $2 million jackpot.
2006: Pick 4 lottery player wins $500,000. A Silver Spring, Maryland, man won $500,000 in Wednesday evening's Maryland Pick 4 drawing playing twenty tickets.
2006: Mega Millions jackpot increased to $265 million. The jackpot in the multi-state Mega Millions lottery game has grown to $265 million.
2006: Obituary: Richard Paulson, 62, Washington Lottery Spokesman. In his 13 years as spokesman for Washington's state lottery, Richard Paulson met a lot of newly minted millionaires.
2006: Tenn. Lottery transfers nearly $80 million to education. The Tennessee Lottery is giving the state $79.6 million for education today, a record for a single quarter since the lottery began more than two years ago, lottery officials announced.
2005: Michigan man scratches $1 million lottery prize. A Michigan man, who opted to remain anonymous, scratched his way to the top prize of $1 million in the Millionaire's Casino Instant game.
2005: Illinois lottery glitch gives players extra chance. Technical difficulties with the Illinois State Lottery's Friday broadcast could turn into a nice payoff for some Pick Four ticket holders.
2005: Tennessee Cash 4 Lottery Game Starts Today. The Tennessee Lottery announced that its newest game called Cash 4 goes on sale today, and the first drawing will be held on Monday.

Top 25 Lottery Jackpots On This Day

1.$352.5 Million: Multi-State
Powerball
Draw Date
Apr 18, 2022
2.$265 Million: Multi-State
Mega Millions
Draw Date
Apr 18, 2006
3.$257 Million: Multi-State
Mega Millions
Draw Date
Apr 20, 2021
4.$237.2 Million: Multi-State
Powerball
Draw Date
Apr 17, 2023
5.$227 Million: Multi-State
Powerball
Draw Date
Apr 20, 2016
6.$212 Million: Multi-State
Powerball
Draw Date
Apr 17, 2010
7.€189.72 Million US$204.76 Million: Italy
SuperEnalotto
Draw Date
Apr 19, 2022
8.$178 Million: Multi-State
Mega Millions
Draw Date
Apr 19, 2024
9.€150.78 Million US$176.92 Million: Italy
SuperEnalotto
Draw Date
Apr 17, 2026
10.$175 Million: Multi-State
Mega Millions
Draw Date
Apr 19, 2019
11.$168 Million: Multi-State
Mega Millions
Draw Date
Apr 19, 2005
12.€138.71 Million
US$165.06 Million: Italy
SuperEnalotto
Draw Date
Apr 17, 2021
13.€130.2 Million
US$161.06 Million: Italy
SuperEnalotto
Draw Date
Apr 17, 2018
14.$159 Million: Multi-State
Mega Millions
Draw Date
Apr 17, 2020
15.€137.89 Million
US$155.08 Million: Italy
SuperEnalotto
Draw Date
Apr 18, 2019
16.€132 Million
US$154.89 Million: Multi-Country
Euro Millions
Draw Date
Apr 17, 2026
17.$143 Million: Multi-State
Mega Millions
Draw Date
Apr 20, 2010
18.$131 Million: Multi-State
Powerball
Draw Date
Apr 18, 2012
19.$130 Million: Multi-State
Mega Millions
Draw Date
Apr 17, 2026
20.$128.9 Million: Multi-State
Powerball
Draw Date
Apr 19, 2025
21.$128 Million: Multi-State
Powerball
Draw Date
Apr 19, 2014
22.€120 Million
US$127.86 Million: Multi-Country
Euro Millions
Draw Date
Apr 19, 2024
23.€119.42 Million
US$127.24 Million: Multi-Country
EuroJackpot
Draw Date
Apr 19, 2024
24.$122 Million: Multi-State
Powerball
Draw Date
Apr 18, 2018
25.$118 Million: Multi-State
Powerball
Draw Date
Apr 17, 2019

Lottery Post Member Birthdays On This Day

1994: PerezSimmons30
Sunday, Apr 17, 1994
32 years old
1985: Vlhellams85
Wednesday, Apr 17, 1985
41 years old
1984: Appiah
Tuesday, Apr 17, 1984
42 years old
1973: megaly
Tuesday, Apr 17, 1973
53 years old
1973: GannErik
Tuesday, Apr 17, 1973
53 years old
1972: Angie0417!
Monday, Apr 17, 1972
54 years old
1968: NickyNumbers
Wednesday, Apr 17, 1968
58 years old
1965: Vickey
Saturday, Apr 17, 1965
61 years old
1964: wishingonastar
Friday, Apr 17, 1964
62 years old
1961: lookin4winner
Monday, Apr 17, 1961
65 years old
1961: alice
Monday, Apr 17, 1961
65 years old
1957: joebaby
Wednesday, Apr 17, 1957
69 years old
1957: Luckylas22
Wednesday, Apr 17, 1957
69 years old
1956: wizliz
Tuesday, Apr 17, 1956
70 years old
1940: msmolly
Wednesday, Apr 17, 1940
86 years old
1937: Sleeper
Saturday, Apr 17, 1937
89 years old
: Bluesmom
(year not provided)
: TrippleSSS
(year not provided)
: eri19
(year not provided)
: lmcjack
(year not provided)
: lwilliams6898
(year not provided)
: Msrose022
(year not provided)
: Pot-dreamer
(year not provided)
: thumper knight
(year not provided)

Worldwide Events On This Day

2021: The funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, takes place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
2014: NASA's Kepler space telescope confirms the discovery of the first Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of another star.
2013: An explosion at a fertilizer plant in the city of West, Texas, kills 15 people and injures 160 others.
2006: A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates an explosive device in a Tel Aviv restaurant, killing 11 people and injuring 70.
2003: Anneli Jäätteenmäki takes office as the first female prime minister of Finland.
1998: Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-90, the final Spacelab mission.
1992: The Katina P is deliberately run aground off Maputo, Mozambique, and 60,000 tons of crude oil spill into the ocean.
1986: An alleged state of war lasting 335 years between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly declared peace bringing an end to any hypothetical war that may have been legally considered to exist.
1982: Constitution Act, 1982 Patriation of the Canadian constitution in Ottawa by Proclamation of Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada.
1978: Mir Akbar Khyber is assassinated, provoking the Saur Revolution in Afghanistan.
1975: The Cambodian Civil War ends and the Cambodian Genocide begins. The Khmer Rouge captures the capital Phnom Penh and Cambodian government forces surrender.
1971: The Provisional Government of Bangladesh is formed.
1970: Apollo program: The damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft returns to Earth safely.
1969: Sirhan Sirhan is convicted of assassinating Robert F. Kennedy.
1969: Communist Party of Czechoslovakia chairman Alexander Dubček is deposed.
1964: Jerrie Mock completes the first around-the-world airplane flight by a woman. Her solo flight in the Spirit of Columbus, which took 29 1/2 days, took off and landed at the Port Columbus International Airport in Ohio.
1961: Bay of Pigs Invasion: A group of Cuban exiles financed and trained by the CIA lands at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba with the aim of ousting Fidel Castro.
1951: The Peak District becomes the United Kingdom's first National Park.
1946: The last French troops are withdrawn from Syria.
1945: World War II: Montese, Italy, is liberated from Nazi forces.
1945: Historian Tran Trong Kim is appointed the Prime Minister of the Empire of Vietnam.
1944: Forces of the Communist-controlled Greek People's Liberation Army attack the smaller National and Social Liberation resistance group, which surrenders. Its leader Dimitrios Psarros is murdered.
1942: French prisoner of war General Henri Giraud escapes from his castle prison in Königstein Fortress.
1941: World War II: The Axis powers invasion of Yugoslavia is completed when it signs an armistice with Germany and Italy.
1931: After negotiations between Catalan and Spanish provisional governments, the Catalan Republic proclaimed in April 14 becomes the Generalitat de Catalunya, the autonomous government of Catalonia within the Spanish Republic.
1925: The Communist Party of Korea (CPK) was founded in Japanese-ruled Korea (Chōsen) in Keijō (now Seoul) by Kim Yong-bom and Pak Hon-yong.
1912: Russian troops open fire on striking goldfield workers in northeast Siberia, killing at least 150.
1907: The Ellis Island immigration center processes 11,747 people, more than on any other day.
1905: The Supreme Court of the United States decides Lochner v. New York, which holds that the "right to free contract" is implicit in the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
1895: The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed. This marks the end of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the defeated Qing Empire is forced to renounce its claims on Korea and to concede the southern portion of the Fengtian province, Taiwan and the Penghu to Japan.
1876: Catalpa rescue: The rescue of six Fenian prisoners from Fremantle Prison in Western Australia.
1869: Morelos is admitted as the 27th state of Mexico.
1864: American Civil War: The Battle of Plymouth begins: Confederate forces attack Plymouth, North Carolina.
1863: American Civil War: Grierson's Raid begins: Troops under Union Army Colonel Benjamin Grierson attack central Mississippi.
1861: The state of Virginia's secession convention votes to secede from the United States; Virginia later becomes the eighth state to join the Confederate States of America.
1797: Sir Ralph Abercromby attacks San Juan, Puerto Rico, in what would be one of the largest invasions of the Spanish territories in the Americas.
1797: Citizens of Verona begin an unsuccessful eight-day rebellion against the French occupying forces.
1783: American Revolutionary War: Colbert's Raid: A Spanish garrison under Captain Jacobo du Breuil defeat British irregulars at Arkansas Post.
1524: Giovanni da Verrazzano reaches New York harbor.
1521: Trial of Martin Luther over his teachings begins during the assembly of the Diet of Worms. Initially intimidated, he asks for time to reflect before answering and is given a stay of one day.
1492: Spain and Christopher Columbus sign the Capitulations of Santa Fe for his voyage to Asia to acquire spices.
1362: Kaunas Castle falls to the Teutonic Order after a month-long siege.
1349: The rule of the Bavand dynasty in Mazandaran is brought to an end by the murder of Hasan II.
1080: Harald III of Denmark dies and is succeeded by Canute IV, who would later be the first Dane to be canonized.

Births On This Day

2005: Antonio Nusa, Norwegian footballer
2001: Shin Ryujin, South Korean rapper, singer and dancer
2001: Violette Dorange, French Professional Round the World Sailor
1998: Anna Odine Strøm, Norwegian ski jumper and two-time Olympic champion
1998: Suppapong Udomkaewkanjana (Saint), Thai actor and singer
1996: Lorna Fitzgerald, British actress
1996: Caitlin Parker, Australian boxer
1996: Helene Spilling, Norwegian dancer
1995: Jung Wheein, South Korean singer
1994: Alanna Goldie, Canadian fencer
1994: Yang Hongseok, South Korean singer and actor
1992: Lachlan Maranta, Australian rugby league footballer
1992: Jo Jinho, South Korean singer
1990: Jonathan Brown, Welsh footballer
1989: Paraskevi Papachristou, Greek triple jumper
1989: Avi Kaplan, singer and songwriter
1988: Takahiro Moriuchi, Japanese singer-songwriter
1986: Romain Grosjean, French race car driver
1985: Rooney Mara, American actress
1985: Luke Mitchell, Australian actor and model
1985: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, French tennis player
1984: Pablo Sebastián Álvarez, Argentinian footballer
1984: Jed Lowrie, American baseball player
1984: Raffaele Palladino, Italian footballer
1983: Stanislav Chistov, Russian ice hockey player
1983: Roberto Jiménez, Peruvian footballer
1983: Andrea Marcato, Italian rugby player
1982: Brad Boyes, Canadian ice hockey player
1982: Chuck Kobasew, Canadian ice hockey player
1982: Tyron Woodley, American mixed martial artist
1981: Jenny Meadows, English runner
1981: Hanna Pakarinen, Finnish singer-songwriter
1981: Ryan Raburn, American baseball player
1981: Chris Thompson, English runner
1981: Zhang Yaokun, Chinese footballer
1980: Fabián Vargas, Colombian footballer
1980: Curtis Woodhouse, English footballer, boxer, and manager
1979: Eric Brewer, Canadian ice hockey player
1979: Marija Šestak, Serbian-Slovenian triple jumper
1978: Monika Bergmann-Schmuderer, German skier
1978: Lindsay Hartley, American actress
1978: Daniel Hensel, German composer and musicologist
1978: Jason White, Scottish rugby player
1977: Chad Hedrick, American speed skater
1977: Frederik Magle, Danish composer, organist, and pianist
1976: Maurice Wignall, Jamaican hurdler and long jumper
1975: Heidi Alexander, English politician
1975: Travis Roy, American ice hockey player (died 2020)
1974: Mikael Åkerfeldt, Swedish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
1974: Victoria Beckham, English singer and fashion designer
1973: Katrin Koov, Estonian architect
1973: Brett Maher, Australian basketball player and sportscaster
1973: Theo Ratliff, American basketball player
1972: Gary Bennett, American baseball player
1972: Tony Boselli, American football player and sportscaster
1972: Jennifer Garner, American actress
1972: Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lankan cricketer
1972: Yuichi Nishimura, Japanese footballer and referee
1972: Terran Sandwith, Canadian ice hockey player
1971: Claire Sweeney, English actress
1970: Redman, American rapper, producer, and actor
1968: Julie Fagerholt, Danish fashion designer
1968: Phil Henderson, American basketball player and coach (died 2013)
1968: Eric Lamaze, Canadian jockey
1968: Roger Twose, New Zealand cricketer
1968: Richie Woodhall, English boxer and trainer
1967: Henry Ian Cusick, Peruvian-Scottish actor
1967: Kimberly Elise, American actress
1967: Marquis Grissom, American baseball player and coach
1967: Ian Jones, New Zealand rugby player
1967: Barnaby Joyce, Australian politician, 17th Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
1967: Liz Phair, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
1966: Vikram, Indian actor and singer
1964: Ken Daneyko, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster
1964: Maynard James Keenan, American singer-songwriter and producer
1964: Rachel Notley, Canadian politician
1964: Lela Rochon, American actress
1962: Paul Nicholls, English jockey and trainer
1961: Norman Cowans, Jamaican-English cricketer
1961: Boomer Esiason, American football player and sportscaster
1961: Bella Freud, English fashion designer
1960: Vladimir Polyakov, Russian pole vaulter
1959: Sean Bean, English actor
1959: Jimmy Mann, Canadian ice hockey player
1959: Li Meisu, Chinese shot putter
1958: Laslo Babits, Canadian javelin thrower (died 2013)
1957: Teri Austin, Canadian actress
1957: Afrika Bambaataa, American disc jockey (died 2026)
1957: Dwane Casey, American basketball coach
1957: Nick Hornby, English novelist, essayist, lyricist, and screenwriter
1957: Julia Macur, English lawyer and judge
1957: Frank McDonough, British historian
1956: Colin Tyre, Lord Tyre, Scottish lawyer and judge
1955: Todd Lickliter, American basketball player and coach
1955: Pete Shelley, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2018)
1955: Mike Stroud, English physician and explorer
1954: Riccardo Patrese, Italian race car driver
1954: Roddy Piper, Canadian professional wrestler and actor (died 2015)
1954: Michael Sembello, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
1952: Joe Alaskey, American voice actor (died 2016)
1952: Pierre Guité, Canadian ice hockey player
1952: John McColl, English general and politician, Lieutenant Governor of Jersey
1952: Željko Ražnatović, Serbian commander "Arkan" (died 2000)
1952: John Robertson, Scottish businessman and politician
1951: Olivia Hussey, Argentinian-English actress (died 2024)
1951: Börje Salming, Swedish ice hockey player and businessman (died 2022)
1948: Jan Hammer, Czech pianist, composer, and producer
1948: Alice Harden, American educator and politician (died 2012)
1948: Pekka Vasala, Finnish runner
1947: Nigel Emslie, Lord Emslie, Scottish lawyer and judge
1947: Richard Field, English lawyer and judge
1947: Sherrie Levine, American photographer
1947: Tsutomu Wakamatsu, Japanese baseball player, coach, and manager
1946: Clare Francis, English sailor and author
1943: Richard Allen Epstein, American lawyer, author, and academic
1942: Buster Williams, American jazz bassist
1942: Dnyaneshwar Agashe, Indian businessman and cricketer (died 2009)
1941: Lagle Parek, Estonian architect and politician, Estonian Minister of the Interior
1940: Eric Dancer, English businessman and politician, Lord Lieutenant of Devon
1940: Billy Fury, English singer-songwriter (died 1983)
1940: John McCririck, English journalist (died 2019)
1940: Chuck Menville, American animator and screenwriter (died 1992)
1940: Anja Silja, German soprano and actress
1940: Agostino Vallini, Italian cardinal and vicar general of Rome
1939: Robert Miller, American art dealer (died 2011)
1938: Ben Barnes, American businessman and politician, 36th Lieutenant Governor of Texas
1938: Doug Lewis, Canadian lawyer and politician, 41st Canadian Minister of Justice
1938: Ronald H. Miller, American theologian, author, and academic (died 2011)
1938: Kerry Wendell Thornley, American theorist and author (died 1988)
1937: Ronald Hamowy, Canadian historian and academic (died 2012)
1937: Ferdinand Piëch, Austrian-German engineer and businessman (died 2019)
1936: Urs Wild, Swiss chemist (died 2022)
1935: Bud Paxson, American broadcaster, founded Home Shopping Network and Pax TV (died 2015)
1934: Don Kirshner, American songwriter and producer (died 2011)
1934: Peter Morris, Australian-English surgeon and academic (died 2022)
1931: John Barrett, English tennis player and sportscaster
1931: Malcolm Browne, American journalist and photographer (died 2012)
1931: Bill Ramsey, American jazz and pop singer, journalist and actor (died 2021)
1930: Chris Barber, English trombonist and bandleader (died 2021)
1929: James Last, German-American bassist, composer, and bandleader (died 2015)
1928: Victor Lownes, American businessman (died 2017)
1928: Cynthia Ozick, American short story writer, novelist, and essayist
1928: Heinz Putzl, Austrian fencer
1928: Fabien Roy, Canadian accountant and politician (died 2023)
1927: Margot Honecker, East German politician and First Lady (died 2016)
1926: Joan Lorring, British actress (died 2014)
1926: Gerry McNeil, Canadian ice hockey player and manager (died 2004)
1925: René Moawad, Lebanese lawyer and politician, 13th President of Lebanon (died 1989)
1924: Kenneth Norman Jones, Australian public servant (died 2022)
1924: Donald Richie, American-Japanese author and critic (died 2013)
1923: Lindsay Anderson, English actor, director, and screenwriter (died 1994)
1923: Solly Hemus, American baseball player, coach, and manager (died 2017)
1923: Neville McNamara, Australian air marshal (died 2014)
1923: Gianni Raimondi, Italian lyric tenor (died 2008)
1923: Harry Reasoner, American soldier and journalist (died 1991)
1921: Melvin Storer, American shipfitter and navy diver (died 2003)
1920: Edmonde Charles-Roux, French journalist and author (died 2016)
1919: Gilles Lamontagne, Canadian lieutenant and politician, 24th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec (died 2016)
1919: Chavela Vargas, Costa Rican-Mexican singer-songwriter and actress (died 2012)
1918: William Holden, American actor (died 1981)
1916: Win Maung, 3rd President of Union of Myanmar (died 1989)
1916: A. Thiagarajah, Sri Lankan educator and politician (died 1981)
1916: Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, world's first female prime minister (died 2000)
1915: Martin Clemens, Scottish soldier (died 2009)
1915: Joe Foss, American general and politician, 20th Governor of South Dakota (died 2003)
1915: Regina Ghazaryan, Armenian painter (died 1999)
1914: George Davis, American art director (died 1984)
1914: Mac Raboy, American illustrator (died 1967)
1912: Marta Eggerth, Hungarian-American actress and singer (died 2013)
1911: Hervé Bazin, French author and poet (died 1996)
1911: Lester Rodney, American soldier and journalist (died 2009)
1910: Evangelos Averoff, Greek historian and politician, Greek Minister of Defence (died 1990)
1910: Ivan Goff, Australian screenwriter and producer (died 1999)
1910: Helenio Herrera, French footballer and manager (died 1997)
1909: Alain Poher, French politician, President of France (died 1996)
1906: Sidney Garfield, American physician, co-founded Kaiser Permanente (died 1984)
1905: Louis Jean Heydt, American journalist and actor (died 1960)
1905: Arthur Lake, American actor (died 1987)
1903: Nicolas Nabokov, Russian-American composer and educator (died 1978)
1903: Gregor Piatigorsky, Ukrainian-American cellist and educator (died 1976)
1903: Morgan Taylor, American hurdler and coach (died 1975)
1899: Aleksander Klumberg, Estonian decathlete and coach (died 1958)
1897: Nisargadatta Maharaj, Indian philosopher and educator (died 1981)
1897: Thornton Wilder, American novelist and playwright (died 1975)
1897: Edouard Wyss-Dunant, Swiss physician and mountaineer (died 1983)
1896: Señor Wences, Spanish-American ventriloquist (died 1999)
1895: Robert Dean Frisbie, American soldier and author (died 1948)
1891: George Adamski, Polish-American ufologist and author (died 1965)
1888: Herms Niel, German soldier, trombonist, and composer (died 1954)
1882: Artur Schnabel, Polish pianist and composer (died 1951)
1879: Henri Tauzin, French hurdler (died 1918)
1878: Emil Fuchs, German-American lawyer and businessman (died 1961)
1878: Demetrios Petrokokkinos, Greek tennis player (died 1942)
1877: Matsudaira Tsuneo, Japanese diplomat (died 1949)
1875: Aleksander Tõnisson, Estonian general and politician, 5th Estonian Minister of War (died 1941)
1868: Zdeňka Wiedermannová-Motyčková, Moravian educator (died 1915)
1866: Ernest Starling, English physiologist and academic (died 1927)
1865: Ursula Ledóchowska, Polish-Austrian nun and saint, founded the Congregation of the Ursulines of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus (died 1939)
1863: Augustus Edward Hough Love, English mathematician and theorist (died 1940)
1852: Cap Anson, American baseball player and manager (died 1922)
1849: William R. Day, American jurist and politician, 36th United States Secretary of State (died 1923)
1842: Maurice Rouvier, French businessman and politician, 53rd Prime Minister of France (died 1911)
1837: J. P. Morgan, American banker and financier, founded J.P. Morgan & Co. (died 1913)
1833: Jean-Baptiste Accolay, Belgian violinist, composer, and conductor (died 1900)
1820: Alexander Cartwright, American firefighter and (disputed) inventor of baseball (died 1892)
1816: Thomas Hazlehurst, English architect and philanthropist (died 1876)
1814: Josif Pančić, Serbian botanist and academic (died 1888)
1799: Eliza Acton, English food writer and poet (died 1859)
1798: Étienne Bobillier, French mathematician and academic (died 1840)
1794: Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius, German botanist and explorer (died 1868)
1766: Collin McKinney, American surveyor, merchant, and politician (died 1861)
1756: Dheeran Chinnamalai, Indian commander (died 1805)
1750: François de Neufchâteau, French academic and politician, French Minister of the Interior (died 1828)
1741: Samuel Chase, American lawyer and jurist (died 1811)
1734: Taksin, King of Thailand (died 1782)
1710: Henry Erskine, 10th Earl of Buchan, Scottish politician (died 1767)
1683: Johann David Heinichen, German composer and theorist (died 1729)
1635: Edward Stillingfleet, British theologian and scholar (died 1699)
1620: Marguerite Bourgeoys, French-Canadian nun and saint, founded the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal (died 1700)
1598: Giovanni Battista Riccioli, Italian priest and astronomer (died 1671)
1586: John Ford, English poet and playwright (died 1639)
1573: Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria (died 1651)
1497: Pedro de Valdivia, Spanish conquistador, conquered northern Chile (died 1553)
1455: Andrea Gritti, Doge of Venice (died 1538)
1277: Michael IX Palaiologos, Byzantine emperor (died 1320)

Deaths On This Day

2022: Radu Lupu, Romanian pianist (born 1945)
2019: Alan García, Peruvian lawyer and politician, twice President of Peru (born 1949)
2019: Gwen Marston, American quilter and writer (born 1936)
2018: Barbara Bush, American political matriarch and literacy advocate, First Lady of the United States (1989-1993), and Second Lady of the United States (1981-1989) (born 1925)
2018: Carl Kasell, American radio personality (born 1934)
2016: Chyna, American wrestler (born 1969)
2016: Doris Roberts, American actress (born 1925)
2015: Robert P. Griffin, American soldier, lawyer, and politician (born 1923)
2015: Scotty Probasco, American businessman and philanthropist (born 1928)
2015: Jeremiah J. Rodell, American general (born 1921)
2015: A. Alfred Taubman, American businessman and philanthropist (born 1924)
2014: Gabriel García Márquez, Colombian journalist and author, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1927)
2014: Bernat Klein, Serbian-Scottish fashion designer and painter (born 1922)
2014: Wojciech Leśnikowski, Polish-American architect and academic (born 1938)
2014: Karpal Singh, Malaysian lawyer and politician (born 1940)
2013: Carlos Graça, São Toméan politician, Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe (born 1931)
2013: Bi Kidude, Tanzanian Taarab singer (born ≈1910)
2013: Yngve Moe, Norwegian bass player and songwriter (born 1957)
2013: V. S. Ramadevi, Indian politician, 13th Governor of Karnataka (born 1934)
2012: Leila Berg, English journalist and author (born 1917)
2012: J. Quinn Brisben, American educator and politician (born 1934)
2012: Dimitris Mitropanos, Greek singer (born 1948)
2012: Nityananda Mohapatra, Indian journalist, poet, and politician (born 1912)
2012: Jonathan V. Plaut, American rabbi and author (born 1942)
2012: Stanley Rogers Resor, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 9th United States Secretary of the Army (born 1917)
2011: Eric Gross, Austrian-Australian pianist and composer (born 1926)
2011: Michael Sarrazin, Canadian actor (born 1940)
2011: Robert Vickrey, American artist and author (born 1926)
2008: Aimé Césaire, Caribbean-French poet and politician (born 1913)
2008: Danny Federici, American organist and accordion player (born 1950)
2007: Kitty Carlisle, American actress, singer, socialite and game show panelist (born 1910)
2006: Jean Bernard, French physician and haematologist (born 1907)
2006: Scott Brazil, American director and producer (born 1955)
2006: Henderson Forsythe, American actor (born 1917)
2004: Edmond Pidoux, Swiss author and poet (born 1908)
2003: Robert Atkins, American physician and cardiologist, created the Atkins diet (born 1930)
2003: H. B. Bailey, American race car driver (born 1936)
2003: John Paul Getty Jr., American-English philanthropist (born 1932)
2003: Earl King, American blues singer, guitarist and songwriter (born 1934)
2003: Yiannis Latsis, Greek businessman (born 1910)
1998: Linda McCartney, American photographer, activist, and musician (born 1941)
1997: Chaim Herzog, Israeli general, lawyer, and politician, 6th President of Israel (born 1918)
1996: Piet Hein, Danish poet and mathematician (born 1905)
1995: Frank E. Resnik, American sergeant and businessman (born 1928)
1994: Roger Wolcott Sperry, American psychologist and biologist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1913)
1993: Turgut Özal, Turkish engineer and politician, 8th president of Turkey (born 1927)
1993: Gamal Hamdan, Egyptian scholar and geographer (born 1928)
1990: Ralph Abernathy, American minister and activist (born 1936)
1988: Louise Nevelson, Ukrainian-American sculptor and educator (born 1900)
1987: Cecil Harmsworth King, English publisher (born 1901)
1987: Dick Shawn, American actor (born 1923)
1986: Marcel Dassault, French businessman, founded Dassault Aviation (born 1892)
1984: Claude Provost, Canadian-American ice hockey player (born 1933)
1983: Felix Pappalardi, American singer-songwriter, bass player, and producer (born 1939)
1977: William Conway, Irish cardinal (born 1913)
1976: Henrik Dam, Danish biochemist and physiologist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1895)
1975: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Indian philosopher and politician, 2nd President of India (born 1888)
1967: Red Allen, American singer and trumpet player (born 1908)
1961: Elda Anderson, American physicist and health researcher (born 1899)
1960: Eddie Cochran, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1938)
1954: Lucrețiu Pătrășcanu, Romanian lawyer and politician, Romanian Minister of Justice (born 1900)
1948: Kantarō Suzuki, Japanese admiral and politician, 42nd Prime Minister of Japan (born 1868)
1946: Juan Bautista Sacasa, Nicaraguan medical doctor, politician and 20th President of Nicaragua (born 1874)
1944: J. T. Hearne, English cricketer and coach (born 1867)
1944: Dimitrios Psarros, Greek lieutenant, founded the National and Social Liberation (born 1893)
1942: Jean Baptiste Perrin, French-American physicist and chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1870)
1936: Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck, Dutch lawyer and politician, 28th Prime Minister of the Netherlands (born 1873)
1933: Kote Marjanishvili, Georgian director and playwright (born 1872)
1930: Alexander Golovin, Russian painter and stage designer (born 1863)
1923: Laurence Ginnell, Irish lawyer and politician (born 1852)
1921: Manwel Dimech, Maltese journalist, author, and philosopher (born 1860)
1919: Svetozar Ćorović, Serbian novelist (born 1875)
1892: Alexander Mackenzie, Scottish-Canadian politician, 2nd Prime Minister of Canada (born 1822)
1888: E. G. Squier, American archaeologist and journalist (born 1821)
1882: George Jennings, English engineer and plumber, invented the flush toilet (born 1810)
1843: Samuel Morey, American engineer (born 1762)
1840: Hannah Webster Foster, American journalist and author (born 1758)
1799: Richard Jupp, English surveyor and architect (born 1728)
1790: Benjamin Franklin, American inventor, publisher, and politician, 6th President of Pennsylvania (born 1706)
1764: Johann Mattheson, German lexicographer and composer (born 1681)
1713: David Hollatz, Polish pastor and theologian (born 1648)
1711: Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor (born 1678)
1696: Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné, French author (born 1626)
1695: Juana Inés de la Cruz, Mexican poet and scholar (born 1651)
1680: Kateri Tekakwitha, Mohawk-born Native American saint (born 1656)
1669: Antonio Bertali, Italian violinist and composer (born 1605)
1574: Joachim Camerarius, German scholar and translator (born 1500)
1539: George, Duke of Saxony (born 1471)
1427: John IV, Duke of Brabant (born 1403)
1355: Marin Falier, Doge of Venice (born 1285)
1344: Constantine II, King of Armenia
1331: Robert de Vere, 6th Earl of Oxford, English nobleman (born 1257)
1321: Infanta Branca of Portugal, daughter of King Afonso III of Portugal (born 1259)
1298: Árni Þorláksson, Icelandic bishop (born 1237)
1111: Robert of Molesme, Christian saint and abbot (born 1027)
1080: Harald III of Denmark (born 1041)
1071: Manuel Komnenos, Byzantine military commander (born c. 1045)
858: Benedict III, pope of the Catholic Church
818: Bernard of Italy, Frankish king (born 797)
744: Al-Walid II, Umayyad caliph (born 706)
648: Xiao, empress of the Sui dynasty
617: Donnán of Eigg, Irish priest and saint
485: Proclus, Greek mathematician and philosopher (born 412)

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