1831

Charles Darwin embarks on his voyage aboard HMS Beagle. AI analysis

Darwin's journey aboard HMS Beagle began on December 27, 1831, marking the start of his five-year voyage around the world. The observations he made, particularly in the Galápagos Islands, laid the foundation for his theory of natural selection and the publication of On the Origin of Species. --AI Explanation

1904

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie premieres in London. AI analysis

The play Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie premiered in London on December 27, 1904. The story of the boy who never grows up became a classic in children’s literature, with themes of imagination, adventure, and childhood innocence resonating with audiences for generations. --AI Explanation

1927

The first full-length sound film, The Jazz Singer, premieres in New York City. AI analysis

The Jazz Singer, the first significant "talkie," marked a revolution in the film industry by synchronizing sound with images. Its success led to the rapid decline of silent films and the rise of synchronized sound in motion pictures, fundamentally changing cinema. --AI Explanation

1945

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is created. AI analysis

The IMF was established to foster international monetary cooperation and financial stability. Its creation marked a major step in the post-World War II economic order, providing assistance to countries in need and helping to stabilize global economies. --AI Explanation

1968

Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the Moon, successfully completes its first orbit. AI analysis

Apollo 8 completed its historic first orbit around the Moon, with astronauts capturing iconic images of Earth from space. This mission was a key step toward the Apollo 11 landing, showcasing human capabilities in space exploration. --AI Explanation

1978

Spain's new constitution is approved by referendum. AI analysis

Spain's new constitution was approved on December 27, 1978, marking the formal end of the dictatorship and the beginning of Spain's transition to democracy. This constitution helped establish Spain as a constitutional monarchy and a modern democratic state. --AI Explanation

1983

A terrorist bombing at a U.S. embassy annex in Kuwait kills six. AI analysis

A terrorist bombing targeted the U.S. embassy annex in Kuwait, killing six people. The attack was attributed to Hezbollah and was part of a series of assaults on American interests in the Middle East, highlighting the rising threat of terrorism in the region. --AI Explanation

1989

The Romanian Revolution reaches its peak, leading to the overthrow of Nicolae Ceaușescu. AI analysis

The Romanian Revolution reached a decisive moment on December 27, 1989, leading to the capture and execution of Nicolae Ceaușescu. His downfall was part of the broader wave of Eastern European revolutions that ended communist rule in the region. --AI Explanation

1991

The Soviet Union is formally dissolved, marking the end of the Cold War. AI analysis

On December 27, 1991, the Soviet Union was officially dissolved, marking the end of the Cold War and the breakup of the USSR into 15 independent republics. This monumental event reshaped the global political landscape and ended decades of ideological confrontation. --AI Explanation

1995

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is established. AI analysis

The World Trade Organization was created on December 27, 1995, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The WTO aimed to regulate international trade, reduce trade barriers, and promote global economic cooperation. --AI Explanation

1997

The Kyoto Protocol is adopted by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. AI analysis

The Kyoto Protocol, adopted on December 27, 1997, was an international treaty that aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While the treaty was criticized for not being binding enough, it marked a key step in global efforts to combat climate change. --AI Explanation

2000

The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Bush v. Gore, effectively ending the Florida recount. AI analysis

In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to stop the recount of votes in Florida, effectively giving the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush. This controversial ruling highlighted the influence of the judicial system in U.S. elections. --AI Explanation

2004

A powerful earthquake strikes off the coast of Sumatra, triggering the Indian Ocean tsunami. AI analysis

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and subsequent tsunami were among the deadliest natural disasters in history, claiming over 230,000 lives across multiple countries. The disaster led to global humanitarian responses and raised awareness about disaster preparedness. --AI Explanation

2011

The last U.S. troops leave Iraq, ending the Iraq War. AI analysis

On December 27, 2011, the final U.S. troops left Iraq, officially ending the Iraq War. This marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy and raised questions about the stability of Iraq in the post-Saddam era. --AI Explanation

2013

The European Union receives the Nobel Peace Prize for its contributions to peace and democracy. AI analysis

The European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012 for its role in promoting peace, democracy, and human rights in Europe. The EU's efforts in integrating former communist countries and maintaining stability in the region were key factors in the award. --AI Explanation

2014

The United Nations announces the largest-ever peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. AI analysis

The UN deployed a large peacekeeping mission to South Sudan in response to the escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis. The mission aimed to protect civilians and provide aid in a region torn apart by ethnic conflict and civil war. --AI Explanation

2016

A Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, is assassinated in Ankara. AI analysis

Andrei Karlov, Russia's ambassador to Turkey, was assassinated during an art exhibition in Ankara. The assassination was carried out by a Turkish police officer and shocked both countries, highlighting the complex diplomatic tensions in the region. --AI Explanation

2017

The United Nations votes to condemn the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. AI analysis

In response to the U.S. recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution condemning the move. The vote highlighted international divisions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the future status of Jerusalem. --AI Explanation

2018

A deadly fire in a high-rise building in Davao City, Philippines, kills 37 people. AI analysis

A deadly fire broke out in a high-rise building in Davao City, Philippines, killing at least 37 people. The tragedy raised concerns about building safety regulations and fire safety standards in the Philippines. --AI Explanation

2020

The United Kingdom officially leaves the European Union (Brexit transition period ends). AI analysis

The United Kingdom officially left the European Union on December 31, 2020, completing the Brexit process that had been initiated in a 2016 referendum. This marked the end of over 40 years of British membership in the EU and raised questions about the economic and political future of both regions. --AI Explanation

December 27 Birthdays

1390

Anne de Mortimer

claimant to the English throne

(d. 1411)

1459

John I Albert

King of Poland

(d. 1501)

1481

Casimir

Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, Margrave of Bayreuth

(d. 1527)

1493

Johann Pfeffinger

German theologian

(d. 1573)

1566

Jan Jesenius

Bohemian physician, politician and philosopher

(d. 1621)

1571

Johannes Kepler

German mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer

(d. 1630)

1572

Johannes Vodnianus Campanus

Czech poet, playwright, and composer

(d. 1622)

1584

Philipp Julius

Duke of Pomerania

(d. 1625)

1595

Bohdan Khmelnytsky

hetman of Ukraine

(d. 1657)

1622

Teofil Rutka

Polish philosopher

(d. 1700)

1633

Jean de Lamberville

French missionary

(d. 1714)

1636

William Whitelock

English gentleman, Member of Parliament

(d. 1717)

1637

Petar Kanavelić

Venetian writer

(d. 1719)

1645

Giovanni Antonio Viscardi

Swiss architect

(d. 1713)

1655

Abstrupus Danby

English politician

(d. 1727)

1660

Veronica Giuliani

Italian Capuchin mystic

(d. 1727)

1663

Johann Melchior Roos

German painter

(d. 1731)

1683

Conyers Middleton

English priest and theologian

(d. 1750)

1689

Jacob August Franckenstein

Encyclopedia editor, professor

(d. 1733)

(baptised) 1692

Francis Blake Delaval

British Royal Navy officer and Member of Parliament

(d. 1752)

1697

Sollom Emlyn

Irish legal writer

(d. 1754)

1705

Prince Frederick Henry Eugen of Anhalt-Dessau

German prince of the House of Ascania

(d. 1781)

1713

Giovanni Battista Borra

Italian architect and engineer

(d. 1770)

1714

George Whitefield

English preacher and saint

(d. 1770)

1715

Philippe de Noailles

French general

(d. 1794)

1721

François Hemsterhuis

Dutch philosopher and author

(d. 1790)

(baptised) 1761

Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly

Russian field marshal and politician, Governor-General of Finland

(d. 1818)

1773

George Cayley

English engineer and politician

(d. 1857)

1776

Nikolay Kamensky

Russian general

(d. 1811)

1797

Ghalib

Indian poet

(d. 1869)

1797

Charles Hodge

American theologian

(d. 1878)

1803

François-Marie-Thomas Chevalier de Lorimier

Canadian activist

(d. 1839)

1809

Alexandros Rizos Rangavis

Greek poet and politician, Foreign Minister of Greece

(d. 1892)

1822

Louis Pasteur

French chemist and microbiologist

(d. 1895)

1823

Mackenzie Bowell

English-Canadian journalist and politician, 5th Prime Minister of Canada

(d. 1917)

1827

Stanisław Mieroszewski

Polish-born politician, writer, historian and member of the Imperial Council of Austria

(d. 1900)

1832

Pavel Tretyakov

Russian businessman and philanthropist, founded the Tretyakov Gallery

(d. 1897)

1838

Lars Oftedal

Norwegian priest, social reformer, politician, and newspaper editor

(d. 1900)

1858

Juan Luis Sanfuentes

Chilean lawyer and politician, 17th President of Chile

(d. 1930)

1863

Louis Lincoln Emmerson

American lawyer and politician, 27th Governor of Illinois

(d. 1941)

1864

Hermann-Paul

French painter and illustrator

(d. 1940)

1878

Kalle Korhonen

Finnish politician

(d. 1938)

1879

Sydney Greenstreet

English-American actor

(d. 1954)

1882

Mina Loy

British modernist poet and artist

(d. 1966)

1883

Cyrus S. Eaton

Canadian-American businessman and philanthropist

(d. 1979)

1888

Thea von Harbou

German actress, director, and screenwriter

(d. 1954)

1892

Alfred Edwin McKay

Canadian captain and pilot

(d. 1917)

1896

Louis Bromfield

American author and theorist

(d. 1956)

1896

Maurice De Waele

Belgian cyclist

(d. 1952)

1896

Carl Zuckmayer

German author and playwright

(d. 1977)

1898

Inejiro Asanuma

Japanese politician

(d. 1960)

1900

Hans Stuck

German racing driver

(d. 1978)

1901

Marlene Dietrich

German-American actress and singer

(d. 1992)

1901

Irene Handl

English actress

(d. 1987)

1904

René Bonnet

French racing driver and engineer

(d. 1983)

1905

Cliff Arquette

American actor and comedian

(d. 1974)

1906

Oscar Levant

American pianist, composer, and actor

(d. 1972)

1907

Asaf Halet Çelebi

Turkish poet

(d. 1958)

1907

Sebastian Haffner

German journalist and author

(d. 1999)

1907

Mary Howard

English author

(d. 1991)

1907

Conrad L. Raiford

American baseball player and activist

(d. 2002)

1907

Willem van Otterloo

Dutch conductor and composer

(d. 1978)

1909

James Riddell

English skier and author

(d. 2000)

1910

Charles Olson

American poet and educator

(d. 1970)

1911

Anna Russell

English-Canadian singer and actress

(d. 2006)

1913

Elizabeth Smart

Canadian poet and novelist

(d. 1986)

1915

William Masters

American gynecologist, author, and academic

(d. 2001)

1915

Gyula Zsengellér

Hungarian-Cypriot footballer and manager

(d. 1999)

1916

Werner Baumbach

German pilot

(d. 1953)

1916

Cathy Lewis

American actress

(d. 1968)

1917

Buddy Boudreaux

American saxophonist and clarinet player

(d. 2015)

1917

T. Nadaraja

Sri Lankan lawyer and academic

(d. 2004)

1917

Onni Palaste

Finnish soldier and author

(d. 2009)

1918

John Celardo

American captain and illustrator

(d. 2012)

1919

Charles Sweeney

American general and pilot

(d. 2004)

1920

Bruce Hobbs

American jockey and trainer

(d. 2005)

1921

John Whitworth

English countertenor

(d. 2013)

1923

Bruno Bobak

Polish-Canadian painter and educator

(d. 2012)

1923

Lucas Mangope

South African politician

(d. 2018)

1924

Jean Bartik

American computer scientist and engineer

(d. 2011)

1924

James A. McClure

American soldier, lawyer, and politician

(d. 2011)

1925

Michel Piccoli

French actor, singer, director, and producer

(d. 2020)

1926

Jerome Courtland

American actor, director, and producer

(d. 2012)

1927

Antony Gardner

English engineer and politician

(d. 2011)

1927

Nityanand Swami

Indian lawyer and politician, 1st Chief Minister of Uttarakhand

(d. 2012)

1927

Audrey Wagner

American baseball player, obstetrician, and gynecologist

(d. 1984)

1930

Marshall Sahlins

American anthropologist and academic

(d. 2021)

1930

Wilfrid Sheed

English-born American novelist and essayist

(d. 2011)

1931

Scotty Moore

American guitarist and songwriter

(d. 2016)

1933

Dave Marr

American golfer

(d. 1997)

1934

Larisa Latynina

Ukrainian gymnast and coac

h

1934

Jeffrey Sterling

Baron Sterling of Plaistow, English businessma

n

1935

Michael Turnbull

English bisho

p

1936

Phil Sharpe

English cricketer

(d. 2014)

1936

Eve Uusmees

Estonian swimmer and coac

h

1939

John Amos

American actor

(d. 2024)

1940

David Shepherd

English cricketer and umpire

(d. 2009)

1941

Miles Aiken

American basketball player and coac

h

1941

Mike Pinder

English singer-songwriter and keyboard player

(d. 2024)

1941

Nolan Richardson

American basketball player and coac

h

1942

Byron Browne

American baseball playe

r

1942

Thomas Menino

American politician, 53rd Mayor of Boston

(d. 2014)

1942

Ron Rothstein

American basketball player and coac

h

1943

Cokie Roberts

American journalist and author

(d. 2019)

1943

Joan Manuel Serrat

Spanish singer-songwriter and guitaris

t

1943

Peter Sinfield

English songwriter and produce

r

1943

Roy White

American baseball player and coac

h

1944

Mick Jones

English guitarist, songwriter, and produce

r

1946

Lenny Kaye

American guitarist, songwriter, and produce

r

1946

Joe Kinnear

Irish footballer and manager

(d. 2024)

1946

Janet Street-Porter

English journalist and produce

r

1946

Polly Toynbee

English journalist and autho

r

1947

Bill Eadie

American wrestler and coac

h

1947

Doug Livermore

English footballer and manage

r

1947

Willy Polleunis

Belgian runne

r

1948

Gérard Depardieu

French-Russian acto

r

1949

Terry Ito

Japanese director, producer, and criti

c

1950

Haris Alexiou

Greek singer-songwrite

r

1950

Roberto Bettega

Italian footballer and manage

r

1950

Terry Bozzio

American drummer and songwrite

r

1951

Karla Bonoff

American singer-songwrite

r

1951

Ernesto Zedillo

Mexican economist and politician, 54th President of Mexic

o

1952

Jay Hill

Canadian farmer and politicia

n

1952

David Knopfler

Scottish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and produce

r

1954

Kent Benson

American basketball playe

r

1954

Mandie Fletcher

English director, producer, and production manage

r

1954

Teo Chee Hean

Singaporean politician and 5th Senior Minister of Singapor

e

1955

Brad Murphey

American race car drive

r

1955

Barbara Olson

American journalist and author

(d. 2001)

1956

Doina Melinte

Romanian runne

r

1958

Steve Jones

American golfe

r

1959

Gerina Dunwich

American astrologer, historian, and autho

r

1959

Andre Tippett

American football player and coac

h

1960

Maryam d'Abo

English actres

s

1960

Donald Nally

American conductor and academi

c

1960

Terry Price

Australian golfe

r

1961

Guido Westerwelle

German lawyer and politician, 15th Vice-Chancellor of Germany

(d. 2016)

1962

Mark Few

American basketball player and coac

h

1962

John Kampfner

Singaporean journalist and autho

r

1962

Bill Self

American basketball player and coac

h

1962

Sherri Steinhauer

American golfe

r

1963

Gaspar Noé

Argentine-French director and screenwrite

r

1964

Ian Gomez

American acto

r

1964

Theresa Randle

American actres

s

1965

Salman Khan

Indian film actor and produce

r

1966

Marianne Elliott

English director and produce

r

1966

Bill Goldberg

American football player, wrestler and acto

r

1966

Eva LaRue

American model and actres

s

1969

Jean-Christophe Boullion

French racing drive

r

1969

Chyna

American professional wrestler and actress

(d. 2016)

1969

Sarah Vowell

American author and journalis

t

1970

Brendon Cook

Australian racing driver and rugby playe

r

1970

Lorenzo Neal

American football player and radio hos

t

1970

Naoko Yamazaki

Japanese pilot and astronau

t

1971

Duncan Ferguson

Scottish footballer and coac

h

1971

Guthrie Govan

English guitarist and educato

r

1971

Savannah Guthrie

American television journalis

t

1972

Colin Charvis

Welsh rugby union player and coac

h

1972

Kevin Ollie

American basketball player and coac

h

1972

Matt Slocum

American guitarist and songwrite

r

1973

Wilson Cruz

American acto

r

1973

Kristoffer Zegers

Dutch pianist and compose

r

1974

Tomáš Janků

Czech high jumpe

r

1974

Masi Oka

Japanese-American actor and visual effects designe

r

1974

Fumiko Orikasa

Japanese voice actress and singe

r

1974

Jay Pandolfo

American ice hockey player and coac

h

1975

Aigars Fadejevs

Latvian race walker and therapis

t

1975

Heather O'Rourke

American actress

(d. 1988)

1976

Nikolaos Georgeas

Greek footballe

r

1976

Piotr Morawski

Polish mountaineer

(d. 2009)

1976

Daimí Pernía

Cuban basketball player and hurdle

r

1976

Fernando Pisani

Canadian-Italian ice hockey playe

r

1977

Jacqueline Pillon

Canadian actres

s

1977

Chris Tate

English footballe

r

1978

Deuce McAllister

American football playe

r

1978

Lisa Jakub

Canadian actres

s

1979

Pascale Dorcelus

Canadian weightlifte

r

1979

David Dunn

English footballer and manage

r

1979

Carson Palmer

American football playe

r

1980

Bernard Berrian

American football playe

r

1980

Claudio Castagnoli

Swiss wrestle

r

1980

Dahntay Jones

American basketball playe

r

1980

Meelis Kompus

Estonian journalis

t

1981

David Aardsma

American baseball playe

r

1981

Emilie de Ravin

Australian actres

s

1981

Jay Ellis

American acto

r

1981

Moise Joseph

American-Haitian runne

r

1981

Patrick Sharp

Canadian ice hockey playe

r

1982

Erin E. Stead

American illustrato

r

1983

Anthony Boric

New Zealand rugby union playe

r

1983

Cole Hamels

American baseball playe

r

1983

Jesse Williams

American high jumpe

r

1984

Andrejs Perepļotkins

Ukrainian-Latvian footballe

r

1984

Gilles Simon

French tennis playe

r

1985

Logan Bailly

Belgian footballe

r

1985

Jérôme d'Ambrosio

Belgian racing drive

r

1985

Paul Stastny

Canadian-American ice hockey playe

r

1986

Torah Bright

Australian snowboarde

r

1986

Jamaal Charles

American football playe

r

1986

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Jamaican sprinte

r

1987

Lily Cole

English mode

l

1988

Jorge Gutiérrez

Mexican basketball playe

r

1988

Hera Hilmar

Icelandic actres

s

1988

Zavon Hines

Jamaican-English footballe

r

1988

Ok Taec-yeon

South Korean singer and acto

r

1988

Rick Porcello

American baseball playe

r

1988

Hayley Williams

American singer-songwrite

r

1989

Ingrid Várgas Calvo

Peruvian tennis playe

r

1990

Max Lindholm

Finnish figure skate

r

1990

Jonathan Marchessault

Canadian ice hockey playe

r

1990

Milos Raonic

Canadian tennis playe

r

1990

Zelina Vega

American wrestle

r

1991

Chloe Bridges

American actres

s

1991

Michael Morgan

Australian rugby league playe

r

1991

Beth Potter

Scottish triathlete and long-distance runne

r

1991

Danny Wilson

Scottish footballe

r

1992

Joel Indermitte

Estonian footballe

r

1992

Maicel Uibo

Estonian decathlet

e

1993

Olivia Cooke

English actres

s

1995

Timothée Chalamet

French-American acto

r

1995

Nick Chubb

American football playe

r

1995

Mark Lapidus

Estonian chess playe

r

1997

Vachirawit Chivaaree

Thai actor and singe

r

1997

Ana Konjuh

Croatian tennis playe

r

1998

Luka Garza

American basketball playe

r

1999

Brock Purdy

American football playe

r

December 27 Deaths

683

Gaozong of Tang

founding emperor of the Chinese Tang dynasty

(b. 628)

870

Aeneas of Paris

Frankish bisho

p

975

Balderic

bishop of Utrecht

(b. 897)

1003

Emma of Blois

French duchess and regen

t

1005

Nilus the Younger

Byzantine abbot

(b. 910)

1076

Sviatoslav II

Grand Prince of Kiev

(b. 1027)

1087

Bertha of Savoy

Holy Roman Empress

(b. 1051)

1381

Edmund Mortimer

3rd Earl of March, English politician

(b. 1352)

1518

Mahmood Shah Bahmani II

sultan of the Bahmani Sultanate

(b. c. 1470)

1543

George

margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach

(b. 1484)

1548

Francesco Spiera

Italian lawyer and jurist

(b. 1502)

1603

Thomas Cartwright

English minister and theologian

(b. 1535)

1637

Vincenzo Giustiniani

Italian banker

(b. 1564)

1641

Francis van Aarssens

Dutch diplomat

(b. 1572)

1642

Herman op den Graeff

Dutch bishop

(b. 1585)

1656

Andrew White

English Jesuit missionary

(b. 1579)

1660

Hervey Bagot

English politician

(b. 1591)

1663

Christine of France

Duchess of Savoy

(b. 1606)

1672

Jacques Rohault

French philosopher

(b. 1618)

1683

Maria Francisca of Savoy

Queen consort of Portugal

(b. 1646)

1689

Gervase Bryan

English clergyman

(b. 1622)

1693

Henri de Villars

French prelate

(b. 1621)

1694

Henrik Span

naval officer in the Dutch

(b. 1634)

1704

Hans Albrecht von Barfus

Prussian field marshal and politician

(b. 1635)

1707

Jean Mabillon

French monk and scholar

(b. 1632)

1707

Robert Leke

3rd Earl of Scarsdale, English earl, politician

(b. 1654)

1737

William Bowyer

English printer

(b. 1663)

1743

Hyacinthe Rigaud

French painter

(b. 1659)

1771

Henri Pitot

French engineer, invented the Pitot tube

(b. 1695)

1776

Johann Rall

Hessian colonel

(b. c. 1726)

1782

Henry Home

Lord Kames, Scottish judge and philosopher

(b. 1697)

1800

Hugh Blair

Scottish minister and author

(b. 1718)

1812

Joanna Southcott

English religious leader

(b. 1750)

1834

Charles Lamb

English essayist and poet

(b. 1775)

1836

Stephen F. Austin

American soldier and politician

(b. 1793)

1858

Alexandre Pierre François Boëly

French pianist and composer

(b. 1785)

1895

Eivind Astrup

Norwegian explorer

(b. 1871)

1896

John Brown

English businessman and politician

(b. 1816)

1900

William Armstrong

1st Baron Armstrong, English engineer and businessman, founded Armstrong Whitworth

(b. 1810)

1914

Charles Martin Hall

American chemist and engineer

(b. 1863)

1919

Achilles Alferaki

Russian-Greek composer and politician, Governor of Taganrog

(b. 1846)

1923

Gustave Eiffel

French architect and engineer, co-designed the Eiffel Tower

(b. 1832)

1924

Agda Meyerson

Swedish nurse and healthcare activist

(b. 1866)

1936

Mehmet Akif Ersoy

Turkish poet, academic, and politician

(b. 1873)

1938

Calvin Bridges

American geneticist and academic

(b. 1889)

1938

Osip Mandelstam

Polish-Russian poet and critic

(b. 1891)

1938

Zona Gale

American novelist, short story writer, and playwright

(b. 1874)

1939

Rinaldo Cuneo

American painter

(b. 1877)

1943

Ants Kurvits

Estonian general and politician, 10th Estonian Minister of War

(b. 1887)

1950

Max Beckmann

German-American painter and sculptor

(b. 1884)

1952

Patrick Joseph Hartigan

Australian priest, author, and educator

(b. 1878)

1953

Şükrü Saracoğlu

Turkish soldier and politician, 6th Prime Minister of Turkey

(b. 1887)

1953

Julian Tuwim

Polish poet and author

(b. 1894)

1955

Alfred Carpenter

English admiral, Victoria Cross recipient

(b. 1881)

1956

Lambert McKenna

Irish priest and lexicographer

(b. 1870)

1965

Edgar Ende

German painter

(b. 1901)

1972

Lester B. Pearson

Canadian historian and politician, 14th Prime Minister of Canada, Nobel Prize laureate

(b. 1897)

1974

Vladimir Fock

Russian physicist and mathematician

(b. 1898)

1974

Amy Vanderbilt

American author

(b. 1908)

1978

Chris Bell

American singer-songwriter and guitarist

(b. 1951)

1978

Houari Boumediene

Algerian colonel and politician, 2nd President of Algeria

(b. 1932)

1978

Bob Luman

American singer-songwriter and guitarist

(b. 1937)

1979

Hafizullah Amin

Afghan educator and politician, 2nd General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan

(b. 1929)

1981

Hoagy Carmichael

American singer-songwriter, pianist, and actor

(b. 1899)

1982

Jack Swigert

American pilot, astronaut, and politician

(b. 1931)

1985

Jean Rondeau

French racing driver

(b. 1946)

1986

George Dangerfield

English-American historian and journalist

(b. 1904)

1986

Dumas Malone

American historian and author

(b. 1892)

1987

Rewi Alley

New Zealand writer and political activist

(b. 1897)

1988

Hal Ashby

American director and producer

(b. 1929)

1992

Kay Boyle

American novelist, poet, and educator

(b. 1902)

1993

Feliks Kibbermann

Estonian chess player and philologist

(b. 1902)

1993

Evald Mikson

Estonian footballer

(b. 1911)

1993

André Pilette

Belgian racing driver

(b. 1918)

1994

Fanny Cradock

English author and critic

(b. 1909)

1994

J. B. L. Reyes

Filipino lawyer and jurist

(b. 1902)

1995

Shura Cherkassky

Ukrainian-American pianist

(b. 1909)

1995

Genrikh Kasparyan

Armenian chess player and composer

(b. 1910)

1997

Brendan Gill

American journalist and essayist

(b. 1914)

1997

Billy Wright

Northern Irish loyalist leader

(b. 1960)

1999

Michael McDowell

American author and screenwriter

(b. 1950)

2002

George Roy Hill

American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

(b. 1921)

2003

Alan Bates

English actor

(b. 1934)

2003

Iván Calderón

Puerto Rican-American baseball player

(b. 1962)

2004

Hank Garland

American guitarist

(b. 1930)

2007

Benazir Bhutto

Pakistani politician, Prime Minister of Pakistan

(b. 1953)

2007

Jerzy Kawalerowicz

Polish director and screenwriter

(b. 1922)

2007

Jaan Kross

Estonian author and poet

(b. 1920)

2008

Delaney Bramlett

American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

(b. 1939)

2008

Robert Graham

Mexican-American sculptor

(b. 1938)

2009

Isaac Schwartz

Ukrainian-Russian composer and educator

(b. 1923)

2011

Catê

Brazilian footballer and manager

(b. 1973)

2011

Michael Dummett

English soldier, philosopher, and academic

(b. 1925)

2011

Helen Frankenthaler

American painter and educator

(b. 1928)

2011

Johnny Wilson

Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach

(b. 1929)

2012

Harry Carey

Jr., American actor, producer, and screenwriter

(b. 1921)

2012

Lloyd Charmers

Jamaican singer, keyboard player, and producer

(b. 1938)

2012

Tingye Li

Chinese-American physicist and engineer

(b. 1931)

2012

Archie Roy

Scottish astronomer and academic

(b. 1924)

2012

Norman Schwarzkopf

Jr., American general and engineer

(b. 1934)

2012

Salt Walther

American race car driver

(b. 1947)

2013

Richard Ambler

English-Scottish biologist and academic

(b. 1933)

2013

Mohamad Chatah

Lebanese economist and politician, Lebanese Minister of Finance

(b. 1951)

2013

Gianna D'Angelo

American soprano and educator

(b. 1929)

2013

John Matheson

Canadian colonel, lawyer, and politician

(b. 1917)

2013

Farooq Sheikh

Indian actor, philanthropist and a popular television presenter

(b. 1948)

2014

Ben Ammi Ben-Israel

American-Israeli religious leader, founded the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem

(b. 1939)

2014

Ulises Estrella

Ecuadorian poet and academic

(b. 1939)

2014

Ronald Li

Hong Kong accountant and businessman

(b. 1929)

2014

Karel Poma

Belgian bacteriologist and politician

(b. 1920)

2015

Stein Eriksen

Norwegian-American skier

(b. 1927)

2015

Dave Henderson

American baseball player and sportscaster

(b. 1958)

2015

Ellsworth Kelly

American painter and sculptor

(b. 1923)

2015

Meadowlark Lemon

American basketball player and minister

(b. 1932)

2015

Alfredo Pacheco

Salvadoran footballer

(b. 1982)

2015

Stevie Wright

English-Australian singer-songwriter

(b. 1947)

2016

Carrie Fisher

American actress, screenwriter, author, producer, and speaker

(b. 1956)

2016

Ratnasiri Wickremanayake

Sri Lankan politician

(b. 1933)

2018

Frank Blaichman

Polish resistance fighter

(b. 1922)

2019

Maria Creveling

American League of Legends player

(b. 1995)

2023

Lee Sun-kyun

South Korean actor

(b. 1975)

2023

Gaston Glock

Austrian firearm engineer and founder of Glock

(b. 1929)