Dec 2 Nicolaas Kruik, Dutch hydraulic engineer (drained Haarlemmermeer), born in West-Vlieland, Netherlands (d. 1754) Dec 8 Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole of Wolterton, English diplomat, born in Houghton, Cambridge, England (d. 1757) Dec 13 Yongzheng, 4th Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, born in Yonghe Palace, Forbidden City, China (d. 1735) Dec 14 Daniel Neal, English historian, born in London (d. 1743) Dec 30 William Croft, English composer and organist, born in Nether Ettington (d. 1727) 1677 Famous Birthdays by Year 1679