Famous Birthdays on March 2

Sam Houston (1793-1863)

American born 1st President of Republic of Texas (1836-38, 1841-44) who helped bring Texas into the United States as a constituent state, born in Rockbridge County, Virginia

1800 Evgeny Baratynsky, Russian poet (d. 1844)

Leo XIII (1810-1903)

256th Pope (1878-1903), born in Carpineto, Papal States

1813 George Alexander Macfarren, British composer and musicologist, born in London, England (d. 1887)
1815 Antonio Buzzolla, Italia composer, born in Adria (d. 1871)
1816 Alexander H. Bullock, 26th Governor of Massachusetts (d. 1882)
1817 Janos Arany, Hungarian epic poet (Toldi, Death of King Buda), born in Nagyszalonta, Kingdom of Hungary (d. 1882)
1820 Multatuli [Eduard Douwes Dekker], Dutch writer (Max Havelaar), born in Amsterdam (d. 1887)
1824 Henry Beebee Carrington, American lawyer, professor, prolific author, and Brigadier General (Union Army), born in Wallingford, Connecticut (d. 1912)
1824 Konstantin Ushinsky, Russian educationalist (credited as the founder of scientific pedagogy in Russia), born in Tula, Russia (d. 1870)
1824 [Friedrich] Bedřich Smetana, Czech composer (The Bartered Bride; Má Vlast; Moldau), born in Litomyšl, Bohemia (d. 1884)
1828 Jefferson Columbus Davis, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Clark County, Indiana (d. 1879)
1829 Carl Schurz, German-American journalist and Major General (Union Army), born in Erftstadt, Germany (d. 1906)
1836 Henry Billings Brown, U.S. Supreme Court Justice (d. 1913)
1838 David Duffle Wood, American blind composer (organist and choir master St. Stephen's Episcopal Church), born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 1910)
1842 Carl Jacobsen, Danish brewer (d. 1914)
1843 Princess Maria Clotilde of Savoy (d. 1911)
1844 Herman Schaepman 'the Doctor', Dutch poet, Roman Catholic priest, theologian, and politician, born in Tubbergen, Netherlands (d. 1903)
1849 Robert Means Thompson, U.S. Naval Officer (d. 1930)
1859 Sholem Aleichem [Solomon Rabinowitz], Yiddish author and playwright (Fiddler on the Roof, Tevye the Dairyman), born in Pereyaslav, Russian Empire (d. 1916)
1860 Susanna M. Salter, 1st American female mayor and temperance leader (d. 1961)
1862 Boris Borisovich Galitzine, Russian physicist (d. 1916)
1862 John Jay Chapman, American poet, and writer (Learning & Other Essays), born in New York City (d. 1933)
1865 Théophile "Théo" Ysaÿe, Belgian composer and pianist, born in Verviers, Belgium (d. 1918)
1875 Hans Lietzman, German theologist and church historian, born in Düsseldorf (d. 1942)

Pius XII (1876-1958)

260th Roman Catholic Pope (1939-58), born in Rome, Kingdom of Italy

1878 Wander Johannes de Haas, Dutch physicist (Shubnikov–de Haas effect), born in Lisse, Netherlands (d. 1960)
1878 William Kissam Vanderbilt II, member of the Vanderbilt family (d. 1944)
1882 Wallis Clark, British-American stage and screen actor (Penny Serenade; Great Guy; Postal Inspector; Easy Money), born in Essex, England (d. 1961)
1884 Léon Jongen, Belgian organist, composer, and academic, born in Liège (d. 1969)
1886 Willis O'Brien, American animator (d. 1962)
1890 Oscar Egg, Swiss track and road bicycle racer (3 x world hour record), born in Schlatt, Switzerland (d. 1961)
1892 Felix Bressart, German actor (Ninotchka, Escape, Crossroads), born in Eydtkuhnen, East Prussia, Germany (d. 1949)
1893 Maxime Dumoulin, French composer (d. 1972)
1894 Renaat Veremans, Flemish organist, composer, and conductor (Flemish Opera, Antwerp, 1921-44), born in Lierre, Belgium (d. 1969)
1896 Clair Bee, American College Basketball and Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Long Island University undefeated 1936, 39; National Invitation Tournament 1939, 41), born in Grafton, West Virginia (d. 1983)
1899 Harald Søltoft Agersnap, Danish cellist, pianist, conductor, and composer (Royal Danish Theatre, 1931-66), born in Vinding, Denmark (d. 1982)
1899 Pattie Menzies, Australian wife of PM Robert Menzies, born in Alexandra, Australia (d. 1995)
1900 Kurt Weill, German-American composer and collaborator of Bertolt Brecht (Die Dreigroschenoper - The Threepenny Opera), born in Dessau, Germany (d. 1950)
1902 Edward Condon, American nuclear physicist (pioneer in quantum mechanics, involved in Manhattan Project), born in Alamogordo, New Mexico (d. 1974)

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991)

American children's author (The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham), born in Springfield, Massachusetts

1905 Marc Blitzstein, American opera and theater composer, librettist (The Cradle Will Rock), and translator (Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill works), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1964)
1907 Jheri [Robert] Redding, American hairdresser and businessman (created the Jheri curl and hair conditioner), born in Rantoul, Illinois (d. 1998)
1908 Fyodor Matveyevich Okhlopkov, Yakut-born Soviet sniper (d. 1968)
1908 John Brasser, Dutch resistance fighter (White Ko) (d. 1991)
1908 Walter Bruch, German engineer (d. 1990)
1909 Hanoch Jacoby, Israeli violist (Israel Philharmonic, 1958-74), educator, and composer, born in Königsberg, Germany (d. 1990)

Mel Ott (1909-1958)

American Baseball HOF right fielder and manager (12 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1933; 6 × NL home run leader; NY Giants), born in Gretna, Louisiana

1911 William Hansen, American actor (1776, Pinky, Side Street, Homebodies), born in Washington, District of Columbia (d. 1975)
1912 (Theodore) "Red" Saunders, American jazz drummer and bandleader, based in Chicago, born in Memphis, Tennessee (d. 1981)
1912 Arthur Langton, South African cricket medium pace bowler (15 Tests, 40 wickets), born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa (d. 1942)
1913 Celedonio Romero, Spanish guitarist (d. 1996)
1913 Georgy Flyorov, Soviet-Russian physicist (spontaneous fission, Soviet atomic bomb project), born in Rostov-on-Don, Russian Empire (d. 1990)
1913 Godfried Bomans, Dutch humorist and writer and TV personality (Pieter Bas), born in The Hague, Netherlands (d. 1971)
1913 Marjorie Weaver, American actress (Michael Shayne: Private Detective, Young Mr Lincoln), born in Crossville, Tennessee (d. 1994)
1913 Mort Cooper, American baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 1942, 43, 45, 46; World Series 1942, 44; NL MVP 1942), born in Atherton, Missouri (d. 1958)
1915 Lona Andre [Launa Anderson], American actress (Death in the Air, Case of Baby Sitter), born in Nashville, Tennessee (d. 1992)
1916 Bernard George Stevens, British composer, born in London, England (d. 1983)

Desi Arnaz (1917-1986)

Cuban-American singer ("Babalú"), bandleader, actor (I Love Lucy - "Ricky Riccardo"), and television producer (The Untouchables), born in Santiago de Cuba

1917 Alex Graham, Scottish cartoonist who created the comic strip "Fred Basset", born in Glasgow, Scotland (d. 1991)
1917 David Goodis, American writer (d. 1967)
1917 Jim Konstanty, American MLB relief pitcher (MLB All Star 1950; NL MVP 1950; Philadelphia Phillies), born in Strykersville, New York (d. 1976)
1917 John Gardner, English classical composer, born in Manchester, England (d. 2011)
1919 Eddie Lawrence, American comedian and monologist (The Old Philosopher), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2014) [1]

Jennifer Jones (1919-2009)

American actress (Farewell to Arms), born in Tulsa, Oklahoma

1919 Tamara Toumanova, Georgian-American prima ballerina (Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo), born in Tyumen, Russian (d. 1996)
1920 Enrique Franco, Spanish pianist, composer (Cuerda de presos), music promoter, and broadcaster (National Spanish Radio; Radio Clásica), born in Madrid Spain (d. 2009)
1921 Norman T. Hatch, American oscar-winning marine cinematographer during WWII (With the Marines at Tarawa), born in Boston (d. 2017)
1921 Robert Simpson, British classical composer, and broadcaster (BBC), born in Leamington, Warwickshire, England (d. 1997)
1922 Bill Quackenbush, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman (8 x NHL All-Star; Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings) and coach (Princeton), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 1999)
1922 Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, American jazz saxophonist (Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band), born in Culver City, California (d. 1986)
1922 Eric Feldbush [Désiré Feldbusch], Belgian cellist, conductor, and composer (Pastels), born in Grivegnée, Belgium (d. 2007)
1922 Mario Zafred, Italian composer, music critic, and opera director, born in Trieste, Italy (d. 1987)
1923 György Pásztor, Hungarian ice hockey forward (6 x Hungarian C'hip; Budapest SC, Red Meteor SC; Hungarian IHHOF) and administrator (est. Hungarian IH Federation), born in Törökbálint, Hungary (d. 2022)
1923 Orrin Keepnews, American jazz producer and founder of Riverside Records and Milestone Records labels, born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2015)
1923 Robert H. Michel, American politician (Rep-R-IL, 1957-95), born in Peoria, Illinois (d. 2017)
1924 Albert TLCA Vogel, Dutch elocutionist
1924 Alexander "Papa" Lightfoot, American blues singer and harmonica player, born in Natchez, Mississippi (d. 1971)
1925 Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis [Charles Thompson], American blues musician (Cold Hands), born in Tippo, Mississippi (d. 1995)
1926 Murray Rothbard, American economist, and libertarian, born in The Bronx, NYC (d. 1995)
1927 Ray Prosser, Welsh rugby union prop (22 caps Wales, 1 British & Irish Lions; Pontypool) and coach (Pontypool RFC 1969-87), born in Pontypool, Wales (d. 2020)
1927 Roger Walkowiak, French road cyclist (Tour de France 1956), born in Montluçon, France (d. 2017)
1927 Siegfried Kohler, German composer (Tausend Sterne sind ein Dom), born in Meissen, Germany (d. 1984)
1927 Witold Szalonek, Polish composer (Satire), educator, and musicologist, born in Czechowice-Dziedzice, Poland (d. 2001) [1]
1928 Father John Romanides, Greek priest and professor (d. 2001)
1928 John Manduell, British-based South African composer and educator (Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, 1973-96), born in Johannesburg, Union of South Africa (d. 2017)
1928 José Luis Pérez-Payá, Spanish soccer forward (2 caps; Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid), born in Alcoy, Spain (d. 2022)
1929 Sir Donald Gosling, British former-Chairman of "National Car Parks" and multi-millionaire, born in England
1930 Emma Penella, Spanish actress, born in Madrid, Spain (d. 2007)
1930 Jan van Noor, Dutch 2nd Chamber member (CDA)
1930 John Cullum, American Tony Award-winning stage and screen singer and actor (Hamlet; 1776; Hawaii; Northern Exposure - "Holling"; The Middle -"Big Mike"), born in Knoxville, Tennessee
1931 Duane Graveline, doctor and astronaut, born in Newport Vermont (d. 2016)

Mikhail Gorbachev (1931-2022)

General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1985-91), born in Stavropol, Russia [1]

1931 Tom Wolfe, American journalist and author (The Right Stuff), born in Richmond, Virginia (d. 2018)
1932 Frank E. Petersen Jr, American soldier and 1st African American Marine aviator & General, born in Topeka Kansas (d. 2015)
1934 Bernard Rands, composer (Wildtrack), born in Sheffield, England
1934 Howard Cassady, American College Football Hall of Fame halfback (Heisman Trophy 1955, Ohio State; NFL C'ship 1957, Detroit Lions), born in Hendrysburg, Ohio (d. 2019)
1934 Joyce "Dottie" Rambo (nee Luttrell), American gospel singer and songwriter, born in Madisonville, Kentucky (d. 2008)
1935 Al Waxman, Canadian actor (Cagney & Lacey, Meatballs 3, Spasms), born in Toronto, Ontario
1935 Porky Pig, Warner Bros. cartoon character created by Friz Freleng and Frank Tashlin (Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series), first debuts in "I Haven't Got a Hat"
1936 Buell Neidlinger, American pop, jazz, and classical session cellist and double bassist (Cecil Taylor; Frank Zappa; Duane Eddy), born in New York City (d. 2018)
1936 Henny Boskamp [Hoelscher], actor (Troeleke)

Abdelaziz Bouteflika (1937-2021)

Algerian politician, President of Algeria (1999-2019), born in Oujda, Morocco

1937 Denny Crum, American College Basketball & Basketball Hall of Fame coach (University of Louisville 1971-2001; NCAA C'ship 1980, 86; 6 x Final Fours), born in San Fernando, California (d. 2023)
1938 Alan Lewis, English textile factory/multi-millionaire
1938 Donald Schwall, American baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 1961²; AL Rookie of the Year 1961; Boston Red Sox), born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
1938 Ricardo Lagos, former President of Chile
1938 Simon Estes, American bass-baritone (Wonton, Don Carlos), born in Centerville, Iowa
1939 Barbara Luna, American actress (5 Weeks in a Balloon, Gentle Savage), born in NYC, New York
1939 Gerard van Tongeren, Dutch pop guitarist and singer (The Buffoons - "Tomorrow Is Another Day; "It's The End")
1940 Billy McNeill MBE, Scottish soccer defender (29 caps; Celtic) and manager (Celtic, Manchester City, Aston Villa), born in Bellshill, Scotland (d. 2019)
1940 Frederik van Zyl Slabbert, chairman (South African Prog Fed Party, 1979-86)
1940 Tony Croatto {Hermes Martinis], Italian-Puerto Rican folk song singer and composer (Los TNT; Haciendo Punto en Otro Son), and television presenter, born in Udine, Italy (d. 2005)
1941 David Satcher, Amdniral and 16th United States Surgeon General (1998-2001), born in Anniston, Alabama
1941 John Cornell, Australian screenwriter (Paul Hogan Show; Crocodile Dundee), and director (Crocodile Dundee II), born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia (d. 2021)
1942 Claude Larose, Canadian NHL right wing (Stanley Cup 1965, 66, 68, 71, 73; Montreal Canadiens), born in Hearst, Ontario
1942 John Irving, American short-story writer (The World According to Garp; The Cider House Rules), born in Exeter, New Hampshire
1942 Kwang Jo Choi, the founder of Choi Kwang- do and is one of the twelve original Masters of Taekwon-Do.
1942 Lou Reed, American rock vocalist, songwriter and guitarist (Velvet Underground - "Sweet Jane"; "Walk On The Wild Side"), born in NYC, New York (d. 2013)
1942 Luc Plamondon, French Canadian musical lyricist, born in Saint-Raymond, Quebec
1943 (Daniel) Tony Meehan, British rock drummer (Vipers; Drifters: Shadows), born in Hampstead, North West London, England (d. 2005)
1943 Gordon Black, English industrialist
1943 Juan Carlos Masnik, Uruguayan soccer defender (26 caps; NY Skyliners, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, Nacional, NY Cosmos), born in Soriano, Uruguay (d. 2021)
1943 Peter Straub, American award-winning fantasy and horror author, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1943 Robert Williams (often Robt. Williams) American painter, cartoonist (Zap Comix), and founder of Juxtapoz Art & Culture Magazine, born in Albuquerque, New Mexico
1943 Rosa DeLauro, American politician (Rep-D-Connecticut, 1991-), born in New Haven, Connecticut
1943 Stephen Dickman, American composer and librettist (Tibetan Dreams; Rabbi Nathan's Prayer), born in Chicago, Illinois
1944 Katherine Crawford, actress (Captains & Kings, Gemini Man)
1944 Leif Segerstam, Finnish violinist, conductor, and composer of 342 symphonies (...and counting!), born in Vaasa, Finland
1944 Uschi Glas, German actress
1945 Derek Watkins, British trumpet player and composer ("The Spy Who Loved Me"; "Skyfall"), born in Reading, England (d. 2013)
1945 Gordon Thompson, Canadian actor (Adam Carrington in Dynasty), born in Ottawa
1945 Joy Garrett, American actress (Jo Johnson-Days of Our Lives), born in Fort Worth, Texas (d. 1993)
1946 Brian J. Donnelly, American politician (Rep-D-MA, 1979-93), born in Boston, Massachusetts
1947 Harry Redknapp, English soccer winger (West Ham United; AFC Bournemouth) and manager (Bournemouth, West Ham, Tottenham, Portsmouth, QPR, Southampton), born in London, England
1948 Jeff Kennett, Australian politician
1948 Larry Carlton, American jazz and rock session and touring guitarist (Crusaders; Joni Mitchell; Steely Dan), born in Torrance, California
1948 Rory Gallagher, Irish rock and blues guitarist and songwriter ("Born on the Wrong Side of Time"), born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland (d. 1995)
1949 Alain Chamfort [Le Govic], French rock singer-songwriter, and piano player, born in Paris, France
1949 Gates McFadden, American actress (Beverly Crusher-Star Trek Next Generation), born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
1949 J. P. R. Williams, Welsh rugby union fullback (55 caps Wales, 8 British & Irish Lions; Grand Slam 1971, 76, 78), born in Bridgend, Wales
1950 Jeffrey Chodorow, American restaurateur and financier
1950 Karen Carpenter, American pop vocalist and drummer ("We've Only Just Begun"; "Rainy Days And Mondays"; "Top Of The World"), born in New Haven, Connecticut (d. 1983)
1950 Matthew Laurance, actor (Duet)
1950 Mitchel Laurance, actor (LA Law, Not Necessarily the News)
1951 Cassie Yates, Macon Ga, actress (Osterman Weekend, Dynasty)
1952 Laraine Newman, comedienne/actress (Saturday Night Live), born in Los Angeles, California
1952 Mark Evanier, American writer
1953 William Simmons, American R&B saxophonist and keyboardist (Midnight Star - "No Parking On The Dance Floor"; "Operator")
1954 Hunt Sales, American rock drummer (Todd Rundgren; Iggy Pop; Tin Machine), born in Detroit, Michigan
1954 John Sciarra, American College Football Hall of Fame safety (UCLA; NFL: Philadelphia Eagles), born in Los Angeles, California
1954 Pete Johnson, American football running back (Pro Bowl, 2nd Team All Pro 1981; Cincinnati Bengals; Ohio State University), born in Fort Valley, Georgia
1954 Stone Phumelele Sizani, South African treasurer (UDF)
1955 Dale Bosworth, TV host (America's Most Wanted)
1955 Dale Bozzio, vocalist (Missing Persons-Destination Unknown), born in Boston, Massachusetts
1955 Jawanza Kobie, American jazz pianist and composer, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1955 Jay Osmond, American singer and drummer (Osmond Brothers - "One Way Ticket to Anywhere"), born in Ogden, Utah
1955 Ken Salazar, American politician
1955 Shoko Asahara [Chizuo Matsumoto], Japanese sect leader
1956 Eusebio Pedroza, Panamanian boxer (WBA featherweight champion 1978-85), born in Panama City, Panama (d. 2019)
1956 Gary Pearce, English rugby union prop (36 caps; Northampton Saints), born in Dinton, England
1956 John Cowsill, American rock drummer (The Cowsills - "We Can Fly"; Beach Boys, 2000-present), born in Newport, Rhode Island
1956 Mark Evans, Australian rock bassist (AC/DC), born in Melbourne, Victoria
1958 Ian Woosnam, Welsh golfer (US Masters 1991), born in Oswestry, England
1958 Kevin Curren, South African tennis player (US Open doubles, mixed doubles 1982; Wimbledon doubles 1982; US Open mixed doubles 1981), born in Durban, South Africa
1958 Peter Arnold, American architect
1959 Larry Stewart, American country singer (Restless Heart - "Alright Already"), born in Paducah, Kentucky
1961 Simone Young, Australian conductor (Hamburg State Opera and Hamburg Philharmonic, 2005-15), born in Sydney, Australia

Jon Bon Jovi (61 years old)

1962 American rock singer-songwriter (Bon Jovi - "You Give Love a Bad Name"; "Who Says You Can't Go Home"), born in Sayreville, New Jersey

1962 Michael Salinger, American poet
1962 Morioka Hiroyuki, Japanese writer
1962 Raimo Summanen, Finnish ice hockey left wing (World C'Ships gold 1995; NHL: Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks) and coach (Finland; HIFK), born in Jyväskylä, Finland
1962 Terry Steinbach, American baseball catcher (MLB All-Star 1988, 89, 93; World Series 1989; Oakland A's), born in New Ulm, Minnesota

Anthony Albanese (60 years old)

1963 Australian politician (Prime Minister of Australia 2022-), born in Sydney, Australia

1963 Suzette Charles, Miss NJ, replaces Vanessa Williams as Miss America (1983)
1963 Tanyu Kiryakov, Bulgarian pistol shooter (Olympic gold 10m air pistol 1988, 50m pistol 2000), born in Ruse, Bulgaria
1963 Tuff Hedeman, American bull rider (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) World C'ship 1986, 89, 91); Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World C'ship 1995), born in El Paso, Texas
1964 Laird Hamilton, American big-wave surfer (co-inventor of tow-in surfing; heaviest wave ever ridden successfully, Teahupo'o 2000), born in San Francisco, California
1965 Lembit Öpik, British politician (Liberal Democrats), born in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland

Ron Gant (58 years old)

1965 American baseball outfielder (MLB All Star 1992, 95; Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds) and broadcaster (WAGA-TV, co-host 'Good Day Atlanta', born in Victoria, Texas

1965 Wolfgang Muthspiel, Austrian jazz guitarist, born in Judenburg, Austria
1966 Judith Wiesner, Austrian tennis player (World #12 1997; captain Austria's Federation Cup team 2001), born in Hallein Austria
1966 Stevie Rachelle, American hard rock vocalist (Tuff - "What Comes Around Goes Around"), born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
1967 Dennis Seaton, British reggae-rock singer (Musical Youth - "Pass the Dutchie"), born in Birmingham, England
1967 Thierry Lacroix, French rugby union fly-half (43 caps; 1995 Rugby World Cup top points scorer [112]), born in Nogaro, France

On This Day