On This Day

Famous Birthdays on March 8

  • 1286 John III, Duke of Brittany (d. 1341)
  • 1293 Beatrice of Castile, Queen of Portugal (1325-57), born in Toro, Zamora (d. 1359)
  • 1495 John of God, Portuguese-born friar and saint, founder of the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, born in Montemor-o-Novo, Évora, Portugal (d. 1550)
  • 1514 Amago Haruhisa, Japanese samurai and warlord, born in Izumo, Japan (d. 1562)
  • 1560 Don Carlo Gesualdo, Italian Prince of Venosa and composer, born in Venosa, Kingdom of Naples (now Italy) (d. 1613)
  • 1599 Suzanna van Baerle, Dutch poet ("Dagh-werck" written with her husband, Constantijn Huygens), born in Amsterdam (d. 1637)
  • 1607 Johann von Rist, German composer and poet known for his hymns, born in Ottensen, County of Holstein-Pinneberg (now Germany) (d. 1667)
  • 1659 Isaac de Beausobre, French Protestant pastor, born in Niort, France (d. 1738)

Anne BonnyAnne Bonny (1702-1782)

Irish Caribbean pirate and lover of Calico Jack [date of birth is approximate], born in Kinsale, Ireland

Anne Bonny
  • 1712 John Fothergill, English physician, born in Wensleydale, England (d. 1780)
  • 1714 Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, German composer, son of J. S. Bach, born in Weimar, Duchy of Saxe-Weimar (now Germany) (d. 1788)
  • 1726 Richard Howe, British admiral, born in London (d. 1799)
  • 1743 Bendix Friedrich Zinck, German composer, born in Husum, Duchy of Holstein (now Germany) (d. 1801)
  • 1746 André Michaux, French botanist, born in Satory, France (d. 1802)
  • 1748 William V of Orange, Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, born in The Hague, Netherlands (d. 1806)
  • 1778 Friedrich August Kanne, Austrian-German composer, born in Delitzsch, Saxony (now Germany) (d. 1833)
  • 1783 Gottfied Wilhelm Fink, German composer, born in Sulza, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) (d. 1846)
  • 1783 Hannah Hoes, future wife of U.S. President Martin Van Buren (1837-41), born in Kinderhook, New York (d. 1819)

Karl Ferdinand von GraefeKarl Ferdinand von Graefe (1787-1840)

German surgeon who helped create modern plastic immunologist, born in Warsaw, Poland

Karl Ferdinand von Graefe
  • 1799 Simon Cameron, U.S. Senator and Secretary of War (Union), born in Maytown, Pennsylvania (d. 1889)
  • 1804 Alvan Clark, American astronomer and maker of the Dearborn Observatory telescope, the largest telescope in the world at the time, born in Ashfield, Massachusetts (d. 1887)
  • 1814 Ede Szigligeti [József Szathmáry], Hungarian dramatist, born in Nagyvárad-Olaszi (d. 1878)

Ignacy ŁukasiewiczIgnacy Łukasiewicz (1822-1882)

Polish engineer, businessman and inventor who built the 1st modern oil refinery and invented the kerosene lamp, born in Zaduszniki, Mielec, Austrian Empire

Ignacy Łukasiewicz
  • 1827 Wilhelm Bleek, German linguist (Father of Bantu Philology), born in Berlin (d. 1875)
  • 1828 George William Martin, English chorister, organist, composer, educator, and founder of the National Choral Society, born in London, England (d. 1881)
  • 1830 João de Deus [Sao Bartolomeu de Messines], Portuguese poet (Flores do Campo), born in Algarve, Portugal (d. 1896)
  • 1836 Matthew Calbraith Butler, American Major General (Confederate Army) and politician, born in Greenville, South Carolina (d. 1909)
  • 1839 James Mason Crafts, American chemist (Friedel-Crafts alkylation synthesis), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1917)
  • 1839 Josephine Cochrane, American inventor (automatic dishwasher), born in Ashtabula County, Ohio (d. 1913)
  • 1840 Franco Faccio, Italian composer and conductor, born in Verona, Italy (d. 1891)

Oliver Wendell Holmes JrOliver Wendell Holmes Jr (1841-1935)

US 59th Supreme Court justice (1902-32), born in Boston, Massachusetts

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr
  • 1843 Vilhelm Svedbom, Swedish composer, born in Stockholm, Sweden (d. 1904)
  • 1847 Carl von Bach, German mechanical engineer, born in Stollberg / Erzgeb (d. 1931)
  • 1853 Edward Hubertus Joannes Keurvels, Flemish composer (Parisina), born in Antwerp (d. 1916)
  • 1854 Tom Horan, Australian cricket all-rounder (15 Tests, 1 x 100, 11 wickets; Victoria CA), born in Midleton, Ireland (d. 1916)
  • 1856 Bramwell Booth, 2nd General of The Salvation Army, born in Halifax, England (d. 1929)
  • 1856 Tom Roberts, British-Australian artist (Shearing the Rams), born in Dorchester, Dorset, England (d. 1931)
  • 1857 Ruggero Leoncavallo, Italian composer (I pagliacci/Zaza), born in Naples, Italy (d. 1919)
  • 1859 Kenneth Grahame, Scottish author (The Wind in the Willows), born in Edinburgh (d. 1932)
  • 1859 Otto Taubmann, German composer, born in Hamburg, Germany (d. 1929)
  • 1862 Joseph Lee, Father of Playgrounds movement, born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1937)
  • 1865 Frederick William Goudy, American printer and type designer, born in Bloomington, Illinois (d. 1947)
  • 1872 Paul Juon, Russian-Swiss violinist and composer, born in Moscow, Russia (d. 1940)
  • 1876 Franco Alfano, Italian opera composer (Puccini's Turandot), born in Posillipo, Italy (d. 1954)
  • 1879 Mechtilde Lichnowsky, German writer, born in Pocking, Bavaria (d. 1958)
  • 1879 Otto Hahn, German physicist and chemist (Nobel 1944, radiothorium/actinium), born in Frankfurt, Germany (d. 1968)
  • 1883 Manuel Gómez Carrillo, Argentine composer, born in Santiago del Estero, Argentina (d. 1968)
  • 1886 Anton Portielje, Dutch radio host and zoo director (Artis), born in Amsterdam (d. 1965)
  • 1886 Edward Calvin Kendall, American chemist, isolated cortisone (Nobel 1950), born in South Norwalk, Connecticut (d. 1972)
  • 1888 Stuart Chase, American writer and economist (The Tragedy of Waste), born in Somersworth, New Hampshire (d. 1985)
  • 1889 Oscar Ewing, US government official (Everybody's Business), born in Greensburg, Indiana (d. 1980)
  • 1890 Oswald von Nell-Breuning, German theologist and philosopher, born in Trier, Germany (d. 1991)
  • 1892 Mátyás Rákosi, Hungarian party leader and Prime Minister (1952-53), born in Ada, Serbia (d. 1971)
  • 1893 Mississippi John Hurt, American country blues singer and guitarist, born in Teoc, Carroll County, Mississippi (d. 1966)
  • 1896 Charlotte Whitton, Canadian politician, Mayor of Ottawa (1951-56), born in Renfrew, Ontario (d. 1975)
  • 1899 Elmer Keith, American firearms enthusiast and author (Guns & Ammo), born in Missouri (d. 1984)
  • 1899 Eric Linklater, British novelist and poet (Blue Swallows), born in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales (d. 1974)

Ina BoyleIna Boyle (1899-1967)

Irish composer (Glencree; The Magic Harp), born in Bushey Park, County Wicklow, Ireland

Ina Boyle
  • 1900 Howard Aiken, American computing pioneer (Harvard Mark I computer), born in Hoboken, New Jersey (d. 1973)
  • 1902 Jennings Randolph, American politician, Senator from West Virginia (1958-85), born in Salem, West Virginia (d. 1998)
  • 1902 Louise Beavers, American actress (Beulah-Beulah), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 1962)
  • 1907 Charles Boost, Dutch film critic, born in Breda, Netherlands (d. 1990)
  • 1907 Konstantinos Karamanlis, Greek politician, President of Greece (1980-85), born in Sérrai, Ottoman Empire (d. 1998)
  • 1909 Anthony Donato, America violinist, composer (The Hidden Fortress), pedagogue, and music writer (Preparing Music Manuscript), born in Prague, Nebraska (d. 1990)
  • 1910 Bernard Benjamin, British health statistician, actuary and demographer, born in London (d. 2002)

Claire TrevorClaire Trevor (1910-2000)

American actress (Marjorie Morningstar), born in NYC, New York

Claire Trevor
  • 1911 Alan Hovhaness, Armenian-American composer (Lousadzak, Ukiyo), born in Somerville, Massachusetts (d. 2000)
  • 1911 Elsie Giorgi, American-Italian physician and humanitarian, born in The Bronx, New York (d. 1998)
  • 1912 Preston Smith, 40th Governor of Texas, born in Williamson County, Texas (d. 2003)
  • 1914 Jacob B. Bakema, Dutch modernist architect (St Louis Missouri), born in Groningen, Netherlands (d. 1981)
  • 1914 Yakov Borisovich Zel'dovich, Russian physicist, born in Minsk, Russian Empire (d. 1987)
  • 1915 Tapio Rautavaara, Finnish athlete, actor, and singer (Me tulemme taas, Rion yö), born in Pirkkala, Finland (d. 1979)
  • 1915 Vivien John, English painter and daughter of Augustus John, born in Dorset (d. 1994)
  • 1916 John W. Seybold, American economist and computer typesetting pioneer, born in Newburgh, Indiana (d. 2004)
  • 1916 Robert Wolfgang Schnell, German writer, born in Barmen, Germany (d. 1986)
  • 1918 Poon Lim, Chinese sailor who survived 133 days adrift at sea, born in Hainan, China (d. 1991)
  • 1919 Ivor Keys, British organist, musicologist, and academic (University of Nottingham; University of Birmingham), born in Littlehampton, West Sussex, England (d. 1995)
  • 1920 (James Daniel) "Danny" Turner, American jazz saxophonist and flautist (Count Basie Orchestra), born in Farrell, Pennsylvania (d. 1995_
  • 1920 Eileen Herlie [Herlihy], Scottish-American actress (All My Children, The Angel with the Trumpet), born in Glasgow, Scotland (d. 2008)
  • 1920 Eva Dahlbeck, Swedish actress (Brink of Life, Dreams, A Lesson in Love), born in Saltsjö-Duvnäs, Stockholms län, Sweden (d. 2008)

Alan Hale Jr.Alan Hale Jr. (1921-1990)

American actor (Skipper-Gilligan's Island), born in Los Angeles, California

Alan Hale Jr.
  • 1921 Egbert George "Pete" Pitterson, Jamaican-British jazz trumpeter, born in Kingston, Jamaica< British West Indies (d. 1994)
  • 1922 Carl Furillo, American baseball outfielder (NL Batting Champ 1953; MLB All-Star 1952, 53; World Series 1955, 59; Brooklyn/LA Dodgers), born in Stony Creek Mills, Pennsylvania (d. 1989)
  • 1922 Cyd Charisse [Tula Finklea], Amesrican dancer and actress (Singin' in the Rain), born in Amarillo, Texas (d. 2008)
  • 1922 Heinar Kipphardt, German writer and playwright (In the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer), born in Heidersdorf, Lower Silesia (d. 1982)
  • 1922 Ralph Baer, Creator of the first video game console
  • 1922 Shigeru Mizuki, Japanese soldier and Manga artist (GeGeGe no Kitarō), born in Sakaiminato, Tittori (d. 2015)
  • 1923 Juan M G "Wancho" Evertsz, premier of Dutch Antilles (NVP, 1973-77)
  • 1923 Sembene Ousmane, Senegalese author/novelist/director (Doctor Noir)
  • 1924 Sean McClory, Irish actor (The Californians, My Chauffeur), born in Dublin, Ireland (d. 2003)
  • 1924 Victor "Toby" Neuberg, teacher/writer
  • 1925 Darwin Vargas [-Wallis], Chilean composer and choral conductor, born in Talagante, Chile (d. 1988)
  • 1925 Francisco Rabal, Aguilas Spain, actor (Holy Innocents, Camorra)
  • 1927 Dick Hyman, American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, and organist, born in New York City
  • 1927 Jaromir Podešva, Czech composer (Fragments of the Quinguennium), music theorist, and pedagogue, born in Brno, Czechoslovakia (d. 2000)
  • 1927 Josef Berg, Czech composer and musicologist, born in Brno, Czechoslovakia (d. 1971)
  • 1927 Stanisław Kania, Polish politician
  • 1928 Frank Michael Beyer, composer
  • 1928 Judy Johnson, American singer (Your Show of Shows), born in Norfolk, Virginia
  • 1930 Bob Grim, American baseball player (d. 1996)
  • 1931 John McPhee, author (Back to ----)
  • 1931 Neil Adcock, South African cricket fast bowler (26 Tests, 104 wickets @ 21.10), born in Cape Town, Western Cape (d. 2013)
  • 1931 Neil Postman, American cultural critic (d. 2003)
  • 1933 Johnny Dollar, American country and rockabilly singer, born in Kilgore, Texas (d. 1986)
  • 1934 Christian Wolff, composer
  • 1934 Martí Vergés, Spanish soccer midfielder (12 caps; FC Barcelona), born in Vidreres, Spain (d. 2021)
  • 1934 Marv Breeding, American baseball player (d. 2006)
  • 1934 Rodri, Spanish soccer defender (4 caps; FC Barcelona) and manager (CD Condal), born in Barcelona, Spain (d. 2022)
  • 1934 Ron Taylor, Australian cinematographer (Those Amazing Animals), born in Sydney, New South Wales (d. 2012)
  • 1935 George Coleman, American jazz saxophonist (Slide Hampton, Miles Davis, Chet Baker), born in Memphis, Tennessee
  • 1936 Gábor Szabó, Hungarian-American jazz guitarist (Spellbinder), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 1982)
  • 1936 Sonny Allen, American basketball coach (ODU, Southern Methodist University, University of Nevada, Reno; WNBA Sacramento Monarchs), born in Moundsville, West Virginia (d. 2020)
  • 1936 Sue Ane Langdon, actress (Bachelor Father, Arnie), born in Paterson, New Jersey

Juvénal HabyarimanaJuvénal Habyarimana (1937-1994)

Rwandan General, Dictator and President of Rwanda (1973-94) who was assassinated at the start of the Rwandan genocide, born in Ruanda-Urundi, Belgian Colonial Empire

Juvénal Habyarimana
  • 1937 Juvénal Hayarimana, president of Rwanda (1973-94)
  • 1937 Pamela McEvoy-Johnston, psychotherapist-board member (WIC)
  • 1937 Raynoma Singleton [Gordy], music producer and singer-songwriter (Motown), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2016)
  • 1937 Richard Fariña, American folk singer-songwriter ("Birmingham Sunday"), and novelist ("Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me"), born in New York City (d. 1966)
  • 1938 Pete Dawkins, American College Football Hall of Fame halfback (Heisman Trophy 1958, Army), born in Royal Oak, Michigan
  • 1939 George William Reed, astronomy writer/cartoonist (Dark Sky Legacy)

Jim BoutonJim Bouton (1939-2019)

American baseball pitcher, 1962-70 and 1978 (New York Yankees and 3 other teams; All-Star, 1969), author ("Ball Four"), and broadcaster, born in Newark, New Jersey

Jim Bouton
  • 1939 Lydia Skoblikova, USSR, speed skater (Olympics-6 gold-1960, 64)
  • 1939 Lynn Seymour [Berta Lynn Springbett], Canadian-English ballerina (Royal Ballet, 1962-78), choreographer, and director, born in Wainwright, Alberta (d. 2023)
  • 1939 Mike Lowry, American politician (Rep-D-WA, 1979-89, Governor of Washington 1993-97), born in St. John, Washington (d. 2017)
  • 1939 Robert Tear, Welsh tenor (Welsh National Opera 1970), born in Barry, Wales
  • 1939 Yannis Vlachopoulos, Greek composer

Johnny VenturaJohnny Ventura (1940-2021)

merengue and salsa bandleader (“Patacon Pisao”), and politician (Mayor of Santiago, 1998-2002), born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic [1]

Johnny Ventura
  • 1940 Leslie Isben Rogge, one of FBI's most wanted
  • 1940 Susan Clark, actress (Night Moves, Webster), born in Sarnia, Ontario
  • 1940 Theo Laseroms [The Tank], Dutch soccer player (Feyenoord)
  • 1941 Andrei Mironov, Soviet actor (d. 1987)
  • 1941 Ivana Loudová, Czech composer (Vocal Symphony), born in Chlumec nad Cidlinou, Bohemia (d. 2017)
  • 1941 Yvar Emilian Mikhashoff, American pianist & composer
  • 1942 Ann Packer, British 400m/800m runner (Olympic gold 1964), born in Moulsford, Oxfordshire, England
  • 1942 Dick Allen, American baseball infielder (7 × MLB All-Star; NL Rookie of the Year 1964, Philadelphia Phillies; AL MVP 1972, Chicago White Sox), born in Wampum, Pennsylvania (d. 2020) [1]
  • 1942 Ralph Ellis, British rock guitarist (The Swinging Blue Jeans – "Hippy Hippy Shake"), born in Liverpool, England
  • 1943 Gayla Peevey, American singer ("I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"), and songwriter, born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Lynn RedgraveLynn Redgrave (1943-2010)

British-American actress (Gods and Monsters, Georgy Girl), born in London, England

Lynn Redgrave
  • 1944 Buzz Hargrove, Canadian labour leader
  • 1944 Palito Ortega, Argentine singer and actor
  • 1944 Sergey Nikitin, Russian composer
  • 1945 Anselm Kiefer, German painter
  • 1945 Bruce Broughton, American composer
  • 1945 Graeme Watson, Australian cricket all-rounder (5 Tests, 1 x 50, 6 wickets; 2 ODIs; Victoria CA, WA CA, NSW CA), born in Melbourne, Australia (d. 2020)
  • 1945 Jim Chapman, American politician (Rep-D-TX, 1985-1997), born in Washington, District of Columbia

Micky DolenzMicky Dolenz (78 years old)

1945 American singer (The Monkees - "I'm A Believer"), and actor (Circus Boy), born in Los Angeles, California

Micky Dolenz
  • 1946 Jean Pagé, Canadian sports journalist (host: 'La Soirée du hockey' and '110%'), born in Chicoutimi, Quebec (d. 2019)
  • 1946 Mohammad Nazir, Pakistani cricket spin bowler (14 Tests, BB 7/99; Pakistan railways CC, Punjab Uni CC), born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan
  • 1946 Randy Meisner, American rock bassist and vocalist (Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band; Linda Ronstadt; Eagles, 1971-77- "Take It To The Limit"), born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska
  • 1947 Carole Bayer Sager, American singer-songwriter ("On My Own"; "That's What Friends Are For"), and wife of Burt Bacharach, born in Manhattan, New York
  • 1947 Don Brooks, American session and touring harmonica player (Waylon Jennings; Ken Burns' "The Civil War"), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 2000)
  • 1947 Don Frank Brooks, American blues and session harmonica player (Ken Burns' "The Civil War"), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 2000)
  • 1947 Florentino Pérez, Spanish football executive
  • 1947 Mike Allsup, American rock guitarist (Three Dog Night - "Joy To The World"), born in Modesto, California
  • 1948 Jethro [Geoffrey Rowe], British stand-up comedian (This Train Don't Stop Camborne Wednesdays), born in St Buryan, Cornwall, England (d. 2021)
  • 1948 Little Peggy March [Margaret Battavio], American pop vocalist ("I Will Follow Him"), born in Lansdale, Pennsylvania
  • 1949 Charles Lismont, Belgian marathon runner (Olympic silver 1972)
  • 1951 Philippe Henri Edmonds, cricketer (in Zambia England slow left-arm)
  • 1952 George Felix Allen, American politician
  • 1952 Vladimir Vladimirovich Vasyutin, USSR, cosmonaut (Soyuz T-14)
  • 1953 Bob Brozman, American world music guitarist, ethno-musicologist, and educator, born in NYC (d. 2013)
  • 1953 Don Werner, American MLB baseball catcher, 1975-82 (Cincinnati Reds, Texas Rangers), and minor/major league coach, born in Appleton, Wisconsin
  • 1953 Jim Rice, American Baseball Hall of Fame left fielder (AL MVP 1978; 8 x MLB All Star; AL HR leader 1977, 78, 83; Boston Red Sox), born in Anderson, South Carolina
  • 1953 Kathy Shower, American model and Playboy playmate (May 1985, Playmate of the Year 1986), born in Brookville, Ohio
  • 1954 Cheryl Baker, British rock vocalist (Bucks Fizz - "My Camera Never Lies"), and TV presenter, born in Bethnal Green, London, ENgland
  • 1954 David Wilkie MBE, Scottish swimmer (Olympic gold 200m breaststroke 1976; World C 'ship gold 200m breaststroke 1973, 75, 100m 1975), born in Colombo, Sri Lanka
  • 1954 Karl Schnabl, 90m ski jumper (Olympic gold 1976)
  • 1955 Don Ashby, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 1981)
  • 1956 David Malpass, American economist (President of the World Bank 2019-), born in Petoskey, Michigan
  • 1956 John Kapelos, Canadian actor
  • 1956 Laurie Cunningham, English soccer left winger (6 caps; Orient, West Bromwich Albion, Real Madrid, Marseille, Rayo Vallecano), born in London, England (d. 1989)
  • 1957 Billy Childs, American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, born in Los Angeles, California
  • 1957 Bob Stoddard, American baseball player
  • 1957 Clive Burr, English drummer (Iron Maiden, 1979-82), born in London, England (d. 2013)
  • 1957 Cynthia Rothrock, actress (Lady Dragon, Honor & Glory), born in Wilmington, Delaware
  • 1957 Ruth Wysocki, American 800m/1500m runner, born in Alhambra, California
  • 1958 Andreas Maurer, West Germany, tennis star
  • 1958 Gary Numan [Webb], British new wave rock musician ("Cars"), born in Hammersmith, England
  • 1958 Nick Capra, American baseball player
  • 1959 Aidan Quinn, American actor (Desperately Seeking Susan, Elementary), born in Rockford, Illinois
  • 1959 Lester Holt, American journalist and news anchor (NBC Nightly News, 2015-present), born in Hamilton Air Force Base, California
  • 1960 Buck Williams, NBA forward (Portland Trail Blazers, NY Knicks)
  • 1960 Max Metzker, Australian swimmer
  • 1961 Camryn Manheim, American actress (The Practice), born in Caldwell, New Jersey
  • 1961 Larry Murphy, Scarborough, NHL defenseman (Toronto Maple Leafs)
  • 1962 Shaun Gayle, American football strong safety (Super Bowl 1985; Pro Bowl 1991; Chicago Bears, SD Chargers), born in Newport News, Virginia
  • 1962 William Fuller, NFL defensive end (Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers)
  • 1963 Gursharan Singh, cricketer (Indian batsman played one Test 1989-90)
  • 1963 Mike Lalor, American NHL defenseman (Dallas Stars), born in Buffalo, New York
  • 1964 Lance McCullers, American baseball player
  • 1964 Peter [Ped] Gill, British drummer (Frankie Goes to Hollywood - "Relax"), born in Liverpool, England
  • 1965 Fátima Lopes, Portuguese fashion designer
  • 1965 Kenny Smith, NBA guard (Houston Rockets)
  • 1966 Laura McCabe, cross country skier (Olympics 1994)
  • 1967 Brent Fedyk, Yorkton, NHL left wing (Dallas Stars)
  • 1967 Joel Johnston, American baseball player
  • 1968 Clare Wood, Zululand South Africa, tennis star (1986 Futures-Lisbon)
  • 1968 Ellen Forney, American cartoonist
  • 1968 Jim Dougherty, American baseball player
  • 1968 Michael Bartels, German race car driver


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