- 1140 Xin Qiji, Chinese poet and military leader, born in Jinan, China (d. 1207)
John the Fearless (1371-1419)
Duke of Burgundy (1404-19), born in Ducal palace, Dijon, Burgundy
Selim II (1524-1574)
11th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1566-74), born in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
- 1577 Floris II van Pallandt, Dutch Earl of Culemborg and politician, born in Culemborg, Kasteel Culemborg, Gelderland, Spanish Netherlands (d. 1639) [date of birth disputed, some sources cite January 23]
- 1582 William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele, English statesman, born in Broughton Castle, Banbury, Oxfordshire (d. 1662)
- 1588 Pierre Séguier, Chancellor of France, born in Paris (d. 1672)
- 1641 Johann Weikhard von Valvasor, Slovenian polymath and natural historian, born in Laibach, Carniola (d. 1693)
George I (1660-1727)
King of Great Britain and Ireland (1714-27), born in Hanover, Holy Roman Empire
William Pitt the Younger (1759-1806)
British Prime Minister (Tory: 1783-1801, 1804-06), born in Hayes, Kent, England
- 1764 Edward Livingston, American jurist and statesman, born in Columbia County, New York (d. 1836)
- 1765 Jean Baptiste Cartier, French musician and composer, born in Avignon, France (d. 1841)
- 1777 Joseph-Henri-Ignace Mees, Flemish composer, born in Brussels, Austrian Netherlands (now Belgium) (d. 1858)
- 1778 Friedrich Westenholz, German composer, musicologist, and educator, born in Ludwigslust, Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) (d. 1840)
- 1779 Thomas Moore, Irish poet and musician, born in Dublin, Ireland (d. 1852)
- 1780 Franz Joseph Fröhlich, German composer, born in Würzburg, Electorate of Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) (d. 1862)
- 1782 Wouter Johannes van Troostwijk, Dutch painter, born in Amsterdam (d. 1810)
- 1789 Bernhard Severin Ingemann, Danish author (Tomorrow- og Aftensange), born in Torkilstrup, Denmark (d. 1862)
- 1798 Josef Dessauer, Austrian composer, born in Prague (d. 1876)
- 1807 Jan van Swieten, Dutch general and governor of West-Sumatra, born in Mainz, Germany (d. 1888)
- 1807 Louis Agassiz, Swiss-American naturalist and geologist, born in Haut-Vully, Switzerland (d. 1873)
- 1810 Alexandre Calamo, Swiss painter, etcher and lithographer (d. 1864)
- 1818 P. G. T. Beauregard, American Confederate general (Hero of Sumter), born in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana (d. 1893)
- 1819 William Birney, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Huntsville, Alabama (d. 1907)
- 1820 Willem Doorenbos, Dutch literary and critic, born in Deersum, Netherlands (d. 1906)
- 1828 Alpheus Baker, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in South Carolina (d. 1891)
- 1830 Carl Filtsch, Transylvanian child piano prodigy, and composer, born in Mühlbach (Sebeș), Romania (d. 1845)
- 1830 George Lucas Hartsuff, American Major General (Union Army), born in Tyre, New York (d. 1874)
- 1831 Eliza Ann Gardner, African-American abolitionist and religious leader, born in NYC, New York (d. 1922)
- 1836 Alexander Mitscherlich, German chemist and son of Eilhard Mitscherlich, born in Berlin (d. 1918)
- 1837 George Ashlin, Irish architect noted for his work on churches and cathedrals, born in County Cork, Ireland (d. 1921)
- 1837 Tony Pastor, American vaudeville performer, born in Manhattan, New York (d. 1908)
- 1838 Basil W. Duke, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Georgetown, Kentucky (d. 1916)
- 1839 Luigi Capuana, Sicilian author and critic (Roccaverdina), born in Mineo, Sicily, Italy (d. 1915)
- 1840 Hans Makart, Austrian painter (Plague in Florenz), born in Salzburg, Austria (d. 1884)
- 1841 Giovanni Sgambati, Italian pianist and composer, born in Rome (d. 1914)
- 1844 Léon Vasseur, French composer, born in Bapaume, France (d. 1917)
- 1851 Dick Barlow, English cricket all-rounder (17 Tests, 2 x 50, 34 wickets, BB 7/40; Lancashire CCC), born in Bolton, England (d. 1919)
- 1853 Carl Larsson, Swedish painter (Midwinter Sacrifice - Swedish National Museum of Fine Arts), born in Stockholm, Sweden (d. 1919)
- 1858 Carl Richard Nyberg, Swedish inventor (blowtorch), born in Arboga, Sweden (d. 1939)
- 1862 Henry Slocum, American tennis player (US Nationals 1888-89), born in Syracuse, New York (d. 1949)
- 1863 Georg Adler, Polish state economist, born in Poznań, Poland (d. 1908)
- 1864 Basil Grieve, English cricket batsman (2 Tests), born in Kilburn, England (d. 1917)
- 1865 Gerrit Grijns, Dutch researcher and co-discoverer of vitamin B1 (thiamine), born in Leerdam, Netherlands (d. 1944)
- 1868 Claude Anet [Jean Schopfer], French writer (Fille Perdue), born in Morges, Switzerland (d. 1931)
- 1872 Marian Smoluchowski, Polish physicist (pioneer of statistical physics), born in Vorder-Brühl, Austria-Hungary (d. 1917)
- 1878 Paul Pelliot, French Sinologist and Orientalist best known for his explorations of Central Asia and his discovery of many important Chinese texts among the Dunhuang manuscripts, born in Paris (d. 1945)
- 1879 Milutin Milanković, Serbian astronomer and geophysicist (linked long-term changes in climate to astronomical factors affecting the amount of solar energy received at Earth’s surface), born in Dalj, Austria-Hungary (d. 1958)
- 1883 Clough Williams-Ellis, British architect known chiefly as the creator of the Italianate village of Portmeirion in North Wales, born in Gayton, Northamptonshire, England (d. 1978)
- 1883 George Dyson, British organist and composer (The Canterbury Pilgrims), born in Halifax, Yorkshire, England (d. 1964)
- 1883 Luigi Perrachio, Italian pianist, composer (Nove Poemetti; 25 Preludi), and pedagogue (Liceo Musicale Torino), born in Turin, Italy (d. 1966)
- 1883 Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Indian independence activist and writer (The Indian War of Independence), born in Bhagur, India (d. 1966)
Edvard Beneš (1884-1948)
Czech politician, statesman, and 2nd President of Czechoslovakia (1935-38, 1945-48), born in Kožlany, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary
- 1884 Theo van Reijn, Dutch sculptor and lithographer, born in Breda, Netherlands (d. 1954)
- 1886 Nikolai Sokoloff, Russian-American violinist and conductor (Cleveland Orchestra, 1918-32; Seattle Symphony, 1938-41; co-founder & director of La Jolla Music Society, 1941-65), born in Kyiv, Ukraine (d. 1965)
- 1886 Santo Trafficante, Sr., Sicilian-American mobster, born in Cianciana, Sicily, Italy (d. 1954)
- 1887 Hank Mann, American actor (City Lights, Smoky, Dawn Trail, Fugitive Road), born in NYC, New York (d. 1971)
Jim Thorpe (1887-1953)
American all-round athlete (Olympic gold decathlon, pentathlon 1912; College & Pro Football Hall of Fame), born in Indian Territory, Oklahoma
- 1889 José Padilla, Spanish composer and pianist (La Violetera - City Lights; Ça c'est Paris - Moulin Rouge), born in Almería, Spain (d. 1960)
- 1892 Minna Gombell, American actress (Bad Girl, Thin Man, Hello Sister), born in Baltimore, Maryland (d. 1973)
- 1894 Sammy White, American comedian and actor (711 Ocean Drive, Sound Off), born in Providence, Rhode Island (d. 1960)
- 1896 Marius Monnikendam, Dutch choir composer, born in Haarlem, Netherlands (d. 1977)
- 1896 Warren Giles, American Baseball HOF executive (President National League 1951-69; GM Cincinnati Reds 1937–51), born in Tiskilwa, Illinois (d. 1979)
- 1897 Henry Kendall, British director and actor (Amazing Quest, Shadow, Rich & Strange), born in London, England (d. 1962)
- 1898 Andy Kirk, American jazz drummer and bandleader (Clouds Of Joy - "I Won't Tell a Soul (I Love You)"), born in Newport, Kentucky (d. 1992)
- 1900 Owen Aisher, English businessman and president (Royal Yachting Association 1970-75), born in Bulford, Wiltshire (d. 1993)
- 1900 Tommy Ladnier, American jazz trumpeter (Lovie Austin; King Oliver; New Orleans Feetwarmers; Noble Sissle; Sidney Bechet), born in Mandeville, Louisiana (d. 1939)
- 1903 Gaston Duribreux, Flemish writer (Golden Sail), born in Ostend, Belgium (d. 1986)
- 1904 Shalva Mikhailovich Mshvelidze, Russian composer, born in Tiflis (d. 1984)
- 1906 Phil Regan, American actor and singer ("My Wild Irish Rose"), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1996)
- 1907 F. G. Emmison, British archivist and historian, born in Bedford, England (d. 1995)
- 1907 Patrick Browne, British Lord justice of appeal, born in Cambridge (d. 1996)
- 1908 Ian Fleming, English author (James Bond novels), born in London, England (d. 1964)
- 1909 Red Horner, Canadian Hockey HOF defenceman (Stanley Cup 1932 Toronto Maple Leafs), born in Lynden, Ontario (d. 2005)
- 1910 Arthur Trappier, American jazz drummer (Blanche Calloway: Fats Waller), born in Georgetown, South Carolina (d. 1975)
- 1910 Rachel Kempson, British actress (Captive Heart), born in Dartmouth, Devon, England (d. 2003)
- 1910 Stuart Piggott, British archaeologist best known for his work on prehistoric Wessex, born in Petersfield, Hampshire (d. 1996)
T-Bone Walker (1910-1975)
American blues guitarist ("Funky Town"; "Well Done"), born in Linden, Texas
- 1911 Arthur "Skeets" Herfurt, American jazz and session saxophonist and clarinetist (Dorsey Brothers; Benny Goodman; Lawrence Wlek), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 1992)
- 1911 Bob Crisp, South African cricket fast bowler (9 Tests, 20 wickets; Rhodesia, Western Province, Worcestershire), born in Calcutta, India (d. 1994)
- 1911 Dame Thora Hird, British actress, comedian, presenter and writer (Last of the Summer Wine, The Love Match), born in Morecambe, Lancashire (d. 2003)
- 1911 Jean-Pierre Levy, French resistance leader during WWII, born in Strasbourg, France (d. 1996)
- 1912 Herman Johannes, Indonesian scientist and politician (d. 1992)
- 1912 Patrick White, Australian novelist and playwright (Happy Valley, Nobel Prize for Literature 1973), born in London, England (d. 1990)
- 1913 Gordon Wolstenholme, British physician (Ciba Foundation), born in Sheffield, England (d. 2004)
- 1914 W. G. G. Duncan Smith, British WWII flying ace, born in Madras, British India (d. 1996)
- 1915 Joseph Greenberg, American linguist (d. 2001)
- 1915 Scott McKay [Carl Chester Gose], American actor (Stage Door, Guest in House, 30 Seconds over Tokyo), born in Pleasantville, Iowa (d. 1987)
- 1915 Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Austrian violinist, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2002)
- 1916 Gerald McArthur, British Scotland Yard detective who caught the Great Train Robbers (d. 1996)
- 1916 Walker Percy, American writer and novelist ("The Moviegoer", "Lancelot"), born in Birmingham, Alabama (d. 1990)
- 1917 "Papa" John Creach, American blues violinist (Hot Tuna; Jefferson Airplane), born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania (d. 1994)
- 1917 Barry Commoner, American biologist and politician (his work on radioactive fallout led to 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2012)
- 1917 Gerald Cash, Governor-General of the Bahamas, born in Nassau, Bahamas (d. 2003)
- 1917 Marshall Reed, American actor (The Madmen of Mandoras, Mysterious Island), born in Englewood, Colorado (d. 1980)
- 1919 Frank Middlemass, British actor (Heart Beat, As Time Goes By, Oliver Twist), born in Eaglescliffe, County Durham, England (d. 2006)
- 1921 Heinz G. Konsalik, German author (d. 1999)
- 1921 Tom Uren, Australian politician, Australian heritage and conservation campaigner, born in Sydney, New South Wales (d. 2015)
- 1922 Barney Rosset, publisher and free speech advocate (publisher of Tropic for Cancer), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2012)
- 1922 John Alderson, chief constable (Devon & Cornwall UK)
- 1922 Lou Duva, American boxing trainer, born in NYC, New York (d. 2017)
- 1923 Gyorgy Ligeti, Hungarian classical composer (Le Grand Macabre), born in Transylvania, Romania (d. 2006)
- 1923 Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, also known as NTR, Indian film star (Patala Bhairavi; Mayabazar), and politician (Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (1983-89 & 1994-95), born in Nimmakuru, Madras Presidency, British India (now in Andhra Pradesh, India) (d. 1996)
- 1924 Edward du Cann, British politician and Chairman of the Conservative Party (1965-67), born in Beckenham, London (d. 2017)
Bülent Ecevit (1925-2006)
four term Turkish Prime Minister (between 1974 and 2002), born in Istanbul, Turkey
- 1925 Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, German baritone (Doktor Faust), born in Zehlendorf, Germany (d. 2012)
- 1925 Martha Vickers [MacVicker], American actress (Alimony; The Man I Love; Ruthless), born in Ann Arbor, Michigan (d. 1971)
- 1926 Russ Freeman, American classically trained bebop and cool jazz pianist and composer (Art Pepper; Charlie Parker; Chet Baker; Clifford Brown; Shelly Manne), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2002)
- 1927 Bernhard Lewkovitch, Danish organist and composer, born in Copenhagen
- 1927 Francois Nourissier, French writer (Un petit bourgeois)
- 1927 Norman Ireland, CEO (Bowater)
- 1927 Robert Evans, CEO (British Gas)
- 1928 Albert Booth, British government minister
- 1928 Arno Marsh, American jazz saxophonist (Woody Herman), and band leader, born in Grand Rapids, Michigan (d. 2019)
- 1929 Leslie Wight, cricketer (one Test WI v India 1953, scored 21)
- 1929 Patrick McNair-Wilson, MP
- 1930 Edward Seaga, PM (Jamaica)
- 1930 Julian Slade, English popular composer (Salad Days), born in London (d. 2006)
- 1930 Lawrence "Tricky" Lofton, American jazz trombonist, born in Houston, Texas
- 1931 Carroll Baker, American actress (Andy Warhol's Bad, Babydoll, Harlow), born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania
- 1931 Peter Talbot Westergaard, American composer and educator, born in Champaign, Illinois (d. 2019)
- 1931 Raymond Miquel, chairman (Scottish Sports Council)
- 1931 Stephen Birmingham, American author (Real Lace: America's Irish Rich), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 2015)
- 1932 Henning Christiansen, Danish experimental composer, born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 2008)
- 1932 Neil Black, British oboist, and educator, born in Birmingham, England (d. 2016)
- 1932 Tim Renton, British politician (Conservative Minister under Thatcher and Major - came up with National Lottery), born in London, England (d. 2020)
- 1933 John Karlen, American actor (Harvey Lacey-Cagney & Lacey), born in Brooklyn, New York
- 1933 Philip Otton, high court judge
- 1934 Rob du Bois, Dutch composer, born in Amsterdam (d. 2013)
- 1935 Kenneth Kleinwort, English banker/multi-millionaire
- 1935 Luciano Macías, Ecuadorian soccer defender (21 caps; Barcelona de Ecuador), born in Ancón, Ecuador (d. 2022)
- 1936 Claude Forget, French Canadian politician
- 1936 Frank Orr, Canadian sports author and journalist (Hockey Hall of Fame; Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award; Toronto Star), born in Hillsburgh, Ontario (d. 2021)
- 1936 Maki Ishii, Japanese composer, born in Tokyo (d. 2003)
Jerry West (85 years old)
1938 American Basketball Hall of Fame guard, executive (LA Lakers, 14-time NBA All Star), born in Chelyan, West Virginia
- 1938 Prince Buster [Cecil Bustamente Campbell], Jamaican-born reggae musician and producer (Madness), born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 2016)
Betty Shabazz (1940-1997)
American educator and civil rights activist who was the widow of Malcolm X, born in Pinehurst, Georgia
- 1940 Hans Dulfer, Dutch funk and jazz-fusion tenor saxophonist, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 1940 Maeve Binchy [Snell], Irish novelist (Light a Penny Candle), born in Dalkey, Ireland (d. 2012)
- 1940 Tom Petri, American politician (Rep-R-WI, 1979-2015), born in Marinette, Wisconsin
- 1941 Beth Howland, actress (Vera - Alice, Company), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 2015)
- 1941 Guntram Vesper, writer
- 1942 Stanley B. Prusiner, American scientist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- 1943 Dennis Riley, American composer (Masques (for wind quintet)), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1999)
- 1943 Elena Souliotis, Greek operatic soprano, born in Athens, Greece (d. 2004)
- 1943 Liz Edgar, horse show jumper
- 1943 Ray Mitchell, governor (Albany Prison, England)
- 1943 Tony Mansfield [Anthony Bookbinder], British rock drummer (Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas - "Little Children"), born in Salford, Lancashire, England
- 1944 Adriaan T "Ad" Zuiderent, poet/critic (On the Droge)
- 1944 Billy Vera, American rock singer-songwriter (Billy & The Beaters - "At This Moment"; "Into the Night"), born in Riverside, California
- 1944 Faith Brown, British actress and impressionist
- 1944 Gary Stewart, American country singer ("She's Actin' Single"), born in Jenkins, Kentucky (d. 2003)
- 1944 Gladys Knight, American singer known as the Empress of Soul (The Pips - "Midnight Train to Georgia"), born in Atlanta, Georgia
- 1944 Patricia Quinn, Lady Stephens, Northern-Irish actress, voice artist and singer (The Rocky Horror Picture Show), born in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Rudy Giuliani (79 years old)
1944 American Mayor of New York City (Republican: 1994-2001) at the time of the September 11 attacks, born in NYC, New York
- 1944 Sondra Locke, American actress (The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter; Willard), and director (Impulse), born in Shelbyville, Tennessee (d. 2018)
- 1945 Hunter "Patch" Adams, American doctor
- 1945 John Fogerty, American songwriter, guitarist, and singer (Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Have You Ever Seen The Rain"; "Lookin' Out My Backdoor"), born in Berkeley, California
- 1945 John N. Bambacus, American politician
- 1946 Claudio Roditi, Brazilian jazz trumpeter, arranger, and composer, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (d. 2020)
- 1946 Madeleine Le Roux, Wyoming, Broadway actress (Cry Uncle)
- 1946 Satchidanandan, Indian poet
- 1946 Skip Jutze, American baseball player
- 1947 Leland Sklar, American bass guitarist and session musician (James Taylor; Crosby, Stills & Nash), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- 1947 Lynn Johnston, Canadian cartoonist
- 1947 Zahi Hawass, Egyptian Egyptologist
- 1948 Bob Shearer, Australian golfer, course designer (4 x PGA Tour of Australia Order of Merit), born in Melbourne, Australia (d. 2022)
- 1948 Ray Laidlaw, British folk-rock drummer (Lindisfarne - "Lady Eleanor"; Jack the Lad), born in England
- 1949 Joseph Alfidi, American classical prodigy pianist, composer and conductor, born in New York City (d. 2015)
- 1949 Shelley Hamlin, American golfer (US Open runner-up 1973), born in San Mateo, California (d. 2018)
- 1949 Steve King, American politician (Rep (R) Iowa 2003-21) rebuked for racist comments, born in Storm Lake, Iowa
- 1949 Sue Holderness, English actress (Marlene-Only Fools & Horses, Sandbaggers), born in London, England
- 1949 Wendy O. Williams, American punk rock singer-songwriter (The Plasmatics), born in Webster, New York (d. 1998)
- 1950 Ian Bradley, British writer and academic
- 1950 Jim Harris, American professional wrestler
- 1952 Deborah Jo Billingsley, American singer (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and songwriter, born in Memphis, Tennessee (d. 2010)
- 1952 Russell J. Wintner, American film executive
- 1953 Arto Lindsay, American guitarist, composer (Lounge Lizards; Ambitious Lovers), and producer (Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Lucas Santtana), born in Richmond, Virginia
- 1954 George E Mahlberg, American astronomer (Mt Palomar/Mt Wilson, California, 1974-78), movie actor, sound engineer, and DJ (Dr. Cosmo), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 2011)
- 1954 John Tory, Canadian lawyer and politician (Mayor of Toronto, 2016-2023), born in Toronto, Ontario
- 1954 Youri Egorov, Soviet classical pianist, born in Kazan, USSR (d. 1988)
- 1955 Janet Seidel, Australian jazz pianist, vocalist, arranger, and educator, born in Cummins, South Australia (d. 2017)
- 1955 Mark Howe, American ice hockey player
- 1956 Germaine Montenesdro, 2nd victim of NYC's Zodiac killer (survives)
- 1956 Jeff Dujon, cricket wicket-keeper (WI 1981-91, their most successful)
- 1956 Markus Höttinger, Austrian racing driver (d. 1980)
- 1957 Ben Howland, American college basketball coach, born in Lebanon, Oregon
- 1957 Kirk Gibson, Mich, outfield (Tigers, Dodgers, 1988 NL MVP)
- 1957 Walter R. Tucker III, American politician (Rep-D-California 1993-95), born in Compton, California
- 1959 Bernardine Evaristo, English writer ("Girl, Woman, Other" - 1st woman of Black heritage to win the Booker Prize), born in London, England
- 1959 John Morgan, British etiquette expert (d. 2000)
- 1959 Léon Klaassen, Dutch session and touring rock and jazz drummer (Powerplay; The Pilgrims; D'Wys), born in The Netherlands
- 1959 Steve Strange [Harrington], Welsh pop singer (Visage) and nightclub host, born in Newbridge, Caerphily, Wales (d. 2015)
- 1960 Allan Green, cricketeer
- 1961 Roland Gift, British pop-rock singer (Fine Young Cannibals - "She Drives Me Crazy"), and actor, born in Sparkhill, Birmingham, England
- 1962 Brandon Cruz, actor (Eddie-Courtship of Eddie's Father)
- 1962 Phil Vassar, American country music singer-songwriter ("Just Another Day In Paradise"), born in Lynchburg, Virginia
- 1963 Eugene Robinson, NFL safety (Seattle Seahawk, GB Packers-Super Bowl 31)
- 1963 Gavin Harrison, British progressive rock drummer (Porcupine Tree; King Crimson; Pineapple Thief), born in Harrow, Middlesex, England
Greatest Generation
Silent Generation
Baby Boomer
Generation X
Millennial
Generation Z