- 32 Marcus Salvius Otho, Roman Emperor, born in Ferentium, Italy (d. 69)
- 1442 Edward IV, King of England (1461-70, 71-83), born in Rouen, Normandy (d. 1483)
- 1545 Yi Sun-sin, Korean Naval Commander, born in Hanseong, South Korea (d. 1598)
- 1630 Charles Cotton, English poet and writer, born in Alstonefield, Staffordshire, England (d. 1687)
- 1686 Michael Brokoff, Czech sculptor, born in Klášterec nad Ohří, Czech Republic (d. 1721)
- 1753 Franz K Achard, German physicist and chemist, born in Berlin (d. 1821)
James Monroe
1758 James Monroe, 5th US President (1817-25), born in Monroe Hall, Virginia (d. 1831)
James Monroe
- 1765 Sylvestre François Lacroix, French mathematician, born in Paris (b. 1834)
- 1770 Nikita P Panin, Russian diplomat and minister of Foreign affairs, born in Kharkiv, Ukraine (d. 1837)
- 1774 Francis Baily, English astronomer and describer of "Baily's Beads" during solar eclipse, born in Newbury, Berkshire, England (d. 1844)
- 1795 Charles Sturt, English explorer (Australia), born in Bengal, British India (d. 1869)
- 1809 Conradus Leemans, Dutch archaeologist (d. 1893)
- 1810 Daniel Ullman, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Wilmington, Delaware (d. 1892)
- 1812 Daniel Henry Rucker, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Belleville, New Jersey (d. 1910)
- 1815 Andrew Jackson Smith, American Major General (Union Army), born in Livingston County, Kentucky (d. 1897)
- 1819 Ezra Abbot, American Bible scholar, born in Jackson, Maine (d. 1884)
- 1825 James Winning McMillan, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Clark County, Kentucky (d. 1903)
- 1838 Tobias Asser, Dutch advocate of world law (Nobel 1911), born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1913)
- 1842 Gaston of Orleans, Count of Eu, born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France (d. 1922)
- 1846 Johann Oskar Backlund, Swedish-Russian astronomer (planets/asteroids), born in Länghem, Sweden (d. 1916)
- 1864 William Frederick Archdall Ellison, Irish clergyman and director (Armagh Observatory)
- 1868 Georgy Voronoy, Russian mathematician (Voronoi diagram), born in Zhuravki, Poltava Governorate, Russian Empire (d. 1908)
- 1874 Karl Kraus, Austrian satirical writer, born in Jičín, Austrian-Hungarian Empire (d. 1936)
- 1879 Edgard Tytgat, Flemish painter and etcher, born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1954)
- 1879 Franz Arnold, German writer, born in Znin, Prussia (d. 1960)
- 1882 Alberto Pirelli, Italian industrialist, born in Milano, Italy (d. 1971)
- 1886 Erich Salomon, German photographer, born in Berlin, Germany (d. 1944)
- 1888 Henry DG Crerar, Canadian general (WW I/Italy/Netherland)
- 1889 António de Oliveira Salazar, Dictator of Portugal (1932-68) who founded and controlled the Estado Novo (New State), born in Vimieiro, Santa Comba Dão, Portugal (d. 1970)
- 1889 Karel WFM Doorman, Dutch rear admiral
- 1892 Joseph Dunninger, American mentalist (Amazing Dunninger), born in NYC, New York
- 1897 Ye Jianying, Chinese general and politician (d. 1986)
- 1900 Bruno Apitz, German writer (Nackt unter Wölfen, born in Leipzig (d. 1979)
- 1900 Jan Hendrik Oort, Dutch astronomer (hypothesized "Oort Cloud")
- 1900 Maurice Thorez, secretary-general (French Communist Party)
- 1902 Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (d. 1979)
- 1906 Bartholomeus J "Bart" Bok, Dutch/US astronomer (Milky Way)
- 1906 Pierre [Louis] Boileau, novelist (Vertigo), born in Paris, France
- 1906 Kurt Gödel, Austrian mathematician (d. 1978)
- 1908 Arnoud Breeveld, Suriname bishop
- 1910 Sam Merwin, Jr., American mystery fiction writer (d. 1996)
- 1911 Lee Falk, American comic strip writer (d. 1999)
- 1912 Odette Hallowes, British classified agent in France (WWII)
- 1916 Ferruccio Lamborghini, Italian automobile manufacturer, born in Cento, Ferrara (d. 1993)
- 1917 Joop Waasdorp, Dutch writer (Naked Life)
- 1917 Robert Woodruff Anderson, New York, writer (Tea & Sympathy, Never Sang for My Father)
- 1922 Guillaume Jorissen, Flemish politician (Volksunie)
- 1922 Iser J Koepermann, Russian/US world checkers champ (1958-68, 75-76)
- 1922 William S Broomfield, (Rep-R-MI, 1956- )
- 1922 Alistair MacLean, Scottish novelist (d. 1987)
- 1924 Kenneth David Kaunda, founder/president (Zambia, 1964-91)
Harper Lee
1926 [Nelle] Harper Lee, American author (To Kill a Mockingbird), born in Monroeville Alabama (d. 2016)
Harper Lee
- 1927 Garfield Weston, English industrial billionaire (Twinings Tea)
- 1928 Yves Klein, French sculptor/painter
- 1928 Eugene M. Shoemaker, American planetary scientist and geologist (Shoemaker-Levy comet), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1997)
- 1930 James Baker, American Secretary of the Treasury (1985-88), Secretary of State (1989-92), born in Houston, Texas
- 1934 Lois Duncan, American young adult novelist (I Know What You Did Last Summer), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2016)
Saddam Hussein
1937 Saddam Hussein, President of Iraq (1979-2003), born in Al-Awja, Iraq (d. 2006)
Saddam Hussein
- 1938 Beverly F Albert, architect
- 1941 K. Barry Sharpless, American chemist, Nobel laureate
- 1941 Iryna Zhylenko, Ukrainian poet
- 1942 Ghislaine Hermanez, architect
- 1943 John Oliver Creighton, Orange Tx, Capt USN/astronaut (STS 51G, 36, 48)
- 1944 Elizabeth LeCompte, American theater director
- 1944 Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe, Belgian politician
- 1944 Alice Waters, American chef
Terry Pratchett
1948 Terry Pratchett, English author of fantasy novels (Discworld), born in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire (d. 2015)
Terry Pratchett
- 1949 Jerome "Jay" Apt, astronaut (STS 37, 47, 59, 79), born in Springfield, Massachusetts
- 1949 Indian Larry, American stuntsman (d. 2004)
- 1953 Roberto Bolano, Latin American author and poet
- 1955 Nicky Gumbel, British author and priest
- 1956 Paul S Lockhart, Amarillo Tx, Major USAF/astronaut
- 1957 Leopold Eyharts, French cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-26, TM-28/27)
- 1960 Ian Rankin, Scottish novelist
- 1960 Joel H. Rosenthal American political scientist
- 1960 Elena Kagan, American Supreme Court Judge, born in NYC, New York
- 1961 Futoshi Matsunaga, Japanese serial killer
- 1963 Obiageli Ezekwesili, Nigerian Accountant and World Bank official (#BringBackOurGirls campaign)
- 1964 Helen Taylor [Windsor], English daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, born in Iver
- 1964 Mark Steven Robinson, American director
- 1964 L'Wren Scott [Laura Bambrough], American fashion designer and partner of Mick Jagger, born in Salt Lake City, Utah (d. 2014)
- 1972 Michelle Menzies, Canadian ice pairs (1995, 96 Can champs), born in Barrie, Ontario
- 1973 Ian Murdock, German-born American computer programmer (Debian project, Progeny Linux Systems), born in Konstanz, West Germany (d. 2015)
- 1974 Vernon Kay, British TV/radio presenter
- 1977 Derrick Wayne Frazier, American convicted murderer (d. 2006)
- 1982 Nikki Grahame, Big Brother 7 Star
April in History
Oscar Wilde Presses Self-Destruct Button
When Oscar Wilde sued the Marquess of Queensberry for libel over a sodomite slur, he opened the door to social and financial ruin that would lead to his death.
April 26, 1895
Record-Breaking Sheila, the High-Flying Aviator
The Sky's was the limit for Sheila Scott who made three solo flights around the world and was the first pilot, male or female, to fly over the North Pole.
April 27, 1922
Great Sacrifice of a Plague-Ridden Village
William Mompesson, a clergyman born on this day, created a legend when he persuaded the people in a plague-ridden village to sacrifice their lives to save others.
April 28, 1639
WR Hearst – The Master of Fake News
Newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst was a towering figure of his age. Immensely wealthy, he believed he had unlimited influence, even on matters of war.
April 29, 1863