Historical Figures Born in 1931

Birthdays 1 - 200 of 309

Jan 19 Ron Packard, American politician (Rep-R-CA, 1983-2001), born in Meridian, Idaho
Jan 20 Sawako Ariyoshi, Japanese writer (Compound Pollution, Doctor's Wife), born in Wakayama, Japan (d. 1984)
Jan 25 Paavo Haavikko, Finnish poet & writer, born in Helsiniki, Finland (d. 2008)
Jan 27 Mordecai Richler, Montreal author, (Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz)
Jan 27 Nigel Vinson, British Lord and inventor, born in Kent, England
Jan 27 Ronald "Buster" Edwards, British Great Train Robber turned flower-seller, born in London (d. 1994)
Jan 28 Timothy Kitson, British politician
Jan 30 Allan W. Eckert, American historian, naturalist, and author, born in Buffalo, New York
Jan 30 John Crosbie, Canadian politician, born in St. John's, Canada (d. 2020)
Jan 30 Shirley Hazzard, Australian-born author (Transit of Venus), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 2016)
Jan 30 Stewart McKinney, American politician (Rep-R-CT, 1971-87), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 1987)
Jan 31 Nicholas Gordon Lennox, diplomat

Boris Yeltsin (1931-2007)

Feb 1 Russian politician and 1st President of Russian Federation (1991-99), born in Butka, Sverdlovsk,

Feb 1 Mark Richmond, CEO (Science & Engineering Research Council)
Feb 2 Dries van Agt, Dutch Prime Minister (CDA, 1977-82), born in Geldrop, Netherlands
Feb 2 Judith Viorst, American author
Feb 4 Isabel Martínez de Perón [Maria Martinez], wife of Juan Perón and President of Argentina (1974-76), born in La Rioja, Argentina
Feb 9 Robert Morris, American sculptor and painter, born in Kansas City, Missouri
Feb 10 Thomas Bernhard, Austrian novelist, playwright and poet whose work some describe as "the most significant literary achievement since World War II", born in Heerlen, Netherlands (d. 1989)
Feb 12 Cliff Gustafson, American College Baseball HOF coach (College World Series 1975, 83; Collegiate Coach of the Year 1983; University of Texas, Austin), born in Kenedy, Texas (d. 2023)
Feb 12 Constance Morella, American politician (Rep-R-Maryland 1987-2003), born in Somerville, Massachusetts
Feb 12 Janwillem van de Wetering, Dutch author
Feb 15 W K Reid, British ombudsman
Feb 16 Alfred Kolleritsch, Austrian writer, born in Eichfeld
Feb 16 George E. Sangmeister, American politician (Rep-D-Illinois 1989-95), born in Frankfort, Illinois (d. 2007)
Feb 18 Johnny Hart, American cartoonist (B.C., Wizard of Id), born in Endicott, New York (d. 2007)
Feb 18 Maxwell Thurman, American General
Feb 18 Swraj Paul, Indian/British industrial/multi-millionaire (Caparo)

Toni Morrison (1931-2019)

Feb 18 American writer (Tar Baby, Beloved, Song of Solomon), first African American woman to win a Nobel Prize (2010), born in Lorain, Ohio

Feb 23 Tom Wesselmann, American collage artist and sculptor (Great American Nudes) (d. 2004)
Feb 24 Inge Bernstein, British judge
Feb 24 Lev Vasilyevich Vorobyov, Russian cosmonaut
Feb 24 Maezumi Hakuyu Taizan Koun, teacher Rinzai/Soto lines of Zen Buddhism
Feb 24 Marta Marzotto, Italian countess and designer, born in Reggio Emilia (d. 2016)
Feb 25 Edward Kellett-Bowman, British MEP
Feb 25 J R Stephenson, Lt-col/secretary (MCC)
Feb 27 Andrew Sloan, Chief Constable (Strathcourt)
Feb 28 Gustav Thoni, Italian skier (World Cup-1971, 72, 73, 75)
Feb 28 Iajuddin Ahmed, Bikrampur, British Raj, President (Bangladesh, 2002-2009), (d. 2012)
Feb 28 Jack Thieuloy, French writer, born in Beaucaire (d. 1996)
Mar 2 Duane Graveline, doctor and astronaut, born in Newport Vermont (d. 2016)

Mikhail Gorbachev (1931-2022)

Mar 2 General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1985-91), born in Stavropol, Russia [1]

Mar 2 Tom Wolfe, American journalist and author (The Right Stuff), born in Richmond, Virginia (d. 2018)
Mar 3 Henk Knol, Dutch 2nd chamber member (PvdA)
Mar 3 Piet [van] Bambergen, Dutch cabaretier (Mounties, Sherlock Jones)
Mar 4 Alice Rivlin, American economist
Mar 4 Han Jansen, Dutch painter (d. 1994)
Mar 5 Fred Othon Aristidès, French comics artist
Mar 6 David Haddon Whitaker, British publisher (Whitaker's Almanack)
Mar 6 Hal Needham, American stuntman, (d. 2013)
Mar 7 Cornelis T "Cor" van de Molen, Dutch journalist (Beehive)
Mar 8 John McPhee, author (Back to ----)
Mar 8 Neil Postman, American cultural critic (d. 2003)
Mar 9 Thore Skogman, Swedish entertainer, born in Hallstahammar, Sweden (d. 2007)
Mar 11 Colin Jillings, New Zealand thoroughbred horse trainer (W. S. Cox Plate 1993 The Phantom Chance; 4 x Auckland Cup winners; 5 x NZ Derby winners), born in Auckland, New Zealand (d. 2022)
Mar 11 Peter Walters, CEO (Midland Bank)
Mar 12 Geoffrey de Bellaigue, director (Royal Collection)
Mar 12 Herbert Kelleher, Southwest Airlines co-founder
Mar 13 Marc Dessauvage, Belgian architect, born in Moorslede, Belgium (d. 1984)
Mar 16 Don Richard Carpenter, American writer (Hard Rain Falling), born in Berkeley, California (d. 1995)
Mar 17 David Peakall, British scientist (d. 2001)
Mar 18 Howard Coble, American politician (Rep-R-NC, 1985-2015), born in Greensboro, North Carolina (d. 2015)
Mar 18 Jürgen Schadeberg, German-born South African photographer who photographed apartheid struggle, born in Berlin, Germany (d. 2020)
Mar 20 John Rae, British educator (Conscience & Politics)
Mar 21 Ivan William Hannaford, sociologist
Mar 22 Igor Hajek, Czech translator and writer, born in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia (d. 1995)
Mar 22 Leslie Thomas, Welsh writer (The Virgin Soldiers), born in Newport (d. 2014)
Mar 23 Norman F. Lent, American politician (Rep-R-NY, 1971- 93), born in Oceanside, New York (d. 2012)
Mar 27 Bob Bauman, CEO (British Aerospace)
Mar 29 Evelyn de Rothschild, English banker and multi-millionaire, born in Westminster, London
Mar 29 James Weatherhead, Scottish moderator (General Assembly of Church of Scotland), born in Dundee (d. 2017)
Mar 29 Norman Tebbit, British Conservative party politician, cabinet minister and life peer, born in Ponders End, England
Mar 29 Sylvia Law, British town planner (President of the Royal Town Planning Institute), born in Southport, Lancashire
Apr 1 Charles Price, American Businessman and diplomat, born in Kansas City, Missouri (d. 2012)
Apr 1 Rolf Hochhuth, German playwright (Der Stellvertreter), born in Eschwege, Germany (d. 2020)
Apr 3 Tom Collins, Canadian ice skating promoter (Champions on Ice), born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario (d. 2019)
Apr 4 Bobby Ray Inman, American admiral and intelligence director, born in Rhonesboro, Texas
Apr 4 Denis Frank Owen, British ecologist and natural historian, born in London (d. 1996)
Apr 4 Harold Volkmer, American politician, U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri, born in Jefferson City, Missouri (d. 2011)
Apr 5 Denis Lawton, director (London University Institute of Educ)
Apr 7 Daniel Ellsberg, whistleblower (Pentagon Papers)/patriot
Apr 7 Donald Barthelme, American writer (Snow White, Sadness), born in Philadelphia, Pa (d. 1989)
Apr 9 Martin Rogers, director (Farmington Institute for Christian Studies)
Apr 9 Richard Hatfield, Canadian politician (26th Premier of New Brunswick), born in Hartland, New Brunswick (d. 1991)
Apr 10 Marcel van Maele, Belgian poet and playwright, born in Bruges, Belgium (d. 2009)
Apr 13 Beverley Cross, English playwright, born in London
Apr 15 Tomas Tranströmer, Swedish poet (Nobel Prize for Literature - 2011), born in Stockholm (d. 2015)
Apr 16 Piet de Visser, Dutch politician (PvdA), born in Rotterdam, Netherlands (d. 2012)
Apr 17 John Chalstrey, 668th Lord Mayor of London
Apr 17 Joyce Molyneux, British chef and author
Apr 17 Ruth Etchells, English poet and principal (St John's College-Durham), born in Liverpool
Apr 19 Denis Henry, British High Court judge, born in Margate, Kent, England (d. 2010)
Apr 19 Kobie Coetsee, South African Minister of Defense (1993-94) and Minister of Justice (1980-93), born in Ladybrand, South Africa (d. 2000)
Apr 19 Walter Stewart, Canadian writer and journalist, born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2004)
Apr 20 Lee H. Hamilton, American politician, U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana, born in Daytona Beach, Florida
Apr 22 Henk Gortzak [Hendricus Gortzak], Dutch carpenter and politician (CPN/PSP), born in Amsterdam (d. 1989)
Apr 22 Ronald Hynd, British choreographer (English National Ballet), born in London
Apr 23 Chuck Feeney, American businessman (Duty Free Shoppers Group) and philanthropist (The Atlantic Philanthropies) who gave away almost his entire $8b fortune, born in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Apr 24 Bridget Riley, British painter (op-art), born in Norwood London, England
Apr 25 David Shepherd, British painter (paintings of steam locomotives), born in Hendon, London (d. 2017)
Apr 25 Felix Berezin, Russian physicist and mathematician (Berezin integral), born in Moscow (d. 1980)
Apr 29 Aleksei Aleksandrovich Gubarev, USSR, cosmonaut (Soyuz 17, 28)
Apr 29 Frank Auerbach, German-born British painter
Apr 30 Bill Clay, American politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri), born in St. Louis, Missouri
May 3 Joe Layton, American director and choreographer, born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1994)
May 3 Thomas Sutherland, American hostage (Lebanon) and academic, born in Falkirk, Scotland (d. 2016)
May 4 Thomas Stuttaford, British doctor and medical columnist (The Times), born in Norfolk, England
May 5 Greg [Michel Régnier], Belgian comic-book writer (Achille Talon), born in Ixelles, Belgium (d. 1999)
May 6 Marvin Leath, American politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 11th district), born in Henderson, Texas (d. 2000)
May 7 Gene Wolfe, American sci-fi author (Soldier of Arete), born in NYC, New York
May 7 Nel Ginjaar-Maas, Dutch under-secretary of Education (VVD), born in Rotterdam, Netherlands (d. 2012)
May 9 Alistair MacFarlane, Engineer and principal (Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland)
May 9 Vance DeVoe Brand, American USN officer and aviator, and NASA astronaut (Apollo 18; STS-5, -41-B & -35), born in Longmont, Colorado
May 10 Lord Michael Mustill, of Pateley Bridge, Lord Justice of Appeal
May 11 Stephen Smalley, rev/dean (Chester)
May 12 Johan Fleerackers, Flemish vice-president of Dutch One
May 13 Eileen Diss, British theatrical designer (August, Secret Places, Betrayal), born in London, England

Jim Jones (1931-1978)

May 13 American pastor and leader of the Peoples Temple cult (Jonestown Massacre), born in Randolph County, Indiana

May 13 Sydney Lipworth, South African born lawyer and businessman (head of UK Monopolies & Mergers Commission), bon in Johannesburg, South Africa
May 15 F Korthals Altes, Dutch minister of Justice (VVD)
May 16 Hana Brady, Jewish Czech Holocaust victim (Hanna's Suitcase), born in Prague (d. 1944)
May 16 Lowell P Weicker, American politician (Sen-R-CT, (1971-88), Governor of Connecticut), born in Paris, France
May 16 Natwar Singh, Indian politician
May 16 Peter Levi, poet/writer
May 17 Marshall Applewhite, American cult leader (Heaven's Gate), born in Spur, Texas (d. 1997)
May 18 Don Martin, American cartoonist "Mad's Maddest Artist", born in Paterson, New Jersey (d. 2000)
May 21 George Vassiliou, Cypriot politician, President of Cyprus (1988-93), born in Famagusta, Cyprus
May 24 Aili Jõgi, Estonian freedom fighter, born in Tallinn, Estonia (d. 2017)
May 27 Florence Sharples, director (British YWCA)
May 27 James Wilson, criminologist ('Zero Tolerance' policing), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 2012)
May 27 John Chapple, British chief of General Staff
May 28 Stephen Birmingham, American author (Real Lace: America's Irish Rich), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 2015)
May 31 John Robert Schrieffer, American physicist (Nobel Prize for Physics 1972 for BCS theory), born in Oak Park, Illinois (d. 2019)
May 31 Steve Horn, American politician (Rep-R-California 1993-2003), born in San Juan Bautista, California (d. 2011)

Raúl Castro (91 years old)

Jun 3 Cuban revolutionary, politician (First Secretary 2011-21) and brother of Fidel Castro, born in Biran, Holguin, Cuba

Jun 5 Jacques Demy, French director (Lola, Magic Donkey), born in Pontchâteau, France (d. 1990)
Jun 5 Jerzy Prokopiuk, Polish philosopher and anthroposopist, born in Warsaw (d. 2021)
Jun 5 John Dellow, British law enforcement officer (Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, 1982-87; Deputy Commissioner, 1987-91), born in London, England
Jun 7 David Driskell, American artist and champion of African American art, born in Eatonton, Georgia (d. 2020)
Jun 7 Malcolm Morley, English-American painter, born in London (d. 2018)
Jun 8 Ivan V. Lalić, Serbian poet, born in Belgrade (d. 1996)
Jun 8 Leo Nichols, businessman, honorary consul and longtime friend of Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, born in Rangoon, Burma (d. 1996)
Jun 11 Kenneth Cameron, Baron Cameron of Lochbroom, Scottish judge, born in Edinburgh, Scotland
Jun 12 Barbara Hillary, American adventurer, 1st black woman to reach the North Pole, born in New York City (d. 2019)
Jun 13 Irvin D. Yalom, American psychotherapist and Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University, born in Washington, D.C.
Jun 13 Lachlan Macleay, USAF colonel and astronaut, born in Saint Louis, Missouri
Jun 16 Courtney Alexandre Henriques Laws, British community activist, born in Jamaica (d. 1996)
Jun 16 Robert Freeman Smith, American politician (Rep-R-Oregon), born in Portland, Oregon (d. 2020)
Jun 17 John Baldessari, American artist, born in National City, California
Jun 18 Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Brazilian politician and sociologist, President of Brazil (1995 - 2002), born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Jun 20 Richard Southwood, zoologist/chancellor (Oxford University)
Jun 21 Margaret Heckler, American politician (15th U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services (1983-85)), born in NYC, New York (d. 2018)
Jun 22 Hennadiy Udovenko, Ukrainian politician and diplomat (UN General Assembly President, 1997-98), born in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine (d. 2013)
Jun 22 Teruyuki Okazaki, Japanese karate master (10th degree black belt Shotokan Karate; founder International Shotokan Karate Federation), born in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan (d. 2020)
Jun 23 Urs Jaeggi, Swiss sociologist and writer, born in Solothurn, Switzerland
Jun 24 Leslie Cochran, peace activist and police critic, born in Miami, Florida (d. 2012)
Jun 25 V.P. [Vishwanath Pratap] Singh, Indian politician, 7th Prime Minister of India (1989-90), born in Allahabad, British India (d. 2008)
Jun 26 Colin Wilson, English author (Afterlife, Book of Great Mysteries), born in Leicester, Leicestershire, England (d. 2013)
Jun 27 Charles Bronfman, Canadian-American CEO (Seagrams, Montreal Expos) and philanthropist, born in Montreal, Quebec
Jun 30 Bert Eriksson, Flemish neo-Nazi, born in Antwerp (d. 2005)
Jun 30 Hans Gruijters, Dutch mayor (co-founder of D66-Lelystad), born in Helmond, Netherlands
Jul 1 Leslie Caron, French-American actress (Gigi, Father Goose), born in Boulogne-Biliancourt, Seine
Jul 3 Andres Burnier [Catharina Irma Dessaur], Dutch criminologist and author (Jongensuur), born in The Hague, Netherlands (d. 2002)
Jul 5 Ismail Mahomed, South African and Namibian Chief Justice, 1st permanent black judge on South African Supreme Court, born in Pretoria, South Africa (d. 2000)
Jul 5 James "Jimmy the Gent" Burke, Irish American gangster (inspiration for Jimmy Conway character in Goodfellas), born in New York City (d. 1996)
Jul 6 Emily Nasrallah, Lebanese writer and women's rights activist (Birds of September, A Cat’s Diary), born in Kfeir, Lebanon (d. 2018)
Jul 6 Jean Campeau, French Canadian businessman and politician, born in Montreal, Quebec
Jul 7 David Eddings, American sci-fi author (Belgariad, Malloreon)
Jul 10 Alice Munro, Canadian author (Dance of the Happy Shades) and Nobel laureate 2013, born in Wingham, Ontario, Canada
Jul 10 Del Insko, harness racer (toothpick in mouth, 1969 money leader), born in Amboy, Minnesota
Jul 10 Julian May, American sci-fi author (Golden Torc, Magnificat), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2017)
Jul 11 Hans Klein, politician
Jul 11 Herman de Vries, Dutch sculptor
Jul 11 Tullio Regge, Italian physicist
Jul 12 J. Bob Traxler, American politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan), born in Kawkawlin, Michigan
Jul 14 Donald Eugene Webb, American murderer (FBI Most Wanted List), born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Jul 15 Clive Cussler, American writer (Raise The Titanic, Sahara), born in Aurora, Illinois,
Jul 15 Eugene Louw, South African minister of Internal affairs
Jul 16 Lady Caroline Blackwood, British journalist and writer (The Last of the Duchess), born in London (d. 1996)

Marina Popovich (1931-2017)

Jul 20 Soviet Air Force colonel, engineer and test pilot (102 world records), born in Leonenki, Smolensk Oblast, USSR, birth date uncertain

Jul 20 Phil Coles, Australian sports administrator (International Olympic Committee 1982-2011; AOC 1973-2011), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 2023)
Jul 22 Charles Huxtable, General commander (English ground armies)
Jul 23 Arata Isozaki, Japanese architect (Pritzker Prize - 2019; Art Tower Mito, Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art; Walt Disney headquarters), born in Oito, Japan (d. 2022) [1]
Jul 23 Jan Torell, Swedish director (New Land, Emigrants), born in Limhamm, Sweden

About 1931

How Old? 91 or 92 years old
Generation: Silent Generation

Chinese Zodiac: Horse (Jan 30, 1930 - Feb 16, 1931),
Goat/Sheep (Feb 17, 1931 - Feb 5, 1932)

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