Birthdays in History Nov 17 Noel-Nicolas Coypel, French painter/cartoonist Nov 23 Ernst J earl van Biron, Russian duke of Koerland/regent of Ivan VI Nov 29 Christian Augustus of Anhalt-Zerbst, father of Catherine II of Russia (d. 1747) Deaths in History Nov 17 Charles de Sainte-Maure, duc de Montausier, French soldier, dies at 80 1689 On This Day in History 1691