Historical Birthday
25 Dec 1250
John IV Laskaris Byzantine Emperor (d. circa 1305)
25 Dec 1461
Christina of Saxony queen of Denmark and Norway (d. 1521)
25 Dec 1583
Orlando Gibbons English composer (O Clap Your Hands) baptized
25 Dec 1587
Margarita of Austria queen of Philip III of Spain (d. 1611)
25 Dec 1601
Jose Ximenez Spanish composer born in Zaragoza (d. 1672)
25 Dec 1624
Angelus Silesius [Johann Scheffler] German mystic (St Seelenlust)
25 Dec 1652
Archibald Pitcairne Scottish physician (d. 1713)
25 Dec 1665
Lady Grizel Baillie Scottish songwriter (d. 1746)
25 Dec 1667
Ehrengard von der Schulenburg English royal mistress (d. 1743)
25 Dec 1674
Thomas Halyburton Scottish theologian (d. 1712)
25 Dec 1700
Leopold II of Anhalt-Dessau Prussian general (d. 1758)
25 Dec 1716
Johann Jakob Reiske German scholar and physician (d. 1774)
25 Dec 1717
Pius VI [Giovanni A Braschi] Italian Pope (1775-99)
25 Dec 1721
William Collins Chichester England (Mayor-Chichester)poet
25 Dec 1730
Philip Mazzei Italian physician and friend of Thomas Jefferson (d. 1816)
25 Dec 1742
Charlotte von Stein German friend of Goethe (d. 1827)
25 Dec 1763
Claude Chappe French engineer (optical telegraph)
25 Dec 1771
Dorothy Wordsworth English poet and diarist brother of William Wordsworth born in Cockermouth Cumberland (d. 1855)
25 Dec 1808
Stephen Cleeg Rowan Commander (Union Navy) (d. 1890)
25 Dec 1810
Alexandros Rhizos Rhankaves Greek poet and statesman (d. 1892)
25 Dec 1811
Wilhelm E Freiherr von Ketteler German politicianbishop of Mainz
25 Dec 1814
Jan de Liefde II Dutch vicarfounder (Coop of Welfare of the People)
25 Dec 1823
Preston Smith Brigadier General (Confederate Army) (d. 1863)
25 Dec 1832
Thomas Alfred Smyth Irish-American Major General (Union Army) born in County Cork Republic of Ireland (d. 1865)
25 Dec 1837
Cosima Liszt wife of Austrian composer Richard Wagner
25 Dec 1855
James Galvin pitcher shut-out every opposing team in 1884
25 Dec 1860
Manuel Dimech Maltese philosopher and social reformer (d. 1921)
25 Dec 1861
Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Indian founder of Banaras Hindu University (d. 1946)
25 Dec 1863
Charles Path French pioneer of film and record industries (Path Brothers 1896) born in Paris France (d. 1957)
25 Dec 1864
Thomas Cahill American soccer coach (d. 1951)
25 Dec 1865
Evangeline Cory Booth Salvation Army general (1904-34)
25 Dec 1867
Alfred Kerr [Kempner] German-British writer born in Breslau Silesia (d. 1948)
25 Dec 1868
Eugenie Besserer American actress (Jazz Singer) born in Watertown New York (d. 1934)
25 Dec 1870
Helena Rubinstein Polish-born American cosmetics industrialist (d. 1965)
25 Dec 1873
Otto Frederick Hunziker Swiss-born American dairy educator (d. 1959)
25 Dec 1875
Walter Lees cricketer (Surrey pace bowler toured for Eng 1905-06)
25 Dec 1876
Mohammed Ali Jinnah Karachi founded Pakistan (1947)gov (1947-58)
25 Dec 1876
Adolf Otto Reinhold Windaus Nobel laureate (d. 1959)
25 Dec 1878
W Starling Burgess yacht designer (America Cups Enterprise)
25 Dec 1878
Louis Chevrolet Swiss-born race car driver (d. 1941)
25 Dec 1881
Joseph V McCarthy baseball manager (NY Yankees)
25 Dec 1883
Fran Lhotka Czech composer born in Mlad Voice (d. 1962)
25 Dec 1883
Maurice Utrillo French painter (Port St Martin Montmartre)
25 Dec 1884
[Florence] Evelyn Nesbit American actress born in Tarentum Pennsylvania (d. 1967)
25 Dec 1887
John Davidson American actor (Dick Tracy vs Crime Inc Charlie Chan-Chinese Cat) born in NYC New York (d. 1968)
25 Dec 1890
Robert Ripley collector of odd facts (Believe it or Not) born in Santa Rosa California (d. 1949)
25 Dec 1891
Clarrie Grimmett cricketer (in Dunedin Great Australian leg-spinner)
25 Dec 1891
Earle Foxe actor (Dance Fools Dance) born in Oxford Ohio
25 Dec 1891
Kenneth A N Anderson British general (Dunkerk North Africa)
25 Dec 1892
Rebecca West [Cicely Isabel Fairfield] English author (Meaning of Treason) born in London
25 Dec 1893
Bert Bertram Australian actor (How to Steal a Million Shamus) born in Peterborough Australia (d. 1991)
25 Dec 1893
Fred Hillebrand American actor (Martin Kane Moon Over Manhattan) born in Brooklyn New York (d. 1963)
25 Dec 1899
Frank Ferguson American character actor (My Friend Flicka Peyton Place) born in Ferndale California (d. 1978)
25 Dec 1899
Raphael Soyer Russian-born american artist (Depression Scenes in NYC) born in Borisoglebsk Tambov (d. 1987)
25 Dec 1900
Gladys Swarthout Deepwater Missouri mezzo-soprano (La Gioconda)
25 Dec 1900
W L Tich Cornford cricketer (Sussex keeper played for England 1930)
25 Dec 1901
Alice C English duchess of Gloucesteraunt of Elizabeth II
25 Dec 1902
Barton Maclane American actor (The Quaterback I Dream of Jeannie) born in Columbia South Carolina (d. 1969)
25 Dec 1903
Corry Lievens [Isabella MJ Adriaens] Flemish actress (Blue Bird) born in Antwerpen Flanders Belgium (d. 1968)
25 Dec 1903
J Edward Bromberg Hungarian actor (The Mark of Zorro Under 2 Flags) born in Temesvr Austria-Hungary (d. 1951)
25 Dec 1904
Gerhard Herzberg Can physicist (molecular structure-Nobel 1971)
25 Dec 1906
Clark M Clifford US Secretary of Defense (1968-69)
25 Dec 1906
Herman J Scheltema [NEM Pareau] Dutch juristpoet
25 Dec 1906
Lew Grade British TV mogul (ATV)movie producer (Boys from Brazil)
25 Dec 1906
William McChesney Martin Chairman of Federal Reserve Bank (1951-70)
25 Dec 1907
Cab[ell] Calloway bandleader (Minnie the Moocha Jazzball) born in Rochester New York
25 Dec 1907
Glenn McCarthy American oil tycoon and businessman (d. 1988)
25 Dec 1907
Mike Mazurki Austrian-American actor and and professional wrestler (Some Like It Hot Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World) born in Tarnopol Galicia Austria-Hungary (d. 1990)
25 Dec 1908
Helen Twelvetrees American actress (States Attorney Painted Desert) born in Brooklyn New York (d. 1958)
25 Dec 1908
Jan Seidel Czech composer born in Nymburk Bohemia (d. 1998)
25 Dec 1908
Zora Arkus-Duntov Belgian-American automotive engineer (d. 1996)
25 Dec 1910
Marguerite Churchill American actress (Draculas Daughter Big Trail) born in Kansas City Missouri (d. 2000)
25 Dec 1910
David Lichine [Lichtenstein] RussianUS dancer (Make Mine Music)
25 Dec 1912
Donald McRae cricketer (Test for NZ the 1946 debacle vs Australia)
25 Dec 1913
Tony Martin [Alvin Morris] American singer (Its a Blue World To Each) born in San Francisco California
25 Dec 1913
Candy Candido [Jonathan Joseph Candido] American actor and radio performer (Peter Pan The Great Mouse Detective) born in New Orleans Louisiana (d. 1999)
25 Dec 1914
James Fletcher Jr New Zealand industrialist (Fletcher Construction) born in Dunedin New Zealand (d. 2007)
25 Dec 1915
Noelle de Mosa NethBritish dancerteacher (Brigadoon)
25 Dec 1915
Nora Dunfee American actress (Forrest Gump Lorenzos Oil) born in Belmont Ohio (d. 1994)
25 Dec 1918
Eddie Safranski orchestra leader (Jonathan Winters Show) born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
25 Dec 1918
Ahmed Ben Bella Maghnia Algeria politician first President of Algeria (d. 2012)
25 Dec 1919
Paul David French Canadian cardiologist founder of the Montreal Heart Institute (d. 1999)
25 Dec 1919
Noele Gordon British actress (Crossroads) born in East Ham London (d. 1985)
25 Dec 1921
Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah Pakistani journalist (d. 2000)
25 Dec 1923
Louis Lane Eagle Pass Texas conductor (Oere Orch 1968-73)
25 Dec 1924
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indian politician 10th Prime Minister of India (1996 1998-2004) born in Gwalior India
25 Dec 1924
Rod Serling writer and host (Twilight Zone Night Gallery) born in Syracuse New York (d. 1975)
25 Dec 1924
Henry Sy Sr. Chinese Malay businessman Philippines Retail King born in Amoy China
25 Dec 1925
Christmas F Tinto South African ANCerUDF-leader
25 Dec 1925
Ossi Reichert German FR giant slalom (Olympic gold 1956)
25 Dec 1925
Carlos Castaneda Peruvian-born American author and mystic (Eagles Gift Fire From Within) born in Cajamarca (d. 1998)
25 Dec 1926
Enrique Jorrn Cuban composer and musician (d. 1987)
25 Dec 1927
Nellie Fox White Sox infielder (AL MVP 1959) (d. 1975)
25 Dec 1929
Bill Horton doo-wop singer (The Silhouettes-Get a Job) born in Hickory North Carolina (d. 1995)
25 Dec 1929
Chris Kenner R&B singer (I Like it Like That) born in Kenner Louisiana (d. 1976)
25 Dec 1929
Nellie Irish McCalla American actress and artist (Sheena Queen of Jungle) born in Pawnee City Nebraska (d. 2002)
25 Dec 1929
Stuart Hall British radio and television presenter
25 Dec 1929
China Machado Chinese-born model 1st non-Caucasian super model born in Shanghai (d. 2016)
25 Dec 1930
Emmanuel Agassi Iranian boxer and coach and father of Andre Agassi born in Salmas Iran
25 Dec 1930
Salah Jaheen Egyptian poet and cartoonist born in Cairo Egypt (d. 1986)
25 Dec 1932
Jose Maria Capricorne Curacaos graphically designerpainter
25 Dec 1934
John Ashley actor (Clipper-Straightaway) born in Kansas City Missouri
25 Dec 1934
McKinley Mitchell US gospelsinger (The Town I Live In)
25 Dec 1936
Alexandra HEOC English princessdaughter of Sir Angus Ogilvy
25 Dec 1936
Ismail Merchant producer (Householder) born in Mumbai India
25 Dec 1937
OKelly Isley singer (Isley Brothers-Twist & Shout) born in Cincinnati Ohio
25 Dec 1938
Wibo van de Linde Dutch TV hostdirector (Avro)
25 Dec 1938
Duane Armstrong American painter (Fields of Grass) born in Fresno California
25 Dec 1939
Bob James American smooth jazz musician born in Marshall Missouri
25 Dec 1939
Christopher Wates English real estate developermulti-millionaire
25 Dec 1940
Peter Brown rocker born in Chicago Illinois
25 Dec 1940
Pete Brown English musician and songwriter (Cream) born in Ashtead Surrey
25 Dec 1942
Francoise Durr French tennis player (1976 US indoor Doubles)
25 Dec 1942
Mani Kaul director (Idiot Nazar Dhrupad Duvidha)
25 Dec 1945
Gary Sandy actor (Andy-WKRP in Cincinnati) born in Dayton Ohio
25 Dec 1945
Ken The Snake Stabler NFL quarterback (Oak Raiders Super Bowl XI) born in Foley Alabama (d. 2015)
25 Dec 1945
Noel Redding rocker (The Jimi Hendrix Experience-Purple Haze)
25 Dec 1945
Steve Mancha [Clyde Wilson] US singersongwriter (Too Many Cooks)
25 Dec 1946
Jimmy Buffet vocalist (Margaritaville) born in Mobile Alabama
25 Dec 1946
Larry Csonka NFL running back (Miami Dolphins NY Giants)
25 Dec 1946
Gene Lamont American baseball player and manager
25 Dec 1947
Connie Petracek Chambersburg PA pistol shooter (Olympics 92 96)
25 Dec 1948
Barbara Mandrell singerTV host (Mandrell Sisters) born in Houston Texas
25 Dec 1948
Merry Clayton American soul and gospel singer and actress born in New Orleans Louisiana
25 Dec 1949
Dan Pastorini NFL quarterback (Raiders) [or May 26]
25 Dec 1949
Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira Singer and icon of the Brazilian music
25 Dec 1949
Nawaz Sharif Pakistani politician Prime Minister (1990-93 1997-99 2013-17) born in Lahore Pakistan
25 Dec 1950
Barry Pearson American NFL player born in Geneseo Illinois
25 Dec 1950
Manny Trillo Venezuelan baseball infielder (Philadelphia Phillies) born in Caripito Venezuela
25 Dec 1950
Karl Rove former American presidential advisor
25 Dec 1942
Barry Goldberg American blues musician (The Rides) born in Chicago Illinois
25 Dec 1943
Hanna Schygulla Katowice Silesia actress (Love is Colder than Death)
25 Dec 1943
Hedley Howarth cricketer (brother of Geoff NZ lefty spinner 1969-77)
25 Dec 1943
Ravish Malhotra India cosmonaut (Soyuz T-11 backup)
25 Dec 1943
Wilson Fittipaldi Jnior Brazilian racing driver
25 Dec 1944
Henry Vestine American guitarist (Canned Heat) born in Takoma Park Maryland (d. 1997)
25 Dec 1944
Kenny Everett [Maurice James Christopher Cole] Seaforth Lancashire British DJ and TV personality (Kenny Everett Show)
25 Dec 1945
Rick Berman [Richard] televison producer (Star Trek Generations) born in New York
25 Dec 1725
Esteban Salas y Castro Cuban composer born in Havana Cuba (d. 1803)
25 Dec 1728
Johann Adam Hiller German composer born in Wendisch-Ossig Saxony (d. 1804)
25 Dec 1775
Antun Sorkocevic Ragusan composer and diplomat born in Dubrovnik Republic of Ragusa (d. 1841)
25 Dec 1864
Thomas Cahill American soccer coach and administrator (first coach US mens national team) born in NYC NY (d. 1951)
25 Dec 1878
William Starling Burgess American yacht designer (America Cups Enterprise) and aviation pioneer born in Boston Massachusetts (d. 1947)
25 Dec 1907
Cab[ell] Calloway American bandleader (Minnie the Moocha Jazzball) born in Rochester New York
25 Dec 1907
Mike Mazurki Austrian-American actor and professional wrestler (Some Like It Hot Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World) born in Tarnopol Galicia Austria-Hungary (d. 1990)
25 Dec 1909
Louis van Lint Belgian painter (post-war abstraction) born in Brussels Belgium (d. 1986)
25 Dec 1911
Louise Bourgeois French American artist (Femme Maison) born in Paris France (d 2010)
25 Dec 1920
Jerome Richardson American jazz musician born in Oakland California (d. 2000)
25 Dec 1923
Louis Lane American conductor (Oere Orch 1968-73) born in Eagle Pass Texas
25 Dec 1924
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indian politician 10th Prime Minister of India (1996 1998-2004) born in Gwalior India (d. 2018)
25 Dec 1927
Nellie Fox American Baseball Hall of Fame infielder (15 x MLB All Star AL MVP 1959 Chicago White Sox) born in St. Thomas Township Pennsylvania (d. 1975)
25 Dec 1928
Harry Klein English jazz saxophonist born in London United Kingdom (d. 2010)
25 Dec 1936
Ismail Merchant film producer (Merchant Ivory - Remains of the Day) born in Mumbai India
25 Dec 1938
Duane Armstrong American painter (Fields of Grass) born in Fresno California
25 Dec 1941
Ronnie Cuber American jazz saxophonist born in NYC New York
25 Dec 1942
Franoise Drr French tennis player (French Cships 1967) born in Algiers French Algeria
25 Dec 1943
Hedley Howarth New Zealand cricket spin bowler (30 Tests 86 wickets) born in Auckland NZ (d. 2008)
25 Dec 1943
Wilson Fittipaldi Jr Brazilian auto racer team owner (Fittipaldi F1 team) born in So Paulo Brazil
25 Dec 1944
Kenny Everett [Maurice James Christopher Cole] British DJ and TV personality (Kenny Everett Show) born in Seaforth Lancashire England (d. 1995)
25 Dec 1944
Emory Gordy Jr. American musician & music producer born in Atlanta Georgia
25 Dec 1945
Steve Mancha [Clyde Wilson] American singersongwriter (Too Many Cooks)
25 Dec 1624
Angelus Silesius [Johann Scheffler] German mystic (St Seelenlust)
25 Dec 1771
Dorothy Wordsworth English poet diarist and sister of William Wordsworth born in Cockermouth Cumberland England (d. 1855)
25 Dec 1829
Patrick Gilmore Irish-born American bandmaster and composer (When Johnny Comes Marching Home) born in Ballygar Ireland (d. 1892)
25 Dec 1859
Raoul Gunsbourg Romanian born French composer born in Bucharest Romania (d. 1955)
25 Dec 1875
Walter Lees English cricket fast bowler (5 Tests 26 wickets) born in Sowerby Bridge Yorkshire England (d. 1924)
25 Dec 1891
Clarrie Grimmett Australian cricket spin bowler (37 Tests 216 wickets 24.21 ICC Cricket Hall of Fame) born in Dunedin New Zealand (d. 1980)
25 Dec 1892
Rebecca West [Cicely Isabel Fairfield] English author (Meaning of Treason) born in London
25 Dec 1902
Barton Maclane American actor (The Quarterback I Dream of Jeannie) born in Columbia South Carolina (d. 1969)
25 Dec 1906
Herman J Scheltema [NEM Pareau] Dutch juristpoet
25 Dec 1908
Jo-Jo Moore American baseball left fielder (MLB All Star 193438 40 World Series 1933 NY Giants) born in Gause Texas (d. 2001)
25 Dec 1910
David Lichine [Lichtenstein] RussianUS dancer (Make Mine Music)
25 Dec 1918
Ahmed Ben Bella Algerian politician first President of Algeria (1963-65) born in Maghnia Algeria (d. 2012)
25 Dec 1935
Al Jackson American MLB player (New York Mets) born in Waco Texas (d. 2019)
25 Dec 1935
Sadiq al-Mahdi Sudanese politician and Imam Prime Minister of Sudan (1966-67 1986-89) born in Omdurman Sudan (d. 2020)
25 Dec 1944
Sam Strahan New Zealand rugby union lock (17 caps Manawat) born in Palmerston North New Zealand (d. 2019)
25 Dec 1945
Rick Berman [Richard] American television producer (Star Trek Generations) born in New York
25 Dec 1945
Steve Mancha [Clyde Wilson] American singersongwriter (Too Many Cooks)
25 Dec 1750
John Christmas Beckwith British organist and composer (The First Verse of Every Psalm of David with an Ancient or Modern Chant) born in Norwich England (d. 1809)
25 Dec 1845
Salvatore Auteri-Manzocchi Italian opera composer (Graziella) born in Palermo Italy (d. 1924)
25 Dec 1856
James Pud Galvin American Baseball HOF pitcher (MLBs first 300-game winner no-hitters 1880 84 Buffalo Bisons) born in St. Louis Missouri (d. 1902)
25 Dec 1859
Raoul Gunsbourg French composer impresario and opera director (Opra de Monte-Carlo 1892-1951) born in Bucharest Romania (d. 1955)
25 Dec 1878
William Starling Burgess American yacht designer (Americas Cup yachts Enterprise Rainbow Ranger) and aviation pioneer born in Boston Massachusetts (d. 1947)
25 Dec 1878
Louis Chevrolet Swiss auto racer (co-founder Chevrolet Motor Car Company) born in La Chaux-de-Fonds Switzerland (d. 1941)
25 Dec 1900
Gladys Swarthout American mezzo-soprano (La Gioconda) born in Deepwater Missouri (d. 1969)
25 Dec 1900
W L Tich Cornford English cricket wicketkeeper (4 Tests 8 dismissals Sussex CCC) born in Hurst Green England (d. 1964)
25 Dec 1912
Don McRae New Zealand cricket medium pace bowler (1 Test Canterbury CA) and soccer goalkeeper (1 cap Nomads United FC) born in Christchurch New Zealand (d. 1986)
25 Dec 1913
Jonathan Candy Candido American actor and radio performer (Peter Pan The Great Mouse Detective) born in New Orleans Louisiana (d. 1999)
25 Dec 1916
Daniel Devoto Argentine folklorist musicologist and poet born in Buenos Aires Argentina (d. 2001)
25 Dec 1923
Louis Lane American conductor (Akron 1959-83 Lake Erie Opera 1964-72) and educator (Cleveland Institute 1982-2004) born in Eagle Pass Texas (d. 2016)
25 Dec 1924
Rod Serling American screenwriter and TV host (The Twilight Zone Night Gallery) born in Syracuse New York (d. 1975)
25 Dec 1925
Ossi Reichert German alpine skier (Olympic gold womens giant slalom 1956 silver slalom 1952) born in Gunzesried Germany (d. 2006)
25 Dec 1929
Bill Horton American doo-wop singer (The Silhouettes - Get A Job) born in Hickory North Carolina (d. 1995)
25 Dec 1930
Emmanuel Agassi Iranian boxer and tennis coach (father of Andre Agassi) born in Salmas Iran (d. 2021)
25 Dec 1934
Giancarlo Baghetti Italian auto racer (French GP 1961) and journalistphotographer born in MIlan Italy (d. 1995)
25 Dec 1932
Peter Swales British soccer executive (Chairman Manchester City FC 1973-93 vice-president English FA) born in Manchester England (d. 1996)
25 Dec 1934
McKinley Mitchell American gospel blues and R&B singer (The Town I Live In) born in Jackson Mississippi (d. 1986)
25 Dec 1936
Princess Alexandra [Christabel] The Honourable Lady Ogilvy British royal family member (cousin of Queen Elizabeth II) born in Belgravia London England
25 Dec 1937
Noel Furlong Irish businessman and poker player (World Series of Poker main event 1999) born in Dublin Ireland (d. 2021)
25 Dec 1942
Franoise Drr French tennis player (French Cships 1967 11 Grand Slam doubles titles Tour Finals doubles 1979) born in Algiers French Algeria
25 Dec 1943
Hedley Howarth New Zealand cricket spin bowler (30 Tests 86 wickets Auckland CA) born in Auckland New Zealand (d. 2008)
25 Dec 1943
Trevor Lucas Australian folk singer-songwriter and guitarist (Fairport Convention) born in Bungaree Victoria (d. 1989)
25 Dec 1944
Jairzinho Brazilian soccer winger (81 caps Botafogo FC 416 games) and manager (Gabon) born in Rio de Janeiro Brazil
25 Dec 1945
Ken Stabler American Pro Football HOF quarterback (4 x Pro Bowl NFL MVP First-team All-Pro 1974 Super Bowl 1976 Oakland Raiders) born in Foley Alabama (d. 2015)
25 Dec 1945
(David) Noel Redding British rock bassist (The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze) born in Folkstone England (d. 2003)
25 Dec 1945
Steve Mancha [Clyde Wilson] American soul singer (100 Proof - Too Many Cooks (Spoil The Soup)) born in in Walhall South Carolina
25 Dec 1946
Jimmy Buffet American yacht rock singer-songwriter (Margaritaville) born in Mobile Alabama
25 Dec 1946
Larry Csonka American CollegePro Football HOF running back (Super Bowl 1972 73 [MVP] First-team All-Pro 1971 73 5 Pro Bowl Miami Dolphins Syracuse Uni) born in Stow Ohio
25 Dec 1946
Gene Lamont American baseball catcher (Detroit Tigers) and manager (Manager of the Year 1993 Chicago WS Pittsburgh Pirates) born in Rockford Illinois
25 Dec 1948
Merry Clayton American soul and gospel singer (Ray Charles Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter) and actress born in Gert Town New Orleans Louisiana
25 Dec 1949
Simone [Bittencourt de Oliveira] Brazilian pop-samba singer born in Salvador Bahia Brazil
25 Dec 1949
Joe Louis Walker American as an electric blues guitarist singer songwriter born in San Francisco California
25 Dec 1949
Serhiy Novikov Russian judoka (Olympic gold heavyweight 1976) born in Moscow Russia (d. 2021)
25 Dec 1949
Mustafa Cengiz Turkish businessman and sports administrator (president Galatasaray S.K. 2018-21) born in Nizip Turkey (d. 2021)
25 Dec 1950
Manny Trillo Venezuelan baseball second baseman (4 MLB All-Star World Series 1974 80 3 Gold Glove Chicago Cubs Philadelphia Phillies) born in Caripito Venezuela
25 Dec 1583
Orlando Gibbons English composer (O Clap Your Hands) baptized in Oxford England (d. 1625)
25 Dec 1624
Angelus Silesius [Johann Scheffler] German mystic (St Seelenlust) born in Breslau the capital of Silesia (d. 1677)
25 Dec 1628
Noel Coypel French painter born in Paris France (d. 1707)
25 Dec 1646
Harald Vallerius Swedish composer and teacher (1697 choral book) born in pVallerstad parish stergtland Sweden (d. 1716)
25 Dec 1686
Giovanni Battista Somis Italian Baroque violinist and composer born in Turin (d. 1673)
25 Dec 1698
Jacobus Houbraken Dutch engraver and illustrator born in Dordrecht (d. 1789)
25 Dec 1711
Jean-Joseph Cassenea de Mondonville French composer and violinist born in Narbonne France (d. 1772)
25 Dec 1721
William Collins English poet (Ode to Simplicity) born in Chichester England (d. 1759)
25 Dec 1763
Claude Chappe French engineer (optical telegraph) born in Brlon France (d. 1805)
25 Dec 1765
Joseph Mazzinghi English composer born in London England (d. 1844)
25 Dec 1811
Wilhelm Emmanuel von Ketteler German politician and bishop of Mainz born in Mnster Westphalia (d. 1877)
25 Dec 1814
Jan de Liefde II Dutch vicar (set up For the Welfare of the People organization) born in Amsterdam (d. 1869)
25 Dec 1815
Temistocle Solera Italian opera composer born in Ferrara (d. 1878)
25 Dec 1831
Johann Herbeck Austrian composer and conductor (conducted premiere of Franz Schuberts Unfinished Symphony) born in Vienna Austria (d. 1877)
25 Dec 1837
Cosima Liszt Wife of Austrian composer Richard Wagner (founded Bayreuth Festival together ) daughter of Franz Liszt and Marie dAgoult born at Lake Como (d. 1930)
25 Dec 1865
Evangeline Cory Booth English-American religious leader (Salvation Army general 1904-34) born in London England (d. 1950)
25 Dec 1875
Theodor Innitzer Austrian cardinal and archbishop Vienna born in Neugeschrei Bohemia (d. 1955)
25 Dec 1883
Maurice Utrillo French painter (Port St Martin Montmartre) born in Montmartre Paris France (d. 1955)
25 Dec 1887
Conrad Hilton American hotel mogul (Hilton Hotels worlds 1st international hotel chain) born in san Antonio New Mexico (d. 1979)
25 Dec 1891
Earle Foxe American actor (Dance Fools Dance) born in Oxford Ohio (d. 1973)
25 Dec 1891
Kenneth Anderson British general (Operation Torch - North Africa) born in Madras British India (d. 1959)
25 Dec 1892
Rebecca West [Cicely Isabel Fairfield] English author (Meaning of Treason) born in London (d. 1983)
25 Dec 1898
Theo Swagemakers Dutch portrait painter (d. 1994)
25 Dec 1901
Alice English princess and Duchess of Gloucester aunt of Elizabeth II born in London England (d. 2004)
25 Dec 1903
Antiochos Evanghelatos Greek classical composer born in Lixouri Cefalonia Greece (d. 1981)
25 Dec 1904
Gerhard Herzberg German-Canadian physicist (molecular structure-Nobel 1971) born in Hamburg Germany (d. 1999)
25 Dec 1906
Clark M. Clifford American lawyer and presidential advisor (US Secretary of Defense 1968-69) born in Fort Scott Kansas (d. 1998)
25 Dec 1906
Herman Jan Scheltema [NEM Pareau] Dutch jurist and poet born in Groningen Netherlands (d. 1981)
25 Dec 1906
Lew Grade British TV mogul (ATV) movie producer (Boys from Brazil) born in Tokmak Uyezd Taurida Governorate Russian Empire (d. 1998)
25 Dec 1906
William McChesney Martin American Chairman of Federal Reserve Bank (1951-70) born in St. Louis Missouri (d. 1998)
25 Dec 1908
Zora Arkus-Duntov Belgian-American automotive engineer known as the Father of the Corevette born in Brussells Belgium (d. 1996)
25 Dec 1910
David Lichine [Lichtenstein] Russian-American dancer and choreographer (Make Mine Music) born in Rostov-on-Don Russia (d. 1972)
25 Dec 1911
Burne Hogarth American strip-cartoon artist (Tarzan) born in Chicago Illinois (d. 1996)
25 Dec 1911
Louise Bourgeois French American artist (Femme Maison) born in Paris France (d. 2010)
25 Dec 1912
Herman W. Filarski Dutch bridge journalist (d. 1982)
25 Dec 1912
Leighton Noble [Faye Leighton Jepson] American big band singer bandleader and TV host (d. 1994)
25 Dec 1912
Werner Fussan German composer (Heiteres Aquarium) and educator born Plauen Germany (d. 1986)
25 Dec 1912
Willian Noel Moffet Irish architect born in Cork Ireland (d. 1994)
25 Dec 1913
Henri Nannen German journalist (Der Stern) born in Emden Germany (d. 1996)
25 Dec 1913
Tony Martin [Alvin Morris] American singer (Its a Blue World To Each His Own) born in San Francisco California (d. 2012)
25 Dec 1915
Pete Rugolo American bandleader and arranger (Fugitive) born in San Piero Patti Sicily (d. 2011)
25 Dec 1918
Eddie Safranski American jazz double bassist and orchestra leader (Jonathan Winters Show) born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania (d. 1974)
25 Dec 1923
Louis Lane American conductor (Akron 1959-83 Lake Erie Opera 1964-72) and educator (Cleveland Institute 1982-2004) born in Eagle Pass Texas (d. 2016)
25 Dec 1937
OKelly Isley singer (Isley Brothers - Twist and Shout) born in Cincinnati Ohio
25 Dec 1939
Bob James American smooth jazz keyboardist and composer (Angela Tappen Zee) born in Marshall Missouri
25 Dec 1945
Gary Sandy American stage and screen actor (WKRP in Cincinnati - Andy) born in Dayton Ohio
25 Dec 1945
Steve Mancha [Clyde Wilson] American soul singer (100 Proof - Too Many Cooks (Spoil The Soup)) born in Walhall South Carolina
25 Dec 1946
Gene Lamont American baseball catcher (Detroit Tigers) and manager (Manager of the Year 1993 Chicago White Sox Pittsburgh Pirates) born in Rockford Illinois
25 Dec 1946
L V Johnson American session soul and R&B guitarist and Chicago blues singer-songwriter (Dont Cha Mess with My Money My Honey or My Woman) born in Chicago Illinois (d. 1994)
25 Dec 1948
Merry Clayton American soul gospel and session singer (Ray Charles Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter Ringo Starr - Oh My My) and actress (20 Feet From Stardom) born in Gert Town New Orleans Louisiana
25 Dec 1949
Joe Louis Walker American electric blues guitarist singer songwriter born in San Francisco California
25 Dec 1952
CCH Pounder Guyanese American actress (ER. The Shield) born in Georgetown French Guiana
25 Dec 1665
Lady Grizel Baillie (ne Hume) Scottish poet and songwriter born at Redbraes Castle Berwickshire Scotland (d. 1746)
25 Dec 1717
George Augustus Eliott 1st Baron Heathfield Scottish general (Seven Years War) and Governor of Gibraltar (1777-90) who commanded the garrison during the Great Siege Gibraltar born in Wells House Roxburghshire Scotland (d. 1790)
25 Dec 1745
Joseph Bologne French violinist conductor composer and champion fencer born in Baillif Guadeloupe French West Indies (d. 1799)
25 Dec 1775
Antun Sorkocevic Ragusan composer and diplomat born in Dubrovnik Republic of Ragusa (no Croatia) (d. 1841)
25 Dec 1837
Cosima Liszt Austrian wife of composer Richard Wagner (founded Bayreuth Festival together) daughter of Franz Liszt and Marie dAgoult born in Bellagio Lombardy Austrian Empire (d. 1930)
25 Dec 1874
Lina Cavalieri Italian dramatic soprano and silent film actress born in Viterbo Kingdom of Italy (d. 1944)
25 Dec 1883
Maurice Utrillo French painter (Port St Martin Montmartre) born in Montmartre Paris France (d. 1955)
25 Dec 1886
Edward Kid Ory American New Orleans style jazz trombonist and band leader born in LaPlace Louisiana (d. 1973)
25 Dec 1906
Frank Ferguson American character actor (My Friend Flicka - Gus Peyton Place - Eli Carson) born in Ferndale California (d. 1978) [note some sources give year as 1899]
25 Dec 1908
Zora Arkus-Duntov Belgian-American automotive engineer known as the Father of the Corevette born in Brussels Belgium (d. 1996)
25 Dec 1912
Leighton Noble [Faye Leighton Jepson] American big band singer bandleader and TV host born in Pasadena California (d. 1994)
25 Dec 1912
Werner Fussan German composer (Heiteres Aquarium) and educator born in Plauen Germany (d. 1986)
25 Dec 1919
Naushad Ali Indian composer and Hindi film music director born in Lucknow British India (d. 2006)
25 Dec 1920
Henry Charnock English oceanographer born in Blackburn England (d. 1997)
25 Dec 1925
Christmas Tinto South African ANC and UDF leader born in Mqanduli district Transkei (d. 2005)
25 Dec 1926
Enrique Jorrn Cuban charanga violinist and pop-dance music composer considered the father of the cha-cha-ch born in Candelaria Cuba (d. 1987)
25 Dec 1934
Bob Martinez American politician (Governor of Florida 1987-91) born in Tampa Florida
25 Dec 1937
OKelly Isley American rock singer (Isley Brothers. 1954-86 - Shout Twist and Shout Its Your Thing) born in Cincinnati Ohio (d. 1986)
25 Dec 1938
David Borden American jazz and minimalist keyboard player and composer born in Boston Massachusetts
25 Dec 1940
Pete Brown British musician and lyricist (Cream - I Feel Free White Room Sunshine of Your Love) born in Ashtead Surrey England (d. 2023) [1]
25 Dec 1941
Don Pullen American jazz pianist and composer born in Roanoke Virginia (d. 1995)
25 Dec 1941
Ronald Perera American contemporary classical composer born in Boston Massachusetts
25 Dec 1943
Arthur Adams American session funk soul and blues guitarist songwriter and vocalist born in Medon Tennessee
25 Dec 1943
Jacqui McShee English folk-jazz singer (Pentangle) born in Catford England
25 Dec 1948
Merry Clayton American soul gospel and session singer (Ray Charles Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter Ringo Starr - Oh My My) and documentary subject (20 Feet From Stardom) born in Gert Town New Orleans Louisiana
25 Dec 1949
Simone [Bittencourt de Oliveira] Brazilian pop-samba singer born in Salvador Bahia Brazil
25 Dec 1601
Jose Ximenez Spanish composer born in Zaragoza Spain (d. 1672)
25 Dec 1686
Giovanni Battista Somis Italian Baroque violinist and composer born in Turin Duchy of Savoy (d. 1673)
25 Dec 1808
Stephen Cleeg Rowan American Navy Admiral during the Mexican-American War and the Civil War born near Dublin Ireland (d. 1890)
25 Dec 1813
Milledge Luke Bonham American politician Governor of South Carolina (1862-64) and Confederate general born near Redbank South Carolina (d. 1890)
25 Dec 1815
Temistocle Solera Italian opera composer born in Ferrara Austrian Empire (d. 1878)
25 Dec 1845
Salvatore Auteri-Manzocchi Italian opera composer (Graziella) born in Palermo Kingdome of the Two Sicilies (d. 1924)
25 Dec 1864
Thomas Cahill American soccer coach and administrator (first coach US mens national team) born in New York City (d. 1951)
25 Dec 1874
Marie Krogh Danish physician (co-founder of Novo Nordisk) born in Vosegaard Denmark (d. 1943)
25 Dec 1887
John Davidson American actor (Dick Tracy vs Crime Inc Charlie Chan-Chinese Cat) born in New York City (d. 1968)
25 Dec 1928
Harry Klein English jazz saxophonist born in London (d. 2010)
25 Dec 1929
Stuart Hall British radio and television presenter (Its a Knock-out) and convicted sex offender (2013) born in Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire England
25 Dec 1931
Lefty Driesell American Basketball HOF coach (first to win 100 games at 4 different NCAA Div I schools Davidson College Uni of Maryland James Madison Georgia State) born in Norfolk Virginia (d. 2024)
25 Dec 1938
Wibo van de Linde Dutch TV host director and screenwriter (Avro) born in Amsterdam Netherlands (d. 2018)
25 Dec 1941
Ronnie Cuber American jazz saxophonist born in New York City
25 Dec 1943
Wilson Fittipaldi Jr Brazilian auto racer (38 x F1 GP) and team owner (Fittipaldi F1 team) born in So Paulo Brazil (d. 2024)
25 Dec 1944
Emory Gordy Jr. American musician and music producer born in Atlanta Georgia
25 Dec 1250
John IV Doukas Laskaris 4th emperor of the Nicaean Empire (1258-61) born in Nicaea (d. circa 1305)
25 Dec 1461
Christina of Saxony Queen of Denmark Norway and Sweden born in Torgau Saxony (d. 1521)
25 Dec 1505
Christine of Saxony German noblewoman and landgravine consort of Hesse by marriage to Philip I born in Dresden Germany (d. 1549)
25 Dec 1584
Margarita of Austria Queen of Spain and Portugal by marriage to King Philip III & II of Spain born in Graz Holy Roman Empire (d. 1611)
25 Dec 1601
Jose Ximenez Spanish composer born in Zaragoza Spain (d. 1672)
25 Dec 1652
Archibald Pitcairne Scottish physician and poet born in Edinburgh Scotland (d. 1713)
25 Dec 1667
Melusine von der Schulenburg Duchess of Kendal German royal mistress to King George I of Great Britain born in Emden Germany (d. 1743)
25 Dec 1674
Thomas Halyburton Scottish divine an Anglican clergy of the Church of England born in Perth Scotland (d. 1712)
25 Dec 1686
Giovanni Battista Somis Italian Baroque violinist and composer born in Turin Duchy of Savoy (d. 1763)
25 Dec 1700
Leopold II of Anhalt-Dessau German prince of the House of Ascania and Prussian general born in Dessau (d. 1751)
25 Dec 1716
Johann Jakob Reiske German scholar and physician born in Zrbig Saxony (d. 1774)
25 Dec 1728
Johann Adam Hiller German composer born in Wendisch-Ossig Electorate of Saxony Holy Roman Empire (d. 1804)
25 Dec 1730
Philip Mazzei Italian physician philosopher and friend of Thomas Jefferson born in Poggio a Caiano Grand Duchy of Tuscany (d. 1816)
25 Dec 1742
Charlotte von Stein German poet known for her affair with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe born in Eisenach Saxe-Weimar (d. 1827)
25 Dec 1757
Benjamin Pierce American politician and governor for New Hampshire (1827-28 1829-30) born in Chelmsford Massachusetts (d. 1839)
25 Dec 1823
Preston Smith American Brigadier General (Confederate Army) born in Giles County Tennessee (d. 1863)
25 Dec 1856
Hans von Bartels German painter (Three Dutch Fisher Girls) born in Hamburg Germany (d. 1913)
25 Dec 1860
Manwel Dimech Maltese philosopher and social reformer who advocated for Malta to become a republic born in Valletta Malta (d. 1921)
25 Dec 1861
Madan Mohan Malaviya Indian co-founder of Banaras Hindu University born in Allahabad British India (d. 1946)
25 Dec 1870
Helena Rubinstein Polish-born American cosmetics manufacturer and art collector born in Krakw Poland (d. 1965)
25 Dec 1873
Otto Frederick Hunziker Swiss-American dairy industry pioneer (involved in the American Dairy Science Association) born in Zrich Switzerland (d. 1959)
25 Dec 1876
Adolf Windaus German chemist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1928 born in Berlin German Empire (d. 1959) [1]
25 Dec 1883
Fran Lhotka Croatian composer (The Devil in The Village) conductor and educator born in Mlad Voice Kingdom of Bohemia (d. 1962)
25 Dec 1884
Evelyn Nesbit American Gibson Girl model actress and wife of murderer Harry Kendall Thaw born in Tarentum Pennsylvania (d. 1967)
25 Dec 1898
Theo Swagemakers Dutch portrait painter (Queen Juliana Princess Beatrix) born in Tilburg Netherlands (d. 1994) [1]
25 Dec 1905
Ann Ronell [Rosenblatt] American songwriter (Willow Weep for Me Whos Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf) and film score composer born in Omaha Nebraska (d. 1993)
25 Dec 1906
Ernst Ruska German physicist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics 1986 born in Heidelberg German Empire (d. 1988) [1]
25 Dec 1907
Andrew Cruickshank Scottish actor (Dr Cameron in Dr. Finlays Casebook Body in Library Murder Most Foul) born in Aberdeen Scotland (d. 1988)
25 Dec 1907
Glenn McCarthy American businessman and oil tycoon known as the King of the Wildcatters born in Beaumont Texas (d. 1988)
25 Dec 1908
Jan Seidel Czech composer born in Nymburk Kingdom of Bohemia Austrian Empire (d. 1998)
25 Dec 1908
Quentin Crisp [Denis Charles Pratt] British author actor and raconteur (The Naked Civil Servant) born in Sutton England (d. 1999) [1] [2]
25 Dec 1912
Herman W. Filarski Dutch bridge player journalist and founder of the International Bridge Press Association born in Amsterdam Netherlands (d. 1982) [1]
25 Dec 1915
Pete Rugolo American bandleader and arranger (Fugitive) born in San Piero Patti Sicily Kingdom of Italy (d. 2011)
25 Dec 1918
Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah Pakistani writer journalist and feminist born in Calcutta British India (d. 2000)
25 Dec 1919
Noele Gordon British actress (Meg Richardson in Crossroads) born in East Ham London (d. 1985)
25 Dec 1919
Paul David French Canadian cardiologist and founder of the Montreal Heart Institute born in Montreal (d. 1999)
25 Dec 1929
Chris Kenner American R&B singer-songwriter (I Like it Like That. Land of 1000 Dances) born in Kenner Louisiana (d. 1976)
25 Dec 1929
Ed Smylie [Robert Smylie] American NASA engineer who led the team that saved the Apollo 13 mission born in Lincoln County Mississippi (d. 2025) [1]
25 Dec 1931
Uzo Egonu Nigerian-British visual artist painter and print maker born in Onitsha Nigeria (d. 1996)
25 Dec 1932
Jose Maria Capricorne Curacaos graphic designer and painter born in Curaao
25 Dec 1932
Mabel King (ne Washington) American stage and screen actress and singer (Whats Happening The Wiz) born in Charleston South Carolina (d. 1999)
25 Dec 1934
John Ashley American B-movie actor (Suicide Battalion Straightaway - Clipper Beach Blanket films) pop singer and film and TV producer (The A-Team) born in Kansas City Missouri (d. 1997)
25 Dec 1936
Ismail Merchant (n Rahman) Indian film producer (Merchant Ivory Productions - Howards End Remains of the Day A Room with a View) born in Bombay British India (2006)
25 Dec 1938
David Borden American jazz and minimalist keyboard player moog synthesizer player (Mother Mallards Portable Masterpiece Company) and composer born in Boston Massachusetts
25 Dec 1941
Lex Hixon American Sufi author and religious teacher born in Pasadena California
25 Dec 1941
Ronald Perera American contemporary classical composer (The Yellow Wallpaper) and educator (Smith College 1972-2002) born in Boston Massachusetts (d. 2023)
25 Dec 1941
Ronnie Cuber American jazz and session saxophonist (Eddie Palmieri Mingus Big Band J. Geils Band - Freeze Frame SNL Band) born in New York City (d. 2022)
25 Dec 1942
Barry Goldberg American blues and rock keyboardist (The Rides The Electric Flag Bob Dylan) songwriter and producer born in Chicago Illinois (d. 2025)
25 Dec 1943
Arthur Adams American session funk soul and blues guitarist songwriter and vocalist born in Medon Tennessee
25 Dec 1943
Ravish Malhotra Indian retired air commodore (Indian Air Force) and trained cosmonaut born in Lahore British India
25 Dec 1944
Mani Kaul Indian director of Hindi films (Duvidha Uski Roti Siddeshwari) born in Jodhpur British India (d.2011)
25 Dec 1945
Mike Pringle Scottish liberal democrat politician and member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh South (2003-11) born in Northern Rhodesia [1]
25 Dec 1945
Steve Mancha [Clyde Wilson] American soul singer (100 Proof - Too Many Cooks (Spoil The Soup)) born in Walhall South Carolina (d. 2011)
25 Dec 1948
Alia Al-Hussein [Alia Baha Uddin Toukan] Jordanian Queen consort and third wife of King Hussein of Jordan born in Cairo Egypt (d. 1977) [1] [2]
25 Dec 1949
Joe Louis Walker American electric blues guitarist singer and songwriter born in San Francisco California (d. 2025) [1]
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