Famous Birthdays on January 17

Birthdays 1 - 200 of 313

• 1342 Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy (1363-1404), born in Pontoise, France (d. 1404)
• 1463 Frederick III [Frederick the Wise], Elector of Saxony (1486-25) who protected his subject Martin Luther, born in Torgau, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1525)
• 1484 George Spalatin, German humanist, reformer and important figure in the Reformation, born in Spalt, Bavaria (d. 1545)

• 1501 Leonhard Fuchs, German physician and botanist (Notable Commentaries on the History of Plants) for which the flowering plants and color Fuchsia is named after, born in Wemding, Bavaria (d. 1566)

• 1517 Antonio Scandello, Italian composer (Passion of John), born in Bergamo, Republic of Venice (d. 1580)
• 1545 Antonio Pace, Italian madrigal composer and music publisher, born in Naples, Kingdom of Naples (d. 1581)
• 1560 Gaspard Bauhin, Swiss botanist (d. 1624)
• 1574 Robert Fludd, British physician, author, and mystical philosopher, baptized in Bearsted, Kent, England (d. 1637)
• 1600 Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Spanish dramatist, poet and writer of the Spanish Golden Age, born in Madrid (d. 1681)

• 1657 Pieter van Bloemen [Standaart], Flemish landscape painter, baptized in Antwerp (d. 1720)
• 1659 Antonio Veracini, Italian violinist and Baroque composer, born in Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany (d. 1733)
• 1683 Gerard van Loon, Dutch numismatist (d. 1758)
• 1686 Archibald Bower, Scottish historian (d. 1766)

• 1712 John Stanley, English blind composer and organist, born in London, England (d. 1786)
• 1719 William Vernon, American merchant (d. 1806)
• 1720 Jean-Joseph Vadé, French songwriter, poet, and playwright, born in Ham, France (d. 1757)
• 1726 Hugh Mercer, Scottish military officer (fought in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War), born in Rosehearty, Scotland (d. 1777)
• 1728 Johann Gottfried Müthel, German keyboard virtuoso and composer, born in Mölln, Duchy of Lauenburg (d. 1788)
• 1732 Stanislaw II August Poniatowski, last King of Poland (1764-95), born in Wołczyn, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (d. 1795)
• 1733 Thomas Linley the elder, English composer and tenor, born in Badminton, Gloucestershire< England (d. 1795)
• 1734 François-Joseph Gossec, Belgian-French composer (Les Pêcheurs; Mirza), born in Vergnies, Austrian Netherlands (d. 1829)
• 1745 Nicolas Roze, French composer, born in Mercurey, France (d. 1819)
• 1759 Paul Cuffe, African American civil rights activist, merchant and shipbuilder (helped settle Sierra Leone), born on Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts (d. 1817)
• 1761 James Hall, Scottish geologist, born in Dunglass, Scotland (d. 1832)
• 1769 Ole Andreas Lindeman, Norwegian organist (Trondheim Vor Frelsers Kirke, 1799-57), composer, and educator, born in Øye, Surnadal, Norway (d. 1857)
• 1771 Charles Brockden Brown 'Father of American novel', American pioneering writer and editor (Wieland), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1810)
• 1789 August Neander, German theologian (d. 1850)
• 1806 James Madison Randolph, American President Jefferson's grandson and the 1st to be born in the White House, born in Washington, D.C. (d. 1834)
• 1814 Ellen Wood, English author (East Lynne, Pomeroy Abbey), born in Worcester, England (d. 1887)
• 1818 Antoine-Aimé Dorion, Canadian politician and jurist (joint premier of Canada 1858, 1863-64), born in Ste-Anne-de-la-Pérade, Lower Canada (d. 1891)
• 1820 Anne Brontë, English novelist/poet (Tenant of Wildfell Hall), born in Thornton, West Yorkshire (d. 1849)
• 1828 Eduard Reményi, Hungarian violinist and composer, born in Miskolc, Austria-Hungary (d. 1898) [some sources cite birth year as 1830]
• 1828 Lewis Addison Grant, American teacher, lawyer, and Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Winhall, Vermont (d. 1918)

• 1830 Eyre Massey Shaw, British first chief of London Fire Brigade, born in Ballymore, Ireland (d. 1908)
• 1831 Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria (d. 1903)
• 1834 August Weismann, German biologist (d. 1914)
• 1834 Wilhelmina Albregt-Engelman, Dutch actress, daughter of Mimi Bia, born in Amsterdam (d. 1902)
• 1835 Antanas Baranauskas, Lithuanian bishop, poet (Anykščių šilelis) and dialectologist, born in Anykščiai, Vilnius Governorate, Russian Empire (d. 1902)
• 1835 Johan Filip von Schantz, Finnish violinist, conductor, and composer (Kullervo), born in Ulvila, Finland (d. 1865)
• 1836 Jose White Lafitte, Cuban-French violinist and composer, born in Matanzas, Cuba (d. 1918)
• 1850 Alexander Sergeyevich Taneyev, Russian composer, born in St Petersburg, Russia (d. 1918)
• 1851 A. B. Frost, American illustrator (d. 1928)
• 1853 Alva Belmont, American socialite & suffragette (d. 1933)
• 1857 Eugene Augustin Lauste, French inventor (1st sound-on-film recording), born in Montmartre, France (d. 1935)
• 1857 Wilhelm Kienzl, Austrian composer (Der Evangelimann - The Evangelist; Der Kuhreigen), born in Waizenkirchen, Austria (d. 1941)
• 1858 Tomas Carrasquilla, Colombian author (Frutos de mi Tierra), born in Santo Domingo, Colombia (d. 1940)
• 1860 Douglas Hyde, President of Ireland (d. 1949)
• 1862 John Evert Akkeringa, Dutch painter and etcher (d. 1942)

• 1863 Henry Charles Tonking, British organist and composer, born in Camborne, Cornwall, England (d. 1926)
• 1863 Konstantin Stanislavski, Russian director and actor (Stanislavski Method for acting), born in Moscow, Russia (d. 1938)
• 1864 Lucien Herr, French intellectual and librarian (École Normale Supérieure), born in Altkirch, Haut-Rhin, France (d. 1926)
• 1865 Gen Sir Charles Fergusson, Governor-General of New Zealand (d. 1951)
• 1867 Carl Laemmle, German-born film executive (d. 1939)

• 1873 Francois Rasse, Belgian composer, born in Helchin, Belgium (d. 1955)
• 1875 Florencio Sánchez, Uruguayan dramatist, born in Montevideo, Uruguay (d. 1910)
• 1876 Frank Hague, American politician (d. 1956)
• 1876 Olga Fastrová, Czech writer and editor (National Policy), born in Prague (d. 1965)
• 1877 Hans Jelmoli, Swiss pianist and composer, born in Zurich, Switzerland (d. 1936)
• 1877 May Gibbs, Australian children's author (d. 1969)

• 1878 Oscar Apfel, American actor (The Squaw Man, Inspiration, Before Dawn), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 1938)

• 1881 Alfred Radcliffe-Browne, British anthropologist (Andaman Islanders), born in Birmingham, England (d. 1955)
• 1881 Antoni Łomnicki, Polish mathematician (d. 1941)

• 1882 Noah Beery, American character actor (Story of Esther, The Mark of Zorro), born in Kansas City, Missouri (d. 1946)
• 1885 Emmy Hennings-Ball [Emma Cordsen], German poet and performer, born in Flensburg, German Empire (d. 1948)
• 1885 Joseph Arendt, Belgian worker's union leader (d. 1952)
• 1886 Glenn Luther Martin, American pioneering aviator (founded what became Lockheed Martin)), born in Macksburg, Iowa (d. 1955)
• 1886 Ronald Firbank, British novelist (The Flower Beneath the Foot), born in London, England (d. 1926)
• 1887 Ola Raknes, Norwegian psychoanalyst and philologist (d. 1975)
• 1889 Louis Santop, American Baseball HOF catcher (5 x NgL East All-Star; Hilldale Athletic Club), born in Tyler, Texas (d. 1942)
• 1891 Marjorie Gateson, American actress (One Man's Family), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1977)
• 1891 Walter Eucken, German economist (social market economy), born in Jena in Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (d. 1950)
• 1896 Harry Reser, American banjo player and bandleader (Sammy Kaye Show), born in Piqua, Ohio (d. 1965)
• 1897 Marcel Petiot, French mass murderer (d. 1946)
• 1897 Nils Asther, Swedish actor (Bluebeard, Night Monster), born in Malmö, Sweden (d. 1981)

• 1899 Nevil Shute [Norway], English-Australian novelist (On the Beach, Town Like Alice), born in London, England (d. 1960)
• 1899 Robert Maynard Hutchins, American educational philosopher (University of Chicago), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1977)
• 1899 Roel Houwink, Dutch writer and poet (1 Man Without Character), born in Breda (d. 1987)
• 1900 George Sperti, American inventor (Preparation H), born in Covington, Kentucky (d. 1991)
• 1900 Olga Maria Nicolis di Robilant, Portuguese patron of the arts, born in Turin, Italy (d. 1996)
• 1901 Aron Gurwitsch, Lithuanian-born philosopher, born in Vilnius, Lithuania (d. 1973)
• 1901 Olin Dutra, American golfer (PGA C'ship 1932, US Open 1934), born in Monterey, California (d. 1983)
• 1901 Vasily Petrovich Shirinsky, Russian violinist and composer, born in Ekaterinodar, Russia (d. 1965)
• 1902 Geoffrey Lloyd, British politician and Governor of the BBC (d. 1984)
• 1903 Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Assamese poet, playwright, filmmaker (d. 1953)
• 1903 Warren Hull, American actor (Strike it Rich, Who in the World), born in Gasport, New York (d. 1974)
• 1904 Patsy Ruth Miller, American actress (Quebec, Wide Open, Sap, Twin Beds), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1995)
• 1905 Franz Schmid, German climber (1st to ascend northside of Matterhorn 1931), born in Garmisch, Germany (d. 1992)
• 1905 Grant Withers, American actor (Rio Grande, Oklahoma, Annie), born in Pueblo, Colorado (d. 1959)
• 1905 Guillermo Stábile, Argentine footballer (d. 1966)
• 1907 Henk Badings, Dutch opera composer (Orestes), born in Bandung, Java, Dutch East Indies (d. 1987)
• 1908 Bryan Valentine, British cricket batsman (7 Tests, 2 x 100; Kent CCC, Cambridge University CC), born in Blackheath, England (d. 1983)
• 1908 Cus D'Amato, American boxing manager (d. 1985)
• 1908 L. V. Prasad, Indian pioneering filmmaker, born in Somavarappadu, Madras Presidency, British India (d. 1994)
• 1909 Karen Jønsson (née Pedersen), Danish jazz singer, pianist, songwriter, composer, and actress, born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1942)
• 1910 Edith Green, American politician (Rep-D-Oregon 1955-74), born in Trent, South Dakota (d. 1987)
• 1910 Sidney “Big Sid” Catlett, American jazz drummer (Louis Armstrong), born in Evansville, Indiana (d. 1951)
• 1911 Hermann Pfrogner, Austrian musicologist (Zerrissene Orpheus), and educator (Munich Music College, 1958-74), born in Graz, Austria-Hungary (d. 1988)
• 1912 Orest Evlahkov, Russian Soviet composer and educator (Leningrad Conservatory), born in Warsaw, Russian Poland (d. 1973)
• 1913 Werenfried van Straaten, Dutch anti-communist priest (founder of Oostpriesterhulp), born in Mijdrecht, Netherlands (d. 2003)
• 1913 Yadavendra Singh [Yuvraj of Patiala], Indian 9th and last ruling Maharaja of Patiala and cricketer (scored 24 & 60 in only Test India v England), born in Patiala City, British Raj (d. 1974)
• 1914 Anacleto Angelini, Chilean businessman (d. 2007)
• 1916 Joel Herron, American orchestra leader (Jaye P Morgan Show), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2012)
• 1917 M. G. Ramachandran, Indian actor and politician, born in Kandy, Sri Lanka (d. 1987)
• 1917 Oskar Morawetz, Czech-Canadian composer (From the Diary of Anne Frank), born in Světlá nad Sázavou, Bohemia (now Czech Republic); (d. 2007)
• 1917 Ramón Cardemil, Chilean huaso, born in Colchagua, Chile (d. 2007)
• 1918 Joseph W. Barr, American banker and politician (Secretary of the Treasury), born in Vincennes, Indiana (d. 1996)
• 1918 Keith Joseph, British Conservative politician and minister under four PMs who helped create the ideology of Thatcherism, born in London (d. 1994)
• 1920 George Handy [Hendleman], American bebop jazz arranger, pianist and composer (Handyland, U.S.A.), born in New York City (d. 1997)
• 1920 Nora Kaye, American prima ballerina, born in New York City (d. 1987)
• 1921 Antonio Prohias, Cuban cartoonist (d. 1998)
• 1921 Dehl Berti, Chiricahua Apache actor (Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Guns of Paradise), born in Pueblo, Colorado (d. 1991)

• 1922 Luis Echeverria Alvarez, Mexican politician, President of Mexico (1970-76), born in Mexico City (d. 2022)
• 1922 Nicholas Katzenbach, lawyer (US Attorney General), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2012)
• 1923 Carol Raye [Kathleen Corkery], British-born Australian actress (Number 96; Blankety Blanks), born in London (d. 2022)
• 1923 Onno Molenkamp, Dutch actor (Lifespan, Broken Mirrors, The Lift), born in Fort de Kock, Dutch East Indies (d. 1990)
• 1924 Jewel Plummer Cobb, American biologist and cancer researcher (melanoma), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2017)
• 1925 Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Pakistani cricketer and politician (captained Pakistan's 1st Test, prev played for India), born in Lahore, British India (d. 1996)
• 1925 Annie Delorie, Dutch opera singer (Nederlandse Opera, 1950-70), born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 2009)
• 1925 Duane Hanson, American artist, made life-sized realistic sculptures of people, born in Alexandria, Minnesota (d. 1996)
• 1925 Edgar Ray Killen, American convict, former preacher, K.K.K. member and murderer, born in Philadelphia, Mississippi (d. 2018)
• 1925 Robert Cormier, American author (d. 2000)
• 1926 Dick Hills, British screenwriter, with Sid Green (Two Of A Kind; The Strange World of Gurney Slade), and comedian (Those Two Fellers), born in Eltham, England (d. 1996)
• 1926 Moira Shearer, Scottish actress and ballerina (Red Shoes), born in Dunfermline Scotland (d. 2006)
• 1926 Newton N. Minow, American lawyer, statesman (FCC Chairman, 1961-63), and public broadcasting advocate, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 2023)
• 1926 Sir Clyde Walcott, West Indian cricket batsman (44 Tests @ 56.68; 15 x 100s) and administrator (ICC chairman 1997-2000), born in St Michael, Barbados (d. 2006)
• 1927 Donald Erb, American composer known for large orchestral works, born in Youngstown, Ohio (d. 2008)
• 1927 Dr Tom Dooley, American humanitarian (d. 1961)
• 1927 Eartha Kitt, American singer (Santa Baby), dancer, activist, and actress (Batman - "Catwoman"), born in North, South Carolina (d. 2008)
• 1927 Michael Wooller, British TV and film producer (Omnibus), born in Lancashire, England (d. 1996)
• 1928 Jean Barraqué, French composer, born in Hauts-de-Seine, France (d. 1973)
• 1928 Ken Archer, Australian cricket batsman (5 Tests; Queensland CA), born in Brisbane, Australia (d. 2023)
• 1928 Philip Jones, British classical trumpeter (Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, 1951-86), and educator, born in Bath, England (d. 2000)

• 1929 Grady Martin, country music guitarist (The Nashville A-Team), born in Chapel Hill, Tennessee (d. 2001)

• 1930 Robert Ceely, American classical and electro-acoustic composer (The Automobile Graveyard), and educator (New England Conservatory, 1966-2003), born in Torrington, Connecticut (d. 2015)
• 1931 Don Zimmer, American baseball infielder (2 × All-Star, Chicago Cubs; World Series 1955, 59 LA Dodgers) and manager (NL Manager of the Year 1989 Chicago Cubs), born in Cincinnati, Ohio, (d. 2014)
• 1931 Douglas Wilder, American lawyer and politician, Governor of Virginia (1990-94), 1st African American Governor since Reconstruction, born in Richmond, Virginia
• 1931 Frederick A. Fox, American classical composer (Nightscenes; Shaking The Pumpkin), and educator (Indiana University, 1974-94), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2011)

• 1933 Aga Khan, religious leader (Muslims)
• 1933 Bruno Schroder, British baron/banker/multi-millionaire
• 1933 Dalida [Yolande Christina Gigliotti], French-Italian actress (The Sixth Day), singer ("Bambino"), and Miss Egypt 1954, born in Cairo, Egypt (d. 1987)
• 1933 Shari Lewis [Phyllis Hurwitz], American ventriloquist, puppeteer (Lamb Chop), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 1998)
• 1933 Sheree North [Dawn Bethel], American actress (The Mary Tyler Moore Show), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2005)
• 1934 Cedar Walton, American hard bop jazz pianist (Jazztet; Art Blakey), and composer ("Mosaic"), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 2013)
• 1934 Donald Cammell, Scottish film director (Performance; Wild Side), and painter, born in Edinburgh, Scotland (d. 1996)
• 1934 Sydney Hodkinson, Canadian-American classical composer and educator (Eastman School, 1973-99), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba (d. 2021)
• 1935 Paul O[sborne] Williams, American sci-fi author (Ends of the Circle)
• 1935 Ruth Ann Minner (née Coverdale), American businesswoman and politician (Governor of Delaware (D), 2001-09), born in Milford, Delaware (d. 2021)
• 1936 Jerry Fogel, actor (Jerry-Mothers-in-Law, White Shadow), born in Rochester, New York
• 1938 John Bellairs, American sci-fi author (Chessmen of Doom), born in Marshall, Michigan (d. 1991)
• 1939 Antao D'Souza, Pakistani cricket medium pace bowler (6 Tests, 17 wickets; Karachi, Peshawar), born in Nagoa, Goa, India
• 1939 Maury Povich, TV host (Current Affair, Maury)/Mr Connie Chung
• 1939 Toini Gustafson, Swedish cross country skier (Olympic gold 5k/10k 1968), born in Suomussalmi, Finland
• 1940 Fred Hill, English soccer forward (2 caps; Bolton Wanderers 375 games), born in Sheffield, England (d. 2021)
• 1940 Kipchoge "Kip" Keino, Kenyan athlete (Olympic gold 1,500m 1968, 3k steeplechase 1972), born in Kipsamo, Kenya
• 1940 Leighton Rees, Welsh darts player (BDO World Champion 1978), born in Ynysybwl, Glamorgan, Wales (d. 2003)
• 1940 Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali, South African poet (Fireflames)
• 1940 Richard Maloof, American bassist and tuba player (Lawrence Welk Orchestra, 1967-82), born in Sacramento, California
• 1940 Tabaré Vázquez, Uruguayan politician and physician, President of Uruguay (2005-10, 2015-20), born in Montevideo, Uruguay (d. 2020) [1]
• 1941 Dame Gillian Weir, New Zealand organist, born in Martinborough, New Zealand
• 1942 Ita Buttrose, Australian journalist and businesswoman, born in Potts Point, Australia

• 1942 Nancy Parsons, American actress, born in Saint Paul, Minnesota (d. 2001)
• 1942 Randy Boone, American actor (Cimarron Strip, Virginian), born in Fayetteville, North Carolina
• 1942 Ulf Hoelscher, German violinist, born in Kitzingen, Germany
• 1943 (Ezekiel Christopher) "Chris" Montez, American rock guitarist and singer ("Let's Dance"; "Call Me"), born in Los Angeles, California
• 1943 Daniel Charles Brandenstein, American astronaut (STS 8, 51-G, 32, 49), born in Watertown, Wisconsin
• 1943 Geoffrey Deuel, American actor, born in Lockport, New York

• 1944 Denny Doyle, American MLB baseball second baseman, 1970-77 (Philadelphia Phillies, and 1 other team), born in Glasgow, Kentucky (d. 2022)
• 1944 Françoise Hardy, French pop singer, songwriter ("Je Suis D’Accord", "Comment te Dire Adieu"). and actress, born in Paris, France (d. 2024) [1]
• 1945 Ivan Karabits, Ukrainian composer, conductor, and educator, born in Yalta, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine (d. 2002)
• 1945 Javed Akhtar, Indian lyricist, poet and scriptwriter, born in Gwalior, India
• 1945 William Hart, American soul singer and songwriter (4 Gents; Delfonics - "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)"; "La-La Means I Love You"), born in Washington, D.C. (d. 2022)
• 1946 Frank Bey [Bass], American blues singer-songwriter (All My Dues Are Paid), born in Millen, Georgia (d. 2020)
• 1946 Michèle Deslauriers, French-Canadian actress, and the voice of the Montreal Metro system, born in Quebec
• 1947 Alcides Báez, Paraguayan soccer goalkeeper (16 caps; FC Cerro Porteño, FC Libertad), born in Asunción, Paraguay (d. 2023)
• 1947 Jane Elliot, American actress (Baby Boom, Gen Hospital, Knots Landing), born in New York City
• 1947 Todd Susman, American actor (Goodnight Beantown), born in St Louis, Missouri
• 1947 Ulysses Dove, American dancer and choreographer, born in Columbia, South Carolina (d. 1996)
• 1948 Alexander "Alec" Erwin, South African worker's union leader, born in Cape Town, South Africa
• 1948 Anne Queffélec, French concert pianist, born in Paris, France
• 1948 Mick Taylor, British rock guitarist (John Mayhall's Bluesbreakers, 1967-69; Rolling Stones, 1969-74 - "Brown Sugar", "Honky Tonk Woman"), born in Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom
• 1948 Robin Lumley, English jazz-fusion keyboardist (Brand X), and record producer, born in the Devonport, England (d. 2023)
• 1949 Andy Kaufman, American comedian and actor (Taxi - "Latka Gravas"), born in New York City (d. 1984)
• 1949 Billy T. James [William James Te Wehi Taitoko], New Zealand Maori comedian and singer (The Billy T. James Show), born in Cambridge, New Zealand (d. 1991)
• 1949 Debbie Watson, American actress (Karen, Tammy), born in La Mirada California,

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• Year of the Rabbit
  2023
• Year of the Dragon
  2024
• Year of the Snake
  2025
• Year of the Horse
  2026
• Year of the Goat/Sheep
  2027
• Year of the Monkey
  2028