Jul 9 Jan van Eyck, Flemish painter (The Ghent Altarpiece), dies Jul 12 Ashikaga Yoshinori, Japanese shōgun (1429-41), assassinated during an evening play by the Akamatsu family at 48 1440 Famous Deaths by Year 1442 Famous People by Cause of Death Assassination Car Crash Hanging Killed in Action Plane Crash Poisoning