Deaths February 4 | History by KabAstro

Septimius Severus (146-211 AD)

Emperor of Rome (193-211), dies at 64

708 Sisinnius, Greek-Syrian pope (708, 20 days), dies
749 Smoke Monkey, Maya ruler of city of Copán, dies after an 11 year reign
856 Rabanus Maurus 'Teacher of Germany', Frankish Benedictine abbot and scholar (Fulda Monastery), archbishop of Mainz, dies
1189 Gilbert of Sempringham, English monastery founder (Gilbertine Order - only English Medieval religious order) and saint, dies about 105
1222 William I, Count of Holland (1203-22), dies at 54 or 55
1505 Joan of France, Queen of France (1498) and Catholic saint who founded several religious orders, dies at 40
1508 Conrad Celtes, German humanist scholar and manuscript thief, dies at 49
1553 Caspar Othmayr, German Lutheran pastor and composer, dies at 37
1555 John Roger, English religious reformer and translator (Matthew Bible), 1st protestant martyr under Mary I, burnt at the stake at Smithfield, London (b. c. 1500)
1590 Gioseffo Zarlino, Italian composer and musical theorist, dies at 73
1615 Dom Justo Takayama, Japanese warlord (b. 1552)
1615 Giovanni Battista della Porta, Italian scholar, polymath and child prodogy (b. 1535)
1617 Louis Elsevier, Dutch publisher, dies at about 76
1640 Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom, Dutch seascape painter, dies (b. 1562)
1694 Natalya Naryshkina, Tsaritsa of Russia as second wife of Tsar Alexis I, mother and regent of Tsar Peter I, dies at 42
1714 Charles of France, Duke of Berry, French King Louis XIV's grandson, dies after a hunting accident at 27
1746 Robert Blair, Scottish poet (The Grave), dies at 46
1774 Charles Marie de La Condamine, French mathematician and geographer (b. 1701)
1781 Josef Mysliveček, Czech composer, dies at 43
1781 Willem Crul, British admiral (West Indies), dies in battle during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War at 59
1799 Étienne-Louis Boullée, French architect (b. 1728)
1815 Geert Reinders, Dutch cattle breeder and inoculation proponent, dies at 77
1815 Jacob van Strij, Dutch cartoonist and graphic artist, dies at 58
1816 Meingosus Gaelle, German theologian and church composer, dies at 63
1834 Amelie-Julia Candielle, French musician, composer and actress, dies at 66
1844 Willem de Clerq, Dutch merchant and leader of the protestant Réveil movement, dies at 49 [1]
1847 Henri Dutrochet, French physiologist (discovered & named process of osmosis), dies at 70
1854 Carl Ludwig Cornelius Westenholz, German composer, dies at 66
1869 Johan Michiel Dautzenberg, Flemish author (Future), dies at 60

James Donnelly (1816-1880)

Irish-Canadian patriarch of the Donnelly family, murdered along with his family in the "Black Donnelly" massacre at 63

1885 Sarah Miriam Peale, American portrait painter (General Lafayette, 1825), dies at 84 [1]
1895 Faustina Hasse Hodges, English-American composer, dies at 71
1896 Henry David Leslie, English composer, dies at 73
1905 Louis-Ernest Barrias, French sculptor, dies at 63
1909 John Clarkson, American Baseball HOF pitcher (Triple Crown 1889; no-hitter 1885; 3 × NL wins leader; 3 × NL strikeout leader; Chicago White Stockings, Boston Beaneaters), dies of mental illness & pneumonia at 47
1911 Peter A "Piet" Cronje, South Africa Boer general, dies at about 75

Armand Peugeot (1849-1915)

French industrialist, automobile pioneer and founder of Peugeot, dies at 65

1918 Akiyama Saneyuki, Japanese officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy, dies at 49
1921 Xavier Mellery, Belgian painter and illustrator, dies at 75
1927 Thomas Laub, Danish organist and composer, dies at 74
1928 Hendrik Antoon Lorentz, Dutch physicist (electromagnetic radiation, Nobel 1902), dies at 74
1933 Archibald Sayce, English educator (b. 1846)
1936 Wilhelm Gustloff, German leader of the Swiss Nazi party (b. 1895)
1939 Edward Sapir, American linguist and cultural anthropologist (North American Indian languages), dies at 55
1939 Henri Deterding, Dutch oil magnate (Royal Oil, Shell), dies at 72
1940 Nikolai Yezhov, Soviet Head of Soviet NKVD under Stalin responsible for enacting the Great Purge, executed in secret at 44
1941 Johann Peter Kirsch, Luxembourg church historian and archaeologist, dies at 79
1943 Frank Calder, British-Canadian 1st NHL president, dies at 65
1944 Arsen Kotsoyev, Russian writer, dies at 72
1944 Yvette Guilbert, French singer and actress, dies at 79
1946 Margarete Boie, German writer, dies at 65
1953 Alexander Loudon, Dutch diplomat (League of Nations), dies at 60
1954 Václav Vačkář, Czech composer, known for his marches, conductor, and musicologist, dies at 72
1956 Leendert Antonie Donker, Dutch Minister of Justice (PvdA), dies at 56
1956 Peder Gram, Danish composer, dies at 74
1957 Miguel Covarrubias, Mexican illustrator and ethnologist (co-discoverer of the Olmec civilization) dies of sepsis at 52
1958 Frederik de Merode, Belgian prince and International Red Cross executive, dies of a thrombosis at 46
1959 Una O'Connor, Irish-American actress (Banjo; David Copperfield; The Invisible Man), dies at 78
1961 Piet[er] L. Kramer, Influential Dutch architect (Amsterdam School), dies at 79
1964 Siegfried T. Bok, Dutch neurobiologist and anatomist (Cybernetica), dies at 71
1965 Greyhound 'The Great Grey Ghost', American horse, most outstanding champion trotter of its day, dies at 33
1966 Gilbert H. Grosvenor, American geographer and 1st full-time editor of National Geographic Society (1899-1954), dies at 90
1967 Albert Orsborn, English 6th General of The Salvation Army, dies at 80
1968 Eddie Baker, American actor (A Man About Town, Collars and Cuffs), dies of emphysema at 70
1968 Gerard den Brabander [Jan G Jofriet], Dutch poet (Nothing New), dies at 67
1968 Neal Cassady, American writer (b. 1926)
1970 Louise Bogan, American poet (Sleeping Fury) and critic, dies at 72
1974 Satyendra Nath Bose, Indian physicist (Bose–Einstein statistics), dies at 80
1975 Julian Fuhs, German-American jazz pianist and bandleader (Follies Band), dies at 83

Louis Jordan (1908-1975)

American musician, songwriter and bandleader ("Caldonia"; "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie"; "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens"), dies of a heart attack at 66

1977 Brett Halliday, American writer (Dividend on Death), dies at 72
1978 Bergen Evans, American professor of English ($64,000 Question), dies at 73
1982 Alex Harvey, Scottish rock and blues singer (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band), dies of a heart attack at 46
1982 Georg Konrad Morgen, German judge (b. 1909)
1982 Sue Carol, American actress (She's My Weakness) and talent agent, dies at 73 of a heart attack
1983 Jim Ameche [James Amici], American voice actor (Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy), dies at 67
1983 Karen Carpenter, American pop vocalist and drummer ("We've Only Just Begun"; "Rainy Days And Mondays"; "Top Of The World"), dies of anorexia nervosa at 32
1983 Reginald Denham, English writer and director (Obsession, The Bad Seed), dies at 89

Liberace (1919-1987)

American Emmy Award-winning pianist, showman (The Liberace Show), and actor (Batman -"Evil Chandell"), dies of AIDS-related pneumonia at 67

1987 Carl Rogers, American psychologist (Client-Centered Therapy), dies at 85
1989 (Kenneth) "Jethro" Burns, American country singer, and mandolin player (Homer & Jethro -"The Battle of Kookamonga"), dies from prostate cancer at 69
1989 Trevor Lucas, Australian folk singer-songwriter, and guitarist (Fairport Convention), dies of a heart attack at 45

Whipper Billy Watson (1917-1990)

Canadian professional wrestler, dies at 74

1991 Bob Leslie, American actor (Cinderella; Mako: Jaws of Death), dies at 64
1992 Andries Antonie Rieu, Dutch conductor (Maastricht Symphony Orchestra, 1949-80), dies at 75
1992 Fred Slyter, American actor and dialogue coach, dies after long illness at 56
1992 John Dehner [Forkum], American actor (The Right Stuff, Big Hawaii, Bare Essence), dies of emphysema and diabetes at 76
1992 Lisa Fonssagrives, Swedish supermodel, dies at 80
1994 Han Jansen, Dutch painter, dies at 62
1994 Harold Schneider, US producer (5 Easy Pieces, War Games), dies at 55
1994 Jan Veldkamp, Dutch geophysicist and director (KNMI), dies at 84
1994 Justinus Darmojuwono, Indonesian archbishop/cardinal, dies at 79
1995 Betty Davis, British dance teacher of Dame Margot Fonteyn, dies
1995 Godfrey Brown, British athlete, 4 X 400m runner (Olympic gold 1936), dies at 79
1995 Patricia Highsmith [Plangman], American novel writer (Strangers On A Train; The Talented Mr. Ripley; The Price of Salt), dies of lung cancer at 74
1995 Roel Wiersma, Dutch soccer star (PSV), dies at 62
1997 James Friell, Scottish political cartoonist (Daily Worker), dies at 84
1997 Ross Lee Finney, American composer (Landscapes Remembered), dies at 90
2000 Carl Albert, American politician, 54th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1971-77), dies at 91
2000 Doris Coley, American pop singer (The Shirelles - "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"; "Baby It's You"), dies of breast cancer at 58
2000 Phil Tonken, American radio and television announcer, dies at 80
2001 Iannis Xenakis, Romanian-born, Greek-French composer, music theorist, and architect who helped revolutionize 20th century classical music (Metastaseis), dies after several years of serious illness at 78
2001 J. J. Johnson, American jazz trombonist and composer, dies at 77
2001 Pankaj Roy, Indian cricket batsman (45 Tests, 5 x 100, HS 173; WR opening partnership [Vinoo Mankad] 413; Bengal), dies at 72
2001 Raimo Kangro, Estonian composer (Butterflies in the Stone), dies at 51
2002 George Nader, American actor (Robot Monster, Away All Boats), dies at 80
2003 André Noyelle, Belgian cyclist (Olympic gold, 1952), dies at 71
2003 Benyoucef Ben Khedda, Algerian politician (b. 1920)
2003 Jerome Hines [Heinz], American operatic bass (I am The Way), dies at 81
2005 Peter Heine, South African cricketer (solid South African fast bowler in 1950's), dies at 76
2005 Raiford "Ossie" Davis, American actor, director, author, and civil rights activist (Purlie Victorious, Do the Right Thing, Hot Stuff, Man Called Adam), dies from heart problems at 87

Betty Friedan (1921-2006)

American writer (The Feminine Mystique), and feminist (1st President of NOW, 1966-70), dies of congestive heart failure at 85

2006 Myron Waldman, American animator (Fleischer Studio), dies at 97
2007 Barbara McNair, American singer ("Till There Was You") and actress (They Call Me MR. Tibbs), dies of throat cancer at 72
2007 Colin Romoff, American orchestra leader (Andy Williams Show), dies at 82
2007 Ilya Kormiltsev, Russian poet and translator (b. 1959)
2007 José Carlos Bauer, Brazilian World Cup footballer (b. 1925)
2007 Jules Olitski, Ukrainian-born American abstract painter and sculptor (b. 1922)
2007 Steve Barber, American baseball pitcher (b. 1938)
2008 Chris Anderson, American jazz pianist (Charlie Parker; Dinah Washington; Charlie Haden), dies of a stroke at 81
2008 Stefan Meller, Polish diplomat and 9th Minister of Foreign Affairs (2005-06), dies at 65
2009 Lux Interior [Erick Lee Purkhiser], American punk rock singer (The Cramps), dies of a heart attack at 62
2009 Steve Dullaghan, British bass guitarist (The Primitives - "Crash"), dies of cannabis intoxication at 45
2010 Allan Wicks, British cathedral organist and choral conductor (Canterbury, 1961-88), dies at 86
2010 Bill Dudley, American College/Pro Football HOF halfback (Uni of Virginia; NFL MVP 1946; 4×First-team All-Pro; NFL rushing leader 1942, 46; Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins), dies at 88
2010 Kostas Axelos, Greek-French philosopher, dies at 85
2011 Tura Satana, Japanese-American actress (Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!), dies at 72
2011 Woodie Fryman, American baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 1968, 76; Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Montreal Expos), dies at 70
2012 Florence Green, last surviving veteran of World War One, dies at 110
2012 Istvan Csurka, Hungarian writer and politician, dies at 77
2012 Robert Daniel, five term American congressman for Virginia, dies at 75
2012 Robert Glaser, American educational psychologist, dies from Alzheimer's disease at 91
2013 Donald Byrd, American jazz trumpeter (Black Byrd), dies at 80
2013 Pat Halcox, British trumpeter, dies at 82
2013 Reg Presley [Reginald Ball], English rock vocalist (Troggs - "Wild Thing"; "Love Is All Around"), and songwriter, dies from lung cancer at 71
2013 Theresia van der Pant, Dutch sculptor, dies at 88
2016 Dave Mirra, American BMX rider (Best Male Action Sports Athlete ESPY Award 2005; 24 x Games medals), dies by suicide at 41
2016 Edgar Mitchell, American NASA astronaut (Apollo 14), dies at 85
2016 Edgar Whitcomb, American politician and Governor of Indiana (1969-73), dies at 98
2016 Jimmie Haskell [Sheridan Pearlman], American arranger (Ricky Nelson; Chicago; Sheryl Crow), and film and television score composer, dies at 89
2016 Leslie Bassett, American classical composer (Variations for Orchestra - Pulitzer Prize, 1966), and educator (University of Michigan, 1952-92), dies at 93
2016 Maurice White, American singer-songwriter (Earth, Wind & Fire - "Shining Star"), dies at 74
2016 Ulf Söderblom, Finnish conductor (Finnish National Opera, 1973-93), and teacher, dies at 85
2017 Gervase de Peyer, British clarinetist, dies at 89
2017 Ivor Noël Hume, English-born archaeologist of Colonial Williamsburg who excavated Martin's Hundred and is known as "the Babe Ruth of historical archaeology", dies at 89 [1]
2017 Steve Lang, Canadian rock bassist (April Wine, 1976-84 - "Just Between You And Me"), dies at 67
2018 Alan Baker, British Mathematician and winner of 1970 Fields Medal (for his work on transcendental number theory), dies at 78
2018 John Mahoney, British-born American actor (Fraiser, Frantic, 8 Men Out), dies of throat cancer at 77
2018 Kenneth Haigh, British actor (Look Back in Anger, Search for the Nile), dies at 86
2019 Zbigniew Penherski, Polish composer (Little Music for the End of Century), dies at 84
2020 Alexander Skvortsov, Russian ice hockey left wing (Olympic gold 1984; World C'ship gold 1979, 81, 83), dies at 65
2020 Benito Sarti, Italian soccer defender (6 caps; Juventus, Sampdoria), dies at 83

Daniel arap Moi (1924-2020)

Kenya's longest serving President (1978-2002), dies at 95

2020 Edward Kamau Brathwaite, Caribbean poet (Born to Slow Horses) and academic, dies at 89
2020 Giancarlo Bergamini, Italian fencer (Olympic gold foil, team 1956; silver foil team 1952, individual 1956), dies at 93
2020 Willy Giefer, German composer (Everything That Breathes), dies at 89
2021 Gil Saunders, American soul singer (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes), dies of lung cancer at 68
2021 Jessie Smith, American session and touring vocalist (Ike & Tina Turner Revue; The Mirettes; Dr. John), dies at 79
2021 Nolan Porter, American R&B singer-songwriter ("Keep On Keeping On"), dies at 71
2022 Kerry Chater, Canadian musician (Gary Puckett & Union Gap - "Young Girl") and Nashville songwriter, dies at 76
2022 Zolani Marali, South African boxer (IBO World Super Bantamweight title 2003–04; IBO Super Featherweight title 2009), dies at 44
2024 Barry John, Welsh rugby union fly-half (25 Tests Wales, 5 British & Irish Lions; Cefneithin RFC, Llanelli RFC, Cardiff RFC, Barbarian FC), dies at 79
2024 Giacomo Losi, Italian soccer defender (11 caps; AS Roma 386 games) and manager (Piacenza, ASG Nocerina, SS Juve Stabia), dies at 88
2024 John Elford, Australian rugby league winger (4 Tests; Western Suburbs RLFC, NSW), dies at 76
2024 Kurt Hamrin, Swedish soccer winger (31 caps; AIK, AC Milan, Fiorentina 289 games), dies at 89