Today in History 6th of January

Famous Birthdays on 6th January

1367 - Richard II, Bordeaux, France, king of England (1377-99)

1367 - Richard II of England (d. 1400)

1412 - Joan of Arc, Domremy, martyr

1412 - Joan of Arc, Roman Catholic Saint and national heroine of France (legendary date) (d. 1431)

1486 - Martin Agricola, [M Sore], German composer/cantor

1488 - Helius Eobanus Hessus, German poet (Silvae)

1525 - Caspar Peucer, German reformer (d. 1602)

1561 - Thomas Fincke, Danish mathematician (d. 1656)

1580 - (baptised) John Smith of Jamestown (d. 1631)

1585 - Claude Favre baron de Perouges seigneur de Vaugelas, French grammarian

1587 - Gaspar de Guzman, Count of Olivares, Premier of Spain (1621-43)

1595 - Claude Favre de Vaugelas, French man of letters (d. 1650)

1602 - Karl Rabenhaupt, German/Dutch baron of Sucha/army leader

1617 - Kristoffer Gabel, Danish statesman (d. 1673)

1655 - Eleonore-Magdalena of Neuburg, Holy Roman Empire Empress (d. 1720)

1655 - Jakob Bernoulli, Swiss mathematician (d. 1705)

1673 - 1st Duke of Chandos, English aristocrat, eponym of Handel's Chandos Anthems (d. 1744)

1683 - Francois de La Croix, composer

1692 - Rynoldus Popma van Oevering, composer

1695 - Giuseppe Sammartini, composer

1702 - Jose Melchior de Nebra Blascu, composer

1714 - Percivall Pott, English physician (d. 1788)

1728 - Charles-Joseph-Balthazar Sohier, composer

1728 - Domingos dos Reis Quita, Portuguese playwright/poet

1732 - Matija A Reljkovic, Croatia, writer (Satir iliti divji covic)

1745 - Jacques Montgolfier, France, aeronaut (1st pioneer balloonist)

1745 - James Montgolfier, France, aeronaut (1st pioneer balloonist)

1745 - Étienne Montgolfier, French inventor (d. 1799)

1776 - Ferdinand von Schill, Prussian officer/rebel

1791 - Jose Melchor Gomiz y Colomer, composer

1793 - James Madison Porter, American politician (d. 1862)

1794 - Kaspar Masek, composer

1795 - Anselme Payen, French chemist (d. 1871)

1798 - Ferdinand Simon Gassner, composer

1799 - Jedediah Strong Smith, US fur trader/explorer

1800 - Willem A Schimmelpenninck van der Oye, Dutch politician

1802 - Ion Heliade-Radulescu, Romania, author/novelist/writer (Gramatica)

1803 - Henri Herz, composer

1807 - Joseph Holt, Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1894

1807 - Ludwig Erk, composer

1807 - Jozef Maximilián Petzval, Slovak inventor (d. 1891)

1808 - Joseph Pitty Couthouy, American naval officer (d. 1864)

1811 - Charles Sumner, leading Reconstruction senator, died in 1874

1812 - Melchora Aquino, Filipino revolutionary hero (d. 1919)

1819 - Baldassare Verazzi, Italian painter (d. 1886)

1822 - Heinrich Schliemann, German polyglot/archeologist (Troje)

1826 - Herman Grimm, Germany, writer/novelist (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

1827 - John Calvin Brown, Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1889

1827 - John Wesley Frazer, Brig General (Confederate Army), die in 1906

1829 - Kanagaki Robun [Bunzo Nozaki], Japanese humorist/gesaku-author

1832 - Gustave Doré, French painter and sculptor (d. 1883)

1838 - Max Bruch, Koln (Cologne), Germany, composer

1842 - Clarence King, mining engineer (geologist)

1850 - Eduard "Ede" Bernstein, German marxist (New Era)

1850 - Franz Xaver Scharwenka, German pianist/composer (Mataswintha)

1854 - Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft, fictional detective (via Arthur Conan Doyle)

1856 - Giuseppe Martucci, composer

1857 - Hugh Mahon, Irish-born Australian politician (d. 1931)

1857 - William E. Russell, 37th Governor of Massachusetts (d. 1896)

1859 - Samuel Alexander, English philosopher (Moral order & progress)

1861 - Heinrich Gottlieb Noren, composer

1861 - George Exton Lloyd, Anglican bishop and theologian (d. 1940)

1864 - Ban Johnson, Norwalk Ct, baseball founder (American League)

1867 - Georges Martin Witkowski, composer

1868 - Vittorio Monti, composer

1870 - Gustav Bauer, Chancellor of Germany (d. 1944)

1872 - Alexander N Scriabin, Moscow, hallucinogenic composer (Prometheus)

1873 - Karl Straube, German organist/conductor

1874 - Fred Niblo, U.S. film actor, director, producer (d. 1948)

1878 - Carl Sandburg, US, poet/biographer of Lincoln (The People, Yes)

1878 - Dame Adeline Genée, Danish-British ballerina (d. 1970)

1880 - Tom Mix, Mix Run PA, silent screen cowboy actor (Dick Turpin)

1880 - Yuliya Lazarevna Veysberg, composer

1880 - Tom Mix, American actor (d. 1940)

1882 - Samuel Rayburn, Tenn, (Rep-D-Tx), speaker of the House (1940-57)

1882 - Aleksandra Ekster, Russian painter (d. 1949)

1882 - Fan S. Noli, Albanian bishop (d. 1965)

1883 - Khalil Gibran, Lebanon, mystic poet (The Prophet, Broken Wings)

1889 - Alan M Bateman, Canadian geologist (Yale professor)

1891 - Ted McDonald, cricketer (great Australian quick of 20's)

1892 - Ludwig Berger, writer

1896 - Abram N Pritzker, US businessman (Hyatt Hotels, McCall's magazine)

1896 - Freerk Siemon Wolters, notary/resistance fighter

1897 - Billy Greene, actor (Burton-One Man's Family)

1898 - Jan Filip Boon, Flemish author/editor (De Standaard 1929-39)

1898 - Charles E. Pont, American artist (d. 1971)

1899 - Phyllis Haver, Douglas KS, silent screen actress (What Price Glory)

1900 - Pierre-Octave Ferroud, French composer (Sarabande, Jeunesse)

1901 - Patrick Aherne, England, actor (Bwana Devil, Botany Bay, Q Planes)

1902 - Mark Brunswick, composer

1902 - Sofie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatte, composer

1902 - Helmut Poppend**k, Nazi physician (d. 1994)

1903 - Boris Blacher, Newchwang China, German composer (Orchester-Ornament)

1903 - Francis L Sullivan, London England, actor (Missing Rembrandt)

1903 - Maurice Abravanel, Saloniki Greece, conductor/composer

1903 - Stanley Smith, KC MO, actor (Honey, King of Jazz, Soup to Nuts)

1905 - Eric Frank Russell, UK, sci-fi author (Hugo, Deep Space, Dark Tides)

1906 - Benedict Vilakazi, S Africa, poet/educator (Zulu-English Dictionary)

1906 - Jaap Wagemaker, [Adrian B], Dutch sculptor

1907 - David Fleay, Australian naturalist (d. 1993)

1908 - Menahem Avidom, composer

1909 - Johannes H Moesman, Dutch surrealist painter (Rumor)

1909 - Keith Davis, voice tutor/author

1910 - Wright Morris, US writer

1911 - Eduardo Frei Montalva, president of Chile (1964-70)

1911 - Joey Adams, Bkln NY, comedian/actor/columnist (ABC's Back That Fact)

1911 - Nikolai Afanasyevich Kryuchkov, actor (Telegram, Town People)

1911 - Yannis Andreou Papaioannou, composer

1912 - Jacques Cesar Ellul, writer

1913 - Edward Gierek, party leader (Polish CP)

1913 - Loretta Young, Salt Lake City Ut, actr (Farmer's Daughter, Stranger)

1913 - Tom Brown, NYC, actor (Ed-Gunsmoke, Lt Rovacs-Mr Lucky)

1914 - Arnold Richardson, composer

1914 - Danny Thomas, Deerfield Mich, comedian (Danny Thomas Show)

1914 - David Bruce, Kankakee Ill, actor (Harry-Beulah)

1915 - Alan Watts, Kent England, writer (Book on the Taboo)

1915 - Don Edwards, (Rep-D-CA, 1963- )

1915 - John C. Lilly, U.S. psychoanalyst, writer (d. 2001)

1916 - Philip Bezanson, composer

1916 - Vincent Serventy, Australian writer and conservationist (d. 2007)

1917 - Guillermo Rosario, Dutch Antilles, writer (E rais ku no ke muri)

1917 - Koo Chen-fu, Chinese negotiator (d. 2005)

1918 - Buddy Weed, Ossining NY, pianist (Penthouse Party)

1918 - Caspar MB "Cas" Baas, Dutch actor/playwright/director (Ciske the Rat)

1919 - Sylvia Syms, US singer (Hello Dolly, Dream Girl, Them There Eyes)

1920 - Earl Kim, composer

1920 - Early Wynn, Hartford Ala, baseball Hall of famer (pitcher)

1920 - Sun Myung Moon, evangelist (Unification Church-Moonies)

1920 - Doris Stokes, British psychic medium (d. 1987)

1920 - John Maynard Smith, English biologist (d. 2004)

1921 - Cary Middlecoff, golfer (1956 Vardon Trophy, 1955 Byron Nelson Award)

1921 - Lou Harris, pollster (Lou Harris Poll)

1922 - Finn Einar Mortensen, composer

1923 - Leah Chase, master chef, in the creole tradition

1923 - Jacobo Timerman, Argentine writer (d. 1999)

1924 - Earl Scruggs, NC, bluegrass musician (& Flat-Ballad of Jed Clampett)

1925 - John Z DeLorean, former automaker (DeLorean)

1925 - John De Lorean, American auto maker (d. 2005)

1926 - Pat Flaherty, American racecar driver (2002)

1926 - Kid Gavilan, Cuban boxer (d. 2003)

1926 - Mickey Hargitay, Hungarian-born actor and bodybuilder (d. 2006)

1926 - Ralph Branca, American baseball player

1926 - Kim Dae-jung, President of South Korea and Nobel laureate

1928 - Capucine, French actress (d. 1990)

1928 - George H. Ross, American businessman

1929 - Wilbert Harrison, R & B singer (Kansas City)

1929 - Babrak Karmal, Afghani politician (d. 1996)

1930 - Denis Pitts, journalist

1930 - Vic Tayback, Bkln NY, actor (Mel-Alice, Khan, Portrait of a Stripper)

1931 - Gerard van Muiden, Dutch MP (CDA)

1931 - Graeme Hole, cricketer (Australian batsman of the fifties)

1931 - E. L. Doctorow, American author

1932 - Sacha Distel, French singer

1932 - Stuart A. Rice, American chemist

1933 - Capucine, [Germaine Lefebvre], Toulon France, actress (Pink Panther)

1933 - Emil Steinberger, Swiss comedian

1934 - Bobby Lord, Sanford Fla, country singer (Ozark Jubilee)

1934 - Harry M. Miller, Australian entrepreneur

1934 - Tassos Papadopoulos, president of the Republic of Cyprus

1935 - Nino Tempo, Niagara Falls NY, rock vocalist (Deep Purple)

1935 - Paul Wilson, US R&B-singer (Flamingos-Lovers Never Say Goodbye)

1935 - Margarita Gomez-Acebo y Cejuela, Tsaritsa of Bulgaria

1936 - Julio Maria Sanguinetti Cairolo, president of Uruguay (1985-90, 95- )

1936 - Rubén Amaro, Sr., Mexican baseball player

1936 - Darlene Hard, U.S. tennis player

1937 - Doris Troy, [Payne], US soul singer/songwriter (Just One Kiss)

1937 - Lou Holtz, US, football coach (NJ Jets)

1937 - Paolo Conte, Italian singer

1938 - Adriano Celentano, Italian singer and actor

1938 - Prof Adrienne Clarke, Australian botanist, Lieutenant Governor of Victoria

1938 - Mario Rodríguez Cobos "Silo", Argentine writer and spiritual leader

1939 - Murray Rose, Australian Olympic swimmer

1940 - Ed Zschau, (Rep-R-CA, 1983- )

1940 - Van McCoy, American musician (d. 1979)

1940 - Penny Lernoux, American journalist (d. 1989)

1941 - Sandy Denny, country singer (Fairport Convention-If You Gotta Go)

1942 - Barbara Lynn Alexander, producer

1943 - Osvaldo Soriano, writer

1943 - Paul James Nunn, mountaineer

1943 - Terry Venables, British soccer player/manager

1944 - Bonnie Franklin, Santa Monica Cal, TV actress (Ann-1 Day at a Time)

1944 - Henry Kravis, author (The Money Machine)

1944 - Robert Landers, Tarrant County TX, PGA golfer (Ft Worth-1976, 78, 80)

1944 - Terry Venables, British soccer player/manager [or 1943]

1944 - Van McCoy, US soul singer/songwriter (Hey Mr DJ, Hustle)

1944 - Rolf M. Zinkernagel, Swiss immunologist, Nobel laureate

1945 - Barry Holstein Lopez, US author (Of Wolves & Men)

1945 - Barry John, Welsh international rugby player

1945 - Pepe Le Pew, cartoon skunk (Au Dorable Kitty)

1945 - Allen Appel, American novelist

1946 - Harold Jackson, Hattiesburg, MS, NFL wide receiver (LA, New Engl)

1946 - Roger Keith (Syd) Barrett, lead guitarist (Pink Floyd-Brick in Wall)

1946 - Syd Barrett, Cambridge England, rocker (Pink Floyd-Wall)

1947 - Ian Millar, Halifax NS, dressage rider (World Cup 1988, 89, Oly-96)

1948 - Dayle Hadlee, cricketer (brother of Richard, NZ medium-pacer of 70's)

1948 - Guy Spencer Gardner, Alta Vista Va, Lt Col USAF/astro (STS 27, STS 35)

1948 - Robert E [Bob] Wise Jr, (Rep-D-WV, 1983- )

1949 - Michael Boit, Nandi Kenya, 800m runner (Olympic-bronze-1972)

1949 - Richard Horowitz, composer

1950 - Louis Freeh, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

1951 - Kim Wilson, rocker (Fabulous Thunderbirds)

1951 - Don Gullett, American baseball player

1952 - Armelia McQueen, NC (Bkln Conservatory), actress

1952 - Grant Goodeve, New Haven Conn, actor (David-8 is Enough, Dynasty)

1952 - Moondog Spot, American professional wrestler (d. 2003)

1952 - Frank Sivero, Italian-born American actor

1953 - Malcolm Young, Glasgow Scotland, guitarist (AC/DC-Highway to Hell)

1954 - Anthony Minghella, director (English Patient)

1954 - Norbert Hahn, German DR, 2 man luge (Olympic-gold-1976, 80)

1954 - Hans Robert Hiegel, German architect

1954 - Yuji Horii, Japanese video game designer

1954 - Trudie Styler, English actress

1956 - Rowan Atkinson, England, comedian/actor (Mr Bean, Blackadder)

1957 - C Michael Foale, Louth England, astronaut (STS 45, 56, 63, 84/86)

1957 - Nancy Lopez Knight, Torrance Calif, pro golfer (1981 Dinah Shore)

1958 - Themos Anastasiadis, Greek journalist, television presenter and newspaper editor

1958 - Scott Bryce, American actor

1959 - John Singleton, LA Calif, director (Boyz n The Hood)

1959 - Kapil Dev, cricketer (India's finest all-rounder 1978-94, Cup-1982)

1959 - Kathy Sledge, Phila, vocalist (Sister Sledge-We are Family)

1959 - Nancy Rubin Sharff, New Kensington, LPGA golfer (1991 Jamie Farr-9th)

1960 - Paul William Azinger, Holyoke MA, PGA golfer (1987 Phoenix Open)

1960 - Nigella Lawson, English chef and writer

1961 - Dirk de Vries, Dutch pop bassist (Kong-Slauerhoff)

1961 - Howie Long, former NFL tackle/actor/broadcaster (Broken Arrow)

1961 - Paul Azinger, golfer

1962 - Philip Brown, Birmingham Engl, 4x400m runner (Olympic-silver-1984)

1962 - Sean Landeta, NFL place kicker (NY Giants)

1963 - Norm Charlton, Fort Polk LA, pitcher (Seattle Mariners)

1963 - Paul Brindley, English pop bassist (Sundays, Can't Be Sure)

1963 - Philippe Perrin, Meknes Morocco, Lt Col FAF/astronaut

1964 - Charles Haley, NFL defensive end (Dallas Cowboys)

1964 - Mark O'Toole, bassist/drummer (Frankie Goes to Hollywood-Relax)

1964 - Rafael Vidal, Venezuelan athlete (d. 2005)

1964 - Henry Maske, German boxer

1964 - Jacqueline Moore, American wrestler

1964 - Yuri, Mexican actress and singer

1965 - Christine Wachtel, E German running star (world indoor record 800m)

1965 - Jose Dejesus, US baseball pitcher (Kansas City Royals)

1965 - Lindsay H Burns, Big Timber Mont, rower (Olympics-silver-96)

1965 - Tim McDonald, NFL player (SF 49ers)

1965 - Bjorn Lomborg, Danish mathematician

1965 - Muhammed al-Ahari, American Muslim writer

1965 - Konnan, Cuban-born professional wrestler

1966 - Bob Kratch, NFL guard (NE Patriots)

1966 - Donnell Woolford, NFL cornerback (Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears)

1966 - Shahid Saeed, cricketer (Pakistani batsman in Test v India 1989)

1966 - Andrew Wood, American singer (Mother Love Bone) (d. 1990)

1966 - Fernando Carrillo, Venezuelan actor

1966 - A. R. Rahman, Indian composer

1967 - David Belcher, Australian rower (Olympics-96)

1967 - Larry Donald, Cincinnati Ohio, US boxer (Olympic-92)

1967 - Peter Loran, Teaneck NJ, rock vocalist (Trixter-Give It To Me Good)

1968 - Jerry Crafts, NFL/WLAF tackle (Phila Eagles, Amsterdam Admirals)

1968 - John Singleton, director/screenwriter (Boyz in the Hood)

1968 - Vlastimil Plavucha, Banska Bystrica CZ, hockey forward (Team Slovakia)

1969 - Alvin Morman, Rockingham NC, pitcher (Houston Astros)

1969 - Jason Childs, NFL tackle (Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers)

1969 - Nick A'Hern, Australian 20k walker (Olympics-22-92, 96)

1969 - Norman Reedus, American model and actor

1970 - Daniel Naulty, LA Calif, pitcher (Minn Twins)

1970 - Gabrielle Reece, Trinidad, volleyball star/model (Extremists)

1970 - Geert Brusselers, soccer player (NAC)

1970 - John Gerak, NFL tight end/guide (Minn Vikings, St Louis Rams)

1970 - Keenan McCardell, NFL wide receiver (Cleve Browns, Jaguars)

1970 - Kerrin Petty, Townshend Vt, cross country skier (Olympics-1994)

1970 - René Binken, soccer player (Volendam)

1970 - Julie Chen, American television presenter

1971 - Jed DeVries, NFL tackle (Cleve Browns)

1971 - Mike Wells, NFL defensive end (Detroit Lions)

1971 - Myron Baker, NFL linebacker (Chic Bears)

1971 - Gary Wiseman, American punk-rock drummer

1972 - Denis Montana, CFL receiver (Montreal Alouettes, Toronto Argonauts)

1972 - Shae Marks, New Orleans LA, playmate (May, 1994)

1972 - Willie Clark, NFL cornerback (SD Chargers, Phila Eagles)

1972 - Nek, Italian singer

1973 - Sairaj Bahatule, cricketer (promising Bombay leg-spin all-rounder)

1974 - Juan Roque, tackle (Detroit Lions)

1974 - Marcus Crandell, CFL quarterback (Edmonton Eskimos)

1974 - Paul Grant, NBA center (Minn Timberwolves)

1974 - Daniel Cordone, Argentine footballer

1975 - James Farrior, linebacker (NY Jets)

1975 - Laura Berg, Whittier CA, softball outfielder (Olympics-gold-96)

1975 - Yukana, Japanese seiyū

1975 - Jason King, English radio DJ (Radio 1)

1976 - Agnieszka Zielinska, Miss Poland Universe (1997)

1976 - Danny Pintauro, Milltown NJ, actor (Jonathan-Who's the Boss)

1976 - Jeremy Linn, US, 100m breaststroke (Olympics-silver/gold-96)

1976 - Richard Zednik, Bystrica CZE, NHL forward (Team Slovakia, Wash)

1977 - Amy Zappone, Wolcott Connecticut, Miss America-Connecticut (1996)

1977 - Stacey Gartrell, Sydney NSW Australia, swimmer (Olympics-96)

1978 - Steve Hartsell, Ann Arbor Mich, pairs skater (& Danielle Hartsell)

1978 - Nikki Einfeld, Canadian opera singer

1978 - Casey Fossum, Major League Baseball player

1978 - Tara Spencer-Nairn, Canadian actress

1980 - Steed Malbranque, French footballer

1980 - Hiromi Oshima, Japanese adult model

1981 - Mike Jones, American rapper

1981 - Rinko Kikuchi, Japanese actress

1981 - Jérémie Renier, Belgian actor

1981 - Asante Samuel, National Football League Defensive Back

1982 - Gilbert Arenas, American basketball player

1982 - Brian Bass, American baseball player

1982 - Tiffany Pollard, American reality television personality

1984 - Sean O'Brien, Australian professional windsurfer

1984 - A.J. Hawk, American football player

1985 - RP Singh, Indian cricketer

1986 - Paul McShane, Irish footballer

1986 - Alex Turner, English musician (Arctic Monkeys)

1989 - Baby lion-tailed macaques, at Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle)

1991 - Nikola Saric , Danish footballer