1792 – Sir Archibald Alison, Scottish author who wrote the first scholarly English-language study of the French Revolution.
1843 – Elisabeth of Wied, Queen Consort of Romania, who under the pen name Carmen Sylva wrote many poems, plays, novels, short stories, and essays in German, Romanian, French, and English.
1915 – Charles Leonard Harness, science fiction author who has been named Author Emeritus by the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.
1915 – Robert Ruark, American author, sports journalist, columnist, and big game hunter.
1921 – Dobrica Ćosić, Serbian writer and political theorist who was the first president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
1922 – William Gaddis, American author who has won three National Book Awards.
1943 – Molly Bang, American author and illustrator of children’s books; winner of three Caldecott Book Honors.
1959 – Paula Poundstone, author, actress, comedian, and commentator.
1960 – Dave Pelzer, controversial memoirist and self-help author.
