1582 – John Barclay, French-born Scottish writer, satirist, and neo-Latin poet.
1608 – Giovanni Alfonso Borelli, Italian physiologist, physicist, mathematician, and author; Father of Biomechanics; and first person to design a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus; he became head of Mathematics at the University of Pisa, though Galileo recommended against hiring him.
1841 – Sir Henry Morton Stanley, journalist and explorer who found missing missionary David Livingstone and said, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”
1853 – José Martí y Perez, poet, essayist, journalist, revolutionary philosopher, and Cuban national hero.
1873 – Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, known as simply, “Colette,” French author best known for “Gigi.”
1915 – Nien Cheng, Chinese author whose memoir recounts her experiences during the Cultural Revolution.
1927 – Vera Williams, American peace activist and author/illustrator of children’s books.
1928 – Philip Levine, Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet.
1929 – Richard Clement Charles “Clem” Thomas, Welsh rugby player who became a rugby journalist and author.
1935 – Manuel dos Santos Lima, Angolan poet, dramatist, novelist and revolutionary.
1935 – David John Lodge, English literature professor and satirical novelist.
1936 – Ismail Kadare, bestselling Albanian novelist and poet.
1945 – John Perkins, controversial American author and conspiracy theorist who also wrote about mysticism in indigenous cultures.
1954 – Rick Warren, evangelical pastor and self-help book author.
1959 – Megan McDonald, American author of children’s books, best known for the “Judy Moody” series.
1961 – Arnaldur Indriðason, Icelandic author of crime fiction.
1973 – Carrie Vaughn, American short-story writer and novelist who is known for urban fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal romance.
