- 1590 – Lady Anne Clifford, English diarist, patron of the arts, women’s rights activist, and High Sheriff
- 1866 – Frank Gelett Burgess, artist, art critic, poet, author, and humorist; coined the term “blurb” for a quote about a book, printed on the cover to spur sales.
- 1878 – A.H. Tammsaare, writer whose work is among the most important in Estonian literature.
- 1912 – Barbara Tuchman, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author.
- 1924 – Lloyd Alexander, Newbery-winning American author of children’s and young-adult fantasy.
- 1925 – Jack Spicer, Beat poet of the San Francisco Renaissance movement.
- 1931 – Allan W. Eckert, Newbery-winning American naturalist and writer.
- 1931 – Shirley Hazzard, National Book Award-winning Australian/British/American novelist, essayist, and short-story writer.
- 1935 – Richard Brautigan, author of parody and black comedy.
- 1941 – Gregory Benford, Campbell Award and two-time Nebula Award-winning astrophysicist, professor, editor, and science-fiction author.
- 1945 – Michael Dorris, professor and author of Native American-themed literature; he was married to novelist Louise Erdrich.
- 1955 – Judith Tarr, fantasy author who also writes as Caitlin Brennen and Kathleen Bryan.
- 1974 – Jemima Khan, writer, editor, heiress, and human-rights activist.
