1821 – Charles Baudelaire, French poet, essayist, and art critic; translator of Edgar Allan Poe; his name inspired Lemony Snicket’s choice of family name for the Baudelaire children in the “A Series of Unfortunate Events” books.
1865 – Adela Florence Nicolson, English poet who wrote under the pseudonym Laurence Hope.
1875 – Jacques Futrelle, American journalist and mystery writer who died in the sinking of the Titanic.
1908 – Joseph Krumgold, American author of screenplays and children’s books; first person to win two Newbery Medals.
1912 – Lev Kopelev, Soviet author and dissident.
1923 – Leonard Levy, Pulitzer Prize-winning American history professor.
1929 – Paule Marshall, American poet and novelist; colleague of Langston Hughes.
1933 – Fern Michaels, bestselling author of romance and thriller novels.
1936 – Valerie Solanas, feminist writer best known for trying to assassinate artist Andy Warhol.
1952 – Robert Clark, Edgar Award-winning American novelist and nonfiction author.
1954 – Ken Kalfus, American author and journalist.
1955 – Kate Heyhoe, American food writer and cookbook author.
1964 – Margaret P. Haddix, bestselling American author of children’s and YA fiction.
1967 – Sam Harris, author, philosopher, and neuroscientist.
