Explore 3967 historical events from 1940–1949.
Richard Errett Smalley was an American chemist who was the Gene and Norman Hackerman Professor of Chemistry, Physics, and Astronomy at Rice University. In 1996, along with Robert C…
Richard Smalley, American chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate in 1996 for chemistry (died 2005)
Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni Jr. was an American poet, writer, commentator, activist and educator. One of the world's best-known African-American poets, her work includes poet…
Nikki Giovanni, American poet, writer and activist (died 2024)
Eldridge Wayne Coleman Jr., better known by his ring name "Superstar" Billy Graham, was an American professional wrestler. He gained recognition for his tenure as the WWWF Heavywei…
"Superstar" Billy Graham, American wrestler (died 2023)
Colin Charles Baker is an English actor. He is known for playing the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who (1984–1986) and Paul Merroney in t…
Colin Baker, English actor
William D. Davenport was an American sprint runner.
Willie Davenport, American hurdler (died 2002)
John Fitzpatrick is a British former racing driver, winning many titles throughout his career. He works within motorsport as a consultant doing corporate events and driver manageme…
John Fitzpatrick, English race car driver
Charles Saatchi is an Iraqi-British businessman and the co-founder, with his brother Maurice, of advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi. The brothers led the business, the world's l…
Charles Saatchi, Iraqi-English businessman, co-founded Saatchi & Saatchi
Sir Simon David Jenkins FLSW is a British author, a newspaper columnist and editor. He was editor of the Evening Standard from 1976 to 1978 and of The Times from 1990 to 1992.
Simon Jenkins, English journalist and author
William Laws Calley Jr. was a United States Army officer and war criminal, convicted by court-martial of the murder of 22 unarmed South Vietnamese civilians in the My Lai massacre …
William Calley, American military officer
Sigríður Jóhannesdóttir is an Icelandic politician and former member of the Althing. A member of the Social Democratic Alliance, she represented the Reykjanes constituency from Jul…
Sigríður Jóhannesdóttir, Icelandic politician
Joe William Haldeman is an American science fiction author and former college professor. He is best known for his novel The Forever War (1974), which was inspired by his experience…
Joe Haldeman, American sci-fi author
Raymond Warren is an Australian retired sports commentator, known for his coverage of televised professional rugby league matches on the Nine Network. He is known as the "Voice of …
Ray Warren, Australian sportscaster
Harry Collins, FLSW, is a British sociologist of science at the School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, Wales. In 2012 he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy. In 201…
Harry Collins, English sociologist, author and academic
Malcolm McDowell is an English actor. He first became known for portraying Mick Travis in Lindsay Anderson's If.... (1968), a role he later reprised in O Lucky Man! (1973) and Brit…
Malcolm McDowell, English actor and producer
James Guy Tucker Jr. was an American politician, businessman and attorney who served as the 43rd governor of Arkansas from 1992 until his resignation in 1996 after his conviction f…
Jim Guy Tucker, American lawyer and politician, 43rd Governor of Arkansas (died 2025)
William Harold Wheeler Jr., is an American orchestrator, composer, conductor, arranger, record producer, and music director. He has received numerous Tony Award and Drama Desk Awar…
Harold Wheeler, American composer, conductor, and producer
Jean-Philippe Léo Smet, better known by his stage name Johnny Hallyday, was a French rock and roll and pop singer and actor, credited with having brought rock and roll to France.
Johnny Hallyday, French singer and actor (died 2017)
Poul Oluf Nyrup Rasmussen is a retired Danish politician, who served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 25 January 1993 to 27 November 2001 and President of the Party of European So…
Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Danish politician, 38th Prime Minister of Denmark
Joan Martha Van Ark is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Valene Ewing on the primetime soap opera Knots Landing. A life member of The Actors Studio, she made h…
Joan Van Ark, American actress
Newton Leroy Gingrich is an American politician who served as the 50th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999. A member of the Republican Party, he…
Newt Gingrich, American historian and politician, 58th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Barry Manilow is an American singer and songwriter with a career spanning over sixty years. His hit recordings include "Could It Be Magic", "Looks Like We Made It", "Mandy", "I Wri…
Barry Manilow, American singer-songwriter and producer
Chantal Mouffe is a Belgian political theorist, teaching at University of Westminster. She is best known for her and Ernesto Laclau's contribution to the development of the so-call…
Chantal Mouffe, Belgian theorist and author
Elbert Leander "Burt" Rutan is an American retired aerospace engineer and entrepreneur noted for his originality in designing light, strong, unusual-looking, and energy-efficient a…
Burt Rutan, American engineer and pilot
Barry Joseph Evans was an English actor. He was best known for his appearances in British sitcoms such as Doctor in the House and Mind Your Language.
Barry Evans, English actor (died 1997)