The 1940s
Explore 1843 historical events from 1940–1949.
Jean Baptiste Perrin, French-American physicist and chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1870)
Jean Baptiste Perrin was a French physicist who, in his studies of the Brownian motion of minute particles suspended in liquids, verified Albert Einstein's explanation of this phen…
Jean Baptiste Perrin, French-American physicist and chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1870)
Brian Wilson, American singer, songwriter and producer (died 2025)
Brian Douglas Wilson was an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Widely regarded as one of the most innovative and significant m…
Brian Wilson, American singer, songwriter and producer (died 2025)
Aleksander Mitt, Estonian speed skater (born 1903)
Aleksander Mitt was an Estonian speed skater who competed at the 1928 and 1936 Winter Olympics.
Aleksander Mitt, Estonian speed skater (born 1903)
Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, American heiress, sculptor and art collector, founded the Whitney Museum of American Art (b
Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney was an American sculptor, art patron and collector, and founder in 1931 of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. She was a prominent soci…
Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, American heiress, sculptor and art collector, founded the Whitney Museum of American Art (b
Jüri Jaakson, Estonian businessman and politician, 6th State Elder of Estonia (born 1870)
Jüri Jaakson was an Estonian lawyer and statesman.
Jüri Jaakson, Estonian businessman and politician, 6th State Elder of Estonia (born 1870)
Lucy Maud Montgomery, Canadian author (born 1874)
Lucy Maud Montgomery, published as L. M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a collection of novels, essays, short stories, and poetry beginning in 1908 with Anne of G…
Lucy Maud Montgomery, Canadian author (born 1874)
Thorvald Stauning, Danish politician, 24th Prime Minister of Denmark (born 1873)
Thorvald August Marinus Stauning was the first social democratic prime minister of Denmark. He served as prime minister from 1924 to 1926 and again from 1929 until his death in 194…
Thorvald Stauning, Danish politician, 24th Prime Minister of Denmark (born 1873)
Qemal Stafa, Albanian politician (born 1920)
Qemal Stafa was an Albanian politician and one of the founding members of the Albanian Communist Party, and the leader of its youth section.
Qemal Stafa, Albanian politician (born 1920)
Felix Weingartner, Croatian pianist, composer, and conductor (born 1863)
Paul Felix Weingartner, Edler von Münzberg was an Austrian conductor, composer and pianist.
Felix Weingartner, Croatian pianist, composer, and conductor (born 1863)
Nikolai Reek, Estonian general and politician, 11th Estonian Minister of War (born 1890)
Nikolai Reek VR I/2, VR II/2, VR II/3 was the Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence.
Nikolai Reek, Estonian general and politician, 11th Estonian Minister of War (born 1890)
Józef Cebula, Polish priest and saint (born 1902)
Józef Cebula was a Polish priest of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI).
Józef Cebula, Polish priest and saint (born 1902)
Hector Guimard, French Architect (born 1867)
Hector Guimard was a French architect and designer prominent for his Art Nouveau style designs including Paris Métro entrances. He achieved early fame with his design for the Caste…
Hector Guimard, French Architect (born 1867)
Panagiotis Toundas, Greek composer and conductor (born 1886)
Panagiotis Toundas was a Greek composer of the early 20th century.
Panagiotis Toundas, Greek composer and conductor (born 1886)
Emanuel Feuermann, Ukrainian-American cellist and educator (born 1902)
Emanuel Feuermann was an internationally celebrated cellist in the first half of the 20th century.
Emanuel Feuermann, Ukrainian-American cellist and educator (born 1902)
Muhammed Hamdi Yazır, Turkish theologian, logician, and translator (born 1878)
Muhammed Hamdi Yazır also known as Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır and Elmalılı was a Turkish Maturidi theologian, logician, Qur'an translator, Qur'anic exegesis scholar, Islamic legal academ…
Muhammed Hamdi Yazır, Turkish theologian, logician, and translator (born 1878)
John Barrymore, American actor (born 1882)
John Barrymore was an American actor on stage, screen, and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage and briefly attempte…
John Barrymore, American actor (born 1882)
Bunny Berigan, American singer and trumpet player (born 1908)
Roland Bernard "Bunny" Berigan was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader who rose to fame during the swing era. Although he composed some jazz instrumentals such as "Chicken an…
Bunny Berigan, American singer and trumpet player (born 1908)
Reinhard Heydrich, German SS officer and a principle architect of the Holocaust (born 1904)
Reinhard Tristan Eugen Heydrich was a high-ranking SS and police official in Nazi Germany as well as one of the principal architects of the Holocaust. He held the rank of SS-Obergr…
Reinhard Heydrich, German SS officer and a principle architect of the Holocaust (born 1904)
Alan Blumlein, English engineer (born 1903)
Alan Dower Blumlein was an English electronics engineer, notable for his many inventions in telecommunications, sound recording, stereophonic sound, television and radar. He receiv…
Alan Blumlein, English engineer (born 1903)
František Erben, Czech gymnast (born 1874)
František Erben was a Czech gymnast, trainer and educator. Erben made his international competitive debut for Bohemia at the 1900 Paris Summer Olympics where he finished in 32nd pl…
František Erben, Czech gymnast (born 1874)
Charles Fitzpatrick, Canadian lawyer and politician, 5th Chief Justice of Canada (born 1853)
Sir Charles Fitzpatrick, was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as Minister of Justice of Canada, as Chief Justice of Canada and then as Lieutenant Governor of Quebec.
Charles Fitzpatrick, Canadian lawyer and politician, 5th Chief Justice of Canada (born 1853)
Arthur Pryor, American trombonist, bandleader, and politician (born 1870)
Arthur Willard Pryor was a trombone virtuoso, bandleader, and soloist with the Sousa Band. He was a prolific composer of band music, his best-known composition being "The Whistler …
Arthur Pryor, American trombonist, bandleader, and politician (born 1870)
World War II: Captured French general Henri Giraud escaped from German captivity in the Königstein Castle
World War II, or the Second World War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated. Tanks and air…
World War II: Captured French general Henri Giraud escaped from German captivity in the Königstein Castle