Explore 5191 historical events from 1950–1959.
Carl Clinton Van Doren was an American critic and biographer. He was the brother of critic and teacher Mark Van Doren and the uncle of Charles Van Doren.
Carl Clinton Van Doren, American critic and biographer (born 1885)
Shigenori Tōgō was Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Empire of Japan at both the start and the end of the Pacific War. He also served as Minister of Colonial Affairs in 1941, an…
Shigenori Tōgō, Japanese politician and diplomat, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1882)
Sir Fergus McMaster was an Australian businessman and aviation pioneer. He was one of the three founders of the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited, the airli…
Fergus McMaster, Australian businessman, founded Qantas (born 1879)
Giovanni Giorgi was an Italian physicist and electrical engineer who proposed the Giorgi system of measurement, the precursor to the International System of Units (SI).
Giovanni Giorgi, Italian physicist and engineer (born 1871)
Kirk Bryan was an American geologist on the faculty of Harvard University from 1925 until his death in 1950.
Kirk Bryan, American geologist and academic (born 1888)
William Lyon Mackenzie King was the tenth prime minister of Canada for three non-consecutive terms from 1921 to 1926, 1926 to 1930, and 1935 to 1948. A Liberal, he was the dominant…
William Lyon Mackenzie King, Canadian economist and politician, 10th Prime Minister of Canada (born 1874)
Joseph Gibson Fry was a British racing driver. He became the primary driver for the Shelsley Special "Freikaiserwagen", created by his cousin David Fry and Hugh Dunsterville, with …
Joe Fry, English race car driver (born 1915)
Julien-Victor Lahaut was a Belgian politician and trade unionist who served as chairman of the Communist Party of Belgium from 1945 to 1950. An important figure during the German o…
Julien Lahaut, Belgian soldier and politician (born 1884)
Cesare Pavese was an Italian novelist, poet, short story writer, translator, literary critic, and essayist. He is often referred to as one of the most influential Italian writers o…
Cesare Pavese, Italian author, poet, and critic (born 1908)
William Olaf Stapledon was an English philosopher and author of science fiction. In 2014, he was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
Olaf Stapledon, English philosopher and author (born 1886)
Victor Théodore Eugène Hémery was a French racing driver. He was the winner of the Vanderbilt Cup in 1905.
Victor Hémery, French racing driver (born 1876)
Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts, was a South African statesman, military officer and philosopher. In addition to holding various military and cabinet posts, he served as Prime Mi…
Jan Smuts, South African field marshal and politician, 2nd Prime Minister of South Africa (born 1870)
Pedro de Cordoba was an American actor.
Pedro de Cordoba, American actor (born 1881)
Justin McCarthy "Sam" Barry was an American collegiate coach who achieved significant accomplishments in three major sports - football, baseball, and basketball. He remains one of …
Sam Barry, American basketball player and coach (born 1892)
Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, later Princess Louis of Battenberg and then Victoria Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven, was the eldest daughter of Louis IV, Grand …
Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine (born 1863)
Willis Haviland Carrier was an American engineer, best known for inventing modern air conditioning by inventing the first electrical air conditioning unit in 1902. In 1915, he foun…
Willis Haviland Carrier, American engineer (born 1876)
George Henry Hainsworth was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League, and the Saska…
George Hainsworth, Canadian ice hockey player and politician (born 1895)
Faik Ali Ozansoy was a Turkish politician, poet, and educator. He was the younger brother of Süleyman Nazif, an eminent man of letters and prominent member of the Committee for Uni…
Faik Ali Ozansoy, Turkish poet, educator, and politician (born 1876)
Friedrich "Fritz" Heinrich Lewy, known in his later years as Frederic Henry Lewey, was a German-born American neurologist. He is best known for the discovery of Lewy bodies, which …
Frederic Lewy, German-American neurologist and academic (born 1885)
Ernest James Haycox was an American writer of Western fiction.
Ernest Haycox, American soldier and author (born 1899)
Edna St. Vincent Millay was an American lyrical poet and playwright. Millay was a renowned social figure and noted feminist in New York City during the Roaring Twenties and beyond.…
Edna St. Vincent Millay, American poet and playwright (born 1892)
Henry Lewis Stimson was an American statesman, lawyer, and politician. Over his long career, he emerged as a leading figure in U.S. foreign policy by serving in both Republican and…
Henry L. Stimson, American colonel, lawyer, and politician, 46th United States Secretary of State (born 1867)
Al Jolson was a Lithuanian-American singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian.
Al Jolson, Lithuanian-American actor and singer (born 1886)
Gustaf V was King of Sweden from 8 December 1907 until his death in 1950. He was the eldest son of King Oscar II and Sophia of Nassau, a half-sister of Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxem…
Gustaf V of Sweden (born 1858)