Explore 5072 historical events from 1940–1949.
Quentin LaMar Cook is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Currently, he is the fifth most senior apostle in the church…
Quentin L. Cook, American religious leader
Jerzy Robert Nowak is a Polish historian, and former columnist in right-wing Catholic media outlets including Nasz Dziennik, Telewizja Trwam, Radio Maryja.
Jerzy Robert Nowak, Polish historian and journalist
Jack Prelutsky is an American writer of children's poetry who has published over 50 poetry collections. He served as the first U.S. Children's Poet Laureate from 2006 to 2008 when …
Jack Prelutsky, American author and poet
Abdurrahman Wahid, more colloquially known as Gus Dur, was an Indonesian politician and Islamic religious leader who served as the fourth president of Indonesia, from his election …
Abdurrahman Wahid, Indonesian journalist and politician, 4th President of Indonesia (died 2009)
Hugh Matheson Morgan, is an Australian businessman and former CEO of Western Mining Corporation. He was President of the Business Council of Australia from 2003 to 2005. The Howard…
Hugh Morgan, Australian businessman
Jose Negroni was an American singer of Puerto Rican descent. He was a rock and roll pioneer and founding member of the rock and roll group Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.
Joe Negroni, American doo-wop singer (died 1978)
Roy Edward Ayers Jr. was an American vibraphonist, record producer, and composer. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several studio albums with Atlantic Re…
Roy Ayers, American singer-songwriter, keyboard player, vibraphonist, and producer (died 2025)
Junious "Buck" Buchanan was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League (AFL) and National Footba…
Buck Buchanan, American football player (died 1992)[citation needed]
Robert Chance was an American first baseman and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators and California Angels in part of si…
Bob Chance, American baseball player (died 2013)
Brian Russell De Palma is an American filmmaker. A major figure of the New Hollywood generation, he is best known for his work in the suspense, crime, and psychological thriller ge…
Brian De Palma, American director, producer, and screenwriter
Nông Đức Mạnh is a Vietnamese politician who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the most powerful position in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, from 20…
Nông Đức Mạnh, Vietnamese politician
Theodore Bevry Olson was an American lawyer who served as the 42nd solicitor general of the United States from 2001 to 2004 in the administration of President George W. Bush. He pr…
Theodore Olson, American lawyer (died 2024)
Linda Ann Gray is an American actress, best known for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing, the long-suffering wife of Larry Hagman's character J.R. Ewing on the CBS television drama series…
Linda Gray, American model and actress
Óscar Arias Sánchez is a Costa Rican politician, activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was the president of Costa Rica from 1986 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2010.
Óscar Arias, Costa Rican politician, President of Costa Rica, Nobel Prize laureate
Brian Maurice Brain was an English first-class cricketer whose career with Worcestershire and Gloucestershire stretched over more than two decades. He was capped by Worcestershire …
Brian Brain, English cricketer (died 2023)
Kerry Matthew Stokes is an Australian businessman. He holds business interests in industries including electronic and print media, property, gas, oil, mining and construction equip…
Kerry Stokes, Australian businessman
Ventseslav Konstantinov was a Bulgarian writer, aphorist and translator of German and English literature.
Ventseslav Konstantinov, Bulgarian writer and translator (died 2019)
Padmakar Kashinath Shivalkar was an Indian first class cricketer. A slow left-arm orthodox bowler, Shivalkar spent over 20 years playing for Bombay and is the team's highest wicket…
Padmakar Shivalkar, Indian cricketer (died 2025)
Merlin Jay Olsen was an American professional football player, announcer, and actor. For his entire 15-year professional football career, he was a defensive tackle with the Los Ang…
Merlin Olsen, American football player, sportscaster, and actor (died 2010)
Hamiet Bluiett was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. His primary instrument was the baritone saxophone, and he was considered one of the finest players of th…
Hamiet Bluiett, American jazz saxophonist and composer (died 2018)
Earl Henry "Butch" Buchholz, Jr. is a former professional tennis player from the United States who was one of the game's top players in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Butch Buchholz, American tennis player
Paul Edward Winston White, Baron Hanningfield, was a British politician and farmer. As a member of the Conservative Party, he served in various leadership roles in local government…
Paul White, Baron Hanningfield, British life peer (died 2024)
Jan Kenneth Eliasson is a Swedish diplomat who was Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations from July 2012 to December 2016. A member of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, …
Jan Eliasson, Swedish politician and diplomat, 4th Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
Peter Lever was an English cricketer, who played in seventeen Tests and ten ODIs for England from 1970 to 1975. A fast-medium opening bowler, he took 41 wickets and was a handy low…
Peter Lever, English cricketer (died 2025)