Search Historical Events

1968

Francois Botha, South African boxer and mixed martial artist

Francois Botha, South African boxer and mixed martial artist

1925

Cromwell Everson, South African composer (died 1991)

Cromwell Everson, South African composer (died 1991)

1899

Billy Butlin, South African-English businessman, founded Butlins (died 1980)

Billy Butlin, South African-English businessman, founded Butlins (died 1980)

1934

Lee Elder, American golfer (first African-American to play in the US Masters) (died 2021)

Lee Elder, American golfer (first African-American to play in the US Masters) (died 2021)

1934

George Shirley, African-American tenor and educator

George Shirley, African-American tenor and educator

1904

Pigmeat Markham, African-American comedian, singer, and dancer (died 1981)

Pigmeat Markham, African-American comedian, singer, and dancer (died 1981)

1813

James McCune Smith, African-American physician, apothecary, abolitionist, and author (died 1865)

James McCune Smith, African-American physician, apothecary, abolitionist, and author (died 1865)

1932

Slide Hampton, African-American trombonist and composer (died 2021)

Slide Hampton, African-American trombonist and composer (died 2021)

1935

Paul Chambers, African-American bassist and composer (died 1969)

Paul Chambers, African-American bassist and composer (died 1969)

1892

Vernon Johns, African-American minister and activist (died 1965)

Vernon Johns, African-American minister and activist (died 1965)

1932

Meadowlark Lemon, African-American basketball player and minister (died 2015)

Meadowlark Lemon, African-American basketball player and minister (died 2015)

1969

Cory Booker, African-American lawyer and politician

Cory Booker, African-American lawyer and politician

1927

Coretta Scott King, African-American activist and author (died 2006)

Coretta Scott King, African-American activist and author (died 2006)

1918

Lloyd Quarterman, African American chemist (died 1982)

Lloyd Quarterman, African American chemist (died 1982)

1900

Lena Baker, African-American maid executed for capital murder, later pardoned posthumously (died 1945)

Lena Baker, African-American maid executed for capital murder, later pardoned posthumously (died 1945)

1956

Catherine Samba-Panza, interim president of the Central African Republic

Catherine Samba-Panza, interim president of the Central African Republic

1941

Emmett Till, African-American lynching and kidnapping victim (died 1955)

Emmett Till, African-American lynching and kidnapping victim (died 1955)

1920

Henrietta Lacks, African-American tobacco farmer whose cancer cells are the source of the HeLa cell line, extensively…

Henrietta Lacks, African-American tobacco farmer whose cancer cells are the source of the HeLa cell line, extensively used in medical research (died 1951)

1981

Chantal Djotodia, Beninese-Central African nurse and politician

Chantal Djotodia, Beninese-Central African nurse and politician

1874

Mamie Dillard, African American educator, clubwoman and suffragist (died 1954)

Mamie Dillard, African American educator, clubwoman and suffragist (died 1954)