Famous Deaths on July 15

• 1274 Saint Bonaventure [Giovanni di Fidanza], Italian Franciscan, theologian, philosopher and patron saint of bowel disorders, dies at 52 or 53
• 1291 Rudolf I, King of Germany, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (1273-91), dies at 73
• 1381 John Ball, English priest who played a prominent role in the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, hung, drawn and quartered at about 42 or 43

• 1406 Duke William of Austria (b. c.1370)
• 1410 Ulrich von Jungingen, German Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, killed at the Battle of Grunwald (b. 1360)
• 1411 Johannes Parvus [Jean Petit], French theologist, dies
• 1416 John, Duke of Berry, French art collector and third son of King John II of France and Bonne of Luxemburg, dies at 75
• 1417 Willem Eggert, Dutch financier, 1st Lord of the free and high fief Purmerend and Purmerland, dies at 56 or 57

• 1544 René of Chalon, Dutch Prince of Orange and Stadtholder of Holland, dies after being wounded at the Siege of St. Dizier at 25
• 1571 Shimazu Takahisa, Japanese samurai and warlord (b. 1514)
• 1609 Annibale Carracci, Italian painter, dies at 48
• 1614 Pierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de Brantôme, French historian and biographer (b. c.1540)
• 1655 Girolamo Rainaldi, Italian architect (b. 1570)

• 1738 Alexander Voznitsyn, Rus Naval officer converted to Judaism, executed
• 1738 Antonio Maria Pacchioni, Baroque composer, dies at 84
• 1738 Baruch Leibov, converted Russian Naval officer to Judaism, executed
• 1750 Vasily Tatishchev, Russian statesman, dies at 73
• 1751 John Wilson, botanist, dies
• 1765 Charles-André Van Loo, French Rococo painter, dies at 60
• 1767 Michael Bruce, Scottish poet (Elegy written in Spring), dies at 21
• 1782 Farinelli [Carlo Broschi], Italian castrato (considered one of the great opera singers), dies at 77
• 1782 Robert Wainwright, English composer and church organist, dies at 33
• 1784 Johan B Straub, South German sculptor, dies
• 1789 Jacques Duphly, French composer and harpsichordist, dies at 74
• 1798 Gaetano Pugnani, Italian violinist and composer, dies at 66
• 1810 Jean-Baptiste Rey, composer, dies at 75
• 1828 Jean-Antoine Houdon, French neoclassical sculptor known for his sculptures of famous public figures (George Washington, Benjamin Franklin), dies at 77 [1] [2]
• 1839 Winthrop Mackworth Praed, English politician and poet, dies at 36
• 1844 Claude Charles Fauriel, French historian (b. 1772)
• 1854 Grant Cuthbert, Metis leader (led conflict with Red River settlement, settled Grant Town), dies after a fall from a horse at about 61 [1]
• 1854 Wincenty Studzinski, Polish violinist and composer, dies at 39
• 1856 Margaretha Jacoba de Neufville, Dutch author of “The Kidnap” – 1st Dutch historical novel, dies at 81
• 1857 Carl Czerny, Czech-Austrian pianist, composer (Schule der Virtuosen), student of Ludwig van Beethoven, and teacher of Franz Liszt, dies at 66
• 1862 David Emanuel Twiggs, US Confederate gen-mjr (Monterrey), dies at 72
• 1865 Reinier Cornelis Bakhuizen van de Brink, Dutch historian, philosopher and founder of modern archive management, dies at 55 [1]
• 1868 William T. G. Morton, American dentist who first used ether as a surgical anaesthetic (HOF 1920), dies at 48
• 1869 A J Haynes, US army captain and civil war veteran, assassinated by KKK
• 1871 Tad Lincoln, youngest son of US President Abraham Lincoln, dies at 18
• 1876 Aleksander Fredro, Polish poet and comedy writer (Zemstra), dies at 82
• 1876 Juan Pablo Duarte, Dominican founding father, dies in exile at 63
• 1883 Charles Stratton [General Tom Thumb], American entertainer and famous small person (40″), worked with P. T. Barum, dies of a stroke at 44
• 1885 Rosalía de Castro, Galician-Spanish poet and novelist considered one of the most important figures of 19th-century Spanish literature (‘Séculos Escuros’), dies at 48
• 1898 Jean Baptiste Salpointe, French born second Archbishop of Santa Fe, dies at 75

• 1906 William Painter, American inventor (crown cork bottle cap and opener), dies at 67
• 1907 Qiu Jin, Chinese revolutionary, feminist, and writer considered a national heroine in China, executed after a failed uprising at 32
• 1910 Daniel Kinet, Belgian auto racer, and Belgium’s first airplane pilot, dies
• 1912 Francisco Lazaro, Portuguese marathon runner (1912 Olympics), dies of electrolyte imbalance after smearing his body with suet during Olympic marathon in Stockholm at 24
• 1915 Ludwik Grossman, Polish composer (Duch Wojewody – The Ghost of Voyvode), dies at 80
• 1916 Ilya Mechnikov, Russian zoologist and bacteriologist known as the “father of natural immunity” (Nobel 1908), dies of heart failure at 71

• 1927 Constance Markievicz, Irish politician, revolutionary and suffragist (1st woman elected to UK House of Commons, 1st female cabinet minister in Europe), dies of complications after surgery at 59 [1]
• 1929 Hugo Von Hofmannsthal, Austrian playwright (Der Unbestechliche) and poet, dies of a stroke at 55
• 1930 Leopold von Auer, Hungarian-American violinist, dies at 85
• 1931 Ladislaus Bortkiewicz, Russian mathematician (Poisson distribution) and economist, dies at 62
• 1933 Freddie Keppard, American jazz cornetist (Original Creole Orchestra), dies of tuberculosis at 44
• 1933 Irving Babbitt, American writer (Democracy & Leadership), dies at 67
• 1934 Jules Renkin, Belgian politician (28th Prime Minister of Belgium 1931-32), dies at 71
• 1935 Pieter Cort van de Linden, Dutch politician (Prime Minister of Netherlands 1913-18), dies at 89
• 1937 Walter Gay, artist, dies
• 1939 Johon Mellanby, physiologist, dies
• 1939 Percy Scott Worthington, architect, dies
• 1940 Donald Calthrop, British actor (Blackmail, Scrooge, Rome Express), dies from a heart attack at 52
• 1940 Eugen Bleuler, Swiss psychiatrist (introduced the term schizophrenia to describe the disorder previously known as dementia praecox), dies at 82
• 1940 Robert Wadlow, American who was world’s tallest known person (8’11.1″), dies at 22
• 1942 Denis “Sonny” Moloney, New Zealand cricket all-rounder (3 Tests, 1 x 50; Otago, Wellington, Canterbury), dies in WWII action at El Alamein at 31
• 1946 Razor Smith, English cricket spin bowler (245 first class matches, Surry CCC), dies at 68
• 1947 Henry Kolker, German-American actor and director (Holiday, Baby Face, Mad Love), dies at 72
• 1947 Walter Donaldson, American pianist and popular song composer (“Makin’ Whoopee”; “My Blue Heaven”; “My Buddy”), dies at 54

• 1951 Mary White Ovington, American journalist, suffragist, and co-founder of the NAACP, dies at 86
• 1953 Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios (b.1882)
• 1955 Marie-Louise de Baufremont, wife of Prince Jean de Merode of Netherlands, dies at 81
• 1957 George Cleveland, Canadian vaudevillian, stage and screen character actor (Mystery Liner; Courage of Lassie: Lassie, 1954-57 – “Gramps”), dies from a heart attack at 71
• 1957 James M. Cox, American politician, 46th and 48th Governor of Ohio (1913-15, 1917-21) and Representative, dies at 87
• 1957 Marie van Zeggelen, Dutch writer (children’s books on Indonesia, Dessajongen), dies at 87
• 1957 Vasily Maklakov, Russian orator and liberal politician (b. 1869)
• 1958 Julia Lennon, mother of Beatle John, dies in an auto accident
• 1958 Nuri al-Said, Iraqi politician, 8-time Prime Minister of Iraq, assassinated while trying to escape during the revolution at 69

• 1959 Peter Egge, Norwegian writer (The Dream), dies at 90
• 1959 Vance Palmer, Australian author, dies at 73
• 1960 Lawrence Tibbett, American baritone (Metropolitan Opera, 1923-50), dies after surgery at 63
• 1960 Set Persson, Swedish communist politician, dies at 63
• 1961 John E. Brownlee, Canadian politician (b. 1884)
• 1965 Francis Cherry, American politician (b. 1908)
• 1968 Lura Anson, American silent film actress dies at 76
• 1969 Peter Van Eyck [Götz von Eick], German actor (The Longest Day; The Wages of Fear), dies after long illness at 56
• 1971 Guy Wilkerson, American actor (Dead or Alive, West of Texas, Shootin’ Iron), dies of cancer at 71
• 1973 Clarence White, American session and country-rock guitarist (The Byrds, 1968-73 – “Ballad of Easy Rider”), struck and killed by a drunk driver at 29
• 1974 Christine Chubbock, American TV newscaster (WXLT-TV, Sarasota, Florida), commits suicide during live broadcast by shooting herself at 29
• 1974 Christine Chubbuck, American TV news reporter, commits suicide during live broadcast at 29
• 1975 Charles Weidman, US dancer/choreographer (Fables for Our Time), dies
• 1976 Paul Gallico, American novelist (The Snow Goose; The Poseidon Adventure), dies of a heart attack at 78
• 1977 Konstantin Fedin, writer, dies
• 1979 Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Mexican politician (President of Mexico 1964-70), dies of cancer at 68
• 1980 Eddie Jackson, comedian (Jimmy Durante Show), dies at 84
• 1980 Henri Martelli, French composer, dies at 85
• 1982 Bill Justis, American musician and producer (Raunchy), dies of cancer at 58
• 1982 Donald Beard, cricketer (4 Tests for NZ 1952-56), dies
• 1982 Wendy Caulfield, 1st Green River victim, found near Seattle
• 1983 Eddie Foy Jr [Edwin Fitzgerald Jr], American actor (The Pajama Game, Fair Exchange), dies of cancer at 78
• 1986 Benny Rubin, American actor and comedian (Benny Rubin Show), dies at 87
• 1986 Billy Haughton, American harness driver and trainer (Hambletonian x 4; Little Brown Jug x 5; Messenger Stakes x 7), dies from head injuries in fall at Yonkers Raceway at 62
• 1986 Florence Halop, American actress (Night Court, 1985-86 -“Florence”; St Elsewhere, 1984-85), dies of lung cancer at 63
• 1987 Alfie Bass [Abraham Basalinsky], British actor (Moonraker, Are You Being Served), dies at 71
• 1987 Jack O’Hagan, cricketer and composer (Our Don Bradman), dies at 88
• 1987 Lee Gaines, American jazz singer and lyricist (Delta Rhythm Boys), dies of cancer at 73
• 1988 Eleanor Estes, American children’s author and illustrator (Ginger Pye, Moffats), dies at 82
• 1989 Laurie Cunningham, English soccer left winger (6 caps; Orient, West Bromwich Albion, Real Madrid, Marseille, Rayo Vallecano), dies in a car crash at 33
• 1989 Will Bradley [Wilbur Schwichtenberg], American session, jazz, and boogie-woogie trombonist and bandleader (“Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar”), dies at 77
• 1990 Alison Leggatt, British character actress (Day of Triffids, Cows), dies at 86
• 1990 Margaret Lockwood, British actress (Cast a Dark Shadow, The Lady Vanishes), dies of cirrhosis of the liver at 73
• 1990 Troy Dixon, American rapper (Trouble T-Roy of Heavy D), dies at 22 of a fall
• 1991 Bert Convy, American actor and game show host (Tattletales), dies at 57
• 1992 Brett Whiteley, Australian artist, dies of an opiate overdose at 53
• 1992 Chingiz Mustafayev, Azerbaijan’s most noted journalist (b. 1960)
• 1992 Hammer DeRoburt, First President of Nauru, dies at 69
• 1992 Henk van der Molen, Dutch guitarist, composer, and writer (Martine Bijl), dies
• 1992 Johnny Martin, Australian cricketer (NSW & Australian bowler), dies at 60
• 1993 Bobby Kent, alleged Florida bully murdered by his friends (b. 1973)
• 1993 David Brian, American actor (Accused of Murder, Dawn at Sorocco), dies at 78
• 1993 Stephen Jurika, American naval officer (WWII Doolittle raid over Tokyo), dies at 82
• 1993 William S. Harvey, American graphic designer and album cover artist (The Doors; The Stooges; Tim Buckley), dies at 72
• 1994 Jeanne Bieruma Oosting, Dutch painter/illustrator, dies
• 1995 Paula Myers-Pope, American platform diver, (2 silver, 1 bronze Olympics 1952-60), dies at 60
• 1995 Willie George “Bill” Woodruff Sr, vocalist, dies at 66
• 1996 Dana Hill, American actress (National Lampoon’s European Vacation), dies from complications of diabetes at 32
• 1997 Alan Chaig, paleontologist (Carl Sagan of BBC), dies at 70

• 1998 Gennadi Volnov, Russian basketball player (Olympic gold 1972), dies at 68
• 1999 George Brown Jr, American politician (Rep-D-CA, 1963-71, 73-99), dies at 79
• 2000 Genrikh Matusovich Vagner, Belarusian composer, dies at 78
• 2000 Louis Quilico, Canadian baritone opera singer (Metropolitan Opera, 1955-80), dies at 75
• 2000 Paul Young, English singer (Mike + The Mechanics), dies of a cardiac arrest at 53
• 2003 Elisabeth Welch, American born British-based singer (“Stormy Weather”, “Over the Moon”), and actress, dies at 99
• 2003 Roberto Bolaño, Chilean writer (2066), dies at 50
• 2003 Tex Schramm, American football president and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys (1960-88), dies at 83
• 2005 Arthur Crook, British writer and editor of the Times Literary Supplement, dies at 93
• 2006 Robert H. Brooks, founder of Hooters of America (b. 1937)
• 2007 Kelly Johnson, English guitarist, dies at 49
• 2008 Gyorgy Kolonics, Hungarian canoeist, Olympics medalist. (b. 1972)
• 2010 James E. Akins, American diplomat and advisor to Richard Nixon (b. 1926)
• 2010 Kip King [Jerome Kattan], American character actor (Charlie & Company; The Groundlings; The Smurfs), dies at 72
• 2011 Googie Withers, English actress and dancer (The Lady Vanishes), dies at 94
• 2012 Celeste Holm, American actress (Gentleman’s Agreement, All About Eve), dies at 95
• 2013 Earl Gros, American NFL running back (Green Bay), dies at 72
• 2014 James MacGregor Burns, American political writer (The Lion & the Fox), dies at 95
• 2015 Alan Curtis, American harpsichordist, musicologist and conductor, dies at 80
• 2015 Howard Rumsey, American jazz musician (Lighthouse Cafe), dies at 97
• 2015 Wan Li, Chinese reform politician, dies at 98
• 2017 Babe Parilli, American football player, dies at 87
• 2017 Martin Landau, American actor (Ed Wood; North By Northwest; Mission Impossible; Space 1999), dies at 89
• 2019 Dick Hyde, American trombonist and session musician (Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, Madonna), sometimes known as “Slyde Hyde”, dies at 83
• 2020 Louw de Graaf, Dutch politician and bureaucrat (Member of Parliament; Secretary of Social Affairs (VDA), dies at 90
• 2020 Travell Mazion, American boxer (WBC-NABF super welterweight title 2020), dies in a car accident at 24
• 2021 Andy Fordham, English darts player (BDO World Champion 2004), dies from organ failure at 59
• 2021 Dennis Murphy, American sports entrepreneur (co-founder American Basketball Ass’n, World Hockey Ass’n, original World Team Tennis, Roller Hockey International), dies at 94
• 2021 Germán Castro Caycedo, Colombian writer and journalist, dies at 81
• 2021 Jerry Lewis, American politician (Rep-R-California, 1979-2013), dies at 86
• 2022 Georgi Yartsev, Russian soccer forward (5 caps USSR; FC Spartak Moscow) and manager (Russia; Spartak, Dynamo, Torpedo Moscow), dies at 74
• 2022 Herbert W. Franke, Austrian scientist, writer, and computer art pioneer, dies at 95
• 2022 Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza, pretender to the Brazilian throne, dies at 84
• 2023 Billy MacMillan, Canadian NHL hockey right wing, 1970-77 (Toronto Maple Leafs, Atlanta Flames, NY Islanders), and coach, 1980-84 (Colorado Rockies/New Jersey Devils). dies at 80
• 2023 Chen Mao-shuen, Taiwanese composer, teacher, and arts administrator (Experimental Symphony), dies at 87
• 2023 Sergei Godunov, Russian mathematician, dies at 93
• 2024 Juan Fernando Cobo, Colombian artist, dies at 64
• 2024 Norm Hewitt, New Zealand rugby union hooker (9 Tests; Hawke’s Bay; Wellington Hurricanes 66 games), dies of motor neurone disease at 55

July 15 Highlights