- Jean de Brébeuf, French Jesuit missionary and martyr who was canonized by Pope Pius XI (1930), born in Condé-sur-Vire, Kingdom of France (d. 1649)
- Giovanni Battista Amici, Italian astronomer, physicist and botanist, born in Modena, Duchy of Modena and Reggio (now Italy) (d. 1863)
- Clinton L. Merriam, American Republican politician and Congress member from New York (1871-75), born in Leyden, New York (d. 1900)
- "Sweet" Emma Barrett, American Dixieland jazz pianist and singer, born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1983)
- Frankie Carle [Francesco Carlone], American pianist, known as "the Wizard of the Keyboard", big band and dance orchestra leader, and songwriter ("Sunrise Serenade"; "The Golden Touch"), born in Providence, Rhode Island (d. 2001)
- Jeanne Cagney, American stage, screen, and radio actress (Lion is in the Streets; Quicksand; Yankee Doodle Dandy), born in New York City (d. 1984)
- Bruno VeSota, American character actor and director (They Stand Accused, Chopper, Teenage Doll, Wild Rovers), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1976)
- Machiko Kyō, Japanese actress (Gate of Hell, Rashomon, Ugetsu), born in Osaka, Japan (d. 2019)
- 86th Grand National: 8/1 favourite Sprig wins; ridden by jockey Ted Leader, trained by his father Tom Leader
- Washington Daily News is 1st US newspaper with perfumed advertising page
- 26th Academy Awards: "From Here to Eternity" best film, William Holden and Audrey Hepburn best actor, actress
- Chipko forest conservation movement begins in Reni Village, Western Himalayas, India, when local woman Gaura Devi hugs a tree to prevent its logging
- Giovanni Battista Amici, Italian astronomer, physicist and botanist, born in Modena, Duchy of Modena and Reggio (now Italy) (d. 1863)
- Jay Blackton, American conductor and arranger (Guys and Dolls; Oklahoma!), born in New York City (d. 1994)
- Avery Johnson, American NBA point guard, analyst for CBS Sports, and coach (1999 NBA champion, 2006 Coach of the Year), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Anthony Barness, English footballer
- Casey Neistat, American YouTube star and co-founder of Beme, born in Gales Ferry, Connecticut