- 1808 - Gérard de Nerval, French writer born
- 1841 - Catulle Mendès, French poet born
- 1859 - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, British writer born
- 1885 - Victor Hugo, French poet,novelist and dramatist died
- 1907 - Hergé, Belgian comic book creator born
- 1914 - Vance Packard, American author born