1677 Stephen Hales – British botanist and inventor who was the first to measure blood pressure. He invented a ventilator to bring fresh air into prisons and ships

Thanks, Stephen Hales. I have to check my BP every day. And the ventilator - wow! So long ago.

1909 Elia Kazan – Turkish-born US director (Gentleman's Agreement, On the Waterfront, East of Eden, A Streetcar Named Desire, Splendour in the Grass, Viva Zapata!, Pinky, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Death of a Salesman)

Classics.

1838 On a wild and stormy night on the cruel sea

Such a great opening line for a novel.