- 1616 - Andreas Gryphius, German writer born
- 1885 - François Mauriac, French writer born
- 1925 - Elmore Leonard, American novelist born
- 1935 - Steele Rudd, Australian author died
- 1937 - R. H. W. Dillard, American poet born
- 1963 - Jean Cocteau, French writer died
- 1976 - Alfredo Bracchi, Italian author died
- 1977 - MacKinlay Kantor, American author died
- 2005 - Shan-ul-Haq Haqqee, Linguist, and writer of Pakistan died
