- 1605 - Simon Dach, German poet born
- 1805 - Alexis de Tocqueville, French historian and political scientist born
- 1869 - Booth Tarkington, American author (The Magnificent Ambersons) born
- 1954 - The Fellowship of the Ring, the first part of The Lord of the Rings, is published in the UK.
- 1975 - James Blish, American writer died
