12 April

Across recorded history, 1,536 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 12 April. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

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Franklin Delano Roosevelt

1882–1945

president of the United States from 1933 to 1945

Franklin Delano Roosevelt served as president of the United States.

Josephine Baker

1906–1975

American-born French dancer, singer and actress

Josephine Baker was a dancer, singer, and actress who served as a resistance fighter and intelligence officer.

Gilbert Gottfried

1955–2022

American stand-up comedian

Gilbert Gottfried was an American stand-up comedian known for his distinctive voice and comedic style.

Igor Tamm

1895–1971

Soviet physicist

Igor Tamm was a physicist who developed the theory of Cherenkov radiation.

Charles Messier

1730–1817

18th- and 19th-century French astronomer

Charles Messier was a French astronomer who cataloged numerous nebulae and star clusters.

Joe Louis

1914–1981

American boxer

Joe Louis was an American boxer who competed as a professional athlete.

Feodor Chaliapin

1873–1938

Russian opera singer and actor

Feodor Chaliapin was a Russian opera singer and actor known for his performances on international stages.

Asha Bhosle

1933–2026

Indian playback singer

Asha Bhosle is an Indian playback singer known for her extensive contributions to the film industry.

George Wald

1906–1997

American biologist, biochemist, physiologist and Nobel laureate

George Wald was a biologist who received a Nobel Prize for his research on the chemical processes of vision.

Teizo Takeuchi

1908–1946

Japanese association football player

Teizo Takeuchi was a Japanese association football player who represented his country in international competition.

Edward Drinker Cope

1840–1897

American paleontologist, geologist, and biologist

Edward Drinker Cope was an American paleontologist who contributed extensively to the study of vertebrate fossils and evolutionary theory.

Clara Barton

1821–1912

American Civil War nurse

Clara Barton was a nurse who provided medical care to soldiers during the American Civil War.

Stirling Moss

1929–2020

British motor racing driver

Stirling Moss was a British motor racing driver who competed in Formula One.

Alan Paton

1903–1988

South African writer and activist

Alan Paton was a South African writer and activist known for his literary work and political opposition to apartheid.

Valentin Kataev

1897–1986

Soviet writer, playwright, screenwriter, poet

Valentin Kataev was a Soviet writer who authored numerous novels, plays, and screenplays throughout his career.

William Richard Tolbert

1913–1980

President of Liberia 1971–1980

William Richard Tolbert was a politician who served as the President of Liberia.

Patrick Hillery

1923–2008

6th president of Ireland

Patrick Hillery was a politician who served as the sixth president of Ireland.

Arnold Wesker

1932–2016

British dramatist

Arnold Wesker was a British playwright known for his contributions to contemporary theater.

Peter Bonetti

1941–2020

English association football player

Peter Bonetti was an English association football player who played as a goalkeeper.

Abbie Hoffman

1936–1989

American activist

Abbie Hoffman was an American activist known for his involvement in social and political movements.

Marilyn Chambers

1952–2009

American pornographic actress

Marilyn Chambers was an American pornographic actress who appeared in numerous films.

Yevgeny Viktorovich Vuchetich

1908–1974

Soviet artist and pedagogist

Yevgeny Viktorovich Vuchetich was a Soviet sculptor known for creating monumental public works.

Arthur Young

1741–1820

English writer

Arthur Young was an English writer who authored influential works on agriculture and rural economy.

Mikael Nalbandian

1829–1866

Armenian writer

Mikael Nalbandian was an Armenian writer who contributed to the development of modern Armenian literature through his literary scholarship and journalism.

Source: Wikidata, released into the public domain under CC0. Snapshot: 2026-07. Names, dates and roles come from Wikidata; summaries are condensed from it. Nothing here is generated to fill a gap.