1 February

Across recorded history, 1,732 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 1 February. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

← January 31 February 2 →

Werner Heisenberg

1901–1976

German theoretical physicist and nobel prize winner

Werner Heisenberg was a theoretical physicist who received the Nobel Prize.

Mary Shelley

1797–1851

English writer

Mary Shelley was a novelist best known for writing the science fiction work Frankenstein.

Wisława Szymborska

1923–2012

Polish poet, Nobel Prize winner

Wisława Szymborska was a Polish poet who received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Buster Keaton

1895–1966

American actor, comedian, and director

Buster Keaton was an American actor and filmmaker known for his physical comedy and silent film performances.

Horst Köhler

1943–2025

German politician (CDU); president of Germany, 2004–2010

Horst Köhler was a German politician who served as the president of Germany.

Piet Mondrian

1872–1944

Dutch painter

Piet Mondrian was a Dutch painter known for his development of abstract art characterized by geometric shapes and primary colors.

Clinton Davisson

1881–1958

American physicist

Clinton Davisson was an American physicist who conducted experimental research confirming the wave nature of electrons.

Maximilian Schell

1930–2014

Swiss and Austrian film and stage actor

Maximilian Schell was an actor who performed in numerous film and stage productions throughout his career.

Alva Myrdal

1902–1986

Swedish sociologist and politician

Alva Myrdal was a Swedish diplomat and sociologist who worked extensively on international disarmament and social policy.

Friedrich Paulus

1890–1957

German general

Friedrich Paulus was a German field marshal who commanded the Sixth Army during the Battle of Stalingrad.

Carlos I of Portugal

1863–1908

King of Portugal from 1889 to 1908

Carlos I of Portugal was a Portuguese monarch who served as a diplomat and practiced as a painter.

Sir George Stokes, 1st Baronet

1819–1903

Irish mathematician and physicist

Physicist Sir George Stokes, 1st Baronet, made significant contributions to the study of fluid dynamics and the theory of light.

Johan Huizinga

1872–1945

Dutch cultural historian

Johan Huizinga was a Dutch cultural historian known for his influential studies on the history of civilization and the role of play in culture.

George Whipple

1878–1976

American physician and biomedical researcher

George Whipple was a physician and biomedical researcher who conducted significant studies on the role of liver in treating anemia.

Ilan Ramon

1954–2003

Israeli fighter pilot and later the first Israeli astronaut

Ilan Ramon was an astronaut and fighter pilot who served as the first Israeli citizen to travel into space.

Yamagata Aritomo

1838–1922

Japanese military leader and statesman

Yamagata Aritomo was a Japanese military leader and statesman who served as a prominent figure in the modernization of the Japanese state.

Laurel Clark

1961–2003

NASA astronaut, medical doctor, United States Navy Captain, and Space Shuttle mission specialist

Laurel Clark was a NASA astronaut who served as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle.

Hedda Hopper

1885–1966

American gossip columnist and actress

Hedda Hopper was an American gossip columnist and actress who gained prominence for her influential reporting on the Hollywood film industry.

Hildegard Knef

1925–2002

German actress, singer and writer

Hildegard Knef was a German actor, singer, and writer who achieved international recognition for her work in film, music, and literature.

Ivan Paskevich

1782–1856

Russian military leader

Ivan Paskevich was a Russian military leader who served as a commander during numerous imperial campaigns.

William C. McCool

1961–2003

U.S. Navy Commander, NASA astronaut and the pilot of Space Shuttle Columbia which was destroyed during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere in 2003

Astronaut William C. McCool served as the pilot of the Space Shuttle Columbia during its final mission.

Rick Husband

1957–2003

American astronaut

Rick Husband was an American astronaut who served as a commander for the Space Shuttle program.

Gian Carlo Menotti

1911–2007

Italian-American composer and librettist

Gian Carlo Menotti was an Italian-American composer who wrote his own librettos for his operas.

Michael P. Anderson

1959–2003

astronaut, scientist

Michael P. Anderson was an astronaut who served as a payload commander during space shuttle missions.

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.