2 January

Across recorded history, 1,749 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 2 January. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

← January 1 January 3 →

Frederick William IV of Prussia

1795–1861

King of Prussia

Frederick William IV of Prussia was a King of Prussia who served as a politician.

Emil Jannings

1884–1950

German actor

Emil Jannings was a German actor who appeared in numerous silent and sound films.

Edward Burnett Tylor

1832–1917

English anthropologist

Edward Burnett Tylor was an English anthropologist who contributed to the development of the field through his academic research and writing.

Fausto Coppi

1919–1960

Italian cyclist

Fausto Coppi was an Italian cyclist who competed professionally in road racing.

Nimr al-Nimr

1959–2016

Saudi Shia Sheikh in al-Awamiyah in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province

Nimr al-Nimr was a Saudi Shia Sheikh who served as a religious leader in al-Awamiyah.

George Biddell Airy

1801–1892

English mathematician and astronomer (*1801 – †1892)

George Biddell Airy was an English astronomer who served as the Astronomer Royal.

Johann Kaspar Lavater

1741–1801

Swiss poet

Johann Kaspar Lavater was a Swiss poet who authored influential works on the study of physiognomy.

Ryuzo Hiraki

1931–2009

Japanese association football player and manager

Ryuzo Hiraki was a Japanese association football player and manager.

Pete Postlethwaite

1945–2011

English character actor

Pete Postlethwaite was an English character actor who appeared in numerous stage, television, and film productions.

Bob Einstein

1942–2019

American comedian, actor

Bob Einstein was an American comedian and actor known for his work in television and film.

John Berger

1926–2017

British painter, writer and art critic

John Berger was a British art critic who authored influential works on visual culture and aesthetics.

Richard Leakey

1944–2022

Kenyan paleoanthropologist, conservationist, and politician

Richard Leakey was a Kenyan paleoanthropologist who led significant fossil discoveries and directed national conservation efforts.

Maria Luisa of Parma

1751–1819

Queen consort of Spain

Maria Luisa of Parma was a Queen consort of Spain who served as an aristocrat and politician.

Ágnes Keleti

1921–2025

Hungarian-Israeli artistic gymnast

Ágnes Keleti was a Hungarian-Israeli artistic gymnast who competed in multiple Olympic Games.

Barthold Georg Niebuhr

1776–1831

Danish-German statesman and historian

Barthold Georg Niebuhr was a historian of classical antiquity who served as a diplomat and statesman.

Lillian Moller Gilbreth

1878–1972

American psychologist and industrial engineer

Lillian Moller Gilbreth was an industrial engineer who applied psychological principles to improve workplace efficiency and management practices.

Dick Powell

1904–1963

American actor

Dick Powell was an American actor who worked extensively in both film and television.

Viktor Saneyev

1945–2022

Georgian triple jumper

Viktor Saneyev was a Georgian triple jumper who competed in athletics.

James Longstreet

1821–1904

Confederate Army general

James Longstreet was a Confederate Army general who served as a military officer during the American Civil War.

Guccio Gucci

1881–1953

Italian businessman and fashion designer, founder of Gucci

Guccio Gucci was an Italian entrepreneur who founded the fashion house Gucci.

Nancy Kelly

1921–1995

American actress

Nancy Kelly was an American actress who performed in film, television, and on stage.

Ahad Ha'am

1856–1927

Hebrew essayist and thinker

Ahad Ha'am was a Hebrew essayist and thinker who influenced the development of cultural Zionism.

Teddy Kollek

1911–2007

Israeli politician

Teddy Kollek was an Israeli politician who served as the long-term mayor of Jerusalem.

Anne Francis

1930–2011

American actress

Anne Francis was an American actress who appeared in numerous film and television productions throughout her career.

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.