30 January

Across recorded history, 1,704 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 30 January. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

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Mahatma Gandhi

1869–1948

Indian independence activist

Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian independence activist who led nonviolent resistance movements against British colonial rule.

John Bardeen

1908–1991

American physicist and engineer

Physicist John Bardeen was an American scientist who contributed to the development of the transistor and the theory of superconductivity.

Catherine O'Hara

1954–2026

Canadian-American actress

Catherine O'Hara is a Canadian-American actress known for her work in film and television.

Sidney Sheldon

1917–2007

American writer

Sidney Sheldon was an American writer who authored numerous novels and screenplays.

Ernesto Teodoro Moneta

1833–1918

Italian journalist, revolutionary soldier and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Ernesto Teodoro Moneta was a journalist and pacifist who received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ferdinand Porsche

1875–1951

Austrian-born German automotive engineer, inventor

Ferdinand Porsche was an automotive engineer who designed vehicles and contributed to the development of early automobile technology.

Johannes Fibiger

1867–1928

Danish physician

Johannes Fibiger was a Danish physician who conducted research in the field of pathology.

Coretta Scott King

1927–2006

American author, activist, and civil rights leader; wife of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Coretta Scott King was a civil rights leader who worked as an activist and author.

John Barry

1933–2011

British composer and conductor

John Barry was a composer and conductor known for his extensive work on film scores.

Dominique Pire

1910–1969

Belgian Dominican friar

Dominique Pire was a Dominican friar who founded international organizations to provide aid and support for refugees following the Second World War.

Pierre Boulle

1912–1994

French novelist

Pierre Boulle was a French novelist who authored works of science fiction.

Gerald Durrell

1925–1995

British naturalist and writer

Gerald Durrell was a naturalist and writer who founded the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust to support global conservation efforts.

Marianne Faithfull

1946–2025

English singer and actress

Marianne Faithfull is an English singer and actress known for her career as a recording artist and film performer.

Coenraad Jacob Temminck

1778–1858

Dutch aristocrat and zoologist

Zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck was a Dutch aristocrat who worked as a scientific collector and writer.

Zhelyu Zhelev

1935–2015

President of Bulgaria

Zhelyu Zhelev was a politician who served as the President of Bulgaria.

Ingemar Johansson

1932–2009

Swedish boxer

Ingemar Johansson was a Swedish boxer who held the world heavyweight championship title.

Asa Gray

1810–1888

American botanist

Asa Gray was a botanist who served as a university teacher and curator while writing extensively on plant life.

Sophie

1986–2021

British singer, songwriter, record producer and DJ

Sophie was a British musician, songwriter, record producer, and DJ.

Ernst Heinkel

1888–1958

aircraft designer and manufacturer

Ernst Heinkel was an aircraft designer and manufacturer who founded the company that produced the first turbojet-powered aircraft.

Carl Djerassi

1923–2015

American chemistry professor, inventor, author, playwright

Chemist Carl Djerassi was a university professor who contributed to the development of the oral contraceptive pill.

Mark Salling

1982–2018

American actor and musician

Mark Salling was an American actor and musician known for his role on the television series Glee.

Leonid Kuravlyov

1936–2022

Soviet and Russian actor

Leonid Kuravlyov was a Soviet and Russian actor who appeared in numerous films and television productions.

Ivan Papanin

1894–1986

Soviet explorer

Ivan Papanin was a polar explorer who led the first Soviet drifting ice station expedition.

Dick Button

1929–2025

American figure skater, sports personality, actor, lawyer

Dick Button was an American figure skater who also worked as a sports personality, actor, and lawyer.

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.