4 January

Across recorded history, 1,794 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 4 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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Albert Camus

1913–1960

French philosopher, author, and journalist

Albert Camus was a French philosopher and author known for his contributions to the development of absurdism.

Erwin Schrödinger

1887–1961

Austrian physicist

Erwin Schrödinger was a physicist who formulated the fundamental equation of quantum mechanics.

T. S. Eliot

1888–1965

US-British poet

T. S. Eliot was a poet who received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Henri Bergson

1859–1941

French philosopher

Henri Bergson was a French philosopher known for his influential work on the concepts of duration and intuition.

Benito Pérez Galdós

1843–1920

Spanish realist novelist

Benito Pérez Galdós was a Spanish realist novelist who wrote extensive works depicting the social and political landscape of nineteenth-century Spain.

Martinus J. G. Veltman

1931–2021

Dutch theoretical physicist

Martinus J. G. Veltman was a Dutch theoretical physicist who contributed to the mathematical foundation of particle physics.

Glynis Johns

1923–2024

British actress

Glynis Johns was a British actress who performed in numerous stage, film, and television productions throughout her career.

Cornelius Vanderbilt

1794–1877

American businessman and tycoon

Cornelius Vanderbilt was an American business magnate who built his wealth through the development of shipping and railroad enterprises.

Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies

1751–1825

King of Naples (1759-1806, 1815-1816), Sicily (1759-1816), and the Two Sicilies

Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies served as the monarch of Naples, Sicily, and the unified Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

Alfred von Schlieffen

1833–1913

Prussian Field Marshal and Chief of the General Staff

Alfred von Schlieffen was a Prussian Field Marshal who served as the Chief of the General Staff.

Christopher Isherwood

1904–1986

British-American novelist

Christopher Isherwood was a novelist known for his autobiographical works depicting life in Berlin during the rise of the Nazi party.

Georg von Hertling

1843–1919

German chancellor

Georg von Hertling was a German chancellor who served as the head of government.

Mohamed Bouazizi

1984–2011

Tunisian street vendor

Mohamed Bouazizi was a Tunisian street vendor whose self-immolation served as a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution.

Tsutomu Yamaguchi

1916–2010

Japanese marine engineer

Tsutomu Yamaguchi was a Japanese marine engineer who survived the atomic bombings of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Gerry Rafferty

1947–2011

Scottish singer-songwriter

Gerry Rafferty was a Scottish singer-songwriter known for his work as a musician and composer.

Carlo Levi

1902–1975

Italian painter, writer, politic and anti-fascist

Carlo Levi was an Italian writer and painter who actively opposed the fascist regime.

Margherita of Savoy

1851–1926

Queen of Italy from 1878 to 1900

Margherita of Savoy was the Queen of Italy who hosted a prominent salon.

Marina Raskova

1912–1943

Soviet pilot

Marina Raskova was a Soviet pilot who served as a navigator and military officer.

Michel Galabru

1922–2016

French actor

Michel Galabru was a French actor who appeared in numerous film, television, and stage productions throughout his career.

Theodor Körner

1873–1957

Soldier, mayor of Vienna, federal president of Austria

Theodor Körner was an Austrian politician who served as the federal president of Austria and the mayor of Vienna.

John William Draper

1811–1882

British-American academic

John William Draper was a scientist who produced the first clear photograph of the moon.

Louise, Princess Royal

1867–1931

third child and eldest daughter of Edward VII of the United Kingdom and Alexandra of Denmark

Louise, Princess Royal was an aristocrat and the third child and eldest daughter of Edward VII of the United Kingdom and Alexandra of Denmark.

Phil Lynott

1949–1986

Irish rock musician

Phil Lynott was an Irish rock musician who served as the bassist, singer, and primary songwriter for the band Thin Lizzy.

Johan Ferrier

1910–2010

Dutch-Surinamese politician

Johan Ferrier was a politician who served as the first president of Suriname.

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.