4 November

Across recorded history, 1,589 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 4 November. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

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Felix Mendelssohn

1809–1847

German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of Jewish descent

Felix Mendelssohn was a German composer who worked as a pianist, organist, and conductor.

Yizhak Rabin

1922–1995

Israeli politician, statesman and general

Yizhak Rabin was an Israeli statesman and military officer who served as Prime Minister.

Gilles Deleuze

1925–1995

French philosopher

Gilles Deleuze was a French philosopher who wrote extensively on the history of philosophy, art theory, and contemporary thought.

Michael Crichton

1942–2008

American author, screenwriter, film director

Michael Crichton was an American author and filmmaker known for writing science fiction novels and screenplays.

Gabriel Fauré

1845–1924

French composer, organist, pianist and teacher

Gabriel Fauré was a French composer who served as an organist, pianist, and teacher.

Norman Foster Ramsey

1915–2011

American physicist

Norman Foster Ramsey was a physicist who conducted research in the field of nuclear physics.

Jacques Tati

1907–1982

French filmmaker

Jacques Tati was a French filmmaker known for his work as a director, writer, and actor.

Wilfred Owen

1893–1918

English poet and soldier

Wilfred Owen was a poet and soldier who wrote verses depicting the experiences of combat during the First World War.

René Girard

1923–2015

French historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science

René Girard was a philosopher who developed the mimetic theory of human behavior and culture.

Friedrich Kellner

1885–1970

German Justice inspector

Friedrich Kellner was a German justice inspector who authored a detailed diary documenting life and political conditions in Nazi Germany.

Dietrich von Choltitz

1894–1966

German general

Dietrich von Choltitz was a German military officer who served as the military governor of Paris during the Second World War.

Paul Delaroche

1797–1856

French painter

Paul Delaroche was a French painter known for his historical scenes.

Sophia Tolstaya

1844–1919

Russian writer

Sophia Tolstaya was a Russian writer who documented her life and experiences through extensive diaries and autobiographical works.

Shoghi Effendi

1897–1957

grandson of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957

Shoghi Effendi served as the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith and was the grandson of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá.

Oscar Montelius

1843–1921

Swedish archaeologist

Oscar Montelius was a Swedish archaeologist who developed a system for the chronological classification of prehistoric artifacts.

Ken Hensley

1945–2020

British singer and guitarist

Ken Hensley was a British musician who worked as a singer and guitarist.

Tomás Estrada Palma

1835–1908

Cuban politician (1835–1908); President of Cuba

Tomás Estrada Palma was a Cuban politician who served as the President of Cuba.

Andrew Dickson White

1832–1918

American politician

Andrew Dickson White was an American diplomat who served as the first president of Cornell University.

Bert Patenaude

1909–1974

American soccer player

Soccer player Bert Patenaude was the first person to score a hat trick in a FIFA World Cup tournament.

Rachel de Queiroz

1910–2003

Brazilian writer and journalist

Rachel de Queiroz was a Brazilian writer who authored novels and plays.

Stig Dagerman

1923–1954

Swedish writer

Stig Dagerman was a Swedish writer who worked as a journalist, poet, translator, and trade unionist.

Thiệu Trị

1807–1847

third emperor of the Vietnamese Nguyễn dynasty

Thiệu Trị was the third emperor of the Vietnamese Nguyễn dynasty.

Gustav Schwab

1792–1850

German teacher, pastor, author and editor

Gustav Schwab was a German writer and editor who is primarily recognized for his collections of classical myths.

Buddy Bolden

1877–1931

American cornetist and jazz pioneer

Buddy Bolden was an American cornetist recognized as a pioneer of jazz music.

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.