15 October

Across recorded history, 1,444 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 15 October. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

← October 14 October 16 →

Mata Hari

1876–1917

Dutch exotic dancer, courtesan and spy

Mata Hari was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who worked as a spy.

Paul Allen

1953–2018

American businessman and philanthropist, co-founder of Microsoft

Paul Allen was an American businessman who co-founded Microsoft.

Raymond Poincaré

1860–1934

French statesman and lawyer, President of France

Raymond Poincaré was a French statesman and lawyer who served as the President of France.

Stepan Bandera

1909–1959

Ukrainian nationalist leader

Stepan Bandera was a Ukrainian nationalist leader who served as a politician.

Tadeusz Kościuszko

1746–1817

Polish, Lithuanian and American military leader

Tadeusz Kościuszko was a military leader who served as an officer in the American Revolutionary War and led an uprising in Poland.

Pierre Laval

1883–1945

French politician

Pierre Laval was a French politician who served as the head of government during the Vichy regime.

Konrad Emil Bloch

1912–2000

German American biochemist

Konrad Emil Bloch was a biochemist who conducted research on the mechanisms and regulation of cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism.

Cole Porter

1891–1964

American composer and songwriter

Cole Porter was an American composer and songwriter known for his extensive contributions to musical theater and popular music.

Danilo Kiš

1935–1989

Serbian and Yugoslav novelist

Danilo Kiš was a Yugoslav novelist known for his contributions to contemporary literature.

Lluís Companys

1882–1940

123rd President of Catalonia

Lluís Companys was a politician who served as the President of Catalonia.

Arto Paasilinna

1942–2018

Finnish poet, novelist, screenwriter, and jourrnalist

Arto Paasilinna was a Finnish novelist known for his satirical works.

Sai Baba of Shirdi

1836–1918

Indian saint

Sai Baba of Shirdi was an Indian saint who lived as an ascetic and guru.

Samantha Eggar

1939–2025

British actress

Samantha Eggar is a British actor known for her work in film and on stage.

Raila A Odinga

1945–2025

Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013

Raila A Odinga is a Kenyan politician who served as the Prime Minister of Kenya.

Johann Ludwig Burckhardt

1784–1817

Swiss traveller and writer

Johann Ludwig Burckhardt was an explorer who documented various regions and archaeological sites throughout the Middle East and Africa.

Suzanne Somers

1946–2023

American actress

Suzanne Somers was an American actress known for her roles in television and film.

Andrés Bello

1781–1865

Venezuelan humanist, diplomat, poet, legislator, philosopher, educator and philologist

Andrés Bello was a Venezuelan humanist who contributed significantly to the fields of philology, philosophy, education, and legislation throughout his career.

Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg

1771–1820

Austrian field marshal

Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg was an Austrian field marshal who served as a military leader and diplomat.

Friedrich Ludwig Jahn

1778–1853

German educator, writer and politician

Friedrich Ludwig Jahn was an educator who founded the German gymnastics movement.

Georg I of Saxony

1832–1904

King of Saxony

Georg I of Saxony was a monarch who served as a military officer.

David Amess

1952–2021

British politician

David Amess was a British politician who served as a member of Parliament.

Nitobe Inazō

1862–1933

Japanese educator, agricultural economist and diplomat

Nitobe Inazō was a Japanese diplomat and educator who served as an under-secretary general of the League of Nations.

Manshuk Mametova

1922–1943

Soviet Kazakh machine gunner and Heroine of the Soviet Union

Manshuk Mametova was a Soviet soldier who served as a machine gunner and received the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

László Rajk

1909–1949

Hungarian politician

László Rajk was a Hungarian politician who served as a government official.

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.