What happened on December 27 ?

1390 - Anne de Mortimer, claimant to the English throne (d. 1411)

1571 - Johannes Kepler, German astronomer (d. 1630)

1654 - Jacob Bernoulli, Swiss mathematician (d. 1705)

1683 - Conyers Middleton, English minister (d. 1750)

1715 - Philippe de Noailles, duc de Mouchy, French soldier (d. 1794)

1717 - Pope Pius VI (d. 1799)

1721 - François Hemsterhuis, Dutch philosopher (d. 1790)

1773 - George Cayley, English scientist, inventor, and politician (d. 1857)

1776 - Nikolay Kamensky, Russian general (d. 1811)

1822 - Louis Pasteur, French scientist (d. 1895)

1823 - Sir Mackenzie Bowell, fifth Prime Minister of Canada (d. 1896)

1832 - Pavel Tretyakov, Russian businessman and patron of art (d. 1897)

1879 - Sydney Greenstreet, English actor (d. 1954)

1888 - Thea von Harbou, German author and actress (d. 1954)

1896 - Carl Zuckmayer, German author and dramatist (d. 1977)

1896 - Louis Bromfield, American writer (d. 1956)

1900 - Hans Stuck, German race car driver (d. 1978)

1901 - Marlene Dietrich, German actress and singer (d. 1992)

1906 - Oscar Levant, American pianist, composer, and actor (d. 1972)

1907 - Sebastian Haffner, German journalist and writer (d. 1999)

1910 - Charles Olson, American poet (d. 1970)

1915 - William Masters, American gynecologist (d. 2001)

1915 - Mary Kornman, American actress (d. 1973)

1915 - Gyula Zsengellér, Hungarian footballer

1917 - Onni Palaste, Finnish writer

1920 - Bruce Hobbs, American jockey (d. 2005)

1925 - Michel Piccoli, French actor

1927 - Agnes Nixon, American television producer, director, and writer

1934 - Larissa Latynina, Russian gymnast

1939 - John Amos, American actor

1941 - Michael Pinder, British musician (Moody Blues)

1943 - Cokie Roberts, American journalist

1943 - Peter Sinfield, British lyricist and producer

1943 - Joan Manuel Serrat, Spanish musician

1943 - Pete Quaife, British musician (Kinks)

1944 - Mick Jones, British musician (Foreigner)

1948 - Gérard Depardieu, French actor

1949 - Carson Kievman, American composer

1950 - Roberto Bettega, Italian footballer

1950 - Terry Bozzio, American drummer (Missing Persons)

1951 - Ernesto Zedillo, President of Mexico from 1994-2000

1952 - David Knopfler, British musician (Dire Straits)

1952 - Karla Bonoff, American singer/songwriter

1959 - Gerina Dunwich, American author

1959 - Andre Tippett, American football player

1960 - Maryam d'Abo, British actress

1962 - Mark Few, American basketball coach

1965 - Salman Khan, Indian actor

1966 - Bill Goldberg, American football player and professional wrestler

1966 - John Harrington, (photographer, author)

1969 - Sarah Vowell, American author and journalist

1971 - Joanie Laurer, American professional wrestler

1971 - Duncan Ferguson, Scottish footballer

1972 - Matt Slocum, American musician (Sixpence None The Richer)

1973 - Wilson Cruz, Puerto Rican actor

1975 - Heather O'Rourke, American actress (d. 1988)

1979 - David Dunn, English footballer

1979 - Carson Palmer, American football player

1981 - Emilie de Ravin, Australian actress