Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 1912. This list includes people like John Jacob Astor IV, Bram Stoker, Robert Falcon Scott, Clara Barton, Joseph Lister and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include sailors, political leaders, explorers and novelists who died in 1912. This list includes people from United Kingdom, United States, France & Germany and many more countries.
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Birthdate: July 13, 1864
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Rhinebeck Village, Rhinebeck, New York, United States
Died: April 15
Business tycoon, real-estate developer, and writer John Jacob "Jack" Astor IV had also served in the Spanish–American War. He belonged to the famed Astor family of New York. Astor died in the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 and was the richest passenger aboard the liner.
2
Bram Stoker(Irish Author Best Known for His Horror Novel ‘Dracula’)
Birthdate: November 8, 1847
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland
Died: April 20
Irish author Bram Stoker wrote the iconic Gothic novel Dracula, which has inspired scores of movies over the years. The Victorian-era author also served as the personal assistant of actor Sir Henry Irving and managed the Lyceum Theatre, which was owned by Irving. He had also written many short stories.
Birthdate: June 6, 1868
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Plymouth, Devon, England
Died: March 29
Robert Falcon Scott was an explorer and Royal Navy officer. He is remembered for leading two expeditions to the Antarctic regions, the second of which was the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition. Although Scott and his companions died during the second expedition, they helped discover the first Antarctic fossils, which proved that the place was once forested.
Birthdate: November 3, 1852
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Died: July 30
Emperor Meiji of Japan presided over the all-round revolutionary transformation of his empire which emerged as a strong force on the global scene during his reign. His policies and actions led to Japan’s rapid growth and ended its isolation from the rest of the world. One of the noted changes during rule was the abolition of special privileges of samurais.
5
Clara Barton(American Nurse Who Founded the American Red Cross)
Birthdate: December 25, 1821
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: North Oxford, Oxford, Massachusetts, United States
Died: April 12
Clara Barton was an American nurse best remembered for founding the American Red Cross. She is renowned for her civil rights advocacy and humanitarian work. She also played an important role in the Civil War, serving as a hospital nurse, a patent clerk, and a teacher. In 1973, Barton was made an inductee of the National Women's Hall of Fame.
Birthdate: February 7, 1873
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Comber, County Down, Ireland
Died: April 15
7
Joseph Lister(British Medical Scientist and a Pioneer in the Field of Antiseptic Medicine and Surgery)
Birthdate: April 5, 1827
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Upton House, West Ham, England
Died: February 10
British surgeon Joseph Lister was a pioneer of antiseptic medicine usage and made a huge contribution to the development of preventive medicine for bacterial infection. His achievements have been honored by many, such as the makers of Listerine antiseptic and mouthwash, who named their product after him.
8
Henri Poincare(French Polymath and Mathematician Known as One of the Founders of the 'Field of Topology')
Birthdate: April 29, 1854
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Nancy, France
Died: July 17
Known as The Last Universalist for his expertise in a variety of domains, French mathematician Henri Poincare conducted research that formed the basis of the modern chaos theory. Apart from his work on relativity and the three-body problem, he also laid the foundation of algebraic topology.
Birthdate: January 22, 1849
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: May 14
August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, painter, essayist, novelist, and poet. He wrote over 30 works of fiction and more than 60 plays in an illustrious career that spanned 40 years. Widely regarded as the father of modern Swedish literature, Strindberg is best remembered for his work The Red Room, which is considered the first modern Swedish novel.
10
Benjamin Guggenheim(Businesspeople)
Birthdate: October 26, 1865
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: April 15
11
Isidor Straus(U.S. House Representative from New York (1894-1895))
Birthdate: February 6, 1845
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Otterberg, Germany
Died: April 15
12
Louis Cyr(Strongman)
Birthdate: October 10, 1863
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Saint-Cyprien-de-Napierville, Canada
Died: November 10
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
13
Nettie Stevens(American Geneticist Known for Her Discovery of 'X and Y Sex Determining Chromosomes')
Birthdate: July 7, 1861
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Cavendish, Vermont, United States
Died: May 4
Nettie Stevens was an American geneticist. She is credited with discovering sex chromosomes which later came to be known as the X and Y chromosomes. In 1994, Nettie Stevens was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
14
Frederick VIII of Denmark(King)
Birthdate: June 3, 1843
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Copenhagen, Denmark
Died: May 14
Birthdate: September 4, 1846
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Henderson
Died: June 1
American architect Daniel Burnham was one of the pioneering designers of the skyscrapers that populate cities such as Chicago. Part of the Beaux-Arts movement, he had been the director of the World’s Columbian Exposition. He also formed his own firm, Burnham & Root with John Wellborn Root.
16
Ida Straus(Businessperson)
Birthdate: February 6, 1849
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Worms, Germany Worms, Germany
Died: April 15
Birthdate: April 10, 1829
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Sneinton, Nottingham, England
Died: August 20
Hailed as the Prophet of the Poor, William Booth was the co-founder and the first the General of the Salvation Army, a Christian church known for its world-wide charitable work. Initially a Methodist preacher, he was moved by the plight of the poor and formed the Salvation Army, aiming to deliver salvation by meeting both their physical and spiritual needs.
Birthdate: February 28, 1873
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Dalbeattie, Scotland
Died: April 15
Scottish sailor William McMaster Murdoch was the First Officer on the RMS Titanic. The officer in charge on the bridge when the ship collided with an iceberg, he was one of the more than 1,500 casualties when the ship sank. He died under mysterious circumstances, and it is rumored that he died by suicide shortly after the collision.
19
Jules Massenet(Composer)
Birthdate: May 12, 1842
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Montaud, France
Died: August 13
20
Karl May(German Writer Known for His Adventure Novels Set in the American Old West)
Birthdate: February 25, 1842
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Germany
Died: March 30
German author Karl May is best remembered for his travel and adventure tales, which narrate stories set in the Middle East and other lands. His best-known works include The Treasure in the Silver Lake. He developed his love for literature after reading voraciously while in prison for fraud.
21
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor(Legendary British Composer and Conductor)
Birthdate: August 15, 1875
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: London, England
Died: September 1
Known as the African Mahler for his bi-racial ethnicity, British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor ruled the music scene of the early 20th century. Throughout his illustrious career, he taught music, judged contests, and created many choral and orchestral works. He was best known for the Longfellow trilogy, based on The Song of Hiawatha.
22
Archibald Gracie IV(American Historian, Writer and Investor)
Birthdate: January 15, 1858
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama, United States
Died: December 4
Best known as the author of The Truth About The Titanic (currently Titanic: A Survivor's Story), Archibald Gracie IV was one of the few who survived the sinking of RMS Titanic. Beginning his career as colonel of the 7th New York Militia, he later became a real estate agent, concurrently carrying out researches on history, particularly the Battle of Chickamauga.
Birthdate: March 31, 1844
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Selkirk
Died: July 20
Best known for his collections of folklore, fairy tales, and legends, Scottish author and Merton College fellow Andrew Lang was also an avid historian and anthropologist who coined the term psychical research. His The World of Homer and his translations of Homer’s works remain invaluable to Homerian students.
Birthdate: January 27, 1850
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Hanley, Staffordshire, England
Died: April 15
Edward Smith was a British naval officer best remembered as the captain of the RMS Titanic, which sank on its maiden voyage. Smith, who went down with the ship, is often praised for his fortitude and stoicism in the face of adversity. Prior to his last journey, Edward Smith served as the commanding officer of many White Star Line vessels.
Birthdate: January 8, 1836
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Dronrijp, Netherlands
Died: June 25
Lawrence Alma-Tadema was a Dutch classical subject painter whose painting about luxury and decadence of the Roman Empire became very well known. Regarded a prominent Victorian painter, he was successful, admired, famous and highly paid during his lifetime. However, his popularity waned after his death and saw a resurgence only in the second half of the 20th century.
26
Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche(Engineer)
Birthdate: May 26, 1887
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Cap-Haïtien, Haiti
Died: April 15
27
James Allen(Writer)
Birthdate: November 28, 1864
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Leicester, England
Died: January 12
28
Harriet Quimby(The First Female Pilot to Fly across the English Channel)
Birthdate: May 11, 1875
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Arcadia, Michigan, United States
Died: July 1
Women’s aviation pioneer, Harriet Quimby became the first female pilot to complete a flight across the English Channel. Starting her career as a journalist for Dramatic Review, she later worked as a drama critic for Leslie’s Weekly, before stepping into aviation. She was killed when her aircraft lost control over Dorchester Bay.
Birthdate: October 24, 1855
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Utica, New York, United States
Died: October 30
30
Archibald Butt(Military Leader)
Birthdate: September 26, 1865
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Augusta, Georgia, United States
Died: April 15
Birthdate: June 4, 1829
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Saint Mary Cray, Orpington, United Kingdom
Died: July 31
British civil servant A. O. Hume is remembered as the Father of the Indian National Congress, having co-founded the party. Apart from being an administrator, he was also an ornithologist and had written List of Birds in India. His vocal criticism of the British made his bosses distrust him.
32
Arthur MacArthur Jr.(General)
Birthdate: June 2, 1845
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Chicopee, Massachusetts, United States
Died: September 5
33
Ion Luca Caragiale(Romanian Playwright, Poet, and Short Story Writer Known for His Satirical Works)
Birthdate: January 30, 1852
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: I. L. Caragiale, Romania
Died: June 9
Romanian playwright, author, and poet Ion Luca Caragiale was known for his biting satire and parody. A Stormy Night and A Lost Letter are 2 of his best-known dramatic works. At various times, he had also been a journalist, a civil servant, and a restaurateur.
34
Jacques Futrelle(Journalist and mystery writer, best known for writing short detective stories)
Birthdate: April 9, 1875
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Pike County, Georgia, United States
Died: April 15
35
Bolesław Prus(Polish Novelist and One of the Leading Figures of the Positivist Period in Polish Literature)
Birthdate: August 20, 1847
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hrubieszow, Poland
Died: May 19
Orphaned at age 9, Bolesław Prus had a tough childhood. He later participated in the January Insurrection and then became a successful journalist. A talented author of short stories, such as The Waistcoat, and novels, such as The Doll, he was part of the Polish positivist literary movement.
36
Thomas Byles(Priest)
Birthdate: February 26, 1870
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Leeds, Yorkshire, England
Died: April 15
37
Octavia Hill(British Social Reformer)
Birthdate: December 3, 1838
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England
Died: August 13
Social reformer Octavia Hill led the British open-space movement, which eventually led to the formation of the National Trust. Inspired by John Ruskin, she established her first housing project in a London slum. She later devoted her life to developing living conditions of the poor and utilizing open spaces.
38
Wilbur Wright(One of the Wright Brothers Who Built the World's First Successful Motor-Operated Airplane)
Birthdate: April 16, 1867
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Millville, Indiana
Died: May 30
39
Julius Maggi(Founding Maggi, which was merged with Nestle in 1947)
Birthdate: October 9, 1846
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Frauenfeld, Switzerland
Died: October 19
40
Henry Sweet(English Phonetician, Philologist, and Grammarian)
Birthdate: September 15, 1845
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
Died: April 30
Birthdate: May 20, 1822
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Paris
Died: June 12
Frédéric Passy was a French pacifist and economist. He is credited with co-founding the Inter-Parliamentary Union as well as many peace societies, such as the Société Française pour l'Arbitrage entre Nations. He is best known for his involvement in the European peace movement, for which he received the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.
42
John Harper(Pastor)
Birthdate: May 29, 1872
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Houston, Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
Died: April 15
43
Sophia Jex-Blake(English Physician, Feminist and the First Practising Female Doctor in Scotland)
Birthdate: January 21, 1840
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Hastings, Sussex, England
Died: January 7
Sophia Louisa Jex-Blake was an English teacher, physician, and feminist. A pioneer of medical education for women, Jex-Blake was the first woman to practise medicine in Scotland. She was also involved in the establishment of two medical schools for women in Edinburgh and London at a time when no medical schools were training women.
44
George Darwin(British Barrister, Astronomer and the Second Son of Naturalist Charles Darwin)
Birthdate: July 9, 1845
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Down House, Downe, Kent, England
Died: December 7
Born to legendary biologist Charles Darwin, George Darwin initially studied law and became a barrister. However, his interest in science made him deviate to astronomy. He believed the Moon was one part of the Earth. He later also taught at Cambridge and was made a Fellow of The Royal Society.
45
Joseph Bell(Engineer)
Birthdate: March 12, 1861
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Farlam, England
Died: April 15
46
Edward Adrian Wilson(Explorer, Ornithologist, Painter, Scientist)
Birthdate: July 23, 1872
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cheltenham
Died: March 29
47
Richard Norman Shaw(Architect)
Birthdate: May 7, 1831
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
Died: November 17
One of the greatest British architects of all time, Richard Norman Shaw contributed immensely to the English Domestic Revival movement and is best remembered for his country houses. The Bedford Park in London remains one of his best suburban planning projects. His works reflected Queen Anne Revival, Neo-Baroque, and Gothic Revival elements.
48
Walter William Skeat(Anthropologist)
Birthdate: November 21, 1835
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Cambridge, England
Died: October 7
British philologist, Walter William Skeat, was instrumental in developing the English language as a higher education subject in the UK. His research led to the publication of two major works: Malay Magic and Pagan Races of the Malay Peninsula. Born in London, Skeat was the founder and only president of the English Dialect Society from 1873 to 1896.
49
George Maximilianovich, 6th Duke of Leuchtenberg(Youngest son of Maximilian de Beauharnais, 3rd Duke of Leuchtenberg)
Birthdate: February 29, 1852
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: May 16
50
Whitelaw Reid(Diplomat)
Birthdate: October 27, 1837
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Cedarville
Died: December 15
