Deaths on January 12
1049 : Abu Sa'id ibn Aboa al-Chair, Persian mystic, dies at 81
1167 : Aelred of Hexham/Rievaulx, English abbot/saint, dies at about 56
1390 : Peter van Herenthals, Dutch theologist/church historian, dies at 67
1517 : Vasco N£¤ez de Balboa, Spanish conquistador/admiral, beheaded at 41
1519 : Maximilian I of Hapsburg, German kaiser, dies
1537 : Lorenzo di Credi, Italian painter, dies
1665 : Pierre de Fermat, Fr lawyer/mathematician (principle of F), dies at 63
1674 : Giacomo Carissimi, Italian bandmaster/composer (Jephta), dies at 68
1759 : Anne of Hannover, English princess, dies at 49
1765 : Johann Melchior Molter, composer, dies at 68
1807 : Adriaan Kluit, Dutch historian, dies at 71
1807 : Joan Lucaz, Dutch scholar/journalist/patriot, dies at 60
1829 : Friedrich von Schlegel, German cultural philosopher/poet, dies at 56
1829 : Michael Gottard Fischer, composer, dies at 55
1833 : Marie-Antoine CarŠme, author (Pattissier Royal Parisien), dies at 48
1839 : Joseph A Koch, Aust painter/cartoonist/etcher/illustrator, dies at 70
1851 : Johan Herman Koekkoek, painter, dies at 72
1856 : L'udov¡t St£r, Slovaaks author/linguistic (Das Slawentum), dies at 40
1860 : Martinus J Niewindt, bishop on Cura‡ao (christened slaves), dies at 63
1861 : V clav Hanka, Czech author/translator/forger, dies at 69
1867 : Victor Cousin, French philosopher/minister of Education, dies at 74
1880 : Ida Gr„fin von Hahn-Hahn, author (Aus der Gesellschaft), dies at 74
1925 : Oskar Brefeld, German botanist, dies at 85
1928 : Ruth Snyder, 1st woman to die in electric chair
1929 : Dietrich Sch„fer, German historian (Mein Leben), dies at 83
1933 : Vaclav Suk, composer, dies at 71
1940 : Erich R Jaensch, German psychologist (eidetiek), dies at 56
1942 : George Francis, cricketer (WI Test fast-bowler, 23 wkts in 10), dies
1943 : Jan R T Campert, Dutch resistance fighter/poet (18 Dead), dies at 40
1947 : Jonas Cohn, German/English philosopher (Wertwissenschaft), dies at 77
1950 : Koos van de Griend, composer, dies at 44
1953 : Simeon Roncal, composer, dies at 82
1956 : John Raedecker, Dutch sculptor (WW II Monument Amsterdam), dies at 70
1956 : Norman Kerry, actor (Air Eagles, Phantom of Opera), dies at 61
1958 : Arthur Shepherd, composer, dies at 77
1960 : Nevil Shute [Norway], Eng/Aust author (Town like Alice), dies at 60
1962 : Ernie Kovacs, comedian (Ernie Kovacs Show), killed in auto crash at 42
1962 : Richard de Guide, composer, dies at 52
1964 : C R Browne, cricket leg-spinner (WI in 4 Tests, 6 wkts), dies
1965 : Lorraine Hansberry, US playwright, dies in NYC, dies at 34
1965 : Porcupine, in Washington DC zoo, dies at 27; oldest known rodent
1970 : Blanche Stuart Scott, US pilot, dies at 84
1972 : Padraic Colum, Irish poet/writer/founder (Irish Review), dies at 90
1975 : Caryn Campbell, Bundy victim, disappears from Snowmass, Colo
1976 : Agatha Christie, mystery writer (10 Little Indians), dies at 85
1977 : Henri-Georges Clouzot, director (Diabolique, Truth), dies at 69
1978 : Nancy Spungen, stabbed to death by boyfriend Sid Vicious
1980 : Hans Ebeling, cricketer (Vict stalwart, bowled for Aust 1934), dies
1981 : Beulah Bondi, actress (It's a Wonderful Life), dies at 89
1981 : Isobel Elsom, actress (Unseen, Jane Eyre, Illegal), dies at 87
1986 : Marcel Arland, French author (L'ordre, LumiŠre du Soir), dies at 86
1990 : Laurence J Peter, author (Peter Princible), dies of a stroke at 70
1990 : Paul Amadeus Pisk, composer, dies at 96
1991 : Keye Luke, actor (Charlie Chan's No 1 Son), dies after a stroke at 86
1991 : Vasco Pratolini, Italy, writer (Ragazze di San Frediano), dies at 77
1992 : Harry van Doorn, Dutch MP (KVP/KRO-chairman/PPR/CRM), dies at 76
1992 : Walt Morey, US children's book writer (Gentle Ben), dies at 84
1993 : Carles Mira, Spanish director (Que Nos Quiten Lo Bailao), dies at 45
1994 : Bob Horen, dies of cancer at 67
1994 : Samuel Bronston, Romanian/US producer (El Cid), dies at 85
1995 : Francis Lopez, songwriter, dies at 77
1995 : George Price, cartoonist (New Yorker), dies at 93
1995 : Marion Herbst, German/Dutch jewelry designer, dies at 50
1996 : Edmund Happold, engineer, dies at 65
1996 : John Howard Purnell, scientist, dies at 70
1996 : Peggy Braithwaite, lighthouse-keeper, dies at 76
1997 : Charles Huggins, surgeon/medical researcher, dies at 95
1997 : Jean Writer-Edern Hallier, dies at 60
1997 : Jill Summers, actress (Agatha Coronation Street), dies at 86