Discover the most famous people died who died in the year 1949. This list includes people like Sarojini Naidu, George Gurdjieff, Wallace Beery, Victor Fleming, Birbal Sahni and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include poets, artists, novelists and political leaders who died in 1949. This list includes people from United States, Germany, India & Russia and many more countries.
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Birthdate: June 11, 1864
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
Died: September 8
Richard Georg Strauss was a German conductor, composer, violinist, and pianist. Renowned for his pioneering subtleties of orchestration, Strauss is generally regarded as a modernist, although he was initially considered a conservative, backwards-looking composer. Over the years, his music has influenced other prominent composers like Béla Viktor János Bartók, Karol Maciej Szymanowski, Edward Elgar, and Benjamin Britten.
2
Lead Belly(Folk and blues singer)
Birthdate: January 23, 1888
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Mooringsport, Louisiana, United States
Died: December 6
3
Sarojini Naidu(Indian Political Activist, Poet and 1st Governor of United Provinces)
Birthdate: February 13, 1879
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Hyderabad, India
Died: March 2
Sarojini Naidu was an Indian poet and political activist. An important figure in the Indian Independence Movement, she was a proponent of anti-imperialistic ideas, women's rights, and civil rights. Her illustrious career as a poet earned her the nickname Nightingale of India. After India became independent, she became the first woman to hold the office of Governor in the Dominion of India.
Birthdate: November 8, 1900
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Died: August 16
5
Frank Morgan(Actor)
Birthdate: June 1, 1890
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Died: September 18
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
Birthdate: May 25, 1878
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Died: November 25
7
George Gurdjieff(Russian Philosopher and Spiritual Teacher Known for His Work ‘All and Everything’)
Birthdate: 1866 AD
Birthplace: Gyumri, Armenia
Died: October 29
Born to a poet and carpenter, George Gurdjieff grew up reading a lot of science books in his hometown, Kars. He later laid down the concept of The Fourth Way, stating that humans can overcome their state of waking sleep through methods involving a combination of music, dance, and lectures.
Birthdate: February 23, 1889
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: La Cañada Flintridge, California, United States
Died: January 6
Birthdate: April 1, 1885
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Clay County
Died: April 15
Birthdate: August 31, 1874
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Williamsburg, Massachusetts, United States
Died: August 9
Birthdate: July 28, 1883
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Braunau am Inn, Austria
Died: October 30
Angela Hitler, the elder half-sister of Adolf Hitler, was also the mother of Geli, whose close relationship with Hitler raised many eyebrows. While Geli committed suicide later, Angela worked as Hitler’s housekeeper and was even against his relationship with Eva Braun. She later denied having any knowledge about the Holocaust.
12
Solomon Guggenheim(Businessman)
Birthdate: February 2, 1861
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: November 3
13
Elton Mayo(Australian Psychologist Known for His Industrial Research Including the 'Hawthorne Studies')
Birthdate: December 26, 1880
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Adelaide, Australia
Died: September 7
Elton Mayo was an Australian-born industrial researcher, psychologist, and organizational theorist. As a psychologist, Mayo played an important role during World War I, helping soldiers returning from the war recover from the stresses. He also conducted psycho-pathological tests and is credited with pioneering the psychoanalytic treatment of shell-shock. Elton Mayo's works also laid the basis for the human relations movement.
14
James Forrestal(1st United States Secretary of Defense (1947 - 1949))
Birthdate: February 15, 1892
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Beacon
Died: May 22
James Forrestal was an American financier who served as the first US Secretary of Defense from 1947 to 1949. He is also remembered for his service as the US Secretary of the Navy from 1944 to 1947. James Forrestal was honored with the Medal of Merit and the Distinguished Service Medal by President Harry S. Truman.
15
Marcel Cerdan(French Professional Boxer and World Middleweight Champion)
Birthdate: July 22, 1916
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria
Died: October 28
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
16
Robert Ripley(American Cartoonist and Creator of the Newpaper Panel Series 'Ripley’s Believe It or Not!')
Birthdate: February 25, 1890
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Santa Rosa, California, United States
Died: May 27
Robert Ripley was a cartoonist and an amateur anthropologist best known for creating the newspaper panel series Ripley's Believe It or Not! The series was later adapted for radio and TV. He lost his father when he was young and began working as a cartoonist at the age of 16. Over the years, he became extremely successful and wealthy.
17
James Ensor(Belgian Expressionist Painter)
Birthdate: April 13, 1860
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ostend, Belgium
Died: November 19
Painter and printmaker James Ensor spent most of his life in the North Sea fishing port of Ostend, away from hustle-bustle of big cities. Yet, he left a significant influence on every aspect of the modernist movement; from symbolism and expressionism to dada and surrealism; also a signature style that involved radical distortion of form, muddled surface and riotous color.
18
Amadeo Giannini(Founder of 'Bank of America')
Birthdate: May 6, 1870
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: San Jose, California, United States
Died: June 3
Amadeo Giannini was an American banker best remembered for founding the Bank of Italy, which later became Bank of America. He is credited with inventing numerous modern banking practices. Amadeo Giannini is also credited with establishing one of the first trans-national institutions.
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Aurora Quezon(Former First Lady of the Philippines)
Birthdate: February 19, 1888
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Baler, Philippines
Died: April 28
Aurora Quezon was a Filipino political figure best remembered for her role as the First Lady of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. Quezon is also remembered for her humanitarian activities; from 1947 to 1949, she served as the chairperson of the Philippine Red Cross. In the 2018 biographical drama film Quezon's Game, Aurora Quezon was played by Rachel Alejandro.
20
Sigrid Undset(Norwegian-Danish Novelist and Winner of 1928 Nobel Prize in Literature)
Birthdate: May 20, 1882
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kalundborg, Denmark
Died: June 10
Sigrid Undset was a Norwegian novelist best remembered for her trilogy of historical novels, Kristin Lavransdatter. In 1928, she was honored with the prestigious Nobel Prize for literature, which she donated on 25 January 1940 in order to support the Finnish war effort during the Second World War. A crater on Venus is named in her honor.
21
Maria Ouspenskaya(Actress)
Birthdate: July 29, 1876
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Tula, Russia
Died: December 3
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
22
James Truslow Adams(Historian of the modern age, Historian, Biographer)
Birthdate: October 18, 1878
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: May 18
23
Ginette Neveu(Violinist)
Birthdate: August 11, 1919
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: October 28
24
Chairil Anwar(Indonesian Poet Known for His Poems ‘Aku’, ‘Diponegoro’ and ‘Doa’)
Birthdate: July 26, 1922
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Medan, Indonesia
Died: April 28
Chairil Anwar was an Indonesian poet whose work dealt with themes like existentialism, individualism, and death. His works, which have been translated into Dutch, French, and English, are credited with helping the evolution of the Indonesian language. His death anniversary is observed as National Literature Day in Indonesia.
25
Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies(Infante Carlos of Spain and Inspector General of the Spanish Army)
Birthdate: November 10, 1870
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Gries-San Quirino, Bolzano, Italy
Died: November 11
Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies was nephew of Francis II, the last King of the Two Sicilies. Carlos was given the title of Infante of Spain before his marriage to Mercedes, Princess of Asturias, daughter of the late King Alfonso XII of Spain. Carlos served the Spanish Army during the Spanish–American War and was later promoted as Inspector General.
26
Frank Murphy(jurist-consultant, lawyer, politician, judge)
Birthdate: April 13, 1890
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: July 19
27
Antoun Saadeh(Lebanese Politician and Founder of the 'Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP)')
Birthdate: March 1, 1904
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Dhour El Choueir, Lebanon
Died: July 8
Lebanese politician and the founder of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, Antoun Saadeh was also a prolific author, who wrote several books while in prison. He announced a revolution in Lebanon and was promised support by Syria, though Syria handed him over to the Lebanese government, which eventually executed him.
28
Henri Giraud(French General)
Birthdate: January 18, 1879
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Paris
Died: March 13
29
Sam Wood(Director)
Birthdate: July 10, 1883
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: September 22
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
30
Douglas Hyde(Former President of Ireland)
Birthdate: January 17, 1860
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Castlerea
Died: July 12
Birthdate: 1891 AD
Birthplace: Saharanpur district
Died: April 10
Birbal Sahni was a pioneer of palaeobotanical research in India. The founder of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, he also taught botany at BHU and Lucknow University. He was also interested in music and tennis, and loved collecting coins. He was a Fellow of The Royal Society, too.
Birthdate: July 28, 1874
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Montevideo
Died: August 8
33
Klaus Mann(Writer)
Birthdate: November 18, 1906
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
Died: May 21
34
E. J. Bellocq(photographer)
Birthdate: 1873 AD
Birthplace: New Orleans
Died: 1949 AD
35
Bill Traylor(Artist)
Birthdate: April 1, 1854
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Benton, Alabama, United States
Died: October 23
36
Kim Gu(13th President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea)
Birthdate: August 29, 1876
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Haeju, North Korea
Died: June 26
37
Felix Bressart(Actor)
Birthdate: March 2, 1892
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Chernyshevskoye, Russia
Died: March 17
38
Willard Bean(Boxer)
Birthdate: May 16, 1868
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Provo, Utah, United States
Died: September 25
39
Al Shean(German Comedian and Vaudeville Performer)
Birthdate: May 12, 1868
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kingdom of Prussia
Died: August 12
40
Robert Wilson Lynd(Former urbane literary essayist)
Birthdate: April 20, 1879
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Belfast, Ireland
Died: October 6
41
Wiley Blount Rutledge(Justice of the Supreme Court)
Birthdate: July 20, 1894
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Cloverport, Kentucky, United States
Died: September 10
42
Joaquín Torres-García(Uruguayan Artist and Art Theorist Who Established the Constructive Universalism Movement)
Birthdate: July 28, 1874
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
Died: August 8
Uruguayan-Spanish artist Joaquín Torres-García didn’t like the conservative style promoted at his Barcelona art academy and deviated more toward Impressionist and post-Impressionist art instead. He later brought Constructivism to South American countries. The Taller Torres García founder is best remembered for his work Monumento Cosmico.
43
Vasily Degtyaryov(Former engineer who specialized in weapons design)
Birthdate: January 2, 1880
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Tula, Russia
Died: January 16
44
Aino Aalto(Prominent Architect and a Pioneer of Scandinavian Design who Co-founded the 'Artek' Design Company)
Birthdate: January 25, 1894
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire
Died: January 13
Prominent Finnish architect and designer Aino Aalto considered a pioneer of Scandinavian design, co-founded Artek design company with her architect husband, Alvar Aalto and others. She served as its first creative director and collaborated on most of its famous designs. It has been discovered that work of the Viipuri Library, which typifies 1920s functionalist architectural design, was completed by her.
45
Ibrahim Datuk Tan Malaka(Indonesia Communist Leader Who Became Sukarno's Rival in the Country's Independence Movement)
Birthdate: June 2, 1897
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Pandam Gadang, Indonesia
Died: February 21
Initially a teacher and a journalist, Ibrahim Datuk Tan Malaka later joined the Communist movement in Indonesia and became Sukarno’s rival for the control of the country’s nationalist movement. Widely regarded as the Father of the Republic of Indonesia, he was captured and executed by Sukarno’s supporters.
Birthdate: November 15, 1874
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Grenå
Died: September 13
August Krogh was a Danish professor who taught at the University of Copenhagen between 1916 and 1945. He is best remembered for receiving the prestigious Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1920. Apart from his contributions to medicine, August Krogh is also remembered for co-founding the popular multinational pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk.
47
Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia(Military personnel)
Birthdate: January 29, 1887
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Potsdam, Germany
Died: March 25
48
Prince Harald of Denmark(Prince)
Birthdate: October 8, 1876
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Charlottenlund Palace, Gentofte, Denmark
Died: March 30
49
Bunk Johnson(Musician)
Birthdate: December 27, 1879
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died: July 7
50
John Neville Keynes(Economist)
Birthdate: August 31, 1852
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Salisbury, United Kingdom
Died: November 15
Educated at Cambridge, legendary British economist and philosopher John Neville Keynes later taught moral science there and became its registrar. He revolutionized the field of economics by merging both the inductive and deductive approaches to the subject. His son, John Maynard Keynes, too, was a prominent economist.
