Born on This Day: May 17

English physician whose development of smallpox vaccination transformed medicine and launched modern immunology.

French composer whose spare, unconventional music influenced modernism, ambient music, and later experimental composers.

English novelist whose stream-of-consciousness techniques helped shape literary modernism.

American baseball player whose extraordinary speed and achievements made him a legendary figure in Negro leagues history.

American lawyer and special prosecutor whose defense of constitutional accountability became central to the Watergate era.

American actor and filmmaker whose work helped reshape independent and countercultural cinema.

British-Australian actor whose stage, screen, and voice work have contributed broadly to contemporary performance.

American musician whose recordings have preserved and expanded blues, folk, Caribbean, and roots traditions.