Born on This Day: September 5

French king whose centralization, wars, and court at Versailles reshaped monarchy and European power.

German composer whose elegant style influenced Classical music and the young Mozart.

American outlaw whose life became central to the history and mythology of the post-Civil War West.

American composer and pianist whose works advanced women’s roles in professional classical music.

Hungarian-British writer whose political novels and essays examined totalitarianism and human freedom.

American composer whose experiments with silence, chance, and sound transformed modern music.

American actor whose career influenced film, fashion, and changing images of women in popular culture.

British singer and songwriter whose voice and performances with Queen transformed rock music.