Francis Scott Key was an attorney and poet who wrote the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner," the U.S. national anthem.

• Lawyer, Poet
  (1779–1843)

At various times identified with Cubism, Surrealism and Existentialism, Alberto Giacometti used his sculptures, paintings and drawings to convey his unique artistic vision.

• Artist, Painter, Sculptor
  (1901–1966)

20th century explorer and mountaineer Edmund Hillary was the first to reach the peak of Mount Everest, along with fellow climber Tenzing Norgay.

• Athlete, Philanthropist, Explorer
  (1919–2008)

Charlotte Hawkins Brown was a teacher and founder of the Palmer Memorial Institute, a trailblazing Southern prep school for African-American students.

• Educator
  (1883–1961)

Aaron Swartz was a computer programmer and Internet activist who is often referred to as the third founder of Reddit.

• Computer Programmer
  (1986–2013)

Hermine Santruschitz Gies, better known as Miep Gies, helped hide Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis, and saved her diaries.

• Anti-War Activist
  (1909–2010)

Ariel Sharon was an Israeli military leader and politician who was elected prime minister of the country in 2001, serving until 2006.

• Prime Minister, Military Leader
  (1928–2014)

Thomas Hardy was an English novelist and poet who set his work--including The Return of the Native and Far from the Madding Crowd--in the semi-fictionalized county of Wessex.

• Poet, Author
  (1840–1928)

Domenico Ghirlandaio was an early Renaissance painter noted for his detailed narrative frescoes, which include leading citizens in contemporary dress.

• Painter
  (c. 1449–1494)

Benjamin Butler was a Massachusetts politician and Union officer who fought for the rights of workers and African-Americans.

• Military Leader
  (1818–1893)

The U.S. government awarded Pappy Boyington a Medal of Honor for his service in World War II as a Marine Corps pilot. He shot down 28 Japanese planes.

• Military Leader, Journalist
  (1912–1988)

Carl D. Anderson and Victor Francis Hess received the 1936 Nobel Prize for Physics for discovering the positron, or the positively charged electron.

• Scientist, Physicist
  (1905–1991)

French film director Eric Rohmer was an editor of respected periodicals, including Cahiers du Cinéma, and the maker of films like My Night at Maud's.

• Director
  (1920–2010)