Did you know
Beatrix Potter is best known for her children's books featuring animals, such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which was her first commercially published work in 1902.
Notable Deaths on December 22
1943 — Beatrix Potter
English children's book writer and illustrator (born 1866)
December 22 has 99 recorded notable deaths across history, from 69 to 2025. This focused page highlights 20 people with the strongest available profile context.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
Notable Deaths
99 source records
69 – 2025
Today in history
Major events on December 22
See what else happened on this day in history.
- 1997 Somali Civil War: Hussein Farrah Aidid relinquishes the disputed title of President of Somalia by signing the Cairo Declaration, in Cairo, Egypt. It is the first major step towards reconciliation in Somalia since 1991. Source
- 1788 Nguyễn Huệ proclaims himself Emperor Quang Trung, in effect abolishing on his own the Lê dynasty. Source
- 2016 A study finds the VSV-EBOV vaccine against the Ebola virus between 70 and 100% effective, making it the first proven vaccine against the disease. Source
- 1990 Lech Wałęsa is elected President of Poland. Source
Did you know
George Eliot wrote seven novels: Adam Bede (1859), The Mill on the Floss (1860), Silas Marner (1861), Romola (1862–1863), Felix Holt, the Radical (1866), Middlemarch (1871–1872) and Daniel Deronda (1876).
Did you know
Beckett is widely regarded as one of the most influential and important writers of the 20th century, credited with transforming modern theatre.
Did you know
Mehmed III was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1595 until his death in 1603.
Did you know
One of his most famous quotes was "Faith makes all things possible...
More major people who died on December 22
Notable people are ranked by substantive profile depth and public notability.
1880
George Eliot
English novelist and poet (born 1819)
Mary Ann Evans, known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era.
1989
Samuel Beckett
Irish author, poet, and playwright, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1906)
Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish playwright, novelist, and poet.
1603
Mehmed III
Ottoman sultan (born 1566)
Mehmed III was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1595 until his death in 1603.
1899
Dwight L. Moody
American evangelist and publisher, founded Moody Publishers (born 1837)
Dwight Lyman Moody, also known as D. L. Moody, was an American evangelist and publisher connected with Keswickianism, who founded the Moody Church, Northfield School and Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts, Moody Bible…
1870
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
Spanish journalist, poet, and playwright (born 1836)
Gustavo Adolfo Claudio Domínguez Bastida, better known as Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, was a Spanish Romantic poet and writer, also a playwright, literary columnist, and talented in drawing.
1554
Alessandro Bonvicino
Italian painter (born 1498)
Alessandro Bonvicino, more commonly known as Moretto, or in Italian Il Moretto da Brescia, was an Italian Renaissance painter from Brescia, where he also mostly worked.
1853
Manuel María Lombardini
Mexican general and politician. President (1853) (born 1802)
Manuel Apolinario Josef María Ignacio Antonio Lombardini de la Torre (1802–1853) was a Mexican soldier who served as president briefly for about three months in 1853.
1641
Maximilien de Béthune
Duke of Sully, 2nd Prime Minister of France (born 1560)
Maximilien de Béthune Sully, 1st Prince of Sully, Marquis of Rosny and Nogent, Count of Muret and Villebon, Viscount of Meaux was a French nobleman, soldier, statesman, and counselor of King Henry IV of France.
2015
Peter Lundblad
Swedish singer-songwriter (born 1950)
Gustaf Peter Lundblad was a Swedish singer and songwriter, well known for his 1986 song Ta mig till havet.
1012
Baha' al-Dawla
Buyid amir of Iraq
Abu Nasr Firuz Kharshadh, better known by his laqab of Baha al-Dawla was the Buyid amir of Iraq (988–1012), along with Fars and Kerman (998–1012).
1806
William Vernon
English-American merchant (born 1719)
William Vernon, of Newport, Rhode Island, was a merchant in the Atlantic slave trade who played a leading role in the Continental Congress' maritime activities during the American Revolution.
1992
Frederick William Franz
American religious leader (born 1893)
Frederick William Franz was a president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, the legal entity used to administer the work of Jehovah's Witnesses, and he also was a member of the Governing Body of…
2006
Elena Mukhina
Russian gymnast (born 1960)
Elena Vyacheslavovna Mukhina was a Soviet gymnast who won the all-around title at the 1978 World Championships in Strasbourg, France.
1884
John Chisum
American cattle baron (born 1824)
John Simpson Chisum was a wealthy cattle baron on the frontier in the American West in the mid-to-late 19th century.
2014
Bernard Stone
American lawyer and politician (born 1927)
Bernard "Berny" L. Stone was alderman of the 50th Ward of the City of Chicago, Illinois from 1973 to 2011.
1530
Willibald Pirckheimer
German lawyer and author (born 1470)
Willibald Pirckheimer was a German Renaissance lawyer, author and Renaissance humanist, a wealthy and prominent figure in Nuremberg in the 16th century, imperial counsellor and a member of the governing City Council for…
1979
Darryl F. Zanuck
American director and producer (born 1902)
Darryl Francis Zanuck was an American film producer and studio executive; he earlier contributed stories for films starting in the silent era.
2019
Ram Dass
American spiritual teacher and author (born 1931)
Ram Dass, also known as Baba Ram Dass, was an American spiritual teacher, guru of modern yoga, psychologist, and writer.
2007
Charles Court
Australian politician, 21st Premier of Western Australia (born 1911)
Sir Charles Walter Michael Court was an Australian politician who was the premier of Western Australia from 8 April 1974 to 25 January 1982.