Born on February 1

John Ford (1894-1973) was an American director and producer, considered one of the masters of Hollywood cinema. An iconic figure of the western, he profoundly shaped the history of the seventh art and holds the record of four Academy Awards for Best Director.

Renata Tebaldi (1922–2004) was one of the greatest Italian sopranos of the 20th century, celebrated for the purity and power of her voice. She dominated the world's opera stages, most notably La Scala in Milan and the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and was the legendary rival of Maria Callas.

Vivian Maier was an American photographer who earned her living as a nanny in New York and Chicago while taking tens of thousands of street photographs that remained secret. Her body of work, discovered by chance shortly before her death, revealed her as a major figure in street photography.

Russian statesman, first President of the Russian Federation (1991-1999). A key figure in the fall of the USSR, he opposed the August 1991 coup before leading Russia's transition to a market economy.

Liberian pacifist activist, she led the women's peace movement in Liberia, helping to end the second civil war in 2003. Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.