Born on October 26

Domenico Scarlatti was an Italian composer and harpsichordist of the Baroque period. The son of the composer Alessandro Scarlatti, he is famous for his 555 harpsichord sonatas, which revolutionized the instrument's technique. He spent much of his life in the service of the courts of Portugal and Spain.

French lawyer and politician (1759–1794), Danton is a major figure of the French Revolution. Known for his eloquence and charisma, he played a key role in revolutionary events before being executed during the Terror.

French general born in 1773, Baron of the Empire under Napoleon I. He took part in the major Napoleonic campaigns and was appointed Baron of Saint-Avold. His name lives on through the Pelleport metro station in Paris (line 3bis).

Swedish painter, theosophist, and pioneer of abstract art (1862–1944)

Louisette Bertholle (1905-1999) was a French chef and cookbook author. Together with Julia Child and Simone Beck, she co-wrote Mastering the Art of French Cooking, the book that introduced French cuisine to Americans, and co-founded the cooking school L'École des Trois Gourmandes in Paris.

Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972) was the greatest American gospel singer of all time. A powerful voice of Black Christian faith, she was also a major figure in the civil rights movement alongside Martin Luther King.

A French statesman, François Mitterrand served as President of the Republic from 1981 to 1995, becoming the first socialist elected under the Fifth Republic. His two consecutive seven-year terms remain the longest in the history of the French presidency.