Born on April 9

19th-century British engineer, Brunel revolutionized transportation with the Great Western Railway, the Thames Tunnel, and giant steamships. An iconic figure of the Victorian Industrial Revolution.

Léon Blum (1872–1950) was a French politician and intellectual, leader of the French Socialist Party and a major figure of the left in the 20th century. He is best known for leading the Popular Front government in 1936, which marked the first time the left came to power in France.

Florence Price (1887-1953) was an American composer and pianist, the first African American woman to have a symphony performed by a major American orchestra. Her work blends European classical influences with African American spirituals.

Michel Simon (1895-1975) is one of the greatest actors in French cinema, celebrated for his earthy, larger-than-life roles. Born in Geneva, he made his name in Paris on stage before moving to talking pictures, collaborating with Jean Renoir and Jean Vigo.

Valerie Solanas (1936-1988) was an American writer and radical feminist activist. The author of the provocative pamphlet SCUM Manifesto (1967), she remains famous for attempting to assassinate the artist Andy Warhol in 1968.