In the year 1959
431 Notable deaths
William D. Leahy
United states admiral, ambassador to france, chief of staff (1875-1959).
Born May 6th, 1875 in Hampton. [ref]
Died July 20th, 1959 at 84 years old in Bethesda, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. [ref]
Lester Young
American jazz tenor saxophonist and sometimes clarinetist.
Born August 27th, 1909 in Woodville. [ref]
Died March 15th, 1959 at 49 years old in New York City. [ref]
Kay Kendall
English actress (1927-1959).
Born May 21st, 1927 in Withernsea.
Died September 6th, 1959 at 32 years old in The London Clinic (leukemia).
Mike Hawthorn
British racing driver (1929–1959).
Born April 10th, 1929 in Mexborough.
Died January 22nd, 1959 at 29 years old in Guildford (car collision).
José Paciano Laurel
President of the philippines from 1943 to 1945.
Born March 9th, 1891 in Tanauan.
Died November 6th, 1959 at 68 years old in Manila (myocardial infarction).
Camilo Cienfuegos
Cuban revolutionary fighter and guerilla (1932–1959).
Born February 6th, 1932 in Havana.
Died October 28th, 1959 at 27 years old in Atlantic Ocean (aircraft crash).
Sidney Bechet
American jazz musician.
Born May 14th, 1897 in New Orleans. [ref]
Died May 14th, 1959 at 62 years old in Garches (lung cancer). [ref]
Paul Douglas
American actor (1907-1959).
Born April 11th, 1907 in Philadelphia.
Died September 11th, 1959 at 52 years old in Hollywood (myocardial infarction).
Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife
British princess; elder daughter of louise, princess royal, and alexander duff, 1st duke of fife (1891-1959).
Born May 17th, 1891 in London.
Died February 26th, 1959 at 67 years old in London.
Raphael Lemkin
Lawyer of polish-jewish descent (1900-1959).
Born June 24th, 1900 in Biazvodna. [ref]
Died August 28th, 1959 at 59 years old in New York City (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Preston Sturges
Film director, screenwriter (1898-1959).
Born August 29th, 1898 in Chicago. [ref]
Died August 6th, 1959 at 60 years old in New York City (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Harvey Glatman
American serial killer (1927-1959).
Born December 10th, 1927 in The Bronx.
Died September 18th, 1959 at 31 years old in San Quentin State Prison (asphyxia).
Max Gerson
German physician, originator of gerson therapy (1881-1959).
Born October 18th, 1881 in Wągrowiec.
Died March 8th, 1959 at 77 years old in New York City (pneumonia).
Albert Namatjira
Australian painter (1902-1959).
Born July 28th, 1902 in Hermannsburg.
Died August 8th, 1959 at 57 years old in Alice Springs.
James Gleason
American actor (1882-1959).
Born May 23rd, 1882 in New York City.
Died April 12th, 1959 at 76 years old in Woodland Hills (asthma).
George Grosz
German artist (1893-1959).
Born July 26th, 1893 in Berlin. [ref]
Died July 6th, 1959 at 65 years old in West Berlin. [ref]
Heitor Villa-Lobos
Brazilian composer (1887–1959).
Born March 5th, 1887 in Rio de Janeiro.
Died November 17th, 1959 at 72 years old in Rio de Janeiro.
Laxmi Prasad Devkota
Nepali poet (1909-1959).
Born November 12th, 1909 in Kathmandu.
Died September 14th, 1959 at 49 years old in Kathmandu (cancer).
Nap Lajoie
American baseball player.
Born September 5th, 1874 in Woonsocket.
Died February 7th, 1959 at 84 years old in Daytona Beach.
Maurice Duplessis
Former premier of quebec (1890-1959).
Born April 20th, 1890 in Trois-Rivières.
Died September 7th, 1959 at 69 years old in Schefferville.
Boris Vian
French writer and musician (1920–1959).
Born March 10th, 1920 in Ville-d'Avray.
Died June 23rd, 1959 at 39 years old in 7th arrondissement of Paris (myocardial infarction).
George Antheil
American avant-garde composer, pianist, author and inventor.
Born July 8th, 1900 in Trenton. [ref]
Died February 12th, 1959 at 58 years old in New York City (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Una O'Connor
Actress (1880–1959).
Born October 23rd, 1880 in Belfast.
Died February 4th, 1959 at 78 years old in New York City (cardiovascular disease).
Jacob Epstein
American-british sculptor (1880–1959).
Born November 10th, 1880 in New York City.
Died August 19th, 1959 at 78 years old in London.
Blind Willie McTell
Piedmont and ragtime blues singer and guitarist.
Born May 5th, 1901 in Georgia.
Died August 19th, 1959 at 58 years old in Georgia (stroke). [ref]
Deaths 26 to 50 of 431
What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. Helen Keller