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In the year 1939

335 Notable deaths

Sigmund Freud

Austrian neurologist known as the founding father of psychoanalysis.

Born May 6th, 1856 in Příbor. [ref]

Died September 23rd, 1939 at 83 years old in London (laryngeal cancer). [ref]

William Butler Yeats

Irish poet and playwright (1865–1939).

Born June 13th, 1865 in Sandymount. [ref]

Died January 28th, 1939 at 73 years old in Menton, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. [ref]

James Naismith

Canadian-american coach; inventor of basketball (1861-1939).

Born November 6th, 1860 in Almonte.

Died November 28th, 1939 at 79 years old in Lawrence.

Ma Rainey

African-american blues singer.

Born April 26th, 1886 in Alabama. [ref]

Died December 22nd, 1939 at 53 years old in Columbus (myocardial infarction). [ref]

Howard Carter

British egyptologist.

Born May 9th, 1874 in Brompton, Kensington. [ref]

Died March 2nd, 1939 at 64 years old in London (lymphoma). [ref]

Douglas Fairbanks

American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer (1883-1939).

Born May 23rd, 1883 in Denver. [ref]

Died December 12th, 1939 at 56 years old in Santa Monica (myocardial infarction). [ref]

Alphonse Mucha

Czechoslovak photographer, painter and illustrator (1860-1939).

Born July 24th, 1860 in Ivančice. [ref]

Died July 14th, 1939 at 78 years old in Prague (pneumonia). [ref]

Louis Wain

English artist (1860-1939).

Born August 5th, 1860 in Clerkenwell. [ref]

Died July 4th, 1939 at 78 years old in Napsbury Hospital. [ref]

Pius XI

Pope of the catholic church from 1922 to 1939.

Born May 31st, 1857 in Desio. [ref]

Died February 10th, 1939 at 81 years old in Vatican City (myocardial infarction). [ref]

Nadezhda Krupskaya

Russian revolutionary and politician (1869-1939).

Born February 26th, 1869 in Saint Petersburg. [ref]

Died February 27th, 1939 at 70 years old in Moscow. [ref]

Deaths 1 to 10 of 335

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When people don’t express themselves, they die one piece at a time. Laurie Halse Anderson