… of German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, born in Frankfurt on this date in 1749. Goethe said, “One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.”
… of Mother Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, the first American-born saint, born in New York City on this date in 1774.
… of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, born near Tula on this date in 1828.
… of ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson, born in Jamestown, New York, on this date in 1908.
…and Robertson Davies, dean of Canadian authors, who wrote The Deptford Trilogy, and The Cunning Man. Thanks to The Writers Almanac for alerting me.