Famous people and celebrities who died in 1917

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1917. This year saw the loss of many influential and beloved figures who left a lasting impact on the world. From entertainment icons and sports legends to renowned scholars and public figures, our comprehensive list pays tribute to their lives and legacies. Join us in honoring their contributions and celebrating their achievements as we reflect on their remarkable stories.

• Jan. 16 George Dewey

  American admiral (born 1837).

• Feb. 16 Octave Mirbeau

  French playwright, novelist and drama critic.

• March 17 Franz Brentano

  German psychologist and philosopher.

• April 1 Scott Joplin

  Influential African-American composer and pianist known as the 'King of Ragtime.

• April 7 Spyridon Samaras

  Greek composer known for his operas and choral works.

• June 15 Kristian Birkeland

  Known for his research in the field of space physics and the aurora borealis.

• June 27 Karl Allmenröder

  German pilot and soldier (d. 1917).

• July 8 Tom Thomson

  Canadian painter (born in 1877).

• July 27 Emil Theodor Kocher

  Swiss physician and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1841).

• July 31 Francis Ledwidge

  Irish soldier and poet (b. 1881).

• Aug. 13 Eduard Buchner

  German chemist, nobel prize laureate (b. 1860).

• Aug. 20 Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Adolf von Baeyer

  Prize laureate in recognition of his services in the advancement of organic chemistry and the chemical industry, through his work on organic...

• Aug. 20 Adolf von Baeyer

  German chemist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1835).

• Sept. 5 Marian Smoluchowski

  Austrian-polish physicist and mountaineer (b. 1872).

• Sept. 11 Georges Guynemer

  French military pilot and major of the famed "storks squadron".

• Sept. 27 Edgar Degas

  French artist famous for his Impressionist paintings and sculptures.

• Oct. 13 Florence La Badie

  American actress (born 1888).

• Oct. 27 Arthur Rhys-Davids

  English pilot and lieutenant (d. 1917).

• Nov. 8 Colin Blythe

  English soldier and cricketer (d. 1917).

• Nov. 15 Emile Durkheim

  Pioneering French sociologist who is considered one of the founding figures of sociology.

• Nov. 15 Oswald Chambers

  Scottish author and teacher best known for his devotional book 'My Utmost for His Highest'.

• Nov. 17 Auguste Rodin

  French master sculptor, francoise.

• Nov. 22 Teoberto Maler

  Italian-german archaeologist and explorer (b. 1842).

• Dec. 7 Ludwig Minkus

  Austrian composer and violinist (d. 1917).

• Dec. 17 Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

  First woman to qualify as a physician and surgeon in Britain, and a pioneer in the medical education of women.

• Dec. 20 Lucien Petit-Breton

  French road cycling racer, who won both the tour de france 1907 and 1908, becoming first to win it twice.

What happened in 1917?

Discover what the world looked like in 1917: