On this day in 1711 Alexander Pope‘s “An Essay on Criticism” was published anonymously.

Born on this day in 1808 composer Michael William Balfe

Born on this day in 1843 librettist Georges Hartmann aka Henri Gremont

Born on this day in 1910 baritone Walter Cassel

Born on this day in 1939 bass Ulrik Cold

Happy 67th birthday mezzo-soprano Doris Soffel