Welcome! Check out today's deaths, recent deaths, or our deaths stats.
Feeling experimental? Head on over to our newest (and darkest) feature: Next-2-Die™ predictions
In the year 1940
393 Notable deaths
Leon Trotsky
Russian marxist revolutionary (1879–1940).
Born November 7th, 1879 in Bereslavka. [ref]
Died August 21st, 1940 at 60 years old in Coyoacán (cerebral hemorrhage). [ref]
F. Scott Fitzgerald
American writer (1896–1940).
Born September 24th, 1896 in Saint Paul. [ref]
Died December 21st, 1940 at 44 years old in Hollywood (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Robert Wadlow
American who was the tallest recorded person in history.
Born February 22nd, 1918 in Alton.
Died July 15th, 1940 at 22 years old in Manistee (infection).
Neville Chamberlain
Former prime minister of the united kingdom (1869-1940).
Born March 18th, 1869 in Birmingham. [ref]
Died November 9th, 1940 at 71 years old in Reading (colorectal cancer, gastrointestinal system cancer). [ref]
Marcus Gavrey
Jamaica-born british political activist, pan-africanist, orator, and entrepreneur (1887-1940).
Born August 17th, 1887 in Saint Ann's Bay. [ref]
Died June 10th, 1940 at 52 years old in West Kensington (stroke). [ref]
Udham Singh
Indian revolutionary (1899-1940).
Born December 26th, 1899 in Sunam.
Died July 31st, 1940 at 40 years old in HM Prison Pentonville (hanging).
Gerda Wegener
Danish artist (1885-1940).
Born March 15th, 1886 in Hammelev. [ref]
Died July 28th, 1940 at 54 years old in Frederiksberg. [ref]
Emma Goldman
Russian anarchist.
Born June 27th, 1869 in Kaunas.
Died May 14th, 1940 at 70 years old in Toronto (stroke).
J. J. Thomson
British physicist, 1856.
Born December 18th, 1856 in Manchester. [ref]
Died August 30th, 1940 at 83 years old in Cambridge. [ref]
Smedley Butler
United states marine corps general, two time medal of honor recipient, activist, lecturer, official, and writer (1881-1940).
Born July 30th, 1881 in West Chester.
Died June 21st, 1940 at 58 years old in Naval Hospital Philadelphia (cancer).
Deaths 1 to 10 of 393
Death is a challenge. It tells us not to waste time… It tells us to tell each other right now that we love each other. Leo Buscaglia