Charles Perrault, the French author who laid the foundations for the fairy tale genre, died on this day in 1703. His works include Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Puss in Boots and many more.
Voltaire was imprisoned in the Bastille for a year on this day in 1717. His political and religious satire La Henriade had infuriated the government.
Edgar Allan Poe married his 13 year old cousin on this day in 1836