December 11 birthdays

1843 ROBERT KOCH German bacteriologist

Koch is considered one of the founders of modern bacteriology, having discovered the specific causative agents of diseases including tuberculosis, cholera and anthrax.

1918 ALEKSANDR SOLZHENITSYN

Russian author

A Soviet dissident, Solzhenitsyn was an outspoken critic of communism and helped raise global awareness of political repression in the Soviet Union. His novels include One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich and Cancer Ward.

1931 BHAGWAN SHREE RAJNEESH

Indian cult leader

Rajneesh was the founder of the Rajneesh movement and was viewed as a controversial religious movement leader and mystic. He was deported from the US in the wake of a string of serious crimes by supporters.

1842 KAREN SUSMAN American tennis player

Susman won the 1962 Wimbledon singles title but did not defend her crown in 1963. Two years earlier, she had won the Wimbledon girl’s singles title. Susman also won three Grand Slam women’s doubles titles.

1946 RICK MCCOSKER Australian cricketer

McCosker played a total of 25 Tests and 14 ODIs for Australia from 1975 to 1982. He is best remembered for his heroics in the Centenary Test in 1977, batting in the second innings with a broken jaw.

1961 MARCO PIERRE WHITE English chef

At the age of 32, White became the first British chef, and at the time the youngest chef, to be awarded three Michelin stars. He has trained notable chefs including Mario Batali, Gordon Ramsay, Curtis Stone and Shannon Bennett

1981 HAMISH BLAKE

Australian comedian

BHAGWAN SHREE RAJNEESH

Blake performs with Andy Lee as part of the comedy duo Hamish & Andy. The pair has performed live and on television and radio. In 2012, Blake won the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.