Born this day, 1649 in  Boston, Massachusetts (Welsh parents from Wrexham)

Elihu Yale , who is best known as a benefactor of Yale University.

Yale was educated in London and worked for many years for the East India Company in Madras, becoming governor of Fort Saint George and amassing a sizeable personal fortune, some claim at the company's expense. He later entered the diamond trade and devoted a good deal of his time and money to philanthropy.

 Yale made his first gift to Yale University in 1713, then known as the Collegiate School at Saybrook. Later, in 1718, on Cotton Mather's suggestion, Yale donated more books, a portrait of George I and a variety of textiles from the East Indies. These were sold  for some £800, the money being used to construct Yale College in New Haven. By 1745, the entire institution was named Yale University. 

Today is the feast day of Saint Derfel.

Derfel, born in  566,  was the son of Hoel, king of Brittany, who had been exiled in Dyfed.

Derfel, according to legend, fought for King Arthur at the Battle of Camlan, being one of only seven warriors who survived the battle. After Camlan, the bloodshed he had seen made him turn to religion and he became a hermit, founding the church of Llandderfel in Gwynedd and later becoming Abbot of Ynys Enlli (Bardsey), where he died and is buried.  An image of him at Llandderfel depicting him as a warrior was removed by order of Thomas Cromwell and used to burn John Forest,  a Catholic priest, fulfilling a prophecy that the image would 'burn down a forest.'  

According to legend, The Battle of Camlan was King Arthur's final battle, in which he was mortally wounded.

Several locations in Britain have been suggested, including Stirling and Cornwall. Welsh folklore interprets Camlan as meaning a place near a crooked river, with the Camlan Valley near Dolgellau being claimed as the battlefield.  

Born this day 1988 in Solihull (Welsh Parents) and brought up in Bancyfelin, near Carmarthen

Jonathan Davies, Wales and Lions rugby union international.  

Born this day 1990 in Gloucester (Welsh grandmother)

Alex Cuthbert,  Wales and Lions rugby union international.

Born this day 1975 in Swansea,

John Hartson , who is a former Wales soccer international, is best remembered for playing spells at Celtic, Arsenal and West Ham United.  In July 2009, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer which had spread to his brain. The treatment he received was successful and by December of that year, it was reported that the cancer had been eliminated.  

Born this day, 1942 in Newport.

Peter Greenaway, film director. His films are noted for the distinct influence of Renaissance, Baroque and Flemish painting.

Born this day, 1946 in Barmouth

Robert Russell Davies , journalist and broadcaster. He currently presents a  Sunday  radio programme on BBC Radio 2 which features popular music. He also presents Brain of Britain on Radio 4.