Hélène Smith

Hélène Smith was a famous late-19th century French medium. She was known as "the Muse of Automatic Writing" by the Surrealists, who viewed Smith as evidence of the power of the surreal, and a symbol of surrealist knowledge. Late in life, Smith claimed to communicate with Martians, and to be a reincarnation of a Hindu princess and Marie Antoinette.

9 December 1861

Born on the same birth day (9 December): André Milhoux • Berton Churchill • Canibus • Chamras Saewataporn • Choi Min-ho • Donny Osmond • Joe Ausanio • Nick Hysong • Émile Waldteufel

Born in the same month (December 1861): Antonio de La Gándara • Aristide Maillol • Charles Duryea • Edgar P. Rucker • Ferdinand Bonn • Francis Buzzacott • Frederick Eveleigh-de-Moleyns, 5th Baron Ventry • Georges Méliès • Hannes Hafstein • Italo Svevo • Ivana Kobilca • Lionel Monckton • Madan Mohan Malaviya • Pehr Evind Svinhufvud • William C. Durant