List of Famous people who died in 1972

Władysław Hugo Dionizy Steinhaus was a Jewish-Polish mathematician and educator. Steinhaus obtained his PhD under David Hilbert at Göttingen University in 1911 and later became a professor at the Jan Kazimierz University in Lwów, where he helped establish what later became known as the Lwów School of Mathematics. He is credited with "discovering" mathematician Stefan Banach, with whom he gave a notable contribution to functional analysis through the Banach–Steinhaus theorem. After World War II Steinhaus played an important part in the establishment of the mathematics department at Wrocław University and in the revival of Polish mathematics from the destruction of the war.

Dündar Taşer was a Turkish soldier and politician who was a leading figure in Turkish nationalism.

Ellenor Andrea Andreen (1888–1972) was a Swedish physician, pacifist and feminist. As a physician, she specialized in the treatment of diabetes, combining dietary restrictions with insulin. A prominent figure in the Swedish women's movement, she became a council member of the Women's International Democratic Federation in 1945, later becoming a Vice-President. She chaired the Svenska Kvinnors Vänsterförbund from 1946 to 1964. A strong proponent of nuclear disarmament, in 1953 she was awarded the Stalin Peace Prize.

Frank Cheyne Papé, who generally signed himself Frank C. Papé, was an English artist and book illustrator. He studied at The Slade School of Fine Art, completing his studies circa 1902–04. Papé was married to a fellow Slade student, illustrator Alice Stringer.

Princess Henriette of Schönaich-Carolath was the youngest daughter of Prince Johann George von Schönaich-Carolath and Princess Hermine Reuss of Greiz, who later became the second wife of Wilhelm II, German Emperor.

Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington,, styled Lord Gerald Wellesley between 1900 and 1943, was an Anglo-Irish diplomat, soldier, and architect.

Robert Le Vigan, was a French actor.

Harald Grieg was a Norwegian publisher. He was director of Gyldendal Norsk Forlag and for many years was a leading figure in the Norwegian book industry.

Solomon Lefschetz was an American mathematician who did fundamental work on algebraic topology, its applications to algebraic geometry, and the theory of non-linear ordinary differential equations.

Sir Francis Charles Chichester KBE was a British businessman, pioneering aviator and solo sailor.