I guess I'll use my free guess on Gaskell

Clarification here: You say they lived their whole life in the 19th century, but no question specifies this. We just know they died before 1900. Is this free information for us?

Was she born in a country with a flag that is a horizontal tri- or bi- color?

Ah shoot well "broadly involved in the entertainment industry" and "appeared as himself in two films" seemed about right. Can't forget that he's obviously star of the famous movie Home Alone 2: Lost in New York!

Is it Donald Trump?

Free guess: John Williams

My free guess - Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

And in another shocking twist in a galaxy far far away, the Rebellion has captured Coruscant, and captured the Emperor.

The Empire is expected to not surrender, but fight a guerrilla campaign across the galaxy

Roman?

scratch that he served in WW1

e. e. cummings

Lived during the 20th century?

It would be a nice feature to add. I wouldn't mind being able to chop the numbers off my username now that I realize there aren't a million people on this site, like I thought when I joined.

Is this person attributed to writing one of the books of the Bible?

One of the Apostles or Early Missionaries?

Did this person spend their political career in Asia?

real?

My free guess: James Earl Jones

Is this person (at least partially) famous for ever visiting the New World?

@Foxcastle - Good question! Never would've thought of that one