Celebrating Today’s Famous Birthdays: 12th December – A Tribute to Remarkable Individuals
Welcome, dear readers! It brings me great joy to present a heartfelt tribute to the remarkable individuals born on this significant date. Today, we commemorate the birth anniversary of a diverse array of extraordinary personalities who have left an indelible mark on the world.
| Year | Person |
|---|---|
| 1272 | King Frederick III of Sicily (d. 1337) |
| 1363 | Jean Gerson, chancellor of the University of Paris (d. 1429) |
| 1476 | Lucy Brocadelli, Dominican tertiary and stigmatic (d. 1544) |
| 1484 | Paul Speratus, German Lutheran (d. 1551) |
| 1491 | Martín de Azpilcueta, Spanish theologian and economist (d. 1586) |
| 1499 | Justus Menius, German Lutheran pastor (d. 1558) |
| 1521 | Pope Sixtus V (d. 1590) |
| 1533 | Eric XIV of Sweden (d. 1577) |
| 1553 | Henry IV of France (d. 1610) |
| 1560 | Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, 2nd Prime Minister of France (d. 1641) |
| 1585 | William Drummond of Hawthornden, Scottish poet (d. 1649) |
| 1640 | Robert Plot, English chemist and academic (d. 1696) |
| 1662 | Francesco Bianchini, Italian astronomer and philosopher (d. 1729) |
| 1678 | Yongzheng Emperor of China (d. 1735) |
| 1720 | Carlo Gozzi, Italian playwright (d. 1804) |
| 1724 | Franz Aepinus, German astronomer and philosopher (d. 1802) |
| 1769 | James Scarlett Abinger, English judge (d. 1844) |
| 1780 | Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner, German chemist, invented the Döbereiner’s lamp (d. 1849) |
| 1784 | Archduke Louis of Austria (d. 1864) |
| 1797 | Heinrich Heine, German journalist, poet, and critic (d. 1856) |
| 1804 | Joseph Howe, Canadian journalist and politician, 5th Premier of Nova Scotia (d. 1873) |
| 1814 | Ana Néri, Brazilian nurse and philanthropist (d. 1880) |
| 1816 | Werner von Siemens, German engineer and businessman, founded Siemens (d. 1892) |
| 1818 | Mary Todd Lincoln, 16th First Lady of the United States (d. 1882) |
| 1830 | Mathilde Fibiger, Danish feminist, novelist and telegraphist (d. 1892) |
| 1836 | Franz von Lenbach, German painter and academic (d. 1904) |
| 1854 | Herman Bavinck, Dutch philosopher, theologian, and academic (d. 1921) |
| 1856 | Svetozar Boroević, Croatian-Austrian field marshal (d. 1920) |
| 1860 | Lucien Guitry, French actor (d. 1925) |
| 1864 | Emil Seidel, American woodcarver and politician, 36th Mayor of Milwaukee (d. 1947) |
| 1867 | Kristian Birkeland, Norwegian physicist and author (d. 1917) |
| 1870 | Edward LeSaint, American actor and director (d. 1940) |
| 1871 | Emily Carr, Canadian painter and author (d. 1945) |
| 1874 | Josef Lhévinne, Russian pianist and educator (d. 1944) |
| 1883 | Belle da Costa Greene, American librarian (d. 1950) |
| 1884 | Aimilios Veakis, Greek actor, director, and playwright (d. 1951) |
| 1885 | Annie Dale Biddle Andrews, American mathematician (d. 1940) |
| 1887 | George Pólya, Hungarian-American mathematician and academic (d. 1985) |
| 1887 | Alvin C. York, American colonel, Medal of Honor recipient (d. 1964) |
| 1897 | Albert Aalbers, Dutch architect, designed the Savoy Homann Bidakara Hotel (d. 1961) |
| 1897 | Drew Pearson, American journalist and author (d. 1969) |
| 1900 | Jonel Perlea, Romanian-American conductor and educator (d. 1970) |
| 1901 | Olev Roomet, Estonian singer, violinist, and bagpipe player (d. 1987) |
| 1902 | Panagiotis Kanellopoulos, Greek philosopher and politician, 138th Prime Minister of Greece (d. 1986) |
| 1902 | Talcott Parsons, American sociologist and academic (d. 1979) |
| 1903 | Ella Baker, American activist (d. 1986) |
| 1903 | Carlos Montoya, Spanish guitarist and composer (d. 1993) |
| 1906 | Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark (d. 1968) |
| 1906 | Laurens van der Post, South African-English soldier and author (d. 1996) |
| 1908 | Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, Brazilian historian and activist (d. 1995) |
| 1908 | Van Heflin, American actor (d. 1971) |
| 1908 | Elizabeth Alexander, British geologist, academic, and physicist (d. 1958) |
| 1911 | Trygve Haavelmo, Norwegian economist and mathematician, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1999) |
| 1911 | Kenneth Patchen, American poet and painter (d. 1972) |
| 1912 | Luiz Gonzaga, Brazilian singer-songwriter and accordion player (d. 1989) |
| 1913 | Arnold Brown, English-Canadian missionary, 11th General of The Salvation Army (d. 2002) |
| 1914 | Alan Bullock, English historian and author (d. 2004) |
| 1914 | Larry Noble, English comedian and actor (d. 1993) |
| 1915 | B. J. Vorster, South African lawyer and politician, 4th State President of South Africa (d. 1983) |
| 1916 | Archie Moore, American boxer (d. 1998) |
| 1916 | Leonard Weisgard, American author and illustrator (d. 2000) |
| 1918 | Bill Vukovich, Serbian-American racing driver (d. 1955) |
| 1919 | Hans-Joachim Marseille, German captain and pilot (d. 1942) |
| 1920 | George P. Shultz, American economist and politician, 60th United States Secretary of State |
| 1921 | Turgut Demirağ, Turkish film producer, director and screenwriter (d. 1987) |
| 1923 | Philip Warren Anderson, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate |
| 1923 | Terence Beckett, English businessman (d. 2013) |
| 1923 | Edward Bede Clancy, Australian cardinal (d. 2014) |
| 1923 | Larry Doby, American baseball player and manager (d. 2003) |
| 1925 | Dick Van Dyke, American actor, singer, and dancer |
| 1926 | Carl Erskine, American major-league baseball player |
| 1926 | George Rhoden, Jamaican runner |
| 1927 | James Wright, American poet and academic (d. 1980) |
| 1929 | Christopher Plummer, Canadian actor and producer |
| 1930 | Robert Prosky, American actor (d. 2008) |
| 1933 | Doug Mohns, Canadian-American ice hockey player (d. 2014) |
| 1934 | Richard D. Zanuck, American film producer (d. 2012) |
| 1934 | Antoinette Rodez Schiesler, American chemist (d. 1996) |
| 1935 | Joe Christopher, Virgin Islander baseball player |
| 1935 | Kenneth Hall, American football player |
| 1935 | Lindy McDaniel, American baseball player |
| 1935 | Türkan Saylan, Turkish physician and academic (d. 2009) |
| 1935 | Arthur Summons, Australian rugby player |
| 1936 | Aga Khan IV, Swiss-English businessman |
| 1936 | J. C. Martin, American baseball player and sportscaster |
| 1937 | Rob Houwer, Dutch director, producer, and screenwriter |
| 1937 | Ulf G. Lindén, Swedish businessman (d. 2009) |
| 1938 | Tom Shaw, American golfer |
| 1940 | Sanjaya Lall, Indian economist and academic (d. 2005) |
| 1941 | John Davidson, American actor and game show host |
| 1942 | Howard Brenton, English playwright and screenwriter |
| 1942 | Anna Eshoo, American lawyer and politician |
| 1943 | Ferguson Jenkins, Canadian baseball and basketball player |
| 1944 | Hwang Jang-lee, Japanese-South Korean martial artist and actor |
| 1945 | Herman Cain, American businessman and political activist |
| 1948 | Jeff Baxter, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer |
| 1948 | Lillian Board, South African-English sprinter (d. 1970) |
| 1948 | Ted Nugent, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor |
| 1948 | Brian Wilson, Scottish journalist and politician, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs |
| 1949 | Robert Lindsay, English actor and singer |
| 1949 | R. A. MacAvoy, American computer programmer and author |
| 1949 | Randy Owen, American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist |
| 1949 | Tom Verlaine, American singer-songwriter and guitarist |
| 1950 | Linda Bellos, English businesswoman and politician |
| 1950 | Wendie Malick, American actress, model and comedian |
| 1950 | Julia Slingo, English meteorologist and academic |
| 1950 | Tom Vilsack, American lawyer and politician, 30th United States Secretary of Agriculture |
| 1952 | Junkyard Dog, American football player and wrestler (d. 1998) |
| 1952 | John Francome, English jockey and sportscaster |
| 1952 | Larry Kenon, American basketball player |
| 1952 | Jean Rouaud, French author |
| 1953 | Berton Averre, American guitarist and songwriter |
| 1953 | Ben Bernanke, American economist and academic |
| 1953 | Bill Castro, Dominican baseball player and coach |
| 1953 | Jim Davidson, English comedian, actor, and television host |
| 1953 | Bob Gainey, Canadian ice hockey player, coach, and manager |
| 1953 | Thomas Kurzhals, German keyboard player and songwriter (d. 2014) |
| 1954 | John Anderson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist |
| 1954 | Steve Forbert, American singer-songwriter and guitarist |
| 1954 | Harsh Vardhan, Indian otolaryngologist and politician, Indian Minister of Science and Technology |
| 1955 | Joseph Mahmoud, Moroccan-French runner |
| 1956 | Dale Berra, American baseball player |
| 1956 | Phil Hubbard, American basketball player and coach |
| 1957 | Steve Buscemi, American actor and director |
| 1957 | Eric Marienthal, American saxophonist |
| 1957 | Jean-Marie Messier, French businessman |
| 1959 | Heino Enden, Estonian basketball player and coach |
| 1959 | Staffan William-Olsson, Swedish guitarist and composer |
| 1960 | Richard Dent, American football player |
| 1961 | Harry Gregson-Williams, English composer, conductor, and producer |
| 1961 | Irene Sáez, Venezuelan model and politician, Governor of Nueva Esparta |
| 1961 | Gary Zimmerman, American football player |
| 1962 | Roger Ilegems, Belgian cyclist |
| 1962 | Jamie Raskin, American lawyer, academic, and politician |
| 1962 | Rex Ryan, American football player and coach |
| 1962 | Rob Ryan, American football player and coach |
| 1964 | hide, Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (d. 1998) |
| 1966 | Mike Tirico, American sportscaster |
| 1967 | Jamie Foxx, American actor |
| 1967 | Bo Pelini, American football player and coach |
| 1969 | Sergei Fedorov, Russian ice hockey player and manager |
| 1970 | Tonja Buford-Bailey, American hurdler and coach |
| 1970 | Eoin Jess, Scottish footballer |
| 1970 | Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, Austrian mountaineer |
| 1971 | Naomi Long, Northern Irish engineer and politician, 54th Lord Mayor of Belfast |
| 1971 | Scott Sattler, Australian rugby league player and sporstcaster |
| 1971 | Leanne Wood, Welsh academic and politician |
| 1972 | Chris Grant, Australian footballer |
| 1972 | James Murdoch, Australian-American businessman, son of Rupert Murdoch |
| 1974 | Sara Cox, English broadcaster (television presenter and disc jockey) |
| 1975 | Bates Battaglia, American ice hockey player |
| 1975 | Tom DeLonge, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer |
| 1975 | Kostas Kiassos, Greek footballer |
| 1975 | Matthew LeCroy, American baseball player and coach |
| 1975 | Bahar Mert, Turkish volleyball player |
| 1976 | Josh Fogg, American baseball player |
| 1976 | Søren Friis, Danish footballer |
| 1976 | Radosław Sobolewski, Polish footballer |
| 1976 | Rama Yade, Senegalese-French politician |
| 1977 | Sascha Kindred, German-English swimmer |
| 1978 | Kaspars Kambala, Latvian basketball player |
| 1978 | B.J. Penn, American mixed martial artist and wrestler |
| 1979 | Matjaž Smodiš, Slovenian basketball player |
| 1979 | Luke Steele, Australian singer-songwriter and musician |
| 1980 | Patrik Antonius, Finnish tennis player, coach, and poker player |
| 1980 | Ryan France, English footballer |
| 1980 | Danil Haustov, Estonian swimmer |
| 1981 | Amy Lee, American singer-songwriter and pianist |
| 1982 | Dan Hamhuis, Canadian ice hockey player |
| 1982 | Ayumi Kinoshita, Japanese actress and model |
| 1982 | Ricky Nolasco, American baseball player |
| 1982 | Tuka Rocha, Brazilian race car driver |
| 1982 | Koutaro Tanaka, Japanese actor |
| 1982 | Dominik Werling, German footballer |
| 1983 | Matt Deis, American bass player and songwriter |
| 1983 | Otylia Jędrzejczak, Polish swimmer |
| 1983 | Janeth Jepkosgei, Kenyan runner |
| 1984 | Santi Cazorla, Spanish footballer |
| 1984 | Hanna-Maria Seppälä, Finnish swimmer |
| 1985 | Michael Bumpus, American football player |
| 1985 | Laurence Leboeuf, Canadian actress |
| 1985 | Alby Mathewson, New Zealand rugby player |
| 1986 | Mathieu Gnanligo, Beninese sprinter |
| 1988 | Rickie Fowler, American golfer |
| 1988 | Olly Lancashire, English footballer |
| 1988 | James Tamou, New Zealand-Australian rugby league player |
| 1989 | Hellen Onsando Obiri, Kenyan runner |
| 1989 | Ben Ridge, Australian rugby league player |
| 1989 | Taylor Swift, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress |
| 1991 | Sénah Mango, Togolese footballer |
As we come to the end of this tribute to today’s famous birthdays, let us carry forward the inspiration and lessons gleaned from these exceptional individuals. Their journeys remind us that with determination, passion, and resilience, we can leave our own unique imprint on the world. May their stories serve as a guiding light, igniting the spark within each of us to pursue greatness and make a positive impact.
Stay tuned for more insightful posts dedicated to celebrating the lives and contributions of notable personalities. Their stories continue to resonate and inspire, shaping the course of history and leaving an unforgettable legacy for generations to come. Until next time, may the spirit of these extraordinary individuals continue to guide and inspire you on your own remarkable journey.
