29 historically significant individuals born on April 15. April 15 is the birth date of several notable individuals, such as Émile Durkheim, a French sociologist born in 1858, and Johannes Stark, a German physicist and Nobel Prize winner born in 1874. In 1907, Dutch biologist Niko Tinbergen was born on this day. It is also the birth date of Kim Il-sung, who founded North Korea in 1912, and Richard von Weizsäcker, a former President of West Germany, born in 1920. These individuals contributed to fields like sociology, physics, biology, and political leadership in various eras and regions.
Total Born
29
Countries
18
Top Century
20th· 19
Top Field
politician
6 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
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Robert J. Lefkowitz
1943 – PresentNobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2012)
scientist
Carol W. Greider
1961 – PresentNobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2009)
anthropologist
Émile Durkheim
1858 – 1917French sociologist who established sociology as an academic discipline and conducted pioneering studies on suicide, religion, and social solidarity.
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (19)
18th (5)
16th C.20th C.
20th Century
19Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
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Robert J. Lefkowitz
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2012)
Carol W. Greider
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2009)
Claudia Cardinale
actorfilm actor
Italian-born French actress who became an international star in the 1960s, appearing in classic films like 'The Leopard' and '8½' alongside legendary directors.
Richard von Weizsäcker
lawyermilitary personnel
President of Germany from 1984 to 1994
Seth Rogen
directorfilm actor
Canadian actor, comedian, and filmmaker known for his roles in "Superbad," "Pineapple Express," and "This Is the End," which he also co-wrote and co-directed.
Philippe of Belgium
military officermonarch
King of the Belgians since 2013, having succeeded his father Albert II after serving as a military officer and diplomat.
Kunishige Kamamoto
association football coachassociation football player
Japanese striker who scored 75 goals in 84 international matches and later served as a politician after his football career ended.
Jaime Paz Zamora
political scientistpolitician
Political scientist who served as President of Bolivia from 1989 to 1993, leading a coalition government and promoting democratic consolidation.
Niko Tinbergen
biologistethologist
Dutch ethologist who shared the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his pioneering studies of animal behavior and instinct patterns.
Tomas Tranströmer
linguistpoet
Swedish poet who won the 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature for his condensed, translucent images that give access to reality.
Joice Mujuru
ministerpolitician
Former Vice President of Zimbabwe (2004-2014) and liberation war veteran who was dismissed by Robert Mugabe and later formed the opposition Zimbabwe People First party.
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir
politician
Icelandic politician, 4th President of Iceland
Alla Pugacheva
directorpedagogue
Soviet-Russian pop singer who became the most successful recording artist in Russian history with over 250 million records sold. She dominated Soviet popular music for decades and is known as the 'Queen of Russian Pop.'
Michael Ansara
actorfilm actor
American stage, screen, and voice actor (1922–2013)
Albert Riera
association football coachassociation football player
Spanish winger who played for Liverpool, Espanyol, and other European clubs, later transitioning into coaching roles.
Emma Watson
activistactor
English model, activist, and former actress (born 1990)
Nawal El Moutawakel
athletics competitorpolitician
Former Moroccan hurdler who became the first African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She later served as an International Olympic Committee member and sports administrator.
Beata Szydło
ethnologistpolitician
Polish politician who served as Prime Minister from 2015 to 2017 under the Law and Justice party and later became a Member of the European Parliament.
KI
Kim Il-sung
politician
Founding leader and first Supreme Leader of North Korea from 1948 to 1994, establishing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the hereditary Kim dynasty.
19th Century
3Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Émile Durkheim
anthropologisthistorian of religion
French sociologist who established sociology as an academic discipline and conducted pioneering studies on suicide, religion, and social solidarity.
Johannes Stark
physicistuniversity teacher
German physicist (1874-1957)
Oskari Tokoi
editorjournalist
Finnish politician (1873-1963)
18th Century
5Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Adolph Modéer
economistentomologist
Swedish scientist and academic (1739-1799)
Felice Fontana
anatomistbotanist
Italian polymath
Charles Willson Peale
engraverinventor
American painter (1741–1827)
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Wojciech Jastrzębowski
biologistbotanist
Polish biologist (1799-1882)
Adam František Kollár
archivisteditor
Slovak jurist, historian, ethnologist, and policy advisor
16th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Blaise de Vigenère
alchemistcryptographer
French cryptographer (1523-1596)
Francesco Laparelli
architectengineer
Italian military engineer (1521-1570)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on April 15?
Kim Il-sung, the founder and first leader of North Korea, was born on April 15, 1912. His leadership shaped the nation and influences global politics.
Are there any Nobel Prize winners born on April 15?
Yes, two Nobel Prize winners share this birthdate: Johannes Stark received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1919, and Niko Tinbergen earned the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1973. Both contributed significantly to their scientific fields.
What famous sociologist was born on April 15?
Émile Durkheim, a key figure in modern sociology, was born on April 15, 1858. He is known for his work on social theory and helping establish sociology as an academic discipline.