21 historically significant individuals born on April 16. April 16 is the birth date of several influential historical figures. Notable individuals born on this day include literary Nobel Prize winner Anatole France in 1844, filmmaker Charlie Chaplin in 1889, Dadaist poet Tristan Tzara in 1896, Pope Benedict XVI in 1927, and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark in 1940.
Total Born
21
Countries
18
Top Century
20th· 13
Top Field
association football player
5 individuals
Headline Figures
Catholic theologian
Benedict XVI
1927 – 2022German theologian who served as the 265th Pope of the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013, becoming the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years.
monarch
Margrethe II of Denmark
1940 – PresentQueen of Denmark from 1972 to 2024 who abdicated in favor of her son Frederik X. She was also known for her artistic talents in painting and textile design.
beauty pageant contestant
Lara Dutta
1978 – PresentIndian actress and former Miss Universe 2000 winner who became the second Indian woman to hold this title. She has appeared in numerous Bollywood films and television productions.
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (13)
19th (6)
13th C.20th C.
20th Century
13Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Benedict XVI
Catholic theologianLatin Catholic bishop
German theologian who served as the 265th Pope of the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013, becoming the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years.
Margrethe II of Denmark
monarchpainter
Queen of Denmark from 1972 to 2024 who abdicated in favor of her son Frederik X. She was also known for her artistic talents in painting and textile design.
Lara Dutta
beauty pageant contestantfilm actor
Indian actress and former Miss Universe 2000 winner who became the second Indian woman to hold this title. She has appeared in numerous Bollywood films and television productions.
Shinji Okazaki
association football coachassociation football player
Japanese striker who scored the winning goal for Leicester City in their 2016 Premier League title campaign. He has been a regular scorer for the Japan national team since 2008.
Natasha Zvereva
tennis player
Former professional tennis player who won 12 Grand Slam doubles titles and achieved world No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles.
Luis Muriel
association football player
Colombian forward who has played for clubs including Sampdoria, Sevilla, and Atalanta, known for his clinical finishing.
Reinaldo Rueda
association football coachassociation football player
Colombian football coach who has managed several national teams including Honduras, Chile, and Colombia, leading teams to World Cup appearances.
Jayme Tiomno
nuclear physicistphysicist
Brazilian physicist (1920–2011)
Ramy Bensebaini
association football player
Algerian left-back who plays for Borussia Dortmund and has been a regular starter for the Algeria national team since 2015.
Akon
entrepreneurphilanthropist
Grammy-nominated R&B artist known for hits like "Lonely" and "Smack That," who has also invested heavily in African energy infrastructure projects.
Geoffrey Oryema
singer
Ugandan musician and singer who gained international recognition for his fusion of African folk music with Western influences. He fled Uganda during Idi Amin's regime and became a prominent voice for African music in exile.
Freddie Ljungberg
association football coachassociation football player
Swedish footballer who played as a winger for Arsenal and the Swedish national team, later becoming a football manager and coach.
Shu Qi
actorfilm actor
Shu Qi is an internationally acclaimed actress who has starred in films by Wong Kar-wai, Hou Hsiao-hsien, and other renowned directors. She won the Golden Horse Award for Best Actress and has been featured in Hollywood productions including "The Transporter."
19th Century
6Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Anatole France
biographercritic
French writer (1844–1924)
Vernon Sturdee
engineermilitary personnel
Former Australian Chief of the General Staff
Ernest Solvay
chemistengineer
Belgian chemist, industrialist, philanthropist (1838-1922)
Mihailo Polit-Desančić
journalistplaywright
Serbian politician and writer
Charlie Chaplin
autobiographerfilm actor
English comic actor and filmmaker who became a global icon of silent cinema with his "Little Tramp" character. He wrote, directed, produced, and starred in films including Modern Times, City Lights, and The Great Dictator.
Tristan Tzara
activistart collector
Romanian-French poet and performance artist who co-founded the Dada movement in Zurich in 1916, revolutionizing avant-garde art and literature.
16th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Giulio Parigi
architectdraftsperson
Italian painter, engraver and architect (1571-1635)
13th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Margaret, Maid of Norway
monarch
Queen of Scotland
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on April 16?
Charlie Chaplin, born in 1889, is widely considered the most famous person born on April 16. As a silent film actor and comedian, his "Little Tramp" character and films like "Modern Times" made him a key figure in cinema history.
What Pope was born on April 16?
Pope Benedict XVI was born on April 16, 1927, in Bavaria, Germany. He was the 265th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 2005 to 2013. He became the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years.
Are there any royal family members born on April 16?
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark was born on April 16, 1940. She reigned as Denmark's monarch from 1972 to 2024 and was known for her artistic talents.