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Famous Birthdays on April 17

April 16April 18

18 historically significant individuals born on April 17. April 17 is the birth date of several notable individuals across history. Among them are Danish author Karen Blixen (1885), known by her pen name Isak Dinesen, and Sri Lankan politician Sirimavo Bandaranaike (1916), the world's first female prime minister. Also born on this date are Mexican singer Chavela Vargas (1919), Senegalese novelist Mariama Bâ (1929), and Sri Lankan cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan (1972).

Total Born
18
Countries
17
Top Century
20th· 8
Top Field
botanist
2 individuals

Headline Figures

scientist
Georges J.F. Köhler

Georges J.F. Köhler

1946 – 1995

Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1984)

short story writer
Karen Blixen

Karen Blixen

1885 – 1962

Danish author famous for 'Out of Africa,' her memoir about running a coffee plantation in colonial Kenya, later adapted into an Academy Award-winning film.

film actor
Chavela Vargas

Chavela Vargas

1919 – 2012

Costa Rican-born Mexican singer who became an icon of ranchera music with her distinctive interpretations of traditional songs. She was known for her androgynous appearance, bohemian lifestyle, and passionate performances over a career spanning seven decades.

Birth Distribution by Century

20th (8)
19th (3)
18th (5)
16th C.20th C.

20th Century

8
Georges J.F. Köhler
Georges J.F. Köhler
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1984)
Chavela Vargas
Chavela Vargas
film actormusician
Costa Rican-born Mexican singer who became an icon of ranchera music with her distinctive interpretations of traditional songs. She was known for her androgynous appearance, bohemian lifestyle, and passionate performances over a career spanning seven decades.
László Orbán
László Orbán
fencergeophysicist
Hungarian geophysicist, fencer from Romania (1930-2018)
Mariama Bâ
Mariama Bâ
novelistteacher
Pioneering feminist novelist whose work "So Long a Letter" won the first Naguib Mahfouz Medal and addressed women's rights in post-colonial Africa.
Samira Efendi
Samira Efendi
singer
Pop singer who was selected to represent Azerbaijan at Eurovision 2020 with "Cleopatra" before the contest's cancellation due to COVID-19.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
diplomatpolitician
Sri Lanka's first female Prime Minister who made history as the world's first woman to serve as head of government, leading the country through three separate terms from 1960-2000.
Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan
cricketer
Legendary spin bowler who holds the world record for most Test wickets (800) and most One Day International wickets (534) in cricket history.
Medhi Benatia
Medhi Benatia
association football player
Former Moroccan centre-back who played for top European clubs including Bayern Munich and Juventus. He served as captain of the Morocco national team and was known for his defensive prowess and leadership.

19th Century

3
Karen Blixen
Karen Blixen
short story writer
Danish author famous for 'Out of Africa,' her memoir about running a coffee plantation in colonial Kenya, later adapted into an Academy Award-winning film.
John Macoun
John Macoun
botanical collectorbotanist
Canadian botanist (1831-1920)
Alfred William Howitt
Alfred William Howitt
anthropologistbotanical collector
Australian scientist (1830-1908)

18th Century

5
Hippolyte Cloquet
Hippolyte Cloquet
anatomistbotanist
French physician, anatomist and naturalist
Giovanni Domenico Maraldi
Giovanni Domenico Maraldi
astronomermathematician
Italian astronomer
Charles Blagden
Charles Blagden
chemistphysical chemist
British physician and scientist (1748–1820)
Taksin
Taksin
poetsovereign
King of Siam
Stanisław Jachowicz
Stanisław Jachowicz
children's writerpedagogue
Polish poet (1796-1857)

17th Century

1
Frans Greenwood
Frans Greenwood
glass engraverpainter
Dutch painter and glass engraver (1680-1763)

16th Century

1
Giovanni Battista Riccioli
Giovanni Battista Riccioli
astronomercartographer
16th century Italian theologian and astronomer

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the most famous person born on April 17?
Karen Blixen, a Danish author known for "Out of Africa," is likely the most internationally recognized person born on April 17, 1885. Her memoir about life in Kenya became a classic work of literature and was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film.
Are there any world leaders born on April 17?
Yes, Sirimavo Bandaranaike was born on April 17, 1916. She became the world's first female Prime Minister when she took office in Sri Lanka in 1960, serving three separate terms and playing a major role in Sri Lankan history.
What famous athletes were born on April 17?
Muttiah Muralitharan, born on April 17, 1972, is considered one of the greatest cricket bowlers. The Sri Lankan spinner holds the record for most wickets in both Test and One Day International cricket.