22 historically significant individuals born on August 15. August 15 is the birth date of several historical figures from different centuries and regions. Notable individuals born on this day include French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1769, Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott in 1771, Haitian Emperor Faustin Soulouque in 1782, Indian philosopher Sri Aurobindo Ghosh in 1872, and Panamanian president Arnulfo Arias in 1901. These individuals made contributions in military leadership, literature, politics, and philosophy across the world.
Total Born
22
Countries
20
Top Century
20th· 13
Top Field
politician
5 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
Gerty Cori
1896 – 1957Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1947)
scientist
Richard F. Heck
1931 – 2015Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2010)
essayist
Aurobindo Ghosh
1872 – 1950Philosopher, poet, and spiritual leader who developed Integral Yoga and founded the international community of Auroville. He was also a freedom fighter in his early years before dedicating his life to spiritual evolution and human consciousness.
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (13)
19th (4)
18th (5)
18th C.20th C.
20th Century
13Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Richard F. Heck
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2010)
Abiy Ahmed
military personnelminister
Ethiopian Prime Minister since 2018 who won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve peace with neighboring Eritrea.
Alejandro González Iñárritu
composerfilm director
Mexican film director who won consecutive Academy Awards for Best Director for Birdman (2014) and The Revenant (2015).
Khaleda Zia
politician
Bangladeshi politician who served as Prime Minister during two terms (1991-1996, 2001-2006) and was the widow of former President Ziaur Rahman. She died in 2025.
Óscar Romero
Latin Catholic priest
Archbishop of San Salvador from 1977 until his assassination in 1980, canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 2018 for his advocacy for human rights and the poor.
Tom Mboya
independence activistminister
Kenyan politician anti-colonialist activist (1930-1969)
Vladimir Petković
association football coachassociation football player
Former midfielder turned manager who coached the Swiss national team and has managed clubs across Europe including Lazio.
Clinton Njie
association football player
Cameroonian winger who has played for Tottenham Hotspur and represents the Cameroon national team.
Andrzej Górski
chemistuniversity teacher
Inorganic chemist
SL
Stieg Larsson
editorjournalist
Swedish journalist and author who created the bestselling Millennium trilogy, featuring the character Lisbeth Salander, published posthumously starting in 2005.
Lương Cường
military leaderpolitician
Vietnamese general and politician who has served as President of Vietnam since October 2024. He previously held senior positions in the Ministry of Public Security and the Communist Party's Central Committee.
Arnulfo Arias
physicianpolitician
Panamanian physician and politician who served three separate terms as president between 1940 and 1968.
Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
politician
Ruled Dubai from 1990 to 2006 and served as Prime Minister of the UAE, initiating major economic diversification and infrastructure projects.
19th Century
4Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Gerty Cori
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1947)
Aurobindo Ghosh
essayistliterary critic
Philosopher, poet, and spiritual leader who developed Integral Yoga and founded the international community of Auroville. He was also a freedom fighter in his early years before dedicating his life to spiritual evolution and human consciousness.
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Lucius Richard O'Brien
engineerpainter
Canadian artist (1832-1899)
Socorro Sánchez del Rosario
journalistteacher
Dominican Republic journalist and educator
18th Century
5Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Napoleon
army officerart collector
French military genius who conquered much of continental Europe and served as Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1814.
Jean Baptiste Le Roy
chemistencyclopédistes
French physicist and chemist (1720-1800)
John Metcalf
civil engineerengineer
English civil engineer and road builder
Faustin Soulouque
politician
President and emperor of Haiti (1782-1867)
Walter Scott
linguistliterary critic
Scottish historical novelist and poet who created the historical fiction genre with works like "Ivanhoe" and "Rob Roy." His novels popularized Scottish history and culture throughout Europe and influenced the Romantic movement.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on August 15?
Napoleon Bonaparte, born on August 15, 1769, is widely considered the most famous person born on this date. The French military leader and emperor shaped European history through his conquests and political reforms.
What famous authors were born on August 15?
Walter Scott, the Scottish novelist and poet, was born on August 15, 1771. He is known for historical novels like Ivanhoe and Rob Roy, which helped popularize the historical fiction genre.
Are there any political leaders born on August 15?
Yes, several political figures were born on August 15, including Napoleon Bonaparte (1769), Faustin Soulouque, Emperor of Haiti (1782), and Arnulfo Arias, President of Panama (1901). These leaders influenced their nations' histories.