Mary Shelley
1797 – 1851English novelist who wrote 'Frankenstein' (1818), widely considered the first science fiction novel. She was married to Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Famous Birthdays on August 30
17 notable people were born on August 30.
August 30 is the birth date of several notable individuals in literature, science, and the arts. Among those born on this day are Mary Shelley (1797), the author of "Frankenstein," Nobel Prize-winning chemist Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff (1852), and physicist Ernest Rutherford (1871), the father of nuclear physics. The date also includes Filipino revolutionary writer Marcelo H. del Pilar (1850) and Dutch abstract artist Theo van Doesburg (1883).
18th Century1 person
19th Century5 people
Ernest Rutherford
1871 – 1937New Zealand physicist who split the atom and discovered the concept of radioactive half-life, earning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908 for his work on radioactive decay.
Marcelo H. del Pilar
1850 – 1896Filipino revolutionary propagandist who founded the anti-colonial newspaper La Solidaridad in Barcelona in 1889. He was a key figure in the Propaganda Movement that advocated for Philippine reforms under Spanish rule.
Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff
1852 – 1911Dutch physical chemist who founded stereochemistry and won the first Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1901 for his work on chemical kinetics.
Theo van Doesburg
1883 – 1931Dutch artist and architect who co-founded the De Stijl movement and developed theories of abstract art emphasizing geometric forms and primary colors.
Theodor Svedberg
1884 – 1971Swedish chemist who won the 1926 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on disperse systems, particularly his invention of the ultracentrifuge.
20th Century11 people
Anna Politkovskaya
1958 – 2006Russian investigative journalist and human rights activist who reported extensively on the Second Chechen War and was assassinated in Moscow in 2006.
Muhammad bin Nayef
1959Former Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia from 2015-2017 who previously led the country's counterterrorism efforts as Interior Minister.
Pavel Nedvěd
1972Czech midfielder who won the Ballon d'Or in 2003 and played for top clubs including Juventus and Lazio, considered one of the greatest Czech footballers of all time.
Alexander Lukashenko
1954Belarusian politician who has served as President of Belarus since 1994, making him Europe's longest-serving head of state.
Ernests Gulbis
1988Latvian professional tennis player who reached a career-high ATP ranking of No. 10 in 2014 and has won six ATP Tour singles titles.
tennis playerLatvia
Maksim Shatskikh
1978Prolific striker who became Uzbekistan's all-time leading goalscorer with over 34 international goals during his career. He played for several European clubs and later became a football coach.
Radhi Jaïdi
1975Former professional footballer who played as a centre-back and later became a football coach. He had a successful playing career in England and represented Tunisia internationally.
Farid Mammadov
1991Singer-songwriter who represented Azerbaijan at Eurovision 2023 with "Tell Me More" and is known for his contemporary pop compositions.
Gediminas Kirkilas
1951 – 2024Prime Minister of Lithuania from 2006 to 2008 who led a Social Democratic government and previously worked as an art restorer.
Félix Sánchez
1977Olympic champion hurdler who won gold medals in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2004 and 2012 Olympics.
Bako Sahakyan
1960Third President of the Republic of Artsakh (2007-2020) who led the disputed territory during periods of military conflict with Azerbaijan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on August 30?
Mary Shelley, born on August 30, 1797, is likely the most famous person born on this date, known worldwide as the author of Frankenstein. Ernest Rutherford, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist who discovered the atomic nucleus, is also notable for being born on August 30.
What scientists were born on August 30?
Two major scientists were born on August 30: Ernest Rutherford (1871), who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on radioactivity and atomic structure, and Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff (1852), the first winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Both contributed significantly to chemistry and physics.
Are there any famous writers born on August 30?
Yes, Mary Shelley was born on August 30, 1797. She became a well-known writer in literary history. Shelley wrote Frankenstein at age 18, creating one of the first science fiction novels and a story that remains popular today.