16 historically significant individuals born on February 23. February 23 is the birth date of several influential figures in various fields. Notable individuals born on this date include civil rights leader and scholar W. E. B. Du Bois (1868), philosopher Karl Jaspers (1883), biochemist Casimir Funk (1884), Nobel Prize-winning physicist Allan McLeod Cormack (1924), and religious leader Patriarch Alexius II (1929). Each has made important contributions to social justice, philosophy, science, medicine, and religious leadership.
Total Born
16
Countries
13
Top Century
20th· 8
Top Field
association football player
3 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
Didier Queloz
1966 – PresentNobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (2019)
entomologist
B. Traven
1890 – 1969German novelist
aristocrat
Naruhito
1960 – PresentCurrent Emperor of Japan since ascending the throne in 2019 following his father Akihito's abdication, marking the beginning of the Reiwa era.
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (8)
19th (4)
8th C.20th C.
20th Century
8Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Didier Queloz
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (2019)
Naruhito
aristocratmonarch
Current Emperor of Japan since ascending the throne in 2019 following his father Akihito's abdication, marking the beginning of the Reiwa era.
Casemiro
association football player
Brazilian defensive midfielder who won five Champions League titles with Real Madrid and currently plays for Manchester United.
Patriarch Alexius II
patriarch
Estonian-born Russian Orthodox cleric who served as the 15th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia from 1990 to 2008, leading the church through the post-Soviet revival period.
Anatoliy Banishevskiy
association football coachassociation football player
Soviet footballer who played as a midfielder and later became a coach, known for his career with Neftchi Baku and the Soviet national team during the 1970s.
Allan McLeod Cormack
biophysicist
American physicist (1924-1998)
Hendry Thomas
association football player
Honduran winger who played for Wigan Athletic in the Premier League and represented Honduras at the 2010 World Cup. He also had spells with several clubs in Central America and Major League Soccer.
Viktor Yushchenko
bankerbank manager
Third President of Ukraine from 2005 to 2010, central figure in the Orange Revolution and survivor of a dioxin poisoning attempt.
19th Century
4Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
B. Traven
entomologistEsperantist
German novelist
Karl Jaspers
philosopherpsychiatrist
German psychiatrist and philosopher who developed existential philosophy and made significant contributions to psychology, theology, and the understanding of human existence and communication.
Casimir Funk
biochemistchemist
Polish-American biochemist who coined the term "vitamin" and identified these essential nutrients as necessary for preventing diseases like beriberi and scurvy.
W. E. B. Du Bois
art historianautobiographer
American sociologist and activist (1868–1963)
16th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Jean-Baptiste Morin
astrologerastronomer
French astronomer
15th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Babur
autobiographermonarch
Founder of the Mughal Empire (1526–1530)
13th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Nichiren
Buddhist monkphilosopher
Founder of Nichiren Buddhism in Japan
8th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Harun al-Rashid
poetpolitician
5th Abbasid caliph (r. 786–809)
Explore More for February 23
Discover historical events and other data for this day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on February 23?
W. E. B. Du Bois, born February 23, 1868, is a well-known figure from this date. He was a civil rights activist, sociologist, and co-founder of the NAACP, playing a crucial role in advancing African American rights in the early 20th century.
Are there any Nobel Prize winners born on February 23?
Yes, Allan McLeod Cormack, born on February 23, 1924, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1979. He was recognized for his work in developing CT scanning technology.
What philosophers were born on February 23?
Karl Jaspers, born February 23, 1883, was a German-Swiss psychiatrist and philosopher. He was key to existentialist philosophy and contributed significantly to psychiatric research and philosophical thought in the 20th century.