19 historically significant individuals born on January 21. January 21 marks the birth date of several prominent figures from various eras. Notable individuals born on this day include Oscar II of Sweden (1829), who ruled both Sweden and Norway, opera singer Plácido Domingo (1941), Vietnamese politician Trương Tấn Sang (1949), and basketball player Hakeem Olajuwon (1963). These individuals have made contributions to monarchy, performing arts, politics, and professional sports.
Total Born
19
Countries
16
Top Century
20th· 9
Top Field
association football player
6 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
Konrad Bloch
1912 – 2000Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1964)
association football player
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
1989 – PresentArmenian midfielder who has played for top European clubs including Manchester United, Arsenal, and AS Roma, and captains the Armenia national football team.
civil servant
Charles Nisbet
1736 – 1804British minister and educator (1736-1804)
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (9)
19th (5)
18th (3)
16th C.21st C.
21st Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Hannibal Mejbri
association football player
Professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Tunisia national team and has represented France at youth levels.
20th Century
9Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Konrad Bloch
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1964)
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
association football player
Armenian midfielder who has played for top European clubs including Manchester United, Arsenal, and AS Roma, and captains the Armenia national football team.
Pervis Estupiñán
association football player
Left-back defender who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League and is a regular starter for Ecuador's national team.
Plácido Domingo
actorconductor
Spanish tenor and conductor who has performed in over 150 opera roles and conducted major opera houses worldwide, considered one of the greatest operatic artists of his generation.
Reinildo Mandava
association football player
Professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Atlético Madrid and the Mozambique national team.
Nguyễn Công Phượng
association football player
Vietnamese forward who became the national team's captain and leading scorer, known for his pace and finishing ability in both domestic and international competitions.
Hakeem Olajuwon
basketball player
Nigerian-born basketball center who played 18 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Houston Rockets. He won two NBA championships and is considered one of the greatest defensive players in basketball history.
AJ
Alfred Jermaniš
association football coachassociation football player
Former Slovenian goalkeeper who played professionally in the 1990s and 2000s before transitioning to coaching roles.
Trương Tấn Sang
politician
Vietnamese politician who served as the 7th President of Vietnam from 2011 to 2016, having previously been Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City's Communist Party Committee.
19th Century
5Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Luis Cruls
astronomersurveyor
Astronomer (1848–1908)
Władysław Zalewski
engineermilitary flight engineer
Aviation engineer, constructor of aeroplanes and aeroplane engines (1892-1977)
Vinko Dvořák
physicistuniversity teacher
Czech physicist (1848–1922)
Oscar II of Sweden
monarch
King of Sweden from 1872 to 1907 and Norway from 1872 to 1905, his reign ended when Norway peacefully gained independence through dissolution of the union.
Vicente Grez
journalistpoet
Chilean politician, journalist and writer (1847-1909)
18th Century
3Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Charles Nisbet
civil servantminister
British minister and educator (1736-1804)
John Fitch
engineerentrepreneur
American inventor, clockmaker, entrepreneur and engineer (1743–1798)
Loammi Baldwin, Sr.
engineerpolitician
American engineer, politician and soldier (1744–1807)
16th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Guidobaldo del Monte
astronomermathematician
Italian mathematician, astronomer and philosopher (*1545 – †1607)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on January 21?
Plácido Domingo, born on January 21, 1941, is a renowned Spanish opera singer. He is one of the most celebrated tenors in opera history with performances in major opera houses worldwide.
What famous basketball player was born on January 21?
Hakeem Olajuwon, a Hall of Fame basketball center, was born on January 21, 1963. He led the Houston Rockets to two NBA championships and is considered one of the greatest centers in basketball history.
Are there any royalty or political leaders born on January 21?
Yes, Oscar II of Sweden was born on January 21, 1829, and was King of Sweden and Norway. Trương Tấn Sang, President of Vietnam from 2011 to 2016, was also born on this date in 1949.