20 historically significant individuals born on January 22. January 22 is the birth date of several well-known political leaders and diplomats. Born on this day are U Thant, the third Secretary-General of the United Nations, Cambodian prince and politician Sisowath Sirik Matak, and Singapore's first elected president Ong Teng Cheong. The date also marks the birth of Ecuador's former president Alfredo Palacio and North Korean politician Jang Sung-taek.
Total Born
20
Countries
18
Top Century
20th· 12
Top Field
politician
7 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
Lev Landau
1908 – 1968Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (1962)
scientist
Alan Heeger
1936 – PresentNobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2000)
association football player
Vincent Aboubakar
1992 – PresentCameroonian striker who captained his country to victory at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. He was the tournament's top scorer and won the Golden Boot at the event.
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (12)
19th (5)
1st C.20th C.
20th Century
12Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Lev Landau
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (1962)
Alan Heeger
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2000)
Vincent Aboubakar
association football player
Cameroonian striker who captained his country to victory at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. He was the tournament's top scorer and won the Golden Boot at the event.
Hidetoshi Nakata
association football player
Midfielder who became Japan's first major European football star, playing for clubs like Roma and Parma during the late 1990s and 2000s.
Rio Haryanto
Formula One driverracing automobile driver
Indonesian racing driver who became the first Indonesian to compete in Formula One when he raced for Manor Racing in 2016.
Alfredo Palacio
cardiologistphysician
Cardiologist and academic who briefly served as President of Ecuador from 2005 to 2007 after assuming power following the ousting of Lucio Gutiérrez.
Sisowath Sirik Matak
politician
Cambodian prince and politician who served as Prime Minister under the Khmer Republic and was executed by the Khmer Rouge in 1975.
Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu
politician
Sultan of Terengganu since 1998 who served as Malaysia's 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (2006-2011) and is known for his interest in Islamic scholarship.
U Thant
diplomatpolitician
Burmese diplomat who served as the third Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1961 to 1971, overseeing the organization during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Suez Canal crisis.
Ong Teng Cheong
architectpolitician
Singapore's fifth President from 1993 to 1999, who was also a trained architect and former Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress. He was the first elected president under Singapore's new constitutional framework.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam
politician
Singapore's ninth President since September 2023, previously serving as Senior Minister and coordinating minister for social policies. He is widely recognized for his expertise in economic policy and served as chairman of the International Monetary and Financial Committee.
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Jang Sung-taek
politician
Kim Jong-un's uncle and former regent who served as Vice Chairman of the National Defense Commission until his execution in 2013 for alleged treason.
19th Century
5Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Francis Guthrie
botanical collectorbotanist
South African mathematician and botanist (1831-1899)
Eliodoro Villazón
journalistlawyer
President of Bolivia (1848-1939)
Wincenty Rapacki
actorplaywright
Polish actor (1840–1924)
Nicholas Adontz
armenologistByzantinist
Historian (1871–1942)
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Jennie Fowler Willing
preachersuffragette
Canadian-American educator, writer, social reformer
18th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Maria Leopoldina of Austria
monarch
Queen consort of Portugal and Empress consort of Brazil (1797–1826)
Ludger Duvernay
journalistpolitician
Canadian politician
1st Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Hadrian
military personnelpoet
14th Roman Emperor (117–138)
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Discover historical events and other data for this day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on January 22?
U Thant, born on January 22, 1909, is likely the most internationally recognized figure from this date. He was the third Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1961 to 1971 and played a crucial role in mediating international conflicts during the Cold War era.
Are there any world leaders born on January 22?
Yes, several world leaders were born on January 22. These include U Thant, Ong Teng Cheong, the President of Singapore, and Alfredo Palacio, the President of Ecuador. Sisowath Sirik Matak, a prominent Cambodian political leader, was also born on this date in 1914.
What countries do famous January 22 birthdays represent?
Notable people born on January 22 are from Myanmar (U Thant), Cambodia (Sisowath Sirik Matak), Singapore (Ong Teng Cheong), Ecuador (Alfredo Palacio), and North Korea (Jang Sung-taek).