Édouard Manet
1832 – 1883French painter whose bold, realistic works like 'Olympia' and 'The Luncheon on the Grass' helped bridge Realism and Impressionism in 19th-century art.
Famous Birthdays on January 23
14 notable people were born on January 23.
January 23 is the birth date of several notable individuals in various areas of human achievement. Born on this day are French novelist Stendhal (1783), Impressionist painter Édouard Manet (1832), Nobel Prize-winning physicist Hideki Yukawa (1907), archaeologist Marija Gimbutas (1921), and former Mongolian president Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat (1942). Each made important contributions to literature, art, science, archaeology, and political leadership over nearly two centuries.
19th Century1 person
18th Century1 person
Stendhal
1783 – 1842French novelist best known for his psychological realism in masterworks The Red and the Black and The Charterhouse of Parma.
20th Century12 people
Marija Gimbutas
1921 – 1994Pioneering archaeologist who developed the influential theory of Old Europe and goddess-centered prehistoric cultures through her excavations in southeastern Europe. Her work revolutionized understanding of Neolithic societies.
Arjen Robben
1984Dutch winger known for his pace and cutting inside from the right flank, who won league titles with Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich.
Rutger Hauer
1944 – 2019Dutch actor internationally known for his role as Roy Batty in Blade Runner and his appearances in numerous Hollywood films.
Magdalena Andersson
1967Swedish economist and Social Democratic politician who briefly served as Prime Minister in 2021-2022, becoming the first woman to hold the office.
politicianSweden
Megawati Soekarnoputri
1947Fifth President of Indonesia (2001-2004) and daughter of founding president Sukarno, she was the country's first female president.
politicianIndonesia
Hideki Yukawa
1907 – 1981Japanese theoretical physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1949 for his prediction of the existence of mesons in nuclear interactions.
Robert Golob
1967Slovenian electrical engineer and businessman who became Prime Minister in 2022 after founding the Freedom Movement party. He previously served as CEO of major energy companies and led his party to victory in Slovenia's 2022 parliamentary elections.
Gudaf Tsegay
1997Ethiopian middle and long-distance runner who holds the world record in the women's 5,000 meters and has won multiple world championship medals.
athletics competitorEthiopia
Arnoldo Alemán
1946Nicaraguan lawyer and politician who served as President of Nicaragua from 1997 to 2002, later convicted of corruption charges related to his presidency.
Chan Vathanaka
1994Cambodian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and serves as captain of the Cambodia national football team.
association football playerCambodia
Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat
1942 – 2025Mongolia's first democratically elected President (1993-1997) who led the country's transition from communist rule to democracy.
politicianMongolia
Irving Saladino
1983Panamanian long jumper who won Panama's first Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
long jumperPanama
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on January 23?
Édouard Manet, the influential French painter born in 1832, is likely the most widely recognized figure born on January 23. His groundbreaking artistic work helped bridge the gap between Realism and Impressionism in 19th-century art.
Are there any Nobel Prize winners born on January 23?
Yes, Hideki Yukawa, the Japanese theoretical physicist born on January 23, 1907, won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1949. He was the first Japanese person to receive a Nobel Prize, earning recognition for his work on nuclear forces.
What famous French writer was born on January 23?
Stendhal, born Marie-Henri Beyle in 1783, was a celebrated French writer known for his psychological novels. His most famous works include 'The Red and the Black' and 'The Charterhouse of Parma.'