26 historically significant individuals born on January 27. January 27 is the birth date of several notable individuals across various fields, including politics, science, and performing arts. Noteworthy figures born on this day include German Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1859, Nobel Prize-winning neurophysiologist John Eccles in 1903, and renowned ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1948. The date also marks the birth of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan in 1960 and former North Korean agent Kim Hyon-hui in 1962.
Total Born
26
Countries
20
Top Century
20th· 13
Top Field
scientist
4 individuals
Headline Figures
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (13)
19th (7)
18th (4)
16th C.20th C.
20th Century
13Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Mairead Corrigan
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Peace (1976)
Samuel C.C. Ting
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (1976)
Tasuku Honjo
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2018)
Barry C. Barish
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (2017)
Mikhail Baryshnikov
actorballet dancer
Latvian-American ballet dancer and choreographer who defected from the Soviet Union in 1974 and became one of the world's most celebrated performers with the American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet.
John Eccles
neurologistneuroscientist
Nobel Prize-winning neurophysiologist who made fundamental discoveries about the mechanisms of nerve impulse transmission and synaptic function.
Vyacheslav Lebedev
mathematicianuniversity teacher
Russian mathematician (1930-2010)
Bisher Al-Khasawneh
civil servantdiplomat
Prime Minister of Jordan since 2020, previously served as chief of the Royal Hashemite Court and ambassador to France.
Marat Safin
politiciantennis player
Former world No. 1 tennis player who won the US Open (2000) and Australian Open (2005) during his career. He was known for his powerful serve and volatile on-court behavior before retiring in 2009.
Fann Wong
actormodel
Prominent actress and singer who became one of Singapore's most recognizable entertainment figures in the 1990s and 2000s. She starred in numerous television dramas and films across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Samia Suluhu Hassan
economistpolitician
Tanzania's first female President, who assumed office in March 2021 following the death of John Magufuli. She previously served as Vice President from 2015 to 2021.
Rani Khedira
association football player
Defensive midfielder who plays for FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga and represents the Tunisia national football team.
Kim Hyon-hui
spy
Former North Korean intelligence agent who bombed Korean Air Flight 858 in 1987, killing 115 people. She was captured, confessed, and later became a South Korean citizen.
19th Century
7Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Wilhelm II
art collectorauthor
Last German Kaiser and King of Prussia who ruled from 1888 to 1918, whose policies contributed to World War I and the subsequent collapse of the German Empire.
Francisco Montes de Oca y Saucedo
military physicianpolitician
Mexican politician (1837-1885)
Jules-Émile Verschaffelt
physicistuniversity teacher
Belgian physicist
Alexandru Candiano-Popescu
journalistlawyer
Romanian general and writer (1841-1901)
Juan Crisóstomo Centurión
diplomateducator
Paraguayan journalist and educator (1840-1902)
Sofía Eastman
poetwriter
Chilean writer
Mary O'Donovan Rossa
editorpoet
Irish nationalist, poet (1845–1916), editor
18th Century
4Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Pierre Joseph Buchoz
botanistentomologist
French scientist (1731-1809)
Louise-Amélie Panet
painterpoet
Canadian artist, educator and writer (1789-1862)
Henri Decaisne
paintervisual artist
Belgian painter (1799-1852)
Martin-Joseph Mengal
composerconductor
Belgian composer
16th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Gaspard Bauhin
botanistmycologist
Swiss botanist (1560-1624)
William Alabaster
playwrightpoet
English poet, playwright, and religious writer
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on January 27?
Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor and King of Prussia, was born on January 27, 1859. He ruled from 1888 to 1918, with his reign ending after Germany's defeat in World War I and his abdication.
Are there any famous dancers or performers born on January 27?
Mikhail Baryshnikov, renowned as one of the greatest ballet dancers, was born on January 27, 1948. He defected from the Soviet Union in 1974 and became a prominent figure with the American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet.
Which world leaders were born on January 27?
Wilhelm II, the last German Kaiser, was born in 1859. Samia Suluhu Hassan, born in 1960, became Tanzania's first female president in 2021.