17 historically significant individuals born on July 31. July 31 is the birth date of nine notable individuals throughout history, including significant contributors to politics, literature, and science. Among the most prominent are Fatima Jinnah, a Pakistani political leader born in 1893, Italian chemist and Holocaust survivor Primo Levi born in 1919, and American chemist Stephanie L. Kwolek, who invented Kevlar, born in 1923. The date also marks the births of Haitian politician Boniface Alexandre in 1936 and Venezuelan baseball player Richart Báez in 1973.
Total Born
17
Countries
15
Top Century
20th· 11
Top Field
scientist
3 individuals
Headline Figures
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (11)
8th C.20th C.
20th Century
11Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Milton Friedman
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (1976)
Robert C. Merton
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (1997)
Paul D. Boyer
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1997)
Primo Levi
autobiographeressayist
Italian chemist and Holocaust survivor who wrote If This Is a Man, providing one of the most powerful testimonies of the Nazi concentration camps.
Victoria Azarenka
tennis player
Professional tennis player who achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 1 and won two Grand Slam singles titles at the Australian Open.
Paulo Wanchope
association football coachassociation football player
Costa Rican striker who played in the English Premier League for Manchester City, West Ham United, and Derby County during the late 1990s and 2000s.
Stephanie L. Kwolek
chemistinventor
American chemist, inventor of Kevlar (1923–2014)
Boniface Alexandre
judgepolitician
Chief Justice of Haiti's Supreme Court who served as interim President following Jean-Bertrand Aristide's departure in 2004. He presided over the country during a critical transitional period until 2006.
Amrita Acharia
actorfilm actor
Norwegian actress known for her roles in Game of Thrones as Irri and other international film and television productions.
RB
Richart Báez
association football coachassociation football player
Paraguayan midfielder who played professionally in Paraguay, Argentina, and other South American leagues before transitioning to coaching.
Loujain al-Hathloul
activisthuman rights defender
Women's rights activist imprisoned from 2018-2021 for campaigning against Saudi Arabia's male guardianship system and driving ban.
19th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Augusto Gil
lawyerpoet
Portuguese poet (1873–1929)
Fatima Jinnah
biographer
Dental surgeon and politician known as 'Madar-e-Millat' (Mother of the Nation) who was Muhammad Ali Jinnah's sister and challenged Ayub Khan in Pakistan's first presidential election in 1965.
18th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Johann Samuel König
mathematicianuniversity teacher
German mathematician
16th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Karel van Mallery
engraverguildmaster
Flemish engraver
14th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Louis I
monarch
Duke of Anjou
8th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Kūkai
Buddhist monkcalligrapher
Japanese Buddhist monk and calligrapher, the founder of the Shingon school (774–835)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on July 31?
Primo Levi, the Italian writer and Holocaust survivor born in 1919, is often considered the most famous person born on July 31. His memoirs and literary works about his World War II experiences make him a key figure in Holocaust literature.
What notable scientists were born on July 31?
Stephanie L. Kwolek, the American chemist who invented Kevlar, was born on July 31, 1923. Her work in polymer chemistry led to materials used in bulletproof vests and many other applications.
Are there any political figures born on July 31?
Yes, Fatima Jinnah, known as the 'Mother of the Nation' in Pakistan, was born on July 31, 1893. She played a major role in Pakistan's independence movement and was the sister of Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.