27 historically significant individuals born on July 8. July 8 marks the birth date of several notable historical figures from different times and areas. Noteworthy individuals born on this day include French fabulist Jean de La Fontaine in 1621, Burmese King Mindon Min in 1808, Bolivian President Daniel Salamanca Urey in 1869, German philosopher Ernst Bloch in 1885, and North Korean news anchor Ri Chun-hee in 1943. Each of these individuals contributed to literature, politics, philosophy, or media in their respective cultures and eras.
Total Born
27
Countries
21
Top Century
19th· 13
Top Field
association football player
3 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
Igor Y. Tamm
1895 – 1971Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (1958)
children's writer
Jean de La Fontaine
1621 – 1695French poet, fabulist and writer (1621–1695)
philosopher
Ernst Bloch
1885 – 1977German Marxist philosopher who developed the concept of "hope" as a philosophical principle and wrote the influential three-volume work "The Principle of Hope."
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (10)
19th (13)
16th C.20th C.
20th Century
10Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Francisco Calvo
association football player
Center-back who has been a regular starter for the Costa Rica national team since 2013 and played in the 2018 World Cup. He currently plays in MLS.
CK
Claude Kévers-Pascalis
engineerwriter
Belgian writer, historian and engineer
Valerii Zaluzhnyi
authormilitary commander
Ukrainian military commander who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from 2021 to 2024, leading Ukraine's defense during the Russian invasion. He was appointed as Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Kingdom in 2024.
DR
Dzidra Rinkule-Zemzare
children's writerjournalist
Latvian writer, author of children's books (1920-2007)
RC
Ri Chun-hee
actorannouncer
Veteran state television anchor famous for her dramatic delivery style when announcing major government news, including the deaths of North Korean leaders and nuclear weapons tests.
Gulnara Karimova
diplomatentrepreneur
Eldest daughter of former President Islam Karimov who was once a prominent businesswoman and diplomat before being imprisoned on corruption charges. She previously served as Uzbekistan's ambassador to Spain and held significant business interests.
NR
Nadir Rüstəmli
singer
Azerbaijani singer who represented Azerbaijan at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "Özünlə Apar."
Bakhodir Jalolov
boxer
Uzbekistani super heavyweight boxer who won Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and multiple World Championship titles.
Son Heung-min
association football player
South Korean footballer who plays as a forward for Tottenham Hotspur and captains the national team, becoming one of Asia's most successful players in European football.
Virgil van Dijk
association football player
Dutch center-back who captains Liverpool and the Netherlands national team, widely considered one of the world's best defenders.
19th Century
13Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Igor Y. Tamm
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (1958)
Ernst Bloch
philosophertheologian
German Marxist philosopher who developed the concept of "hope" as a philosophical principle and wrote the influential three-volume work "The Principle of Hope."
John Pemberton
businesspersoninventor
American pharmacist, inventor of Coca-Cola (1831-1888)
Torsten Carleman
mathematicianuniversity teacher
Swedish mathematician, known for research in classical mathematical analysis (1892-1949)
Mindon Min
monarch
Penultimate king of Burma who modernized the country and founded Mandalay as his new capital in 1857.
Árpád Berczik
journalistjurist
Hungarian writer (1842-1919)
Sasaki Nobutsuna
poetwaka poet
Tanka poet and scholar of Japanese literature. (1872–1963)
Aleksander Birkenmajer
historianhistorian of science
Polish historian of exact sciences and philosophy (1890-1967)
Daniel Salamanca Urey
lawyerpolitician
Bolivian lawyer and politician who served as President of Bolivia from 1931 to 1934 and founded the Republican Party.
Heinrich von Angeli
painteruniversity teacher
Austrian painter (1840-1925)
Antoine-Félix Bouré
sculptorvisual artist
Belgian sculptor (1831–1883)
KB
Kristian Kornelius Hagemann Brandt
engineermilitary officer
Norwegian politician
MO
Margaret Oppen
artistembroiderer
Australian artist (1890-1975)
18th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Fitz-Greene Halleck
poetwriter
American writer (1790–1867)
ÉH
Édouard Hocquart
artistbotanical illustrator
Botanical illustrator, artist, penman, publisher, copper engraver (1789-1870)
17th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Jean de La Fontaine
children's writerfabulist
French poet, fabulist and writer (1621–1695)
16th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Petrus Albinus
archivisthistorian
German historian, writer (1543-1598)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on July 8?
Jean de La Fontaine, the French fabulist born in 1621, is widely recognized for his collection of fables, which have been translated into many languages and are still enjoyed worldwide.
Are there any political leaders born on July 8?
Yes, Mindon Min, who ruled Burma from 1853 to 1878, and Daniel Salamanca Urey, President of Bolivia from 1931 to 1934, were born on July 8. Both influenced their countries during times of major change.
How many famous people were born on July 8?
Twelve notable people are recorded as being born on July 8. They include writers, political leaders, philosophers, and broadcasters from various eras and nations.