HistoryData

Famous Birthdays on March 12

13 notable people were born on March 12.

March 12 is the birth date of several notable individuals, including influential political leaders and cultural figures. Prominent people born on this day include Russian ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinsky (1889), who had a major impact on modern dance, and Idris I of Libya (1890), the first king of Libya. Others born on this date are Singapore's first Chief Minister David Marshall (1908), Mexican President Gustavo Díaz-Ordaz (1911), and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Leo Esaki (1925).

19th Century2 people

Vaslav Nijinsky

Vaslav Nijinsky

1889 – 1950

Polish-Russian ballet dancer and choreographer, considered the greatest male dancer of the early 20th century and a leading figure in Diaghilev's Ballets Russes.

choreographerdancerdiaristPoland
Idris I of Libya

Idris I of Libya

1890 – 1983

First and only King of Libya who ruled from independence in 1951 until overthrown by Muammar Gaddafi's coup in 1969.

politicianLibya

20th Century11 people

Ratko Mladić

Ratko Mladić

1943

Former Chief of Staff of the Bosnian Serb Army during the 1992-1996 Bosnian War, convicted of genocide for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo.

military personnelsoldierBosnia And Herzegovina
David Marshall

David Marshall

1908 – 1995

Singapore's first Chief Minister from 1955 to 1956 and a prominent criminal defense lawyer. He was known for his passionate oratory and his role in Singapore's early self-government negotiations.

diplomatlawyerpoliticianSingapore
Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson

Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson

1975

Icelandic economist and politician who served as Prime Minister from 2013 to 2016 until resigning following revelations in the Panama Papers. He previously worked as a journalist and was the youngest person to hold the office at age 38.

economistjournalistpoliticianIceland
Milorad Dodik

Milorad Dodik

1959

Current Serb member of Bosnia and Herzegovina's tripartite presidency and long-serving President of Republika Srpska, known for advocating Bosnian Serb autonomy and opposing centralization.

Gustavo Díaz-Ordaz

Gustavo Díaz-Ordaz

1911 – 1979

Mexican lawyer and politician who served as the 56th President of Mexico from 1964 to 1970. His presidency was marked by economic growth but also the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre of student protesters before the Mexico City Olympics.

diplomatlawyermurdererMexico
Teimour Radjabov

Teimour Radjabov

1987

Chess grandmaster and former world championship candidate who won the FIDE World Cup in 2019 and has been among the world's top 10 players.

chess playerAzerbaijan
Joseph Ngute

Joseph Ngute

1954

Current Prime Minister of Cameroon who has served in the role since January 2019 under President Paul Biya.

ministerpoliticianCameroon
Leo Esaki

Leo Esaki

1925

Physicist who shared the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering electron tunneling in semiconductors, leading to advances in electronics.

physicistJapan
Madhav Kumar Nepal

Madhav Kumar Nepal

1953

Senior communist politician who served as Prime Minister from 2009 to 2011 during Nepal's post-monarchy transition period. He is a founding member of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML).

politicianNepal
Julio Dely Valdés

Julio Dely Valdés

1967

Former Panamanian striker who became the country's all-time leading goalscorer and later managed the national team, including during their historic 2018 World Cup qualification.

association football coachassociation football playerPanama

Jorge Dely Valdés

1967

Panamanian footballer who scored 43 goals in 69 international appearances and later became a football coach.

association football coachassociation football playerPanama

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the most famous person born on March 12?
Vaslav Nijinsky, born on March 12, 1889, is considered the most famous person born on this date. He was a legendary Russian ballet dancer and choreographer who transformed modern dance in the early 20th century.
Which Nobel Prize winner was born on March 12?
Leo Esaki, born on March 12, 1925, won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1973. He was recognized for his discoveries regarding tunneling phenomena in semiconductors and superconductors.
Are there any world leaders born on March 12?
Yes, Idris I of Libya was born on March 12, 1890, and was King of Libya from 1951 to 1969. Gustavo Díaz-Ordaz, born on the same date in 1911, was President of Mexico from 1964 to 1970.