HistoryData

Famous Birthdays on March 16

March 15March 17

18 historically significant individuals born on March 16. March 16 marks the birth date of several influential historical figures. Notably, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro was born in 1478, followed by James Madison, the fourth U.S. President, in 1751. In 1839, French poet and Nobel Prize winner Sully Prudhomme was born, while Latvian poet Aspazija and Peruvian poet César Vallejo came into the world in 1865 and 1892, respectively. These individuals were leaders, writers, and cultural figures who made lasting contributions to history and literature.

Total Born
18
Countries
13
Top Century
20th· 8
Top Field
journalist
3 individuals

Headline Figures

scientist
David W.C. MacMillan

David W.C. MacMillan

1968 – Present

Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2021)

scientist
Frederick Reines

Frederick Reines

1918 – 1998

Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (1995)

director
Bernardo Bertolucci

Bernardo Bertolucci

1941 – 2018

Italian director who created acclaimed films like The Last Emperor and Last Tango in Paris, winning nine Academy Awards throughout his career.

Birth Distribution by Century

20th (8)
19th (5)
15th C.20th C.

20th Century

8
David W.C. MacMillan
David W.C. MacMillan
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2021)
Frederick Reines
Frederick Reines
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (1995)
Bernardo Bertolucci
Bernardo Bertolucci
directorfilm actor
Italian director who created acclaimed films like The Last Emperor and Last Tango in Paris, winning nine Academy Awards throughout his career.
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
bankercentral bank governor
Former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor who became Canada's 24th Prime Minister in 2025.
Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid
basketball player
Cameroonian-born NBA center who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers and is a multiple-time All-Star known for his dominant presence in the paint.
Édison Méndez
Édison Méndez
association football coachassociation football player
Versatile midfielder who earned over 100 caps for Ecuador and played for clubs including PSV Eindhoven and Irapuato before transitioning to coaching.
Andy Najar
Andy Najar
association football player
Honduran midfielder who was born in the United States and played youth football for the U.S. before switching to represent Honduras internationally. He has played professionally in MLS and Belgium.
Jens Stoltenberg
Jens Stoltenberg
economistpolitician
Norwegian politician who served as Prime Minister of Norway twice and has been NATO Secretary-General since 2014.

19th Century

5
Aspazija
Aspazija
journalistplaywright
Latvian poet, playwright, and feminist activist who was a leading figure in the Latvian national awakening movement.
Sully Prudhomme
Sully Prudhomme
diaristessayist
French poet, Nobel prize for literature winner 1901 (1839–1907)
Thomas Blackburn
Thomas Blackburn
Anglican priestentomologist
Australian entomologist (1844-1912)
César Vallejo
César Vallejo
essayistjournalist
Peruvian writer
Jurgis Bielinis
Jurgis Bielinis
journalistpublisher
Lithuanian writer

18th Century

1
James Madison
James Madison
diplomatlawyer
President of the United States from 1809 to 1817 (1751–1836)

17th Century

2
Anton Lazzaro Moro
Anton Lazzaro Moro
choir directoreducator
Italian abbot and scientist (1687-1764)
Johann Conrad Barchusen
Johann Conrad Barchusen
chemistuniversity teacher
German chemist

15th Century

2
Johann Geiler von Kaisersberg
Johann Geiler von Kaisersberg
Catholic priestpreacher
Swiss priest (1445–1510)
Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro
conquistadorexplorer
Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca Empire

Explore More for March 16

Discover historical events and other data for this day.

Events on March 16Deaths on March 16Browse All Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the most famous person born on March 16?
James Madison, born on March 16, 1751, was the 4th President of the United States and is known as the 'Father of the Constitution.' He played a key role in drafting the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
What historical figures were born on March 16?
Historical figures born on March 16 include Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro (1478), U.S. President James Madison (1751), and Peruvian poet César Vallejo (1892). French poet Sully Prudhomme, who was the first Nobel Prize winner in Literature, was born on this date in 1839.
Are there any Nobel Prize winners born on March 16?
Sully Prudhomme, born on March 16, 1839, was a French poet who became the first person to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1901. He was honored for his poetic compositions and his contribution to French literature.