32 historically significant individuals born on March 21. March 21 is the birth date of 20 notable individuals throughout history, including influential political leaders and scientists. Among those born on this date are French mathematician Joseph Fourier (1768), known for his foundational work in mathematical analysis, and Mexican president Benito Juárez (1806), a reformist leader in 19th-century Mexico. Other figures include Bolivian president Hernán Siles Zuazo (1914), Iraqi president Abdul Salam Arif (1921), and Nepalese prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa (1928).
Total Born
32
Countries
26
Top Century
20th· 19
Top Field
association football player
6 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
Walter Gilbert
1932 – PresentNobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1980)
association football player
Ronaldinho
1980 – PresentBrazilian midfielder widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, known for his technical ability and creativity. He won the Ballon d'Or in 2005 and played key roles at Barcelona and AC Milan.
judge
Benito Juárez
1806 – 1872Indigenous Mexican lawyer and politician who served as President of Mexico from 1858 to 1872, leading liberal reforms and resistance against French occupation.
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (19)
18th (6)
13th C.20th C.
20th Century
19Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Walter Gilbert
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1980)
Ronaldinho
association football playerfutsal player
Brazilian midfielder widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, known for his technical ability and creativity. He won the Ballon d'Or in 2005 and played key roles at Barcelona and AC Milan.
Ayrton Senna
businesspersonFormula One driver
Three-time Formula One World Champion (1988, 1990, 1991) who died in a crash during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. He is considered one of the greatest racing drivers in motorsport history.
Rani Mukerji
actorfilm actor
National Film Award-winning actress known for her performances in 'Black,' 'Hichki,' and other Bollywood films spanning over two decades.
Jair Bolsonaro
politician
Former Brazilian Army captain who served as the 38th President of Brazil from 2019 to 2023. His presidency was marked by controversial policies regarding the environment, COVID-19, and democratic institutions.
Jordi Amat
association football player
Indonesian national team defender who has played for clubs in Spain's La Liga and represented Indonesia in international competitions.
Lothar Matthäus
association football coach
German footballer who won the 1990 FIFA World Cup and was the first player to appear in five World Cup tournaments. He holds the record for most World Cup matches played with 25 appearances.
Hernán Siles Zuazo
lawyerpolitician
Three-time President of Bolivia who co-founded the National Revolutionary Movement and led the country during periods of democratic transition in the 1950s and 1980s.
Hany Mukhtar
association football player
German-born attacking midfielder who represents Sudan internationally and currently plays for Nashville SC in Major League Soccer. He previously played in the Bundesliga for clubs including Hertha Berlin.
Prayut Chanocha
dictatormilitary officer
Former army general who led a military coup in 2014 and served as Prime Minister of Thailand until 2023.
Sergei Lavrov
diplomatminister
Russian diplomat who has served as Foreign Minister since 2004, making him one of the world's longest-serving top diplomats. He previously served as Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1994 to 2004.
Abdul Salam Arif
military personnelpolitician
Military officer and politician who served as President of Iraq from 1963 to 1966 following the Ba'ath coup that overthrew the monarchy. He was killed in a helicopter crash in 1966.
Slavoj Žižek
actorcultural critic
Slovenian cultural critic and philosopher known for his work combining Lacanian psychoanalysis, German idealism, and Marxist theory. He has written over 30 books and is recognized internationally for his provocative commentary on ideology, politics, and popular culture.
Derartu Tulu
athletics competitorlong-distance runner
Ethiopian long-distance runner who became the first African woman to win Olympic gold in the 10,000 meters at Barcelona 1992.
Surya Bahadur Thapa
civil servantpolitician
Nepalese politician who served as Prime Minister of Nepal five separate times between 1963 and 1997. He holds the record for the most terms served as Prime Minister in Nepal's history.
Ronald Koeman
association football coachassociation football player
Dutch defender who scored the winning goal in the 1988 European Championship final and later managed Everton, Southampton, and Barcelona.
Mohamed Ennaceur
lawyerpolitician
Interim President of Tunisia from July to October 2019 following the death of Beji Caid Essebsi.
Jordi Alba
association football player
Spanish left-back who has made over 90 international appearances and won the World Cup and European Championship, spending most of his career at Barcelona.
AH
Abdeljalil Hadda
association football player
Former Moroccan defender who had a long professional career in European football. He represented Morocco in international competitions during the 1990s and early 2000s.
19th Century
4Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Benito Juárez
judgelawyer
Indigenous Mexican lawyer and politician who served as President of Mexico from 1858 to 1872, leading liberal reforms and resistance against French occupation.
William Hodgkinson
explorerjournalist
Australian explorer, journalist, gold miner and politician
Dimitrie C. Ollănescu-Ascanio
diplomatjudge
Wallachian-born Romanian poet, prose writer and playwright (1849-1908)
Cenap Şahabettin
physicianpoet
Turkish physician and poet (1870–1934)
18th Century
6Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Joseph Fourier
mathematician
French mathematician and physicist who discovered the Fourier series and made fundamental contributions to the mathematical analysis of heat transfer.
Ignaz Venetz
botanistengineer
Swiss glaciologist (1788-1859)
David Bates Douglass
academicarchitect
American civil and military engineer; academic administrator; and cemetery architect (1790-1849)
Hans Caspar Hirzel
physicianwriter
Swiss writer
Johan Nordahl Brun
Lutheran pastorplaywright
Bishop (1745-1816)
Lorenz Natter
archaeologistmedalist
Gem-engraver and medallist (1705-1763)
17th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Ogyū Sorai
linguistphilosopher
Japanese philosopher (1666–1728)
15th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Luca Gaurico
astrologerCatholic bishop
Italian astronomer
13th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Henry Suso
hymnwriterlinguist
German Dominican friar and mystic
Explore More for March 21
Discover historical events and other data for this day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on March 21?
Joseph Fourier, born in 1768, is likely the most famous person born on this date. He was a French mathematician and physicist known for his work in mathematical analysis and the Fourier series.
Are there any world leaders born on March 21?
Yes, Benito Juárez, former President of Mexico, was born on March 21 in 1806. Hernán Siles Zuazo, who was President of Bolivia, was born on this date in 1914.
How many notable people were born on March 21?
There are 20 notable people recorded as being born on March 21 in areas like mathematics, politics, and science.