26 historically significant individuals born on May 20. May 20 is the birth date of several influential figures throughout history. Notable individuals born on this date include French novelist Honoré de Balzac in 1799, Polish general and politician Władysław Sikorski in 1881, Norwegian Nobel Prize-winning author Sigrid Undset in 1882, Dutch chess world champion Max Euwe in 1901, and Israeli military leader Moshe Dayan in 1915. These figures have contributed to literature, politics, and more.
Total Born
26
Countries
21
Top Century
20th· 20
Top Field
association football player
6 individuals
Headline Figures
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (20)
19th (4)
18th C.20th C.
20th Century
20Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Edward B. Lewis
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1995)
Anton Zeilinger
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (2022)
Moshe Dayan
archaeologistmilitary personnel
Israeli military commander and politician known for leading Israeli forces in the Six-Day War and serving as Defense Minister. He lost his left eye in combat during World War II and became an iconic figure with his distinctive eye patch.
Roger Milla
association football coachassociation football player
Cameroonian striker who became the oldest goalscorer in World Cup history at age 42 during the 1994 tournament. He led Cameroon to the quarterfinals of the 1990 World Cup, becoming the first African team to reach that stage.
Petr Čech
association football playerathlete
Czech goalkeeper who holds the Premier League record for most clean sheets (202) and won four Premier League titles with Chelsea, widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.
Yoshihiko Noda
politician
Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister from 2011 to 2012, leading the country's response to the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
RL
Rosa Linn
record producersinger-songwriter
Arminian singer-songwriter
Albano Carrisi
actorcomposer
Italian singer-songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as part of the duo Al Bano and Romina Power, selling over 165 million records worldwide.
Stéphane Mbia
association football player
Cameroonian defensive midfielder who earned 54 caps for his country and competed in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. He played for several clubs across Europe, including Sevilla and Queens Park Rangers.
Maurice L'Abbé
mathematicianuniversity teacher
Canadian academic and mathematician (1920–2006)
Max Euwe
chess officialchess player
Dutch mathematician who served as World Chess Champion from 1935-1937 and later became president of FIDE, the World Chess Federation.
Dilara Kazimova
actorcomposer
Azerbaijani singer, actress, and songwriter who represented Azerbaijan at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with the song "Start a Fire."
Boris Akunin
japanologistlinguist
Russian historical mystery writer best known for his Erast Fandorin detective series set in Imperial Russia. He is also a translator and japanologist who has written under multiple pseudonyms.
José Mujica
draftspersonfarmer
Former Tupamaro guerrilla fighter who served as Uruguay's 40th President (2010-2015) and was known as 'the world's poorest president' for his austere lifestyle.
Óscar Cardozo
association football player
Paraguayan striker who scored 13 goals in 40 international appearances and had successful club careers in Portugal with Benfica and in Argentina.
Piotr Zieliński
association football player
Polish midfielder who plays for Serie A club Napoli and is a key player for the Poland national team in international competitions.
Chris Froome
sport cyclist
Kenyan-born British cyclist who won the Tour de France four times (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017) and multiple Olympic medals.
Iker Casillas
association football player
Spanish goalkeeper who captained Real Madrid and the national team, winning the World Cup (2010) and two European Championships.
Jhala Nath Khanal
politician
Former Prime Minister of Nepal (2011) and senior leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML). He served briefly during a period of political instability following the end of the monarchy.
Goh Chok Tong
politician
Singapore's second Prime Minister who served from 1990 to 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew. He focused on economic liberalization and promoting Singapore as a global city during his tenure.
19th Century
4Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Frédéric Passy
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Peace (1901)
Eduard Buchner
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1907)
Sigrid Undset
novelistpoet
Norwegian novelist who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1928 for her medieval historical novels, particularly Kristin Lavransdatter.
Władysław Sikorski
military personnelpolitician
Polish general and statesman who led the Polish government-in-exile during World War II until his death in a controversial plane crash in 1943.
18th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Honoré de Balzac
art criticdramaturge
French novelist and playwright (1799–1850)
Robert Patterson
educatormathematician
American academic
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on May 20?
Honoré de Balzac, a French novelist born in 1799, is often considered the most famous person born on May 20. He wrote 'The Human Comedy' and helped establish realism in European literature.
What Nobel Prize winner was born on May 20?
Sigrid Undset, born in Norway on May 20, 1882, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1928. Her historical novels set in medieval Norway, especially the 'Kristin Lavransdatter' trilogy, are highly regarded.
Are there any famous military leaders born on May 20?
Yes, Władysław Sikorski and Moshe Dayan were both born on May 20. Sikorski was a Polish general and Prime Minister during World War II. Dayan was an Israeli military leader known for his distinctive eye patch and role in Israel's early conflicts.