Gustav I of Sweden
1496 – 1560Swedish king who led the Swedish War of Liberation against Denmark and established Sweden as an independent nation, founding the Vasa dynasty.
Famous Birthdays on May 21
10 notable people were born on May 21.
May 21 is the birth date of several notable figures. Gustav I of Sweden, born in 1496, established Swedish independence from Danish rule. Willem Einthoven, born in 1860, was the Dutch physician who invented the electrocardiogram and won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Mexican president Lázaro Cárdenas was born in 1895, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser in 1930, and Ethiopian military leader Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1937.
15th Century1 person
20th Century7 people
Sergei Shoigu
1955Russian politician who served as Defense Minister from 2012 to 2024 and currently serves as Secretary of the Security Council of Russia.
Mario Mandžukić
1986Croatian striker who scored crucial goals in Croatia's run to the 2018 World Cup final, including the winning goal in the semi-final against England.
Malcolm Fraser
1930 – 2015Australia's 22nd Prime Minister (1975-1983) who came to power following the constitutional crisis that dismissed Gough Whitlam's government. Fraser led the Liberal Party through significant economic challenges and later became a human rights advocate after leaving politics.
politicianAustralia
Varvara Lepchenko
1986Professional tennis player who represented Ukraine until 2011 before switching to compete for the United States. She achieved a career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 19 in 2012 and has won one WTA singles title.
tennis playerUkraine
Mengistu Haile Mariam
1937Ethiopian military officer who ruled as head of the Derg military junta from 1977 to 1991, responsible for the Red Terror campaign.
Rene Krhin
1990Slovenian defensive midfielder who has played for clubs including Inter Milan and Bologna while representing Slovenia at international level.
association football playerSlovenia
Ivan Bella
1964Slovak astronaut and the first citizen of Slovakia to travel to space, flying aboard Soyuz TM-29 to the International Space Station in 1999.
19th Century2 people
Lázaro Cárdenas
1895 – 1970Mexican general who served as the 51st President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940, implementing major land reforms and nationalizing the oil industry. His presidency marked a significant shift toward socialist policies and workers' rights.
Willem Einthoven
1860 – 1927Dutch physiologist who invented the electrocardiogram (ECG) and won the 1924 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on May 21?
Gustav I of Sweden, born in 1496, is a historically notable figure from May 21. He founded modern Sweden and began the Vasa dynasty. Willem Einthoven, who invented the electrocardiogram and won a Nobel Prize, is another prominent individual born on this date.
Are there any Nobel Prize winners born on May 21?
Yes, Willem Einthoven, born on May 21, 1860, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1924 for inventing the electrocardiogram, significantly impacting cardiac medicine.
Which political leaders were born on May 21?
Notable political leaders born on May 21 include Gustav I of Sweden (1496), Mexican President Lázaro Cárdenas (1895), and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser (1930). Ethiopian military leader Mengistu Haile Mariam was born on this date in 1937.