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Famous Birthdays on May 23

May 22May 24

13 historically significant individuals born on May 23. May 23 is the birth date of several notable figures from various disciplines and eras. Noteworthy individuals born on this day include Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus (1707), who developed the modern system of biological classification, Nobel Prize-winning Swedish author Pär Lagerkvist (1891), and former Peruvian President Alan García (1949). This date also marks the birth of chess grandmaster Anatoly Karpov (1951) and Costa Rican footballer Hernán Medford (1968).

Total Born
13
Countries
11
Top Century
20th· 6
Top Field
scientist
2 individuals

Headline Figures

scientist
Joshua Lederberg

Joshua Lederberg

1925 – 2008

Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1958)

scientist
John Bardeen

John Bardeen

1908 – 1991

Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (1956), Nobel Prize in Physics (1972)

association football coach
Hernán Medford

Hernán Medford

1968 – Present

Striker who scored 18 goals in 89 appearances for Costa Rica and later managed the national team. He played professionally in Europe, including spells in Spain and Austria.

Birth Distribution by Century

20th (6)
19th (4)
18th (2)
17th C.20th C.

20th Century

6
Joshua Lederberg
Joshua Lederberg
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1958)
John Bardeen
John Bardeen
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (1956), Nobel Prize in Physics (1972)
Hernán Medford
Hernán Medford
association football coachassociation football player
Striker who scored 18 goals in 89 appearances for Costa Rica and later managed the national team. He played professionally in Europe, including spells in Spain and Austria.
Alan García
Alan García
juristlawyer
Peruvian politician who served as President twice (1985-1990 and 2006-2011) and died by suicide in 2019 as police arrived to arrest him on corruption charges.
Anatoly Karpov
Anatoly Karpov
chess playerjournalist
Russian chess grandmaster who served as World Chess Champion from 1975 to 1985 and is considered one of the greatest positional players in chess history.
Kevin Ullyett
Kevin Ullyett
tennis player
Professional tennis player who won 34 ATP doubles titles and reached the doubles final at three Grand Slam tournaments during his career.

19th Century

4
Nikodem Caro
Nikodem Caro
chemistentrepreneur
Polish chemist (1871-1935)
Santiago Pérez de Manosalbas
Santiago Pérez de Manosalbas
diplomatjournalist
President of Colombia (1830-1900)
Garabet Ibrăileanu
Garabet Ibrăileanu
editing stafflinguist
Romanian academic (1871–1936)
Pär Lagerkvist
Pär Lagerkvist
autobiographeressayist
Swedish writer (1891–1974)

18th Century

2
Charles Fothergill
Charles Fothergill
naturalist
Canadian politician (1782–1840)
Carl Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus
arachnologistautobiographer
Swedish botanist who created the modern system of biological taxonomy and binomial nomenclature still used today for classifying living organisms.

17th Century

1
Juan Caramuel y Lobkowitz
Juan Caramuel y Lobkowitz
architectCatholic bishop
Spanish mathematician and theologian

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the most famous person born on May 23?
Carl Linnaeus, born on May 23, 1707, is likely the most famous person born on this date. He created the modern system of biological classification that scientists still use today, fundamentally changing how the natural world is organized and understood.
Are there any Nobel Prize winners born on May 23?
Yes, Pär Lagerkvist, the Swedish author born on May 23, 1891, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1951. He was recognized for his artistic vigor and independence of mind, exploring eternal questions through his poetry.
What famous chess player was born on May 23?
Anatoly Karpov, born on May 23, 1951, is a Russian chess grandmaster who was World Chess Champion from 1975 to 1985. He is one of the greatest chess players in history, with over 160 first-place finishes in international tournaments.