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Famous Birthdays on November 16

November 15November 17

18 historically significant individuals born on November 16. November 16 is the birth date of several influential figures in literature, politics, and entertainment. Notable individuals born on this day include Filipino President Elpidio Quirino (1890), Nigerian independence leader Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904), Nobel Prize-winning Portuguese author José Saramago (1922), acclaimed Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe (1930), and video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto (1952). These individuals have made significant contributions in their respective fields, such as political leadership in post-colonial nations, impactful literature, and innovations in digital entertainment.

Total Born
18
Countries
16
Top Century
20th· 11
Top Field
politician
4 individuals

Headline Figures

banker
Guillermo Lasso

Guillermo Lasso

1955 – Present

Former banker who became Ecuador's 55th President from 2021 to 2023, representing conservative economic policies before being forced to resign amid impeachment proceedings.

designer
Shigeru Miyamoto

Shigeru Miyamoto

1952 – Present

Japanese video game designer who created the Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda franchises at Nintendo. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in video game history.

association football player
Marcelo Brozović

Marcelo Brozović

1992 – Present

Croatian central midfielder who plays for Inter Milan and the Croatia national team, serving as vice-captain and competing in multiple World Cups.

Birth Distribution by Century

20th (11)
19th (3)
16th C.20th C.

20th Century

11
Guillermo Lasso
Guillermo Lasso
bankerpolitician
Former banker who became Ecuador's 55th President from 2021 to 2023, representing conservative economic policies before being forced to resign amid impeachment proceedings.
Shigeru Miyamoto
Shigeru Miyamoto
designergame designer
Japanese video game designer who created the Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda franchises at Nintendo. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in video game history.
Marcelo Brozović
Marcelo Brozović
association football player
Croatian central midfielder who plays for Inter Milan and the Croatia national team, serving as vice-captain and competing in multiple World Cups.
Sanna Marin
Sanna Marin
politician
Finnish politician who served as Prime Minister from 2019 to 2023, becoming the world's youngest sitting head of government at age 34. She led Finland through the COVID-19 pandemic and the country's successful NATO membership bid.
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa
association football player
Cameroonian midfielder who plays for Napoli in Serie A and has become a key player for the national team. He helped Cameroon reach the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
José Saramago
José Saramago
chroniclerdiarist
Portuguese novelist who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998 for works including "Blindness" and "The Gospel According to Jesus Christ."
Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe
essayistliterary critic
Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic (1930-2013)
Serik Sapiyev
Serik Sapiyev
boxer
Kazakhstani boxer who won the welterweight gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics and claimed multiple World Championship titles.
Nnamdi Azikiwe
Nnamdi Azikiwe
politician
Nigerian statesman who became the country's first President after independence in 1963. Known as the 'Father of Nigerian Nationalism,' he was a key figure in the independence movement and pan-African politics.
Santiago Peña Palacios
Santiago Peña Palacios
economistpolitician
Paraguayan economist and politician who became President of Paraguay in August 2023. He previously served as Finance Minister under Mario Abdo Benítez.
Mustapha Hadji
Mustapha Hadji
association football player
Moroccan footballer who played as an attacking midfielder for clubs including Coventry City and AS Nancy, representing Morocco in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

19th Century

3
Louis-Honoré Fréchette
Louis-Honoré Fréchette
editoressayist
Canadian poet, politician and playwright (1839-1908)
Georges-Isidore Barthe
Georges-Isidore Barthe
editorjournalist
Canadian politician
Elpidio Quirino
Elpidio Quirino
diplomatlawyer
President of the Philippines from 1948 to 1953 (1890–1956)

18th Century

2
Alexander Chavchavadze
Alexander Chavchavadze
military personnelpoet
Georgian writer and military figure
Francis Danby
Francis Danby
landscape painterpainter
Irish painter (1793-1861)

17th Century

1
Johann Freinsheim
Johann Freinsheim
academichistorian
German scholar

16th Century

1
Josias Simmler
Josias Simmler
historianhumanist
Swiss theologian

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the most famous person born on November 16?
Among those born on November 16, José Saramago, the Portuguese Nobel Prize-winning author, and Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian novelist known for 'Things Fall Apart', are internationally recognized.
Which world leaders were born on November 16?
Two world leaders born on November 16 are Elpidio Quirino, President of the Philippines from 1948 to 1953, and Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria's first President after independence in 1963.
Are there any famous video game creators born on November 16?
Yes, Shigeru Miyamoto, the Nintendo game designer who created Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Donkey Kong, was born on November 16, 1952.