26 historically significant individuals born on November 20. November 20 is the birth date of several notable figures in literature, science, and the arts. Selma Lagerlöf, the Swedish author and Nobel Prize winner, was born on this day in 1858. Benoit Mandelbrot, the mathematician known for developing fractal geometry, was born in 1924. South African novelist and Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer was born in 1923. This date also marks the birth of renowned Russian ballerina Maya Plisetskaya in 1925 and Austrian politician Otto von Habsburg in 1912.
Total Born
26
Countries
18
Top Century
20th· 14
Top Field
politician
5 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
Karl von Frisch
1886 – 1982Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1973)
scientist
Arieh Warshel
1940 – PresentNobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2013)
politician
Otto von Habsburg
1912 – 2011Eldest son of the last Austro-Hungarian Emperor and claimant to the Habsburg throne who later became a Member of the European Parliament representing Germany.
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (14)
19th (5)
18th (4)
15th C.20th C.
20th Century
14Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Arieh Warshel
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2013)
Otto von Habsburg
politician
Eldest son of the last Austro-Hungarian Emperor and claimant to the Habsburg throne who later became a Member of the European Parliament representing Germany.
Tarique Rahman
politician
Bangladeshi politician and son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia who is the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. He has been living in exile in London since 2008.
Youssoufa Moukoko
association football player
German association football player (born 2004)
Benoit Mandelbrot
computer scientisteconomist
Polish-born mathematician who developed fractal geometry and coined the term 'fractal' while working at IBM and Yale University.
Nadine Gordimer
novelistplaywright
South African novelist and short story writer who won the 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature for her works examining the effects of apartheid. Her novels include 'The Conservationist' and 'Burger's Daughter,' both banned by the apartheid government.
Maya Plisetskaya
ballet dancerballet master
Prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre for 30 years who became one of the greatest dancers of the 20th century. She was renowned for her dramatic interpretations, particularly her iconic performance as the Dying Swan.
ED
Edder Delgado
association football coachassociation football player
Former Honduran midfielder who transitioned into coaching after his playing career, working with youth development and professional teams.
Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
bankerpolitician
Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and owner of Manchester City Football Club, managing significant sovereign wealth investments globally.
Joe Biden
diplomatjurist
46th President of the United States (2021–2025)
Ji Yun-nam
association football player
Midfielder who captained North Korea's national football team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and played professionally in several countries including Germany and China.
Kirill I of Moscow
Eastern Orthodox bishopEastern Orthodox priest
Russian Orthodox prelate who has served as Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' since 2009, making him the spiritual leader of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Goodluck Jonathan
politician
Nigerian politician who served as President from 2010 to 2015, rising from Vice President after Umaru Yar'Adua's death. He conceded defeat peacefully in 2015, marking a significant democratic transition.
CY
Choe Yong-rim
politician
North Korean politician (born 1930)
19th Century
5Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Karl von Frisch
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1973)
Hilda Geissmann
botanical collectorbotanist
Australian botanist, naturalist and photographer (1890 - 1988)
Lewis Thomas
businesspersonmining engineer
Australian colliery owner and politician
Selma Lagerlöf
autobiographerbiographer
Swedish novelist who became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909, known for "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils."
Santiago Vaca Guzmán
journalistlawyer
Bolivian writer
18th Century
4Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Pierre Charles Le Monnier
astronomerphysicist
French astronomer
Johann Jacob Ebert
astronomerjournalist
German mathematician, journalist, author and astronomer
Anders Josef Europaeus
historianLutheran pastor
Finnish politician and priest (1797-1870)
Eugene O'Curry
historianuniversity teacher
Irish scholar (1794–1862)
15th Century
3Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Christoph von Scheurl
art historiandiplomat
German writer (1481-1542)
Bartolomé de Las Casas
anthropologistchronicler
Spanish Dominican friar, historian, and social reformer (1474–1566)
Martin Bucer
Protestant reformertheologian
Protestant reformer
Explore More for November 20
Discover historical events and other data for this day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on November 20?
Selma Lagerlöf, born November 20, 1858, is likely the most celebrated. She was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909. She's best known for 'The Wonderful Adventures of Nils' and her works that combined Swedish folklore with literary fiction.
What scientists were born on November 20?
Benoit Mandelbrot, a mathematician famous for developing fractal geometry and the Mandelbrot set, was born on November 20, 1924. His work changed the understanding of complex mathematical patterns found in nature.
Are there any Nobel Prize winners born on November 20?
Yes, two Nobel Prize winners were born on November 20: Selma Lagerlöf won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909, and Nadine Gordimer received the same prize in 1991 for her anti-apartheid writings. Both authors addressed social and political issues in their work.