20 historically significant individuals born on November 23. November 23 marks the birth date of 14 notable individuals throughout history in fields such as science, politics, art, and literature. Among those born on this day are Dutch physicist Johannes Diderik van der Waals (1837), recognized with the Nobel Prize for his work on equations of state for gases and liquids, and Swedish politician Hjalmar Branting (1860), the first Social Democratic Prime Minister of Sweden and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Other notable November 23 births include Mexican muralist José Clemente Orozco (1883), Estonian poet Betti Alver (1906), and Guatemalan president Julio César Méndez Montenegro (1915).
Total Born
20
Countries
20
Top Century
20th· 12
Top Field
politician
3 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
William G. Kaelin Jr
1957 – PresentNobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2019)
essayist
Paul Celan
1920 – 1970French-Romanian poet and translator (1920–1970)
draftsperson
José Clemente Orozco
1883 – 1949Mexican muralist painter who created powerful social and political murals, considered one of the leading figures of the Mexican mural movement alongside Diego Rivera.
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (12)
19th (4)
17th C.20th C.
20th Century
12Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
William G. Kaelin Jr
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2019)
Paul Celan
essayistliterary editor
French-Romanian poet and translator (1920–1970)
Sathya Sai Baba
religious leader
Indian spiritual leader who claimed to be the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi and attracted millions of devotees worldwide through his teachings and alleged miracles.
Asafa Powell
athletics competitorsprinter
Jamaican sprinter who held the 100m world record (9.74s) from 2005 to 2008. He was the first man to break the 9.80-second barrier in the 100 meters.
José Napoleón Duarte
politician
Christian Democratic politician who served as President of El Salvador from 1984 to 1989, leading the country during the height of its civil war.
Julio César Méndez Montenegro
lawyerpolitician
Julio César Méndez Montenegro served as President of Guatemala from 1966 to 1970 as the last civilian president before a series of military governments.
Betti Alver
novelistpoet
Estonian poet and novelist who was one of the most prominent Estonian writers of the 20th century, known for her lyrical poetry and the novel 'Tuuline rand'.
Joan Fuster Ortells
aphoristessayist
Valencian writer and intellectual who championed Catalan language and culture, becoming a key figure in the Valencian cultural renaissance.
Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui
association football player
Cameroonian center-back who captained the national team and played for clubs in Belgium and Germany.
Vo Van Kiet
military personnelpolitician
Vietnamese politician who served as Prime Minister from 1991 to 1997, playing a crucial role in implementing the doi moi economic reforms that liberalized Vietnam's economy. He oversaw the transition from a centrally planned to a market-oriented economy.
Nicolás Maduro
bus driverdiplomat
Nicolás Maduro has served as Venezuela's president since 2013, succeeding Hugo Chávez and continuing the Bolivarian socialist policies amid severe economic crisis and international sanctions.
Krzysztof Penderecki
conductormusic educator
Polish composer known for avant-garde works like "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima" and later neo-Romantic compositions including religious choral music.
19th Century
4Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
José Clemente Orozco
draftspersonmuralist
Mexican muralist painter who created powerful social and political murals, considered one of the leading figures of the Mexican mural movement alongside Diego Rivera.
Johannes Diderik van der Waals
chemistmathematician
Dutch physicist who developed the van der Waals equation of state for gases and liquids, earning the 1910 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Enrique López Albújar
journalistjudge
Peruvian writer (1872–1966)
Hjalmar Branting
diplomatediting staff
Swedish Social Democratic leader who served as Prime Minister three times and won the 1921 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in international arbitration.
18th Century
3Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Antoine Darquier de Pellepoix
astronomertranslator
French astronomer (1718-1802)
Thomas Birch
historiantheologian
English historian (1705-1766)
Gábor Mátray
archaeologistcomposer
Librarian, composer, historian (1797–1875)
17th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Eberhard von Danckelmann
head of governmentminister
Prussian politician (1643-1722)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on November 23?
Johannes Diderik van der Waals, the Dutch physicist born in 1837, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1910, is a notable person born on November 23. Swedish Prime Minister Hjalmar Branting and Mexican muralist José Clemente Orozco were also born on this date.
Are there any Nobel Prize winners born on November 23?
Yes, two Nobel Prize winners were born on November 23. Johannes Diderik van der Waals won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1910 for his work on the equation of state for gases and liquids, and Hjalmar Branting received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1921 for his efforts in international diplomacy.
What famous artists were born on November 23?
José Clemente Orozco, born in 1883, was a key figure in the Mexican mural movement. Estonian poet Betti Alver, a significant literary figure in Estonian literature, was also born on this date in 1906.