Paul Celan
1920 – 1970Romanian-born French poet who wrote primarily in German and is considered one of the most important post-Holocaust poets. His most famous work is the poem "Todesfuge" (Death Fugue).
Famous Birthdays on November 23
14 notable people were 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).
20th Century11 people
Nicolás Maduro
1962Nicolás 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
1933 – 2020Polish composer known for avant-garde works like "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima" and later neo-Romantic compositions including religious choral music.
Sathya Sai Baba
1926 – 2011Indian 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.
religious leaderIndia
Asafa Powell
1982Jamaican 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.
Vo Van Kiet
1922 – 2008Vietnamese 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.
Joan Fuster Ortells
1922 – 1992Valencian writer and intellectual who championed Catalan language and culture, becoming a key figure in the Valencian cultural renaissance.
José Napoleón Duarte
1925 – 1990Christian Democratic politician who served as President of El Salvador from 1984 to 1989, leading the country during the height of its civil war.
politicianEl Salvador
Julio César Méndez Montenegro
1915 – 1996Julio 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
1906 – 1989Estonian 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'.
Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui
1990Cameroonian center-back who captained the national team and played for clubs in Belgium and Germany.
association football playerCameroon
19th Century3 people
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.
Johannes Diderik van der Waals
1837 – 1923Dutch physicist who developed the van der Waals equation of state for gases and liquids, earning the 1910 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Hjalmar Branting
1860 – 1925Swedish Social Democratic leader who served as Prime Minister three times and won the 1921 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in international arbitration.
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.