20 historically significant individuals born on November 4. November 4 is the birth date of eleven notable individuals throughout history, including several prominent political leaders and scientists. Notable figures born on this day include Paraguayan president Carlos Antonio López (1792), Philippine president Carlos P. Garcia (1896), Nobel Peace Prize-winning physicist Joseph Rotblat (1908), Guatemalan president Carlos Castillo Armas (1914), and Singaporean president Wee Kim Wee (1915). Their contributions have impacted politics, science, and international relations across various continents.
Total Born
20
Countries
17
Top Century
20th· 11
Top Field
politician
4 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
Charles K. Kao
1933 – 2018Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (2009)
scientist
David Julius
1955 – PresentNobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2021)
military personnel
Carlos Castillo Armas
1914 – 1957Military officer who became president after leading the 1954 CIA-backed coup that overthrew Jacobo Árbenz, ruling Guatemala until his assassination in 1957.
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (11)
19th (5)
18th (4)
18th C.20th C.
20th Century
11Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Charles K. Kao
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (2009)
David Julius
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2021)
Carlos Castillo Armas
military personnelpolitician
Military officer who became president after leading the 1954 CIA-backed coup that overthrew Jacobo Árbenz, ruling Guatemala until his assassination in 1957.
Enner Valencia
association football player
Striker who became Ecuador's all-time leading goalscorer with over 40 international goals and has played for clubs including West Ham United and Fenerbahçe.
Matti Vanhanen
bloggerjournalist
Finnish politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2010, leading Finland through the global financial crisis. He previously worked as a journalist and has been active in Finnish Centre Party politics for decades.
Tony Abbott
politician
Conservative politician who served as Australia's 28th Prime Minister from 2013 to 2015, known for his opposition to carbon pricing and boat arrivals.
Wee Kim Wee
diplomatjournalist
Singapore's fourth President from 1985 to 1993, who began his career as a journalist and sports broadcaster. He was known for his populist approach and for making the presidency more accessible to ordinary Singaporeans.
Joseph Rotblat
physicist
Polish-British physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project but later became a peace activist, winning the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize for his anti-nuclear efforts.
Traian Băsescu
politicianship captain
Former ship captain who served as President of Romania from 2004 to 2014 and was later convicted of corruption charges.
Luís Figo
association football player
Portuguese winger who won the Ballon d'Or in 2000 and played for Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan during his career.
Achraf Hakimi
association football player
Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Paris Saint-Germain and the Morocco national team. He was a key player in Morocco's historic run to the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finals.
19th Century
5Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Lunsford L. Lomax
academic administratormilitary officer
Confederate States Army general
James Douglas
businesspersonengineer
Canadian American mining magnate (1837–1918)
Peter Andreas Blix
architectengineer
Norwegian architect (1831–1901)
Max Wexler
accountantjournalist
Romanian socialist
Carlos P. Garcia
diplomatlawyer
Fourth President of the Philippines who served from 1957 to 1961 and implemented the "Filipino First" economic policy. He previously served as Vice President under Ramon Magsaysay and assumed the presidency following Magsaysay's death in a plane crash.
18th Century
4Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Johan Wilhelm Dalman
botanistlepidopterist
Swedish physician and naturalist (1787-1828)
Johann III Bernoulli
astronomergeographer
Swiss mathematician and physicist (1744-1807)
Louis-Élisabeth de La Vergne de Tressan
encyclopédisteslinguist
French writer (1705-1783)
Carlos Antonio López
lawyerpolitician
President of Paraguay (1792-1862)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on November 4?
Joseph Rotblat, born on November 4, 1908, was a Nobel Peace Prize-winning physicist involved in the Manhattan Project. He later became a leading advocate for nuclear disarmament.
Which world leaders were born on November 4?
Notable leaders born on November 4 include Carlos P. Garcia, President of the Philippines from 1957 to 1961, and Wee Kim Wee, President of Singapore from 1985 to 1993.
Are there any presidents or prime ministers born on November 4?
Yes, on this date, Carlos Antonio López of Paraguay, Carlos P. Garcia of the Philippines, and Carlos Castillo Armas of Guatemala were all born.