19 historically significant individuals born on October 13. October 13 is the birth date of thirteen notable individuals, including British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (1925), Turkish presidents Cemal Gürsel (1895) and Turgut Özal (1927), French footballer Raymond Kopa (1931), and Greek singer Nana Mouskouri (1934). These people have contributed to politics, sports, and entertainment internationally.
Total Born
19
Countries
17
Top Century
20th· 12
Top Field
politician
4 individuals
Headline Figures
autobiographer
Ian Thorpe
1982 – PresentAustralian swimmer who won five Olympic gold medals and set 13 long-course world records, becoming one of the most successful athletes in Olympic history.
singer
Nana Mouskouri
1934 – PresentGreek singer who achieved international success with multilingual recordings and served as a Member of the European Parliament.
activist
Mordechai Vanunu
1954 – PresentFormer Israeli nuclear technician who revealed details of Israel's nuclear weapons program to the British press in 1986, leading to his kidnapping by Mossad and 18 years in prison. He became known as the 'Israeli nuclear whistleblower.'
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (12)
18th (3)
0th C.20th C.
20th Century
12Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Ian Thorpe
autobiographerswimmer
Australian swimmer who won five Olympic gold medals and set 13 long-course world records, becoming one of the most successful athletes in Olympic history.
Nana Mouskouri
singer
Greek singer who achieved international success with multilingual recordings and served as a Member of the European Parliament.
Mordechai Vanunu
activisttechnician
Former Israeli nuclear technician who revealed details of Israel's nuclear weapons program to the British press in 1986, leading to his kidnapping by Mossad and 18 years in prison. He became known as the 'Israeli nuclear whistleblower.'
Baqytjan Sağyntaev
economistpolitician
Kazakhstani politician and economist who served as Mayor of Almaty from 2019-2022 and previously held various ministerial positions.
Javier Sotomayor
high jumper
Cuban high jumper who holds the world record of 2.45 meters set in 1993. He is the only person to jump over 8 feet and dominated the event throughout the 1990s.
Raymond Kopa
association football player
French footballer who won the Ballon d'Or in 1958 and played a key role in France's third-place finish at the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He was the first French player to win the prestigious individual award.
Margaret Thatcher
autobiographerbarrister
British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990, known as the "Iron Lady" for her uncompromising conservative policies and leadership style. She was the first woman to serve as British Prime Minister and implemented major economic reforms.
Turgut Özal
engineerpolitician
Turkish politician and engineer who served as the 8th President of Turkey from 1989 to 1993, leading major economic liberalization reforms in the 1980s.
Jamal Khashoggi
journalistpolitical writer
Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist who was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
composermusic educator
Legendary qawwali singer who brought Sufi devotional music to international audiences, performing over 40 years and influencing world music before his death in 1997.
Desi Bouterse
military personnelpolitician
Surinamese military leader and politician who ruled Suriname as military dictator (1980-1987) and later as elected president (2010-2020).
Aleksander Čeferin
lawyersports official
Slovenian lawyer who has served as President of UEFA since 2016, overseeing European football's governing body. He previously worked in sports law and played a key role in modernizing UEFA's competitions and governance structures.
19th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Theodor Schauman
military personnelscientist
Finnish military personnel
Cemal Gürsel
military officerpolitician
Turkish military officer who led the 1960 military coup and served as the fourth President of Turkey from 1961 to 1966.
18th Century
3Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Jakob Gadolin
astronomerLutheran pastor
Finnish bishop
John Armstrong
civil engineermilitary officer
American civil engineer and soldier (1717–1795)
Anders Retzius
anatomistanthropologist
Swedish scientist (1796-1860)
14th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Louis II of Naples
Duke of Anjoumonarch
King of Naples
0th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Virgil
poetwriter
Roman poet (1st century BC)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on October 13?
Margaret Thatcher, born on October 13, 1925, is a widely recognized figure. She was the British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990 and played a major role in 20th-century politics.
Are there any famous athletes born on October 13?
Raymond Kopa, born on October 13, 1931, was a renowned French footballer. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1958 and played for Real Madrid and the French national team in the 1950s.
Which singers were born on October 13?
Nana Mouskouri, born on October 13, 1934, is a Greek singer known for her distinctive voice. She became one of the best-selling music artists and recorded songs in multiple languages.