24 historically significant individuals born on September 13. September 13 is the birth date of 16 notable individuals in history, covering areas such as music, literature, and politics. Among those born on this day are Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg (1874), known for his twelve-tone technique in classical music, and children's author Roald Dahl (1916), who wrote "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Polish poet Julian Tuwim (1894) is another notable figure, recognized within Polish literature. Additionally, Peruvian soprano Yma Sumac (1922) and Latvian politician Guntis Ulmanis (1939), who was a president of Latvia, were also born on this day.
Total Born
24
Countries
18
Top Century
20th· 14
Top Field
association football player
4 individuals
Headline Figures
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (14)
19th (7)
1st C.20th C.
20th Century
14Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Fabio Cannavaro
association football coachassociation football player
Italian defender who captained Italy to victory in the 2006 World Cup and won the Ballon d'Or that same year.
Goran Ivanišević
tennis coachtennis player
Croatian tennis player who won Wimbledon in 2001 as a wildcard entry, known for his powerful left-handed serve and emotional on-court behavior.
Thomas Müller
association football player
German footballer who won the 2014 FIFA World Cup and scored 10 goals in World Cup tournaments. He played over 400 games for Bayern Munich, winning multiple Bundesliga and Champions League titles.
Óscar Arias Sánchez
politician
Two-term President of Costa Rica who won the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end Central American conflicts through the Esquipulas Peace Agreement.
Roald Dahl
autobiographerchildren's writer
British author who created beloved children's books including Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The BFG. He served as a fighter pilot during World War II before becoming one of the world's most popular children's writers.
Salva Kiir Mayardit
military personnelminister
First President of South Sudan since its independence in 2011 and former leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement during the Second Sudanese Civil War.
Yma Sumac
actorcomposer
Peruvian soprano known for her extraordinary vocal range spanning nearly five octaves and exotic stage persona, achieving international fame in the 1950s with albums like 'Voice of the Xtabay'.
Luis López Fernández
association football player
Honduran midfielder who has played in the domestic league system and represented Honduras in youth international competitions.
Guntis Ulmanis
economistpolitician
Latvian economist and politician who served as the fifth President of Latvia from 1993 to 1999, leading the country through its early post-independence transition.
Ahmet Necdet Sezer
judgepolitician
Turkish jurist who served as the 10th President of Turkey from 2000 to 2007, previously serving as President of the Constitutional Court.
Anna Karolína Schmiedlová
tennis player
Slovak tennis player who reached a career-high WTA ranking of No. 26 and has won multiple WTA titles.
Adonxs
singer
Slovak contemporary singer known for performing under the stage name Adonxs.
Bongbong Marcos
politician
Current president of the Philippines since 2022 and son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, marking the family's return to power after 36 years.
IS
Ivan Schranz
association football player
Ivan Schranz is a Slovak forward born in 1993 who plays for Sparta Prague and represents the Slovakia national football team in international competitions.
19th Century
7Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Arthur Henderson
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Peace (1934)
Leopold Ruzicka
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1939)
Sir Robert Robinson
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1947)
Arnold Schoenberg
classical composermusicologist
Austrian composer who pioneered twelve-tone technique and atonality, fundamentally transforming 20th-century classical music composition with works like 'Pierrot Lunaire.'
Robert D. Leigh
political scientistuniversity president
American educator (1890–1961)
Julian Tuwim
children's writerjournalist
Polish poet and one of the most celebrated figures of the interwar Polish literary scene, known for his lyrical works and children's poetry.
Walery Eljasz Radzikowski
artistgraphic artist
Polish artist (1841-1905)
18th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Francisco de Paula González Vigil
journalistlibrarian
Peruvian politician and writer (1792-1875)
17th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Olaus Rudbeck
anatomistarchaeologist
Swedish architect (1630-1702)
1st Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
TT
Trung Trac
military leaderqueen regnant
Vietnamese military leader, first queen
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on September 13?
Roald Dahl (1916-1990) is perhaps the most well-known person born on September 13. He gained worldwide recognition for children's books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda. Dahl's stories have been adapted into many films and stage productions.
What famous composer was born on September 13?
Arnold Schoenberg, an influential Austrian composer, was born on September 13, 1874. He changed classical music by developing the twelve-tone technique and played a key role in moving from traditional tonal music to atonal composition.
Are there any presidents or political leaders born on September 13?
Yes, Guntis Ulmanis was born on September 13, 1939, and was the fifth President of Latvia from 1993 to 1999. He contributed to Latvia's transition to independence after the Soviet Union's collapse.