24 historically significant individuals born on September 21. September 21 is the birth date of several notable individuals throughout history. Noteworthy figures born on this day include Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes (1853), known for his Nobel Prize-winning work on superconductivity, British author H. G. Wells (1866), Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah (1909), North Korean politician Kim Yong-ju (1920), and Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen (1934). Their contributions are seen in science, literature, politics, and music.
Total Born
24
Countries
18
Top Century
20th· 16
Top Field
politician
7 individuals
Headline Figures
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (16)
19th (4)
9th C.20th C.
20th Century
16Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Donald A. Glaser
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (1960)
Syukuro Manabe
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (2021)
David J. Thouless
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (2016)
Leonard Cohen
draftspersonfilm actor
Influential Canadian singer-songwriter and poet known for songs like "Hallelujah" and "Suzanne", blending folk music with profound literary imagery.
Kwame Nkrumah
diplomatlecturer
Ghana's first Prime Minister and President who led the country to independence from British colonial rule in 1957. He was a prominent Pan-Africanist who championed African unity and socialism before being overthrown in a 1966 coup.
Kevin Rudd
diplomatpolitical scientist
Mandarin-speaking diplomat who served as Australia's 26th Prime Minister twice, first from 2007-2010 and briefly in 2013.
Shinzō Abe
politician
Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister during two periods, becoming Japan's longest-serving post-war prime minister before his assassination in 2022.
Kareena Kapoor Khan
dancerfilm actor
Leading Bollywood actress from the famous Kapoor film family who has starred in hits like 'Jab We Met' and 'Tanu Weds Manu'. She is married to actor Saif Ali Khan and is known for her versatile acting and fashion sense.
Edgars Rinkēvičs
diplomatpolitician
Latvian diplomat and politician who has served as President of Latvia since 2023, previously serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs for over a decade.
Rodolfo de Álzaga
engineerracing automobile driver
Argentine racer
Yury Luzhkov
politicianscientist
Mayor of Moscow from 1992-2010 who transformed the city's infrastructure and was credited with modernizing Russia's capital. He was dismissed by President Medvedev amid corruption allegations and later went into exile.
Suman Pokhrel
essayistlinguist
Contemporary Nepalese poet and cultural figure known for his multilingual literary works and translations. He has published over 40 books and received numerous national and international literary awards.
Nechervan Idris Barzani
politician
Nechirvan Barzani is the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq since 2019 and a leading figure in the Kurdistan Democratic Party.
Tadej Pogačar
sport cyclist
Slovenian professional cyclist who won the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021, becoming the second-youngest winner in the race's modern era. He rides for UAE Team Emirates and is known for his climbing ability and aggressive racing style.
KY
Kim Yong-ju
politician
North Korean politician and Kim Il-sung's younger brother
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
politician
Pakistani politician who serves as Chairman of the Pakistan People's Party and held the position of Foreign Minister from 2022-2023, continuing his family's political legacy.
19th Century
4Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Charles Nicolle
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1928)
Heike Kamerlingh Onnes
inventorphysicist
Dutch physicist who discovered superconductivity and superfluidity in liquid helium, winning the 1913 Nobel Prize in Physics.
H. G. Wells
Idistjournalist
English author who pioneered the science fiction genre with novels including The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, and The Invisible Man. He also wrote social commentary works and predicted many technological developments including atomic warfare and space travel.
Charles Mair
journalistpoet
Canadian writer (1838-1927)
18th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Sarah Scott
historiannovelist
British writer
István Széchenyi
politicianwriter
Hungarian nobleman, writer, politician and national revivalist (1791–1860)
16th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Vincenzo Maculani
Catholic priestengineer
Catholic cardinal
9th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Charles the Simple
monarch
King of West Francia
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on September 21?
H.G. Wells, the English author known for 'The Time Machine' and 'The War of the Worlds,' was born on September 21, 1866. Leonard Cohen, the Canadian singer-songwriter famous for 'Hallelujah,' also shares this birthday.
What famous writers were born on September 21?
H.G. Wells, an early figure in science fiction literature, was born on September 21, 1866. His novels include 'The Time Machine,' 'The Invisible Man,' and 'The War of the Worlds.'
Are there any Nobel Prize winners born on September 21?
Yes, Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, a Dutch physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1913 for research on low-temperature phenomena, was born on September 21, 1853. He is known for discovering superconductivity and being the first to liquefy helium.