Famous Birthdays on February 12

Birthdays 1 - 200 of 269

• 1074 Conrad II, King of Germany (1087-98) and Italy (1093-98), born in Hersfeld Abbey, Germany (d. 1101)
• 1211 Henry VII, King of Germany and Sicily(1220-35), who rebelled against his father Holy Roman Emperor King Frederick II, born in Sicily (d. 1242)
• 1218 Kujo Yoritsune, Japanese shogun (d. 1256)

• 1438 Adolf van Egmond, Duke of Guelders, Count of Zutphen, born in Grave (d. 1477)
• 1474 Lorenzo Campeggio Italian cardinal (legate for the Pope over English Henry VIII's first marriage), born in Milan (d. 1539)
• 1567 Thomas Campion, English composer, poet and physician, born in London, England (d. 1620)
• 1584 Casparus Barleaus, Dutch humanist, theologist and poet (Muiderkring), born in Antwerp (d. 1648)
• 1585 Caspar Bartholin the Elder, Danish physician, theologian, writer on anatomy, born in Malmö, Denmark (modern Sweden) (d. 1629)
• 1606 John Winthrop, the Younger, Governor of Connecticut (d. 1676)
• 1636 Herman Witsius [Wits], Dutch reformed theologist, born in Enkhuizen (d. 1708)
• 1637 Jan Swammerdam, Dutch anatomist and entomologist (Bible of Nature), born in Amsterdam (d. 1680)

• 1665 Rudolph Jakob Camerarius, German botanist and physician (sexuality of plants), born in Tübingen, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1721)
• 1704 Charles Pinot Duclos, French writer and historian, born in Dinan, Brittany, France (d. 1772)
• 1706 Josef Christian, German Baroque sculptor (Zwiefalten Abbey), born in Riedlingen (d. 1777)
• 1728 Étienne-Louis Boullée, French visionary Neoclassical architect (design for Cenotaph for Sir Isaac Newton), born in Paris, France (d. 1799)
• 1740 Matej Sojka, Bohemian composer, born in Vilémov (d. 1817)
• 1751 Joseph Waast Aubert Nonot, French organist (St Géry in Cambrai, 1768-83), and composer, born in Arras, France (d. 1840)
• 1752 Josef Reicha, Czech cellist and composer, born in Chudenice (d. 1795)
• 1753 François-Paul Brueys D'Aigalliers, French admiral (d. 1798)
• 1753 Lambert-Francois Godecharle, Belgian composer and singer, born in Brussels (d. 1819)
• 1758 Christian Ignatius Latrobe, English clergyman and composer (Selection of Sacred Music), born in the Fulneck Moravian Settlement, Yorkshire (d. 1836)
• 1760 Jan Ladislav Dussek [Jan Václav Dusík], Czech piano virtuoso, glass harmonic player, and composer, born in Čáslav, Bohemia (now Czech Republic) (d. 1840)
• 1768 Francis II, last Holy Roman emperor (1792-1806), Emperor of Austria (1804-35), born in Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany (now Italy) (d. 1835)
• 1775 Louisa Adams, US First Lady (1825-29), born in London (d. 1852)
• 1777 Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué, German poet (d. 1843)
• 1778 Franz Joseph Volkert, Austrian composer, conductor and organist, born in Vienna (d. 1845)
• 1785 Pierre Louis Dulong, French physicist (d. 1838)
• 1791 Jan David Zocher Jr., Dutch garden architect (Vondelpark, Amsterdam), born in Haarlem, Netherlands (d. 1870)
• 1791 Peter Cooper, American industrialist, inventor and philanthropist (Cooper Union, steam locomotive), born in New York City (d. 1883)
• 1792 Ferdinand de Braekeleer the Elder, Belgian painter of genre scenes, born in Antwerp (d. 1883)
• 1794 Alexander Petrov, Russian chess player, writer (first great Russian chess master), born in Biserovo, Russia (d. 1867)
• 1804 Heinrich Lenz, German physicist (d. 1865)

• 1815 Edward Forbes, English Naturalist and pioneer in the field of biogeography, born in Douglas, Isle of Man (d. 1854)
• 1824 Dayananda Sarasvati, Indian hindu leader, founder of Arya Samaj reform movement, born in Tantara, India (d. 1883)
• 1828 George Meredith, English poet and novelist (Diana of Crossways), born in Portsmouth, England (d. 1909)
• 1828 Robert Ransom Jr, Major General (Confederate Army), (d. 1892)
• 1830 Stephen Wilcox, American inventor of steam generators for power stations and ships (Babcock & Wilcox), born in Westerly, Rhode Island (d. 1893) [1]
• 1831 John Morrissey, Irish born American boxer, US Congressman developer of Saratoga Springs horse race track, born in Templemore, Ireland (d. 1878)
• 1838 Charles C. Walcutt, American general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, born in Columbus, Ohio (d. 1898)
• 1841 Gijsbert van Tienhoven, Dutch politician (Mayor of Amsterdam, Prime Minister of the Netherlands 1891-1894), born in De Werken, Netherlands (d. 1914)
• 1843 John Graham Chambers, Welsh athlete who wrote the Queensberry rules for boxing, born in Llanelli, Wales. (d. 1883)
• 1850 Amaat Vyncke, Belgian missionary to the Upper Congo (Flemish Flag), born in Zedelgem, Belgium (d. 1888)
• 1852 Hendrik Blink, Dutch geographer (Van de Eems tot de Schelde) (d. 1931)
• 1853 Bertram Luard-Selby, British organist and composer, born in Ightham, Kent, England (d. 1918)
• 1857 Bobby Peel, English cricket all-rounder (20 Tests, 3 x 50, 101 wickets, BB 7/31; Yorkshire CCC), born in Churwell, England (d. 1941)
• 1861 Jim McLaughlin, American Hall of Fame thoroughbred jockey (Kentucky Derby 1881, Preakness Stakes 1885, 6 x Belmont Stakes), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 1927)
• 1861 Lou Andreas-Salomé, Russian-German author (Im Kampf um Gott), born in Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire (d. 193)
• 1865 Kazimierz Tetmajer, Polish writer and poet (Young Poland), born in Ludźmierz, Galicia (d. 1940)
• 1869 Hendrik Marchant, Dutch politician (VVD), his private member's bill led to women's suffrage), born in Deventer, Netherlands (d. 1956)
• 1870 Joe Howard, American vaudeville, Broadway, and television singer (Gay Nineties Revue), and songwriter ("Hello Ma Baby"), born in New York City (d. 1961) [1]
• 1870 Marie Lloyd [Mathilda Wood], English music-hall performer ("Oh Mr Porter What Shall I Do"), born in Hoxton, London, England (d. 1922)
• 1876 Thubten Gyatso, 13th Dalai Lama, born in Thakpo Langdun (d. 1933)

• 1878 Clarence "Pants" Rowland, American baseball manager (World Series 1917; Chicago White Sox 1915-18) and MLB umpire (American League 1923-27), born in Platteville, Wisconsin (d. 1969)
• 1880 John Llewellyn Lewis, American union leader (United Mine Workers, 1920-60), born near Lewis, Iowa (d. 1969)
• 1881 Anna Pavlova, Russian prima ballerina and choreographer (Diaghilew, Dying Swan), born in St Petersburg, Russia (d. 1931)
• 1882 Walter Vaes, Belgian painter and etcher (d. 1958)
• 1883 Ludwig Stössel, Austrian actor (Man With a Camera, The Pride of the Yankees), born in Léka, Hungary, Austria-Hungary (d. 1973)
• 1884 Johan Laidoner, Estonian military commander (d. 1953)
• 1884 Marie Vassilieff, Russian artist (d. 1957)
• 1884 Max Beckmann, German painter and graphic artist, born in Leipzig, German Empire (d. 1950)
• 1885 Licinio Refice, Italian priest and composer (Cecilia), born in Patrica, Italy (d. 1954)
• 1886 Gustaf Lazarus Nordqvist, Swedish organist and composer, born in Stockholm (d. 1949)
• 1886 Michel Brusselmans, Belgian composer (Flemish Rhapsody), born in Paris, France (d. 1960)
• 1891 Cec Dixon, South African cricket fast-medium bowler (1 Test; 3 wickets; Transvaal), born in Potchefstroom, South Africa (d. 1969)
• 1891 Maurice Yvain, French operetta composer, born in Paris, France (d. 1965)
• 1891 Max Terhune, American actor (Arizona Stagecoach, Hit the Saddle, Range Justice), born in Franklin, Indiana (d. 1973)
• 1893 Marcel Minnaert, Belgian-Dutch astronomer, and writer (Light and colour in the open air), born in Bruges, Belgium (d. 1970)

• 1897 Vola Vale [Smith], American actress, born in Buffalo, New York (d. 1970)
• 1898 Roy Harris, American composer (When Johnny Comes Marching Home: An American Overture), born near Chandler, Oklahoma (d. 1979)
• 1898 Wallace Ford [Samuel Jones Grundy], British actor (Freaks, Harvey, Spellbound, Deputy), born in Bolton, Lancashire, England (d. 1966)
• 1899 Albert Huybrechts, Belgian composer, born in Dinant, Belgium (d. 1936)
• 1900 Fred Emney, British actor (Let the People Sing, Adventures of a Private Eye, Lilac Domino), born in London, England (d. 1980)
• 1902 William Collier [Charles F Gall Jr], American stage and film actor and producer, born in New York City (d. 1987)
• 1902 William D. Revelli, American bandleader, born in Spring Gulch, Colorado (d. 1994)
• 1903 Chick Hafey, American Baseball HOF outfielder (World Series 1926, 31 St. Louis Cardinals; NL batting champion 1931; MLB All Star 1933), born in Berkeley, California (d. 1973)
• 1903 Joseph F. Biroc, American cinematographer (d. 1996)
• 1904 Ted Mack, American TV host (The Original Amateur Hour), born in Denver, Colorado (d. 1976)
• 1905 Harry Bellaver, American actor (Another World, Naked City), born in Hillsboro, Illinois (d. 1993)
• 1907 Clifton C. Edom, American photojournalism educator (d. 1991)
• 1908 August Neo, Estonian wrestler (d. 1982)
• 1908 Jacques Herbrand, French logician and mathematician (d. 1931)
• 1908 Jean Effel, French painter and journalist (d. 1982)
• 1909 Barry Wood [Louis Rappaport], American pop vocalist (Your Hit Parade; "We Did It Before (And We Can Do It Again)"), born in New Haven, Connecticut (d. 1970)
• 1910 Forsyth Hardy, Scottish documentary film pioneer and critic, born in Bathgate, Scotland (d. 1994)
• 1910 Gunnar Höckert, Finnish athlete (Olympic gold 5,000m 1936), born in Helsinki, Finland (d. 1940)
• 1910 Lee Byung Chull, Korean industrialist, founder of Samsung, born in Uiryeong County, Korean Empire (d. 1987)
• 1911 Antonio Guzman Fernandez, Dominican politician (President of the Dominican Republic 1978-82), born in La Vega, Dominican Republic (d. 1982)
• 1911 Charles Mathiesen, Norwegian speed skater (Olympic gold 1936), born in Drammen, Norway (d. 1994)
• 1911 Frank Hercules, Trinidadian-American novelist (On Leaving Paradise; Sunrise at Midnight), and teacher, born in Port of Spain, Trinidad (d. 1996)
• 1911 Stephen H. Sholes, American recording executive (d. 1968)
• 1912 Ernest Clark, British actor (Gandhi; The Dam Busters: Doctor in the House), born in London, England (d. 1994)
• 1912 R. F. Delderfield, English author (Diana), born in London, England (d. 1972)
• 1913 Fusata Iida, Japanese Navy Air Service fighter pilot (commander of the Japanese 3rd Air Group), considered the 1st "kamikaze", born in Tonda, Japan (d. 1941)
• 1913 Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza, grandson of Emperor Pedro I of Brazil and claimant to the throne of Brazil, born in Château d'Eu, France (d. 2007)
• 1914 Arvid Pardo, Maltese diplomat, a.k.a "Father of the Law of the Sea Conference", born in Rome, Italy (d. 1999)
• 1914 Gordon "Tex" Beneke, American saxophonist/bandleader/vocalist (Glenn Miller Orchestra), born in Fort Worth, Texas; (d. 2000)
• 1914 Nello Celio, Swiss politician, born in Quinto, Switzerland (d. 1995)
• 1915 Andrew Goodpaster, American general (NATO Supreme Allied Commander 1969-74), born in Granite City, Illinois (d. 2005)
• 1915 Lorne Greene [Lyon Chaim Green], Canadian actor (Bonanza - "Ben Cartwright"; Battlestar Galactica), born in Ottawa, Ontario (d. 1987)
• 1916 Joseph L Alioto, American politician (Mayor-San Francisco), born in San Francisco, California (d. 1998)
• 1916 Karl Hubert Rudolf Schiske, Austrian composer (Vom Tode), born in Győr, Danube Monarchy (now Hungary) (d. 1969)
• 1917 Raizo Matsuno, Japanese politician (d. 2006)
• 1917 Thomas Scherman, American conductor (Little Orchestra Society, 1947-75), born in New York City (d. 1979)
• 1918 Dom DiMaggio 'The Little Professor', American baseball player (Boston Red Sox), born in San Francisco, California (d. 2009)
• 1918 Julian Schwinger, US physicist (1965 Nobel Prize in Physics for quantum electrodynamics), born in New York City (d. 1994)
• 1919 Ferruccio Valcareggi, Italian soccer midfielder and manager (Bologna; Atalanta, Italy 1974 World Cup), born in Trieste, Austria-Hungary (d. 2005)
• 1919 Forrest Tucker, American actor (F Troop, Dusty Trail, The Crawling Eye), born in Plainfield, Indiana (d. 1986)
• 1920 Bill Pitman, American touring and session jazz and rock guitarist (Peggy Lee; The Wrecking Crew, "Be My Baby"), and ukulele player ("Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head"), born in Belleville, New Jersey (d. 2022)
• 1920 Pran Krishan Sikand, Indian actor often cast as the villain in Hindi cinema (Khandaan, Be-Imaan), born in New Delhi (d. 2013)
• 1920 Robert "Bob" Shad [Abraham Shadrinsky], American record producer and record label owner (Big Brother and the Holding Company), born in New York City (d. 1985)
• 1920 William Roscoe Estep, American academic, Baptist minister, and church historian, born in Williamsburg, Kentucky (d. 2000)
• 1922 Elisabeth Carron, American soprano ("The Saint of Bleecker Street"; New York City Opera, 1958-73), born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 2016)
• 1923 Chaskel Besser, Polish-American Orthodox rabbi, born in Katowice, Poland (d. 2010)
• 1923 Franco Zeffirelli, Italian director (Romeo & Juliet), born in Florence, Italy (d. 2019)
• 1923 James Abdnor, American politician (Senator-R-South Dakota, 1981-87), born in Kennebec, South Dakota (d. 2012)

• 1923 Mel Powell, American composer (Pulitzer Prize Music 1990), born in New York City (d. 1998)
• 1924 Hans Berghuis, Dutch author and poet (3 Women, Adam) (d. 1994)
• 1925 Anthony Berry, British politician (killed in the Brighton hotel bombing by the IRA) (d. 1984)
• 1925 Joan Mitchell, American painter and printmaker, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1992)
• 1926 Charles Van Doren, American teacher, writer, and quiz show contestant (Twenty-One), born in New York City (d. 2019)
• 1926 Irene Camber, Italian fencer (Olympic gold foil individual 1952, bronze team foil 1960; World C'ship gold 1953 individual foil; team foil 1957), born in Trieste, Italy (d. 2024)
• 1926 Joe Garagiola, American MLB catcher (4 teams, 1946-54), sportscaster, and TV host (Today Show), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 2016)
• 1926 Paul Hamlyn, German-born English publisher (Octopus Publishing Group), born in Berlin, Germany (d. 2001)
• 1927 Anne Gillis [Alma Conner], American actress (Faline-Bambi, Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Little Men), born in Little Rock, Arkansas (d. 2018)
• 1930 Arlen Specter, American Senator (Republican-PA, 1981- 2011), born in Wichita, Kansas (d. 2012)
• 1931 Cliff Gustafson, American College Baseball HOF coach (College World Series 1975, 83; Collegiate Coach of the Year 1983; University of Texas, Austin), born in Kenedy, Texas (d. 2023)
• 1931 Constance Morella, American politician (Rep-R-Maryland 1987-2003), born in Somerville, Massachusetts
• 1931 Janwillem van de Wetering, Dutch author (Hugh Pine books; Murder By Remote Control), born in Rotterdam, Netherlands (d. 2008) [1]
• 1932 Axel Jensen, Norwegian author (d. 2003)
• 1932 Lincoln Kilpatrick, American actor (BJ-Leslie Uggams Show), born in St Louis, Missouri (d. 2004)
• 1933 Costa-Gavras, Greek-French film director ("Z"), born in Loutra Iraias, Greece
• 1933 Ivan Nikolayevich Anikeyev, Russian "lost" cosmonaut, born in USSR (d. 1992)
• 1933 Juanita [Ruth] Coulson, sci-fi author (Web of Wizardry, Space Trap), born in Indiana
• 1934 Anne Krueger, American economist (World Bank Chief Economist 1982-86), born in Endicott, New York
• 1934 Annette Crosbie, Scottish actress (One Foot in the Grave), born in Gorebridge, Scotland

• 1935 Gene McDaniels, American vocalist ("A Hundred Pounds Of Clay"), songwriter ("I Feel Like Making Love") and actor (Young Swingers), born in Kansas City, Kansas (d. 2011)
• 1935 Ken Still, American golfer (3 PGA Tour titles), born in Tacoma, Washington (d. 2017)
• 1936 Arnost Parsch, Czech composer, born in Bučovice, Czech Republic (d. 2013)
• 1936 Fang Lizhi, Chinese astrophysicist/dissident (Tiananmen Square, 1989), born in Beijing, China (d. 2012)
• 1936 Joe Don Baker, American actor (Eischied, Walking Tall, Fletch), born in Groesback, Texas
• 1936 Paul Shenar, American actor (Carrington-Roots), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 1937 Charles Dumas, American high jumper (Olympic gold 1956; first to clear 7 foot mark), born in Tulsa, Oklahoma (d. 2004)
• 1937 Larry Lacewell, American college football coach (Arkansas State Uni 1979-89) and administrator (AD Arkansas State; Dallas Cowboys Dir college & pro scouting 1992-2004), born in Fordyce, Arkansas (d. 2022)
• 1938 Judy Blume, American author (Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret), born in Elizabeth, New Jersey
• 1939 John D Hancock, American actor and director (Black Marble, Traxx, Houston Knights), born in Kansas City, Missouri
• 1939 Ray Manzarek, American rock organist and songwriter (The Doors - "Light My Fire"; "Love Her Madly"), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2013)
• 1940 Hank Brown, American politician (Senator-R-CO 1991-97, Rep-R-CO, 1981-91), born in Denver, Colorado
• 1940 Richard Lynch, American actor (Xaviar-Battlestar Galactica), (d. 2012)
• 1941 Dennis Sullivan, American mathematician (2022 Abel prize for work on topography), born in Port Huron, Michigan
• 1941 Naomi Uemura, Japanese mountain climber (1st Japanese to scale Everest)
• 1941 Ross Morgan, New Zealand cricketer (batsman in 20 Tests 1965-72)
• 1942 Chananjit Vohra, Kenyan-British hotel magnate
• 1942 Ehud Barak, Prime Minister of Israel (1999-2001), born in Mishmar HaSharon, Mandatory Palestine
• 1942 Lionel Grigson, British jazz pianist, and horn player, born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (d. 1994)
• 1942 Pat Dobson, American baseball player (d. 2006)
• 1942 Rick Frank, American drummer (Elephant's Memory), born in New York City (d. 1998)
• 1943 Manfred Schaefer, Australian soccer defender (49 caps; St. George-Budapest FC) and manager (St. George-B FC, Sydney Olympic FC, APIA Leichhardt, Sydney Utd, Marconi), born in Baltiysk, Russia (d. 2023)
• 1944 Charles Pasarell, Puerto Rican-American tennis player and administrator, born in San Juan, Puerto Rica
• 1944 Desmond Nuttall, English educator, born in Devon, England (d. 1993)
• 1944 Jackie Torrence 'The Story Lady', American story teller advocate and artist, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2004)
• 1944 Marian "Moe" Bandy, American country vocalist (Just Good Ol' Boys), born in Meridian, Mississippi
• 1944 Mike Martin, American College Baseball HOF coach (all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division I: Florida State Uni 1980-2019; Baseball America Coach of the Year 2012, 19), born in Charlotte, North Carolina (d. 2024)
• 1945 Cliff De Young, actor (F/X, Hunger, Shock Treatment), born in Los Angeles, California
• 1945 David D. Friedman, American economist, physicist, legal scholar, and libertarian theorist (The Machinery of Freedom), born in New York City
• 1945 Don Wilson, American baseball pitcher (2 x no-hitters 1967, 69; MLB All Star 1971; Houston Astros), born in Monroe, Louisiana (d. 1975)
• 1945 Joe Schermie [Schermetzler], American bass player (Three Dog Night - "Joy to the World"), born in Madison, Wisconsin (d. 2002)
• 1945 Maud Adams, Swedish actress (Octopussy, Rollerball, Tattoo), born in Lulea, Sweden,
• 1945 Roman Tam [Pak-sin], Hong Kong singer knownn as the "Grand Godfather of Cantopop", born in Baise, Guangxi, China (d. 2002)
• 1946 Ajda Pekkan, Turkish singer and actress, born in Istanbul, Turkey
• 1946 Ever Meulen [Eddy Vermeulen], Dutch illustrator and cartoonist (children stamps 1992), born in Kuurne, Belgium
• 1947 Guus Willemse, Dutch rock bassist, singer, and organist (Solution), born in Utrecht, Netherlands
• 1947 Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Indian leader of Damdami Taksal (d. 1984)
• 1948 Raymond Kurzweil, American inventor and author (Kurzweil reading machine, text-to-speech synthesis), born in New York City
• 1949 Gundappa Viswanath, cricketer (prolific Indian batsman of 70s)
• 1949 Len Randle, American MLB player (NY Mets), born in Long Beach, California
• 1949 Stanley Knight, American southern rock guitarist (Black Oak Arkansas - High on the Hog), born in Little Rock, Arkansas (d. 2013)
• 1950 Michael Ironside, Canadian actor (Starship Troopers), born in Toronto, Ontario
• 1950 Steve Hackett, British progressive rock guitarist, and composer (Genesis, 1971-77; GTR), born in Pimilco, London, England
• 1951 Gil Moore, Canadian hard rock drummer and vocalist (Triumph) and recording studio owner (Metalworks), born in Toronto, Ontario
• 1951 Steven Parent, Manson murder victim (d. 1969)
• 1952 Michael McDonald, American rock singer and keyboardist (Doobie Brothers - "What A Fool Believes"), born in St. Louis, Missouri
• 1952 Salvador Pineda, Mexican actor, born in Huetamo, Mexico
• 1952 Simon MacCorkindale, English actor (Falcon Crest, Manimal), born in Ely, Cambridgeshire (d. 2010)
• 1953 Joanna Kerns [de Varona], actress (Maggie-Growing Pains), born in San Francisco, California
• 1953 Nabil Shaban, Jordanian-British actor (Doctor Who), born in Amman, Jordan
• 1954 Philip Zimmermann, American cryptographer, born in Camden, New Jersey
• 1954 Tzimis Panousis, Greek musician, stand-up comedian, and radio presenter, born in Athens, Greece (d. 2018)
• 1955 Bill Laswell, American bassist and record producer, born in Salem, Illinois
• 1955 Chet Lemon [Chester Earl Lemon], American baseball player, born in Jackson, Mississippi
• 1955 Daniele Masala, Italian pentathlete (Olympics 1976), born in Rome, Italy
• 1956 Ad P. Melkert, Dutch minister of Social Affairs, born in Gouda, Netherlands

• 1956 Brian Robertson, Scottish rock guitarist (Thin Lizzy), born in Clarkston, Scotland

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