Historical Figures

Historical Figures That Share The Same Birthday

Discover 23 historical figures who share the same birthday, learn why sharing a birthday is more common than you think, and find your own celebrity birthday twin.

Alex Warren September 17, 2026 Updated September 18, 2026 15 min read

Flip open a history book to almost any calendar date, and you’ll likely find two or more famous names crowded onto the same square. It’s a strange little quirk of chronology: people separated by centuries, continents, and entire worldviews can still end up blowing out candles on the exact same day. Once you start noticing these overlaps, it’s hard to stop.

This list rounds up some of the most fascinating and well-documented cases of historical figures who share the same birthday, explains the math behind why these coincidences happen so often, and tackles a popular myth about U.S. presidents that just won’t die. Along the way, we’ll also show you how to figure out which celebrity shares your own birthday, since that’s probably part of what brought you here.

TL;DR: Thanks to a quirk of probability, history is full of famous people — like Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin — who were born on the very same day, and that same math means there’s a good chance a celebrity shares your birthday too.

Before diving into the list, it helps to understand why shared birthdays aren’t actually that rare. Mathematicians call this the “birthday paradox,” and it shows that in a group of just 23 random people, there’s roughly a 50% chance that two of them share a birthday. It sounds impossible until you realize how many possible pairings exist in even a small group.

Now scale that up to the entire population of notable historical figures — scientists, monarchs, writers, generals, artists — spanning thousands of years. With so many names and only 365 (or 366) possible calendar days, overlaps aren’t just likely; they’re mathematically guaranteed. That’s the real explanation behind every “famous people who share my birthday” search you’ve ever typed into Google.

This is also why, statistically, there’s a very strong chance that at least one celebrity or historical figure shares your exact birthday. It isn’t magic or destiny — it’s simple probability doing what probability does.

A Quick Note on Calendars and Birthdays in History

Before we get to the list, it’s worth flagging a wrinkle that trips up a lot of birthday research: calendars have changed over time. Britain and its colonies (including early America) used the Julian calendar until 1752, then switched to the Gregorian calendar we use today.

That means some “historical birthdays” you’ll see quoted — including George Washington’s and Isaac Newton’s — are sometimes listed in either “Old Style” or “New Style” dates, which can shift them by about 11 days depending on the source. Where this matters below, we’ve noted it, because a good myth-busting birthday list should be upfront about where the record gets messy rather than pretending every date is perfectly settled.

Here are 23 real, documented cases of historical figures born on the same calendar date, including several names that turn up on almost any list of the most recognized historical figures of all time. Some pairings span centuries; others are separated by only a generation. Each one is a small reminder of how interconnected the timeline of history really is.

1. February 12 – Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin (1809)

Editorial illustration of a calendar page marked February 12 with silhouettes of a 19th-century American statesman and a Victorian-era naturalist, non-photorealistic, warm vintage tones

This is probably the most famous shared birthday in history. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. president, and Charles Darwin, the naturalist behind the theory of evolution, were both born on February 12, 1809 — not just the same day, but the same year.

The coincidence is well documented enough that February 12 is celebrated in some circles as both Lincoln’s Birthday and Darwin Day. Two men who reshaped politics and science, born thousands of miles apart on the exact same date.

2. November 30 – Mark Twain and Winston Churchill

Illustrated calendar page marked November 30 with silhouettes of a 19th-century American writer and a mid-20th-century British statesman, editorial style, muted colors

Mark Twain, the celebrated American author of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” was born November 30, 1835. Winston Churchill, the British statesman who led the UK through World War II, was born on the same date in 1874.

Twain famously predicted he’d die when Halley’s Comet returned — and he did, in 1910. Churchill, born nearly four decades later on Twain’s birthday, would go on to shape 20th-century world history in ways Twain never lived to see.

3. October 27 – Theodore Roosevelt and Sylvia Plath

Illustrated calendar page marked October 27 with silhouettes of an early 1900s American politician and a mid-20th-century poet, minimal editorial art style

Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th U.S. president known for trust-busting and conservation efforts, was born October 27, 1858. The poet Sylvia Plath, author of “The Bell Jar,” was born on the same date in 1932.

It’s a striking pairing of a larger-than-life political figure and a deeply introspective literary voice, born 74 years apart on the same day in October.

4. August 15 – Napoleon Bonaparte and Julia Child

Illustrated calendar page marked August 15 with silhouettes of an 18th-century European military leader and a mid-20th-century chef in an apron, editorial illustration style

Napoleon Bonaparte, the French military leader and emperor, was born August 15, 1769. Julia Child, the American chef who introduced French cooking to U.S. television audiences, was born on the same date in 1912.

It’s a fun bit of irony: the man who conquered much of Europe shares a birthday with the woman who later helped popularize French cuisine across an ocean and more than a century away.

5. January 27 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Lewis Carroll

Illustrated calendar page marked January 27 with silhouettes of an 18th-century composer at a piano and a Victorian-era author with a book, whimsical editorial style

Mozart, the Austrian composer whose works remain staples of classical music, was born January 27, 1756. Lewis Carroll, author of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” was born on the same date in 1832.

Both men left behind bodies of work defined by imagination and precision, whether in musical composition or literary nonsense verse.

6. March 14 – Albert Einstein and Johann Strauss I

Illustrated calendar page marked March 14 with silhouettes of a scientist with wild hair sketching equations and a 19th-century composer holding a violin, editorial illustration

Albert Einstein, the physicist behind the theory of relativity and frequently named among the historical geniuses with the highest estimated IQs, was born March 14, 1879. Johann Strauss I, the Austrian composer known as the “father of the waltz,” was born on the same date in 1804.

March 14 is also known globally as Pi Day, which makes it an oddly fitting birthday for one of history’s most famous scientists.

7. July 4 – Calvin Coolidge and Nathaniel Hawthorne

Illustrated calendar page marked July 4 with fireworks in the background and silhouettes of an early 1900s American president and a 19th-century novelist, editorial style

Calvin Coolidge, the 30th U.S. president, is the only American president born on Independence Day, arriving on July 4, 1872. Author Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote “The Scarlet Letter,” was born on the same date in 1804.

It’s a fittingly patriotic birthday for two figures whose legacies are deeply tied to American identity and storytelling.

8. February 22 – George Washington and Robert Baden-Powell

Illustrated calendar page marked February 22 with silhouettes of an 18th-century American general and an early 1900s youth movement founder in uniform, editorial style

George Washington’s birthday is traditionally observed as February 22, 1732, using the Gregorian calendar adopted after his birth (his birth was originally recorded as February 11 under the Julian calendar then in use). Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scouting movement, was born on February 22, 1857.

It’s a small but neat overlap between the “Father of His Country” and the founder of one of the world’s largest youth organizations.

9. May 29 – John F. Kennedy and Patrick Henry

Illustrated calendar page marked May 29 with silhouettes of a mid-20th-century American president and an 18th-century revolutionary orator, editorial illustration style

John F. Kennedy, the 35th U.S. president, was born May 29, 1917. Patrick Henry, the American revolutionary famous for the line “Give me liberty, or give me death!”, was born on the same date in 1736.

Both men are remembered for their rhetorical power, separated by nearly two centuries but united by a single date on the calendar.

10. October 14 – Dwight D. Eisenhower and E.E. Cummings

Illustrated calendar page marked October 14 with silhouettes of a mid-20th-century military leader in uniform and an early 1900s poet with unconventional typography, editorial style

Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th U.S. president and former Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, was born October 14, 1890. Poet E.E. Cummings, known for his unconventional style and punctuation, was born on the same date four years earlier in 1894.

One built his legacy on military structure and order; the other built his on breaking literary rules entirely.

11. September 15 – William Howard Taft and Agatha Christie

Illustrated calendar page marked September 15 with silhouettes of an early 1900s judge in robes and a mid-20th-century mystery novelist holding a magnifying glass, editorial style

William Howard Taft, the 27th U.S. president and later Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was born September 15, 1857. Agatha Christie, the best-selling mystery novelist of all time, was born on the same date in 1890.

It’s a fun coincidence that the man who later led the nation’s highest court shares a birthday with the author of countless fictional courtroom and crime dramas.

12. November 11 – Fyodor Dostoevsky and Kurt Vonnegut

Illustrated calendar page marked November 11 with silhouettes of a 19th-century Russian novelist and a 20th-century American novelist, moody literary editorial illustration

Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky, author of “Crime and Punishment,” was born November 11, 1821. American author Kurt Vonnegut, known for “Slaughterhouse-Five,” was born on the same date in 1922.

Both writers grappled with war, morality, and the absurdity of human suffering, a full century apart.

13. December 25 – Isaac Newton and Clara Barton

Illustrated calendar page marked December 25 with silhouettes of a 17th-century scientist with an apple and a 19th-century humanitarian in nurse-era clothing, editorial style

Isaac Newton, often ranked among the smartest people in history for laying the groundwork of classical physics, is traditionally recorded as being born on December 25, 1642, under the Julian calendar that England still used at the time (this corresponds to January 4, 1643, on the modern Gregorian calendar). Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was born on December 25, 1821, under the calendar system used in her era.

This one is a good reminder of the calendar caveat mentioned earlier — Newton’s “Christmas Day birthday” is real, but only if you’re using the calendar in effect when he was actually born.

14. April 23 – William Shakespeare and Max Planck

Illustrated calendar page marked April 23 with silhouettes of an Elizabethan-era playwright with a quill and an early 1900s physicist with equations, editorial illustration

William Shakespeare’s birth date is traditionally cited as April 23, 1564, though this is based on his baptism record of April 26 and long-standing convention rather than a documented birth certificate. Physicist Max Planck, a founder of quantum theory, was born on the confirmed date of April 23, 1858.

It’s worth noting Shakespeare’s date carries more uncertainty than most on this list, which is exactly the kind of nuance worth flagging rather than glossing over.

15. February 6 – Ronald Reagan and Babe Ruth

Illustrated calendar page marked February 6 with silhouettes of a mid-20th-century American president and an early 1900s baseball player mid-swing, editorial illustration style

Ronald Reagan, the 40th U.S. president and former actor, was born February 6, 1911. Baseball legend Babe Ruth was born on the same date in 1895.

Two very different kinds of American icons, one from politics and one from sports, sharing a birthday sixteen years apart.

16. January 17 – Benjamin Franklin and Muhammad Ali

Illustrated calendar page marked January 17 with silhouettes of an 18th-century inventor with a kite and a 20th-century boxer in a fighting stance, editorial illustration style

Benjamin Franklin, the American polymath, diplomat, and Founding Father, was born January 17, 1706. Muhammad Ali, the boxing legend and civil rights figure, was born on the same date in 1942.

It’s a striking pairing that spans over two centuries, connecting one of America’s earliest icons to one of its most famous 20th-century athletes.

17. October 2 – Mahatma Gandhi and Groucho Marx

Illustrated calendar page marked October 2 with silhouettes of an early 1900s independence leader in simple robes and a mid-20th-century comedian with a painted mustache, editorial style

Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India’s independence movement and a global symbol of nonviolent resistance, was born October 2, 1869. Comedian Groucho Marx was born on the same date in 1890.

Gandhi’s birthday is now recognized internationally as the International Day of Non-Violence, making the contrast with Groucho’s slapstick legacy all the more memorable.

18. March 15 – Andrew Jackson and Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Illustrated calendar page marked March 15 with silhouettes of an early 1800s American president and a late 20th-century Supreme Court justice in robes, editorial illustration style

Andrew Jackson, the 7th U.S. president, was born March 15, 1767. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court justice known for her work on gender equality, was born on the same date in 1933.

Both left complicated but undeniably significant marks on American law and governance, separated by 166 years.

19. August 27 – Lyndon B. Johnson and Mother Teresa

Illustrated calendar page marked August 27 with silhouettes of a mid-20th-century American president and a humanitarian figure in simple robes, editorial illustration style

Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th U.S. president, was born August 27, 1908. Mother Teresa is widely associated with August 27, 1910, though her actual birth date is historically recorded as August 26; she was baptized the following day and considered August 27 her true “spiritual birthday.”

It’s a good example of how even well-known birthdays can carry a bit of asterisked history behind them.

20. December 5 – Walt Disney and Martin Van Buren

Illustrated calendar page marked December 5 with silhouettes of an early 1900s animator holding a pencil and sketchbook and a 19th-century American president, editorial style

Walt Disney, the animation pioneer and founder of The Walt Disney Company, was born December 5, 1901. Martin Van Buren, the 8th U.S. president, was born on the same date back in 1782.

One built an entertainment empire; the other built an early political legacy that helped shape the modern Democratic Party. Both share the first Friday of December, over a century apart.

21. September 26 – T.S. Eliot and George Gershwin

Illustrated calendar page marked September 26 with silhouettes of an early 1900s poet with a notebook and a composer at a piano, editorial illustration style

Poet T.S. Eliot, author of “The Waste Land,” was born September 26, 1888. Composer George Gershwin, known for blending classical music with jazz, was born on the same date a decade later in 1898.

Both artists were, in their own mediums, credited with reshaping the artistic language of the early 20th century.

22. April 21 – Queen Elizabeth II and John Muir

Illustrated calendar page marked April 21 with silhouettes of a modern monarch with a crown motif and a 19th-century naturalist with a walking stick in a forest, editorial style

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, was born April 21, 1926. Naturalist John Muir, often called the “Father of the National Parks” for his advocacy that helped establish Yosemite, was born on the same date in 1838.

It’s a fitting overlap between a figure tied to institutional continuity and one tied to preserving the natural world for future generations.

23. November 2 – James K. Polk and Warren G. Harding

Illustrated calendar page marked November 2 with silhouettes of two different-era American presidents facing each other, editorial illustration style, symmetrical composition

James K. Polk, the 11th U.S. president, was born November 2, 1795. Warren G. Harding, the 29th U.S. president, was born on the same date seventy years later in 1865.

This is one of the rare cases where two U.S. presidents share the exact same birth date, and it’s a genuinely useful fact to keep in mind for the myth we’re about to address next.

Why Was Every President Born in the Same Year? Debunking the Myth

If you’ve seen the claim that “every U.S. president was born in the same year,” it’s worth stating plainly: this isn’t true, and there’s no credible historical basis for it. American presidents have been born across nearly three centuries, from George Washington in 1732 to Barack Obama in 1961, so a same-year birth for all of them is simply impossible.

The claim likely spreads as an internet myth or a garbled version of a much smaller, real coincidence — like the fact that James K. Polk and Warren G. Harding really were born on the exact same date, November 2, just seventy years apart (see #23 above). Another genuinely interesting and verified presidential date pattern involves deaths, not births: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826, and James Monroe died on July 4, 1831. If it’s shared birth years rather than birthdays you’re curious about, there’s a whole separate rabbit hole of historical figures who were shockingly born in the same year worth exploring.

That’s the kind of coincidence that tends to snowball into exaggerated claims once it gets passed around online. The lesson here fits the myth-busting spirit of this whole list: real historical coincidences are interesting enough on their own without needing to be inflated into something they’re not.

Which Celebrity Shares My Birthday? How to Find Out

So how do you actually find out which celebrities or historical figures share your birthday? The most reliable approach is to search a reputable “born on this day” database or almanac using your exact birth date, since these tools compile verified birth records for public figures across history and entertainment.

A few tips can help you get more accurate, less clickbait-driven results. Cross-check any name that pops up against a second source, since birthday-list sites occasionally repeat unverified or outdated information without fact-checking it.

It’s also worth remembering that “celebrity” can mean very different things depending on the list. Some sites focus only on current pop culture figures, while others — like this one — lean toward historical figures whose birthdays are backed by biographies, official records, or long-documented sources.

If you want a well-rounded answer to “who do you share a birthday with,” it helps to look at both categories: one modern celebrity and one historical figure. That combination usually gives a much richer, more memorable answer than a single generic list of pop stars.

Whether it’s Lincoln and Darwin both entering the world on February 12, 1809, or the more debated case of Shakespeare’s traditional April birthday, these overlaps are a fun way to feel personally connected to the past. They’re small threads that tie unrelated lives together across centuries.

The next time your own birthday rolls around, it might be worth checking who else — famous, historical, or otherwise — happens to share it with you. Given the math behind the birthday paradox, odds are good you’re not alone on your date after all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which celebrity shares my birthday?

The best way to find out is to search a reputable "born on this day" database using your exact birth date, since these sources compile verified birthdays for celebrities, athletes, and historical figures. It's a good idea to cross-check any surprising result against a second source, since not every birthday list online is carefully fact-checked.

What famous people have the same birthday as me?

It depends entirely on your birth date, but because there are only 365 (or 366) days in a year and countless notable people throughout history, there's a strong statistical chance that at least one well-documented celebrity or historical figure shares your exact birthday. Checking a verified birthday database is the most accurate way to find out who.

Do any celebrities have the same birthday as me?

Almost certainly, yes. Thanks to a statistical concept called the birthday paradox, shared birthdays become increasingly likely as you consider larger groups of people, and the pool of famous historical and modern figures is enormous. The specific name depends on your birth date, so a birthday-lookup tool is the fastest way to check.

Why was every president born in the same year?

This claim isn't true — U.S. presidents have been born across nearly three centuries, from George Washington in 1732 to Barack Obama in 1961. The myth likely comes from smaller, real coincidences, such as James K. Polk and Warren G. Harding sharing the exact same birth date (November 2) seventy years apart.

It varies by date, but many calendar days line up with at least one notable historical figure, since thousands of years of recorded history produce a lot of overlap on just 365 possible dates. Examples on this list include Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin, both born February 12, 1809.

It's more common than most people expect. The birthday paradox shows that shared birthdays occur far more often than intuition suggests, and when you factor in the huge number of historical figures and celebrities across centuries, nearly every calendar date ends up matched with someone notable.

Are historical birthday records always accurate?

Not always. Calendar changes (like the shift from the Julian to Gregorian calendar in 1752), incomplete records, and long-standing traditions rather than documented proof — as with Shakespeare's traditional April 23 birth date — mean some historical birthdays carry more uncertainty than others.

Alex Warren

Alex Warren is a history writer passionate about uncovering the fascinating stories behind the people, places, events, and discoveries that shaped our world. At Pastwick, Alex turns historical facts into engaging, easy-to-read stories that bring the past to life.

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