Famous Birthdays on February 25

Birthdays 1 - 200 of 299

• 1398 Xuande, 5th Ming Emperor of China (1425-35) (d. 1435)
• 1555 Alonso Lobo, Spanish composer (Versa est in luctum), baptized in Osuna, Habsburg Spain (d. 1617)
• 1591 Friedrich von Spee, German writer (d. 1635)

• 1635 Walrad, Dutch Prince of Nassau-Usingen, and field marshal (for William III of Orange), born in Roermond (d. 1702)
• 1643 Ahmed II, 21st Sultan of Turkey (1691-95), born in Istanbul, Ottoman Empire (d. 1695) [or born Aug 1, 1642]
• 1663 Pierre Antoine Motteux, French-born English dramatist (d. 1718)
• 1680 Philipp Hyacinth Lobkowitz, Bohemian lutenist, composer, and patron (Gluck), born in Neustadt an der Waldnab, Bacaria (now Germany) (d. 1734)
• 1682 Giovanni Battista Morgagni, Italian anatomist (d. 1771)
• 1692 Karl Ludwig, Freiherr von Pöllnitz, German adventurer and writer (d. 1775)
• 1707 Carlo Goldoni, Italian playwright and librettist (Belisario, Servant of Two Masters), born in Venice, Republic of Venice (now Italy) (d. 1793)
• 1714 Hyde Parker, 5th Baronet, British admiral (captured Spanish treasure galleon Santisima Trinidad), born in Tredington, England (d. 1782)
• 1714 René Nicolas Charles Augustin de Maupeou, Chancellor of France (d. 1792)
• 1725 Karl Wilhelm Ramler, German poet (Geistliche Kantaten), born in Berlin (d. 1798)
• 1727 Armand-Louis Couperin, French composer, harpsichordist, and organist (Notre Dame, 1755-89), born in Paris, France (d. 1789)
• 1731 Simon Stijl, Frisian physician and writer, born in Harlingen (d. 1804)
• 1732 Robert Hudson, British composer, born in London, England (d. 1815)

• 1735 Ernst Wilhelm Wolf, German composer, born in Grossen Behringen, Thuringia (d. 1792)
• 1752 John Graves Simcoe, first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada (d. 1806)

• 1788 Mateo Ferrer, Spanish composer and organist, born in Barcelona, Spain (d. 1864)
• 1794 Gerrit Schimmelpenninck, Dutch politician (1st Dutch PM as Chairman of the Council of Ministers 1848), born in Amsterdam (d. 1863)
• 1807 George Trenholm, South Carolina plantation owner, Secretary of the Treasury for the Confederate States, (d. 1876)
• 1808 James Bowen, American Major General (Union Army), born in Manhattan, New York (d. 1886)
• 1809 George Washington Cullom, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in NYC, New York (d. 1892)
• 1811 Carl Schuberth, German composer, born in Magdeburg, (d. 1863)
• 1814 Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian national poet and painter, born in Moryntsi, Ukraine (d. 1861) [OS]
• 1815 Robert Hall Chilton, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), (d. 1879)
• 1833 Clement Anselm Evans, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), (d. 1911)
• 1833 Julie Verstraete-Lacquet, Flemish actress and mother of Theodoor Verstraete, born in Ghent, Belgium (d. 1903)
• 1835 Matsukata Masayoshi, Japanese politician (Prime Minister of Japan 1891-1892, 1896 -1898), born in Kagoshima, Japan (d. 1924)
• 1840 Alexis Hollander, German composer, born in Ratibor, Silesia (now Racibórz, Poland) (d. 1924)
• 1840 Otto Liebmann, German philosopher (Climax of Theories), born in Löwenberg, Silesia (d. 1912)

• 1842 Karl May, German writer (Old Shatterhand, Winnetou), born in Ernstthal, Saxony (d. 1912)
• 1847 John Watson, Canadian philosopher (Objective Idealism), born in Glasgow, Scotland (d. 1939)
• 1854 Charles Lang Freer, American industrialist and art collector; endowed Smithsonian's Freer Gallery of Art, born in Kingston New York (d. 1919)
• 1855 Cesário Verde, Portuguese poet (d. 1886)
• 1855 George Bonnor, Australian cricket batsman (17 Tests, 1 x 100, HS 128; NSW CA, Victoria CA), born in Bathurst, Australia (d. 1912)
• 1857 Friedrich Reinitzer, Austrian chemist and botanist (discovered properties of liquid crystals), born in Prague (d. 1927)
• 1860 Menso Kamerlingh Onnes, Dutch painter, born in Brussels (d. 1925)
• 1860 William Ashley, English economic historian (The Economic Organisation of England), born in London, England (d. 1927)
• 1866 Benedetto Croce, Italian historian, editor philosopher and politician (La Critica), born in Pescasseroli, Italy (d. 1952)
• 1868 Anthony John Blok, Dutch lawyer (strafproces), born in Hees, Netherlands (d. 1934)
• 1871 Oliver Campbell, American tennis player (US Open 1890-92), born in Brooklyn, NY (d. 1953)

• 1877 Erich von Hornbostel, Austrian musicologist, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1935)
• 1879 Otakar Ostrcil, Czech composer, born in Prague (d. 1935)
• 1881 William Z. Foster, American labor organizer and Communist Presidential candidate (1924, 1928 and 1932), born in Taunton, Massachusetts (d. 1961)
• 1882 Jozef Goossenaerts, Flemish philologist (Language boundary), born in Wuustwezel, Belgium (d. 1963)
• 1883 Princess Alice of Albany, Countess of Athlone (d. 1981)
• 1885 Sylvia Brett, Lady Brooke and Ranee of Sarawak, born in London, England (d. 1971)
• 1887 Leonard Carey, British actor (Rebecca, Laughter), born in London, England (d. 1977)

• 1889 Homer S. Ferguson, United States Senator (d. 1982)
• 1890 Dame Myra Hess, British concert pianist, born in London, England (d. 1955)
• 1894 Ernst Friedrich, German pacifist and anarchist (War Against War!), born in Breslau, Germany (d. 1967)
• 1894 Meher Baba, Indian spiritual leader (d. 1969)
• 1895 Bert Bell, American Pro Football HOF executive (NFL Commissioner 1946-59; owner Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1959)
• 1895 Henri Martelli, French composer, born in Bastia, Corsica, France (d. 1980)
• 1896 John Little McClellan, American lawyer and politician (Sen-D-Ark), born in Sheridan, Arkansas (d. 1977)
• 1898 William Astbury, English physicist and chemist (pioneer in molecular biology), born in Longton, England (d. 1961)
• 1899 Leo Weisgerber, German linguist (organicist theory), born in Metz, German Empire (d. 1985)
• 1900 Hartzell "Tiny" Parham, American jazz pianist, theater organist, and bandleader, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (d. 1943)
• 1900 Jed Harris, Austrian-born American theatre producer and director (Billy Rose Show, Operation Mad Ball), born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (d. 1979)
• 1901 Federico Ghisi, Italian chemist, musicologist, composer, and pedagogue, born in Shanghai, China (d. 1975)
• 1901 Zeppo Marx [Herbert Manfred Marx], American comedian and actor (Marx Brothers), born in NYC, New York (d. 1979)
• 1902 Max Kommerell, German literary critic (Die Gefangenen), born in Münsingen, Germany (d. 1944)
• 1902 Oscar Cullmann, French-Swiss Lutheran theologist (Das Petrusproblem), born in Strasbourg, Germany (d. 1999)
• 1903 King Clancy, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 1986)
• 1904 Adelle Davis, American nutritionist and author (Let's Stay Healthy), born in Lizton, Indiana (d. 1974)
• 1906 Boris Papandopulo, Croatian composer, born in Bad Honnef, Germany (d. 1991)
• 1906 Domingo Ortega, Spanish bullfighter (The Art of Bullfighting), born in Borox, Spain (d. 1988)
• 1906 Howard Zahniser, American environmental activist (father of Wilderness Act), born in Franklin, Pennsylvania (d. 1864)
• 1906 Warren Hymer, American actor (Girl From Havana, Meet the Mob), born in NYC, New York (d. 1948)
• 1907 Mary Coyle Chase, American playwright (Harvey 1945 Pulitzer Prize), born in Denver, Colorado (d. 1981)
• 1907 Sabahattin Ali, Turkish poet, author and journalist (Esirler, Içimizdeki Şeytan), born in Eğridere, Gümülcine, Ottoman Empire (d. 1948)
• 1907 Shimen Ruskin, Polish actor (Beau Brummel, Having a Wonderful Time), born in Vilna, Russian Empire (d. 1976)
• 1908 Frank G. Slaughter [C.V. Terry], American novelist and physician (Sangaree), born in Washington D.C. (d. 2001)
• 1909 Edgar Pangborn, American sci-fi author (Judgment of Eve, Davy), born in New York City (d. 1976)
• 1909 Geoffrey Dummer, electronics engineer, first to build integrated circuit / microchip, born in Hull England (d. 2002)
• 1909 John Evan "Jasper" Weston-Davies [pen name Berkley Mather], English writer, born in Gloucester (d. 1996)
• 1910 Millicent Fenwick, American politician (Rep-R-NJ 1975-82) (Doonesbury), born in NYC, New York (d. 1992)
• 1912 Richard Wattis, British actor (Hobson's Choice, Prince & Showgirl, The Man Who Knew Too Much), born in Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England (d. 1975)
• 1913 Gert Fröbe [Karl Gerhart Fröbe], German actor (Goldfinger, Lover's Wood, Upper Hand), born in Saxony, German Empire (d. 1988)
• 1913 James "Jim" Backus, American actor (Mr Magoo, Rebel Without a Cause, Gilligan's Island), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 1989)
• 1914 John Arlott, British cricket commentator & writer (BBC), born in Basingstoke, England (d. 1991)
• 1916 Ralph Baldwin, Canadian harness driver and trainer (11 major world records; Hambletonian Stakes 1963, 73), born in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan (d. 1982)
• 1916 Reinhard Bendix, German sociologist (d. 1991)
• 1917 Alex Gordon, Welsh architect (RIBA President), born in Ayr, Scotland (d. 1999)

• 1917 Asta Elstak, Surinamese-Dutch social worker, born in Suriname (d. 1994)
• 1917 Brenda Joyce [Betty Graffina Leabo], American actress (Tarzan, The Rains Came), born in Excelsior Springs, Missouri (d. 2009)
• 1918 Barney Ewell, American athlete (1948 Olympics 1 gold, 2 silver), born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (d. 1996)
• 1918 Barney Ewell, American athlete (Olympic gold 4x100m relay, silver 100m, 200m 1948; equal WR 100m 1948), born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (d. 1996)

• 1918 Rena Kyriakou, Greek pianist and composer, born in Herakleion, Crete, Greece (d. 1994)
• 1919 Fitz de Jong Edz, Dutch historian (director of IISG), born in Meppel, Netherlands (d. 1989)
• 1919 Fred Katz, American classical and jazz cellist (Chico Hamilton Quintet), and composer (Roger Corman films), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2013).
• 1919 Karl H. Pribram “Magellan of the Mind”, Austrian-American neuroscientist, psychologist and philosopher (research into brain’s limbic system), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2015)
• 1919 Monty Irvin, American Baseball HOF outfielder (4 x NgL All-Star, NgL World Series 1946 Newark Eagles; MLB All-Star 1952, World Series 1954 NY Giants), born in Haleburg, Alabama (d. 2016)
• 1920 Antony Duff, British WWII submarine commander, diplomat, (1946-80), intelligence officer (Director of MI5, 1985-88), and advocate for the homeless, born in Moreton, Dorset, England (d. 2000)
• 1920 Gérard Bessette, Canadian author (d. 2005)
• 1920 Hayes Gordon, American stage director and actor (Sky Pirates, Dark Room), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1999)
• 1920 Sun Myung Moon, South Korean evangelist (Unification Church), born in Chongju, Japanese Korea (d. 2012)
• 1921 Andy Pafko, Boyceville, Wisconsin, MLB player (Chicago Cubs), (d. 2013)
• 1922 Matti Rautio, Finnish classical composer (The Blue Heron), born in Helsinki, Finland (d. 1986) 
• 1923 Roger Parker, Lord Justice of Appeal
• 1924 Peg Ridge, peace campaigner
• 1925 Bert Remsen, American actor (Mario-It's a Living), born in Glen Cove, New York
• 1925 Shehu Shagari, Nigerian politician, President of Nigeria (1979-83), born in Sokoto, Nigeria (d. 2018)
• 1926 Harvey McGregor, QC/warden (New College-Oxford)
• 1927 Jacques-Louis Monod, French pianist, conductor, and composer (Cantus Contra Cantum), born in Asnières, France (d. 2020)
• 1927 Jane Nigh, American actress (Lorelei-Big Town, Blue Blood, Rawhide), born in Hollywood, California (d. 1993)
• 1927 Ralph Stanley, American bluegrass musician, born in Dickenson County, Virginia (d. 2016)
• 1927 René Thomas, Belgian jazz guitarist, born in Liège, Belgium (d. 1975)
• 1927 Rev. Bruce Ritter, Catholic priest and controversial founder of charity Covenant House, born in Trenton New Jersey (d. 1999)
• 1927 Richard "Dick" Jones, American actor ("Pinocchio "- Pinocchio, The Frontiersman), born in Snyder, Texas (d. 2014)
• 1928 Keith Williamson, British RAF marshal
• 1928 Larry Gelbart, American television writer, playwright, director and author, best known as creator and producer of M*A*S*H, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2009)
• 1928 Paul Elvstrøm, Danish yachtsman (4 Olympic gold, Finn class 1948, 52, 56, 60), born in Hellerup, Denmark (d. 2016)
• 1928 Richard Stern, American writer
• 1929 Peter Bingham Hinchcliff, British church historian (1 Sided Reciprocity)
• 1929 Tommy Newsom, American saxophonist and bandleader (Tonight Show), born in Portsmouth, Virginia (d. 2007)
• 1930 Erica Pedretti, writer
• 1930 Wendy Beckett, South African British nun and TV art critic, born in Johannesburg, South Africa (d. 2018)
• 1931 Christopher George, American actor (The Rat Patrol; Chisum; The Immortal), and US Marine Corp veteran, born in Royal Oak, Michigan (d. 1983)
• 1931 Edward Kellett-Bowman, British MEP
• 1931 J R Stephenson, Lt-col/secretary (MCC)
• 1932 Åke Persson, Swedish bebop jazz trombonist (Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band, 1963–71), born in Hässleholm Sweden (d. 1975)
• 1932 Faron Young, American country and honky-tonk singer ("Hello Walls"; "It's Four in the Morning"), and actor (Hidden Guns; Daniel Boone, Trailblazer), born in Shreveport, Louisiana (d. 1996)
• 1932 Laurence New, Major-General
• 1932 Martin William Karlins, American contemporary classical composer, born in North Brook, Illinois (d. 2005)
• 1932 Tony Brooks, English auto racer (F1 World C'ship third 1958, runner-up 1959; 6 x F1 wins), born in Dukinfield, Cheshire, England (d. 2022)
• 1934 Bernard Bresslaw, English comedian (Carry On team), born in London, England (d. 1993)
• 1934 Michael Wheeler-Booth, Clerk of the Parliaments
• 1934 Nicholas Edwards, Baron Crickhowell, British Conservative Party politician
• 1934 Robert Neame, British brewer (Shepherd Neame)
• 1934 Tony Lema, American golfer (British Open 1964), born in Oakland, California (d. 1966)

• 1936 Norman Scribner, American organist, conductor, choral director (St. Alban's, 1960-2007; Choral Arts Society of Washington, 1965-2012), and composer (Song for St. Cecilia), born in Washington, DC (d. 2015)
• 1937 Basia Johnson, maid (inherited Johnson & Johnson fortune)
• 1937 Bob Schieffer, newscaster (CBS Weekend News), born in Austin, Texas
• 1937 Don Randi [Schwartz], American session and touring pop, rock, and jazz keyboard player (Nancy Sinatra), born in New York City
• 1937 Tom Courtenay, England, actor (Dresser, Doctor Zhivago, To Catch a Spy)
• 1938 Diane Baker, American actress (Diary of Anne Frank; Marnie), born in Hollywood, California
• 1938 Ed Cobb, American pop vocalist (The Four Preps, 1956-66 -"26 Miles (Santa Catalina)"), songwriter ("Tainted Love"), sound engineer and producer, born in Honolulu, Hawaii (d. 1999)
• 1938 Farokh Engineer, Indian cricket wicket-keeper (1961-75)
• 1938 Herb Elliott, Australian athlete (Olympic gold 1,500m [WR 3:35.6] 1960; WR mile 3:54.5 1958), born in Perth, Australia
• 1938 Viktor Kosichkin, Russian speed skater (Olympic gold 5,000m, silver 10,000m 1960), born in Rybnoye (d. 2012)
• 1939 A C F Verity, master (Dulwich College)
• 1939 Marisa Mell, Graz Austria, actress (Masquerade, Casanova '70)
• 1940 Billy Packer, American college basketball broadcaster (Raycom Sports, NBC, CBS), born in Wellsville, New York (d. 2023)
• 1940 George Paul, CEO (Norwich Union Insurance Group)
• 1940 Hector MacKenzie, trade unionist
• 1940 Jud Taylor, American actor (Dr. Kildare (TV series) - "Dr. Gerson"), and director (Tail Gunner Joe), born in New York City (d. 2008)
• 1940 Ron Santo, American Baseball Hall of Fame third baseman (9 x MLB All Star; 5 x Gold Glove; Chicago Cubs), born in Seattle, Washington (d. 2010)
• 1941 David Puttnam, film producer/CEO (Columbia Pictures), born in London, England
• 1941 Ramon Pagayon Santos, Filipino contemporary classical composer, etno-musicologist, and pedagogue, born in Pasig, Philippines
• 1941 Stewart Sutherland, Principal/Vice-Chancellor (Edinburgh University)
• 1941 Susan Browning, American actress (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman -"Pat"), born in Baldwin, New York (d. 2006)
• 1942 Carlena Williams, American session and touring vocalist (Ike & Tina Turner Revue; Humble Pie; Pink Floyd; The Carpenters; Donna Summer), born in North Carolina (d. 2013)
• 1943 Elliot Roberts [Rabinowitz] American music artist manager (Joni Mitchell; Neil Young), and label executive (Asylum Records), born in the Bronx, New York (d. 2019)

• 1943 Maryann Amacher, American electronic music composer, and sound installation artist, born in Kane, Pennsylvania (d. 2009)
• 1943 Wilson da Silva Piazza, Brazilian footballer
• 1944 Karen Grassle, American actress (Caroline-Little House on Prairie), born in Berkeley, California
• 1944 Kristina Holland, American actress (Tina-Courtship of Eddie's Father), born in Fayetteville, North Carolina
• 1945 Elkie Brooks [Elaine Bookbinder], British rock singer ("Pearl's A Singer"), born in Manchester, England
• 1945 Shivadhar Srinivasa Naipaul, Trinidad, novelist, essayist (Fireflies)
• 1946 F Xaver Kroetz, writer
• 1946 Jean Todt, French executive director of Scuderia Ferrari
• 1946 Rick Hummel, American sports writer (St. Louis Post-Dispatch; J. G. Taylor Spink Award 2007; president Baseball Writers' Association of America), born in Quincy, Illinois (d. 2023)
• 1947 Anne Beatts, American comedy writer (National Lampoon magazine; Saturday Night Live, 1975-79; Square Pegs), born in Buffalo, New York (d. 2021) [1]
• 1947 Doug Yule, American bassist and singer (Velvet Underground, 1968-73), born in Mineola, Long Island, New York
• 1947 Eddie Thomson, Australian soccer coach (Socceroos 1990-96), born in Rosewell, Scotland (d. 2003)
• 1947 Lee Evans, American athlete (Olympic gold men's 400m, 4x400m relay 1968), born in Madera, California (d. 2021)
• 1947 Ryo Kawasaki, Japanese jazz fusion guitarist, composer, bandleader, and synthesizer software programmer, born in Kōenji, Tokyo, Japan (d. 2020)
• 1948 Aldo Busi, Italian writer
• 1948 Danny Denzongpa, Indian actor
• 1948 G B Warren, British biochemist
• 1948 Joe Mays, American character actor (Mr. Saturday Night; The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd), born in Little Rock, Arkansas (d. 1994)
• 1949 Frank "Poncho" Sampedro, Spanish-American rock guitarist (Crazy Horse - Neil Young, 1988-2014), born in Welch, West Virginia

• 1950 Emitt Rhodes, American rock singer-songwriter, musician (Merry-Go-Round), sound engineer, and record producer, born in Decatur, Illinois (d. 2020)
• 1950 Francisco Fernández Ochoa, Spanish alpine skier (d. 2006)
• 1950 Kenny Gradney, American bassist and songwriter (Little Feat - "Time Loves A Hero"; Delaney & Bonnie & Friends; Robert Palmer), born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• 1950 Mick Miller [Lawton], British stand-up comedian and television personality, born in Liverpool, England
• 1950 Neil Jordan, Irish director (Crying Game) and novelist, born in Sligo
• 1950 Néstor Kirchner, Argentine politician, President of Argentina 2003-2007), born in Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz (d. 2010)
• 1951 César Cedeño, Dominican baseball center fielder (Houston Astros) and four-time All-Star player, born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
• 1951 Don Quarrie, Jamaican runner
• 1951 James Brown, American sportscaster (CBS News, The NFL Today), born in Washington, D.C.
• 1952 Elizabeth "Libby" Callahan, American sport shooter and four-time Olympian, born in Columbia, South Carolina
• 1952 Inger Segelström, Swedish politician
• 1952 James A. Barcia, American politician (Rep-D-Michigan 1993-2003), born in Bay City, Michigan
• 1952 Jerry Chamberlain, American alt-rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and producr (Daniel Amos: The Swirling Eddies), born in Inglewood, California
• 1952 Joey Dunlop, Irish motorcycle racer (d. 2000)
• 1953 Garrett Glaser, entertainment correspondent (Entertainment Tonight)
• 1953 José María Aznar, former Prime Minister of Spain
• 1953 Kim Yeong-cheol, South Korean actor

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• Year of the Rat
  2020
• Year of the Ox
  2021
• Year of the Tiger
  2022
• Year of the Rabbit
  2023
• Year of the Dragon
  2024
• Year of the Snake
  2025