Portal:Biography
Appearance
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A page from the first edition of Foxe's Book of Martyrs, published in 1563
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Third Volume of a 1727 edition of Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans printed by Jacob Tonson
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Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Cover of the first English publication, J. Parson's, London, 1793
A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or curriculum vitae (résumé), a biography presents a subject's life story, highlighting various aspects of their life, including intimate details of experience, and may include an analysis of the subject's personality. (Full article...)
Featured biographies
Today anniversaries
Pre-1600
- 763 – Harun al-Rashid, Abbasid caliph (d. 809)
- 1231 – Emperor Shijō of Japan (d. 1242)
- 1473 – James IV of Scotland (d. 1513)
- 1523 – Giovanni Francesco Commendone, Catholic cardinal (d. 1584)
- 1537 – Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Japanese daimyō (d. 1598)
1601–1900
- 1611 – Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge, Swedish field marshal (d. 1662)
- 1665 – Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, French harpsichord player and composer (d. 1729)
- 1676 – Thomas Boston, Scottish philosopher and theologian (d. 1732)
- 1686 – Jean-Baptiste Oudry, French painter and engraver (d. 1755)
- 1725 – Lachlan McIntosh, Scottish-American general and politician (d. 1806)
- 1777 – Patrick Brontë, Irish-English priest and author (d. 1861)
- 1777 – Roger B. Taney, American politician and jurist, 5th Chief Justice of the United States (d. 1864)
- 1780 – Thomas Chalmers, Scottish minister, economist, and educator (d. 1847)
- 1781 – Ebenezer Elliott, English poet and educator (d. 1849)
- 1804 – Jim Bridger, American fur trader and explorer (d. 1881)
- 1806 – Norbert Rillieux, African American inventor and chemical engineer (d. 1894)
- 1820 – Jean Ingelow, English poet and author (d. 1897)
- 1834 – Gottlieb Daimler, German engineer and businessman, co-founded Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (d. 1900)
- 1839 – Josef Rheinberger, Liechtensteiner-German organist and composer (d. 1901)
- 1842 – Rosina Heikel, Finnish physician (d. 1929)
- 1846 – Kate Greenaway, English author and illustrator (d. 1901)
- 1849 – Charles F. Brush, American businessman and philanthropist, co-invented the Arc lamp (d. 1929)
- 1849 – Cornelia Clapp, American marine biologist (d. 1934)
- 1856 – Mikhail Vrubel, Russian painter (d. 1910)
- 1862 – Martha P. Falconer, American social reformer (d. 1941)
- 1862 – Silvio Gesell, Belgian merchant and economist (d. 1930)
- 1864 – Joseph Baptista, Indian engineer, lawyer, and politician (d. 1930)
- 1866 – Pierce Butler, American lawyer and jurist (d. 1939)
- 1867 – Patrice Contamine de Latour, Spanish poet (d. 1926)
- 1877 – Edith New, English militant suffragette (d. 1951)
- 1877 – Otto Gross, Austrian-German psychoanalyst and philosopher (d. 1920)
- 1877 – Ville Kiviniemi, Finnish politician (d. 1951)
- 1880 – Patrick Hastings, English lawyer and politician, Attorney General for England and Wales (d. 1952)
- 1880 – Lawrence Oates, English lieutenant and explorer (d. 1912)
- 1881 – Walter Rudolf Hess, Swiss physiologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1973)
- 1884 – Alcide Nunez, American clarinet player (d. 1934)
- 1885 – Ralph Rose, American track and field athlete (d. 1913)
- 1886 – Princess Patricia of Connaught (d. 1974)
- 1888 – Paul Ramadier, French lawyer and politician, Prime Minister of France (d. 1961)
- 1889 – Harry Clarke, Irish stained-glass artist and book illustrator (d. 1931)
- 1891 – Ross McLarty, Australian politician, 17th Premier of Western Australia (d. 1962)
- 1892 – Floyd B. Barnum, American college football coach (d. 1965)
- 1892 – Sayed Darwish, Egyptian singer-songwriter and producer (d. 1923)
- 1894 – Paul Green, American playwright and academic (d. 1981)
- 1895 – Lloyd Rees, Australian painter (d. 1988)
- 1900 – Alfred Newman, American composer and conductor (d. 1970)
1901–present
- 1902 – Bobby Jones, American golfer and lawyer (d. 1971)
- 1903 – Elli Stenberg, Finnish politician (d. 1987)
- 1904 – Chaim Gross, Austrian-American sculptor and educator (d. 1991)
- 1905 – Lillian Yarbo, American comedienne, dancer, and singer (d. 1996)
- 1907 – Takeo Miki, Japanese politician, 41st Prime Minister of Japan (d. 1988)
- 1907 – Jean Van Houtte, Belgian academic and politician, 50th Prime Minister of Belgium (d. 1991)
- 1908 – Brigitte Helm, German-Swiss actress (d. 1996)
- 1910 – Sonny Werblin, American businessman and philanthropist (d. 1991)
- 1912 – Bayard Rustin, American activist (d. 1987)
- 1914 – Sammy Baugh, American football player and coach (d. 2008)
- 1915 – Robert S. Arbib Jr., American ornithologist, writer and conservationist (d. 1987)
- 1915 – Bill Roycroft, Australian equestrian rider (d. 2011)
- 1916 – Ray Ellington, English drummer and bandleader (d. 1985)
- 1917 – Hank Sauer, American baseball player (d. 2001)
- 1919 – Nat King Cole, American singer, pianist, and television host (d. 1965)
- 1920 – Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladeshi politician, 1st President of Bangladesh (d. 1975)
- 1921 – Meir Amit, Israeli general and politician, 12th Israeli Minister of Communications (d. 2009)
- 1922 – Patrick Suppes, American psychologist and philosopher (d. 2014)
- 1924 – Stephen Dodgson, English composer and educator (d. 2013)
- 1925 – Gabriele Ferzetti, Italian actor (d. 2015)
- 1926 – Siegfried Lenz, Polish-German author and playwright (d. 2014)
- 1927 – Betty Allen, American soprano and educator (d. 2009)
- 1928 – William John McKeag, Canadian businessman and politician, 17th Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba (d. 2007)
- 1930 – Paul Horn, American-Canadian flute player and saxophonist (d. 2014)
- 1930 – James Irwin, American colonel, pilot, and astronaut (d. 1991)
- 1931 – Patricia Breslin, American actress (d. 2011)
- 1931 – David Peakall, English-American chemist and toxicologist (d. 2001)
- 1932 – Dick Curless, American country music singer (d. 1995)
- 1933 – Myrlie Evers-Williams, American journalist and activist
- 1933 – Penelope Lively, English author
- 1935 – Fred T. Mackenzie, American biologist and academic (d. 2024)
- 1935 – Adam Wade, American singer, drummer, and actor (d. 2022)
- 1936 – Ida Kleijnen, Dutch chef (d. 2019)
- 1936 – Ladislav Kupkovič, Slovakian composer and conductor (d. 2016)
- 1936 – Ken Mattingly, American admiral, pilot, and astronaut (d. 2023)
- 1937 – Galina Samsova, Russian ballerina (d. 2021)
- 1938 – Rudolf Nureyev, Russian-French dancer and choreographer (d. 1993)
- 1938 – Keith O'Brien, Northern Ireland-born Scottish cleric, theologian, and cardinal (d. 2018)
- 1938 – Zola Taylor, American singer (d. 2007)
- 1939 – Jim Gary, American sculptor (d. 2006)
- 1939 – Bill Graham, Canadian academic and politician, 4th Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs (d. 2022)
- 1939 – Robin Knox-Johnston, English sailor and first person to perform a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe
- 1939 – Giovanni Trapattoni, Italian footballer and manager
- 1940 – Mark White, American lawyer and politician, 43rd Governor of Texas (d. 2017)
- 1941 – Wang Jin-pyng, Taiwanese soldier and politician
- 1941 – Paul Kantner, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2016)
- 1941 – Max Stafford-Clark, English director and academic
- 1942 – John Wayne Gacy, American serial killer and rapist (d. 1994)
- 1942 – Yoko Yamamoto, Japanese actress (d. 2024)
- 1943 – Jeff Banks, Welsh fashion designer
- 1943 – Andrew Brook, Canadian philosopher, author, and academic
- 1944 – Pattie Boyd, English model, author, and photographer
- 1944 – Cito Gaston, American baseball player and manager
- 1945 – Michael Hayden, American general, 20th Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
- 1947 – Dennis Bond, English footballer (d. 2025)
- 1947 – Yury Chernavsky, Russian-American songwriter and producer
- 1948 – William Gibson, American-Canadian author and screenwriter
- 1948 – Alex MacDonald, Scottish footballer and manager
- 1949 – Pat Rice, Irish footballer and coach
- 1949 – Stuart Rose, English businessman
- 1951 – Scott Gorham, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
- 1951 – Craig Ramsay, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
- 1952 – Barry Horne, English activist (d. 2001)
- 1953 – Filemon Lagman, Filipino activist (d. 2001)
- 1953 – Chuck Muncie, American football player (d. 2013)
- 1955 – Cynthia McKinney, American activist and politician
- 1956 – Patrick McDonnell, American author and illustrator
- 1956 – Rory McGrath, British comedian, television personality, and writer
- 1957 – Michael Kelly, American journalist and author (d. 2003)
- 1959 – Danny Ainge, American baseball and basketball player
- 1959 – Paul Black, American singer-songwriter and drummer
- 1961 – Sam Bowie, American basketball player
- 1961 – Dana Reeve, American actress, singer, and activist (d. 2006)
- 1962 – Carsten Almqvist, Swedish business executive
- 1962 – Ank Bijleveld, Dutch politician
- 1962 – Janet Gardner, American singer and guitarist
- 1962 – Clare Grogan, Scottish singer and actress
- 1962 – Rob Sitch, Australian actor, director, and producer
- 1963 – Roger Harper, Guyanese cricketer and coach
- 1964 – Stefano Borgonovo, Italian footballer (d. 2013)
- 1964 – Lee Dixon, English footballer and journalist
- 1964 – Jacques Songo'o, Cameroonian footballer and coach
- 1965 – Andrew Hudson, South African cricketer
- 1966 – Andrew Rosindell, English journalist and politician
- 1967 – Barry Minkow, American pastor and businessman
- 1968 – Eri Nitta, Japanese singer-songwriter and actress
- 1969 – Edgar Grospiron, French skier
- 1969 – Alexander McQueen, English fashion designer, founded eponymous brand (d. 2010)
- 1970 – Patrick Lebeau, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1970 – Gene Ween, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
- 1971 – Bill Mueller, American baseball player and coach
- 1972 – Torquil Campbell, English-Canadian singer-songwriter and actor
- 1973 – Rico Blanco, Filipino singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor
- 1973 – Vance Wilson, American baseball player and manager
- 1974 – Mark Dolan, English comedian and television host
- 1975 – Justin Hawkins, English singer-songwriter
- 1975 – Puneeth Rajkumar, Indian actor, singer, and producer (d. 2021)
- 1975 – Test, Canadian-American wrestler (d. 2009)
- 1976 – Scott Downs, American baseball player
- 1976 – Stephen Gately, Irish singer-songwriter and actor (d. 2009)
- 1976 – Álvaro Recoba, Uruguayan footballer
- 1977 – Tamar Braxton, American singer and television personality
- 1978 – Zachery Kouwe, American journalist
- 1979 – Stormy Daniels, American adult film actress
- 1979 – Andrew Ference, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1979 – Stephen Kramer Glickman, Canadian-American actor, director, producer, and fashion designer
- 1979 – Mineko Nomachi, Japanese essayist
- 1979 – Samoa Joe, American professional wrestler
- 1980 – Danny Califf, American soccer player
- 1981 – Aaron Baddeley, American-Australian golfer
- 1981 – Servet Çetin, Turkish footballer
- 1981 – Nicky Jam, Puerto Rican singer-songwriter
- 1981 – Kyle Korver, American basketball player
- 1982 – Steven Pienaar, South African footballer
- 1983 – James Heath, English golfer
- 1983 – Raul Meireles, Portuguese footballer
- 1983 – Attila Vajda, Hungarian sprint canoeist
- 1984 – Chris Copeland, American basketball player and coach
- 1984 – Ryan Rottman, American actor, producer, and screenwriter
- 1985 – Tuğba Karademir, Turkish-Canadian figure skater
- 1985 – César Valdez, Dominican baseball player
- 1986 – Chris Davis, American baseball player
- 1986 – Edin Džeko, Bosnian footballer
- 1986 – Miles Kane, English singer-songwriter and guitarist
- 1986 – Jeremy Pargo, American basketball player
- 1986 – Silke Spiegelburg, German pole vaulter
- 1987 – Federico Fazio, Argentine footballer
- 1987 – Rob Kardashian, American television personality
- 1987 – Carlos Lampe, Bolivian footballer
- 1987 – Ryan Parent, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1987 – Bobby Ryan, American ice hockey player
- 1987 – Emmanuel Sanders, American football player
- 1988 – Rasmus Elm, Swedish footballer
- 1988 – Fraser Forster, English footballer
- 1988 – Grimes, Canadian musician, singer-songwriter, producer, and visual artist
- 1988 – Brent Meuleman, Belgian politician
- 1988 – Ryan White, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1989 – Mikael Backlund, Swedish ice hockey player
- 1989 – Shinji Kagawa, Japanese footballer
- 1989 – Juan Lagares, Dominican baseball player
- 1989 – Harry Melling, English actor
- 1990 – Hozier, Irish musician
- 1990 – Saina Nehwal, Indian badminton player
- 1990 – Jean Segura, Dominican baseball player
- 1991 – Sergey Kalinin, Russian ice hockey player
- 1991 – Cordarrelle Patterson, American football player
- 1991 – Thomas Robinson, American-Lebanese basketball player
- 1992 – John Boyega, British actor and producer
- 1992 – Patrick Cantlay, American golfer
- 1992 – Yeltsin Tejeda, Costa Rican footballer
- 1993 – Matteo Bianchetti, Italian footballer
- 1993 – Rhys Hoskins, American baseball player
- 1994 – DeForest Buckner, American football player
- 1994 – Terry Rozier, American basketball player
- 1994 – Ivan Provedel, Italian footballer
- 1994 – Marcel Sabitzer, Austrian footballer
- 1995 – Claressa Shields, American boxer and mixed martial artist
- 1997 – Katie Ledecky, American swimmer
- 1997 – Daniel Sprong, Dutch ice hockey player
- 1998 – Brandon Aiyuk, American football player
- 2001 – Pietro Pellegri, Italian footballer (Full article...)
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