Famous Birthdays on February 25

Q: Who was born on February 25?

Famous people born on February 25 include: Infanta Branca of Portugal, Wenceslaus I, Edward Plantagenet, Henry Howard, Sharaf Khan Bidlisi.

Q: What is S. Rajaratnam known for?

S. Rajaratnam, Singaporean politician, 1st Senior Minister of Singapore (died 2006)

1915 — S. Rajaratnam

Singaporean politician, 1st Senior Minister of Singapore (died 2006)

February 25 has seen 156 notable people enter the world across recorded history — from 1259 – 2005. Below are the most significant names born on this date.

By thisDay.info Editorial Team · February 25 — Wikipedia

Famous Birthdays 156 people 1259 – 2005

Did you know

He served as the first Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1965 until 1980, and subsequently as the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore from 1980 to 1985

Did you know

Alongside his foreign affairs portfolio, he also served as Minister for Culture from 1959 to 1965, Minister for Labour from 1968 to 1971, Deputy Prime Minister from 1980 to 1985 and Senior Minister from 1985 to 1988

Did you know

Rajaratnam is remembered for authoring the Singapore National Pledge in 1966

Did you know

Sinnathamby Rajaratnam was a Singaporean statesman, journalist and diplomat

Did you know

Rajaratnam was pivotal in shaping Singapore's foreign policy framework during its formative years of sovereignty, helping secure the nation's position on the global stage

Infanta Branca of Portugal

daughter of King Afonso III of Portugal and Urraca of Castile (died 1321)

Blanche of Portugal, was an infanta and nun, the firstborn child of King Afonso III of Portugal and his second wife Beatrice of Castile. Named after her great-aunt Blanche of Castile, queen of France, Blanche was the…

1259

Wenceslaus I

Duke of Luxembourg (died 1383)

Wenceslaus I was the first Duke of Luxembourg from 1354. He was the son of John the Blind, King of Bohemia, and Beatrice of Bourbon.

1337

Edward Plantagenet

17th Earl of Warwick, last male member of the House of York (died 1499)

Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick was the son of Isabel Neville and George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, and a potential claimant to the English throne during the reigns of both his uncle, Richard III…

1475

Henry Howard

1st Earl of Northampton, English aristocrat and courtier (died 1614)

Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton was an English aristocrat and courtier. He was suspected throughout his life of being Roman Catholic, and went through periods of royal disfavour, in which his reputation suffered…

1540

Sharaf Khan Bidlisi

Emir of Bitlis (died 1603)

Sharaf al-Din Khan b. Shams al-Din b. Sharaf Beg Bedlisi was a Kurdish Emir of Bitlis. He was also a historian, writer and poet. He wrote exclusively in Persian. Born in the Qara Rud village, in central Iran, between…

1543

Friedrich Spee

German poet and author (died 1635)

Friedrich Spee was a German Jesuit priest, professor, and poet, most well known as a forceful opponent of witch trials and one who was an insider writing from the epicenter of the European witch-phobia. Spee argued…

1591

Ahmed II

Ottoman sultan (died 1695)

Ahmed II was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1691 to 1695.

1643

Peter Anthony Motteux

French-English author, playwright and translator (died 1718)

Peter Anthony Motteux was a French-born English author, playwright, and translator. Motteux was a significant figure in the evolution of English journalism in his era, as the publisher and editor of The Gentleman's…

1663

Maria Margarethe Kirch

German astronomer and mathematician (died 1720)

Maria Margaretha Kirch was a German astronomer. She was one of the first famous astronomers of her period due to her writing on the conjunction of the sun with Saturn, Venus, and Jupiter in 1709 and 1712 respectively.

1670

Giovanni Battista Morgagni

Italian anatomist and pathologist (died 1771)

Giovanni Battista Morgagni was an Italian anatomist, generally regarded as the father of modern anatomical pathology, who taught thousands of medical students from many countries during his 56 years as Professor of…

1682

Carlo Goldoni

Italian playwright and composer (died 1793)

Carlo Osvaldo Goldoni was an Italian playwright and librettist from the Republic of Venice. His works include some of Italy's most famous and best-loved plays. Audiences have admired the plays of Goldoni for their…

1707

René Nicolas Charles Augustin de Maupeou

French lawyer and politician, Lord Chancellor of France (died 1792)

René Nicolas Charles Augustin de Maupeou, marquis de Morangles was a French lawyer, politician, and chancellor of France, whose attempts at reform signalled the failure of enlightened despotism in France. He is best…

1714

John Wood

the Younger, English architect, designed the Royal Crescent (died 1782)

John Wood, the Younger was an English architect, working principally in the city of Bath, Somerset. He was the son of the architect John Wood, the Elder. His designs were highly influential during the 18th century and…

1728

John Graves Simcoe

English-Canadian general and politician, 1st Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada (died 1806)

Lieutenant-General John Graves Simcoe was a British army officer, politician, and colonial administrator who served as the lieutenant governor of Upper Canada from 1791 until 1796. He founded York, the present-day city…

1752

François René Mallarmé

French lawyer and politician (died 1835)

François-René-Auguste Mallarmé was a French statesman of the French Revolution and a supporter of Napoleon Bonaparte and the French Empire. His career is of particular interest because he was among political figures…

1755

José de San Martín

Argentinian general and politician, 1st President of Peru (died 1850)

José Francisco de San Martín y Matorras, nicknamed "the Liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru", was an Argentine general and the primary leader of the southern and central parts of South America's successful struggle…

1778

Emma Catherine Embury

American author and poet (died 1863)

Emma Catherine Embury was an American writer and poet. Under the pen name of "Ianthe", she contributed to the periodicals of the day, and may be considered among the pioneers of female literature in the United States.…

1806

John Hart

English-Australian politician, 10th Premier of South Australia (died 1873)

Captain John Hart CMG was a South Australian politician and a Premier of South Australia.

1809

Carl Christian Hall

Danish lawyer and politician, 6th Prime Minister of Denmark (died 1888)

Carl Christian Hall was a Danish statesman. Hall served as the Council President of Denmark, first from 1857 to 1859 and again from 1860 to 1863.

1812

Giovanni Morelli

Italian historian and critic (died 1891)

Giovanni Morelli was an Italian art critic and political figure.

1816

John St. John

American lawyer and politician, 8th Governor of Kansas (died 1916)

John Pierce St. John was an American politician who served as the eighth governor of Kansas. A Republican, St. John was a staunch supporter of Prohibition and later served as the Prohibition Party's nominee in the 1884…

1833

Pierre-Auguste Renoir

French painter and sculptor (died 1919)

Pierre-Auguste Renoir was a leading French Impressionist artist. In his depiction of feminine beauty, Renoir has been described as "the final representative of a tradition which runs directly from Rubens to Watteau."

1841

Karl May

German author, poet, and playwright (died 1912)

Karl Friedrich May was a German author known for writing often in first-person narrative about travels and adventures, mostly set in the American Old West or the Orient and Middle East, but also in Latin America, China…

1842

George Reid

Scottish-Australian lawyer and politician, 4th Prime Minister of Australia (died 1918)

Sir George Houston Reid was a Scottish-born Australian politician, diplomat, and barrister who served as the fourth prime minister of Australia from 1904 to 1905. He held office as the leader of the Free Trade Party,…

1845

Cesário Verde

Portuguese poet and author (died 1886)

Cesário Verde was a 19th-century Portuguese poet. His work, while mostly ignored during his lifetime and not well known outside of the country's borders even today, is generally considered to be amongst the most…

1855

Karl Gotthard Lamprecht

German historian and academic (died 1915)

Karl Gotthard Lamprecht was a German historian who specialized in German art and economic history.

1856

Mathias Zdarsky

Czech-Austrian skier, painter, and sculptor (died 1940)

Mathias Zdarsky was an early ski pioneer and founder of modern Alpine skiing technique: Arnold Lunn described him as the "father of alpine skiing". He was the first ski instructor in the world. He was also a teacher,…

1856

Robert Bond

Canadian politician; first Prime Minister of Newfoundland (died 1927)

Sir Robert Bond was a Newfoundlander politician who was the last Premier of Newfoundland Colony from 1900 to 1907 and the first prime minister of the Dominion of Newfoundland from 1907 to 1909 after the 1907 Imperial…

1857

William Ashley

English historian and academic (died 1927)

Sir William James Ashley was an English economic historian. His major intellectual influence was in organising economic history in Great Britain and introducing the ideas of the leading German economic historians,…

1860

Andranik

Armenian general (died 1927)

Andranik Ozanian, commonly known as General Andranik or simply Andranik, was an Armenian military commander and statesman, widely regarded as the preeminent fedayi and a seminal figure of the Armenian national…

1865

Benedetto Croce

Italian philosopher and politician (died 1952)

Benedetto Croce, was an Italian idealist philosopher, historian, and politician who wrote on numerous topics, including philosophy, history, historiography, and aesthetics. A political liberal in most regards, he…

1866

Phoebus Levene

Russian-American biochemist and physician (died 1940)

Phoebus Aaron Theodore Levene was a Russian-born American biochemist who studied the structure and function of nucleic acids. He characterized the different forms of nucleic acid, DNA from RNA, and found that DNA…

1869

Lesya Ukrainka

Ukrainian poet and playwright (died1913)

Lesya Ukrainka was one of Ukrainian literature's foremost writers, best known for her poems and plays. She was also an active political, civil, and female rights activist.

1871

Enrico Caruso

Italian-American tenor; the most popular operatic tenor of the early 20th century and the first great recording star. (died 1921)

Enrico Caruso was an Italian operatic tenor, who sang to great acclaim at the major opera houses of Europe and the Americas, appearing in a wide variety of roles that ranged from the lyric to the dramatic. Generally…

1873

Erich von Hornbostel

Austrian musicologist and scholar (died 1935)

Erich Moritz von Hornbostel was an Austrian ethnomusicologist, comparative musicologist, and scholar of music. He is remembered for his pioneering work in the field of ethnomusicology, and for the Sachs–Hornbostel…

1877

William Z. Foster

American union leader and politician (died 1961)

William Z. Foster was a radical American labor organizer and Communist politician, whose career included serving as General Secretary of the Communist Party USA from 1945 to 1957. He was previously a member of the…

1881

Alexei Rykov

Russian politician, Premier of Russia (died 1938)

Alexei Ivanovich Rykov was a Russian Bolshevik revolutionary and a Soviet politician and statesman, most prominent as premier of Russia and the Soviet Union from 1924 to 1929 and 1924 to 1930 respectively. He was one of…

1881

Princess Alice

Countess of Athlone (died 1981)

Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, was a member of the British royal family. She was the longest-lived princess of the blood royal, and one of the longest-lived British royals. Princess Alice was the last surviving…

1883

Princess Alice of Battenberg

mother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (died 1969)

Princess Alice of Battenberg was the mother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, mother-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II, and paternal grandmother of King Charles III. After marrying Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark in…

1885

John Foster Dulles

American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 52nd United States Secretary of State (died 1959)

John Foster Dulles was an American politician, lawyer, and diplomat who served as United States secretary of state under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 until his resignation in 1959. A member of the Republican…

1888

Myra Hess

English pianist and educator (died 1965)

Dame Julia Myra Hess was an English pianist known for her performances of the works of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms. She famously organised concerts in London during the Second World War and The Blitz.

1890

Meher Baba

Indian spiritual master (died 1969)

Meher Baba was an Indian spiritual master who said he was the Avatar, or the total manifestation of God in human form. A spiritual figure of the 20th century, he had a following of hundreds of thousands of people,…

1894

Ida Noddack

German chemist and physicist (died 1978)

Ida Noddack, née Tacke, was a German chemist and physicist. In 1934 she was the first to mention the idea later named nuclear fission. With her husband Walter Noddack, and Otto Berg, she discovered element 75, rhenium.…

1896

William Astbury

physicist and molecular biologist (died 1961)

William Thomas Astbury FRS was an English physicist and molecular biologist who made pioneering X-ray diffraction studies of biological molecules. His work on keratin provided the foundation for Linus Pauling's…

1898

Vince Gair

Australian politician, 27th Premier of Queensland (died 1980)

Vincent Clair Gair was an Australian politician. He served as Premier of Queensland from 1952 until 1957, when his stormy relations with the trade union movement saw him expelled from the Labor Party. He was elected to…

1901

Zeppo Marx

American comedian and theatrical agent (died 1979)

Herbert Manfred "Zeppo" Marx was an American comedic actor and businessman. He was the youngest, and last survivor, of the five Marx Brothers. He appeared with his brothers on Broadway during the 1920s and in the first…

1901

King Clancy

Canadian ice hockey player, referee, and coach (died 1986)

Francis Michael "King" Clancy was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, referee, coach and executive. Clancy played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs. He…

1903

Perry Miller

American historian, author, and academic (died 1963)

Perry Gilbert Eddy Miller was an American intellectual historian and a co-founder of the field of American Studies. Miller specialized in the history of early America and took an active role in a revisionist view of the…

1905

Mary Coyle Chase

American journalist and playwright (died 1981)

Mary Chase was an American journalist, playwright and children's novelist, known primarily for writing the 1944 Broadway play Harvey, which was adapted into the 1950 film starring James Stewart.

1906

Sabahattin Ali

Turkish journalist, author, and poet (died 1948)

Sabahattin Ali was a Turkish novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist.

1907

Mary Locke Petermann

American cellular biochemist (died 1975)

Mary Locke Petermann was an American cellular biochemist known for her key role in the discovery and characterization of animal ribosomes, the molecular complexes that carry out protein synthesis. She was the first…

1908

Frank G. Slaughter

American physician and author (died 2001)

Frank Gill Slaughter, pen-name Frank G. Slaughter, pseudonym C. V. Terry, was an American novelist and physician whose books sold more than 60 million copies. His novels drew on his own experience as a doctor and his…

1908

Millicent Fenwick

American journalist and politician (died 1992)

Millicent Vernon Fenwick was an American fashion model, Vogue magazine editor, socialite, Republican Party politician, and diplomat who represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to…

1910

Jim Backus

American actor and screenwriter (died 1989)

James Gilmore Backus was an American actor. Among his most famous roles were Thurston Howell III on the 1960s sitcom Gilligan's Island, the father of James Dean's character in Rebel Without a Cause, the voice of the…

1913

Gert Fröbe

German actor (died 1988)

Karl Gerhart "Gert" Fröbe was a German actor who appeared in over 100, mostly German-produced films. He was best known in English-speaking countries for his work as the title character in the James Bond film Goldfinger…

1913

Anthony Burgess

English author, playwright, and critic (died 1993)

John Anthony Burgess Wilson was an English writer and composer.

1917

Bobby Riggs

American tennis player (died 1995)

Robert Larimore Riggs was an American tennis champion who was the world No. 1 amateur in 1939 and world No. 1 professional in 1946 and 1947. He played his first professional tennis match on December 26, 1941.

1918

Monte Irvin

American baseball player and executive (died 2016)

Monford Merrill "Monte" Irvin was an American left fielder and right fielder in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball (MLB) who played with the Newark Eagles, New York Giants (1949–1955) and Chicago Cubs (1956).…

1919

Philip Habib

American academic and diplomat, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (died 1992)

Philip Charles Habib was an American career diplomat active from 1949 to 1987.

1920

Pierre Laporte

Canadian journalist, lawyer, and politician, Deputy Premier of Quebec (died 1970)

Pierre Laporte was a Canadian lawyer, journalist and politician. He was deputy premier of the province of Quebec when he was kidnapped and murdered by members of the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) during the…

1921

Andy Pafko

American baseball player and manager (died 2013)

Andrew Pafko was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs (1943–51), Brooklyn Dodgers (1951–52), and Milwaukee Braves (1953–59). He batted and threw…

1921

Molly Reilly

Canadian aviator (died 1980)

Moretta Fenton Beall "Molly" Reilly became the first female Canadian pilot to reach the rank of captain, the first female Canadian corporate pilot, and the first woman to fly to the Arctic professionally. Her…

1922

Hugh Huxley

English-American biologist and academic (died 2013)

Hugh Esmor Huxley was a British molecular biologist who made important discoveries in the physiology of muscle. He was a graduate in physics from Christ's College, Cambridge. However, his education was interrupted for…

1924

Lisa Kirk

American actress and singer (died 1990)

Lisa Kirk was an American actress and singer noted for her comic talents and rich contralto.

1925

Shehu Shagari

Nigerian politician, 6th President of Nigeria (died 2018)

Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari was a Nigerian politician who was the first democratically elected president of Nigeria, after the transfer of power by military head of state General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1979, which gave rise…

1925

Masatoshi Gündüz Ikeda

Japanese-Turkish mathematician and academic (died 2003)

Masatoşi Gündüz İkeda, was a Japanese-born Turkish mathematician known for his contributions to the field of algebraic number theory.

1926

Ralph Stanley

American singer and banjo player (died 2016)

Ralph Edmund Stanley was an American bluegrass artist, known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing. He began playing music in 1946, originally with his older brother Carter Stanley as part of the Stanley…

1927

Paul Elvstrøm

Danish yachtsman (died 2016)

Paul Bert Elvstrøm was a Danish yachtsman and the founder of Elvstrøm Sails. He won four Olympic gold medals and thirteen world titles in a range of classes including Snipe, Soling, Star, Flying Dutchman, Finn, 505, and…

1928

Larry Gelbart

American author and screenwriter (died 2009)

Larry Simon Gelbart was an American television writer, playwright, screenwriter, director and author, most famous as a creator and producer of the television series M*A*S*H, and as co-writer of the Broadway musicals A…

1928

A. Leon Higginbotham

Jr., American civil rights advocate, historian, and judge (died 1998)

Aloyisus Leon Higginbotham Jr. was an American civil rights advocate, historian, presidential adviser, and federal court judge. From 1990 to 1991, he served as chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the…

1928

Richard G. Stern

American author and academic (died 2013)

Richard Gustave Stern was an American novelist, short story writer, and educator.

1928

Wendy Beckett

British nun and art critic (died 2018)

Wendy Mary Beckett, better known as Sister Wendy, was a British Catholic religious sister and art historian who became known internationally during the 1990s when she presented a series of BBC television documentaries…

1930

Tony Brooks

English racing driver (died 2022)

Charles Anthony Standish "Tony" Brooks was a British racing driver who competed in Formula One from 1956 to 1961. Nicknamed "the Racing Dentist", Brooks was runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in…

1932

Faron Young

American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 1996)

Faron Young was an American country singer, musician, and songwriter from the early 1950s into the mid-1980s. His hits including "If You Ain't Lovin' " and "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young" marked him as a honky-tonk…

1932

Tony Lema

American golfer (died 1966)

Anthony David Lema was an American professional golfer who rose to fame in the mid-1960s and won a major title, the 1964 Open Championship at the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland. He died two years later at age 32…

1934

Tony Campolo

American sociologist and pastor (died 2024)

Anthony Campolo Jr. was an American sociologist, Baptist pastor, author, public speaker, and spiritual advisor to U.S. President Bill Clinton. Campolo was an influential leader in the evangelical left. Campolo was a…

1935

Oktay Sinanoglu

Turkish physical chemist and molecular biophysicist (died 2015)

Oktay Sinanoğlu was a Turkish physical chemist and molecular biophysicist who made contributions to the theory of electron correlation in molecules, the statistical mechanics of clathrate hydrates, quantum chemistry,…

1935

Tom Courtenay

English actor

Sir Thomas Daniel Courtenay is an English actor. A notable figure of the British New Wave, he has received numerous accolades including three BAFTAs, a Golden Globe, two Silver Bears, and a Volpi Cup, in addition to…

1937

Bob Schieffer

American political author, journalist and TV interviewer

Bob Lloyd Schieffer is an American television journalist. He is known for his moderation of presidential debates, where he has been praised for his capability. Schieffer is one of the few journalists to have covered all…

1937

Diane Baker

American actress and producer

Diane Carol Baker is an American actress, producer, and educator.

1938

Herb Elliott

Australian athlete

Herbert James Elliott is a former Australian athlete and arguably the world's greatest middle-distance runner of his era. In August 1958 he set the world record in the mile run, clocking 3:54.5, 2.7 seconds under the…

1938

Farokh Engineer

Indian cricketer

Farokh Maneksha Engineer is an Indian former cricketer. He was a wicket-keeper-batsman, usually an opening batsman, who represented India in 46 Test matches from 1961 to 1975. In first-class cricket, he played for…

1938

Ron Santo

American baseball player and sportscaster (died 2010)

Ronald Edward Santo was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) third baseman who played for the Chicago Cubs from 1960 through 1973 and the Chicago White Sox in 1974. In 1990, Santo became a member of the Cubs…

1940

David Puttnam

English film producer and academic

David Terence Puttnam, Baron Puttnam is a British-Irish film producer, educator, environmentalist and former member of the House of Lords. His productions include Chariots of Fire, which won the Academy Award for Best…

1941

Karen Grassle

American actress

Karen Grassle is an American actress, known for her role as Caroline Ingalls in the NBC television drama series Little House on the Prairie.

1942

George Harrison

English singer-songwriter, guitarist and film producer (died 2001)

George Harrison was an English musician who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Known as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison played a significant role in shaping the band's musical direction and…

1943

François Cevert

French racing driver (died 1973)

Albert François Cevert was a French racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1969 to 1973. Cevert won the 1971 United States Grand Prix with Tyrrell.

1944

Jean Todt

French racing driver and team manager

Jean Henri Todt is a French motor racing executive and former rally co-driver. He was previously director of Peugeot Talbot Sport and then Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team principal, before being appointed chief…

1946

Lee Evans

American sprinter and athletics coach (died 2021)

Lee Edward Evans was an American sprinter. He won two gold medals in the 1968 Summer Olympics, setting world records in the 400 meters and the 4 × 400 meters relay, both of which stood for 20 and 24 years respectively.…

1947

Ric Flair

American professional wrestler

Richard Morgan Fliehr, known professionally as Ric Flair, is an American retired professional wrestler. As of November 2023, he is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in a legends role for special appearances. Regarded…

1949

Amin Maalouf

Lebanese-French journalist and author

Amin Maalouf is a Lebanese French author who has lived in France since 1976. His native language is Arabic, and he writes in French. His works have been translated into over 40 languages.

1949

Francisco Fernández Ochoa

Spanish skier (died 2006)

Francisco "Paquito" Fernández Ochoa was a World Cup alpine ski racer from Spain. Born in Madrid and raised north of the city in Cercedilla, he was the eldest of eight children whose father ran a ski school. Paquito…

1950

Neil Jordan

Irish film director, screenwriter and author

Neil Patrick Jordan is an Irish filmmaker and writer. His short story collection, Night in Tunisia, won the Guardian Fiction Prize in 1979. After a stint working at RTÉ, he made his directorial debut with the 1982 film…

1950

Néstor Kirchner

Argentine politician; 51st President of Argentina (died 2010)

Néstor Carlos Kirchner Ostoić was an Argentine lawyer and politician who served as the president of Argentina from 2003 to 2007. A member of the Justicialist Party, he previously served as Governor of Santa Cruz…

1950

Don Quarrie

Jamaican sprinter and coach

Donald O'Riley Quarrie CD is a Jamaican former track and field athlete, one of the world's top sprinters during the 1970s. At the 1976 Summer Olympics he was the gold medallist in the Olympic 200 meters and silver…

1951

Joey Dunlop

Northern Irish motorcyclist (died 2000)

William Joseph Dunlop was a Northern Irish roadracing motorcyclist from Ballymoney, County Antrim. In 2015, he was voted Northern Ireland's greatest-ever sports star.

1952

José María Aznar

Spanish politician; Prime Minister of Spain, 1996–2004

José María Aznar López is a Spanish politician who was the prime minister of Spain from 1996 to 2004. He led the People's Party (PP), the dominant centre-right political party in Spain.

1953

John Doe

American musician, singer-songwriter, actor, and poet

John Nommensen Duchac, known professionally as John Doe, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, poet, guitarist and bass player. Doe co-founded LA punk band X, of which he is still an active member. His musical…

1953

Raymond McCreesh

Irish Republican, hunger striker (died 1981)

Raymond McCreesh was an Irish volunteer in the South Armagh Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). In 1976, he and two other IRA volunteers were captured while attempting to ambush a British Army…

1957

Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Singaporean economist and politician; 5th Senior Minister and 9th President of Singapore

Tharman Shanmugaratnam is a Singaporean politician and economist who has served as the ninth president of Singapore since 2023. An independent politician since his presidency, he served as Member of Parliament (MP) for…

1957

Kurt Rambis

Greek-American basketball player, coach, and executive

Darrell Kurt Rambis is an American former professional basketball player and coach who is a senior basketball adviser for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). As a player, he won four NBA…

1958

Birgit Fischer

German kayaker

Birgit Fischer is a German former kayaker, who has won eight gold medals over six different Olympic Games, a record she shares with Aladár Gerevich and Isabell Werth, spanning seven Olympiads: twice representing East…

1962

Paul O'Neill

American baseball player and sportscaster

Paul Andrew O'Neill is an American former baseball right fielder who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Cincinnati Reds (1985–1992) and New York Yankees (1993–2001). O'Neill compiled 281…

1963

Carrot Top

American comedian

Scott Christopher Thompson, known professionally as Carrot Top, is an American stand-up comedian and actor known for his use of prop comedy.

1965

Veronica Webb

American model, actress, and writer

Veronica Webb is an American model, writer, and television personality. Born in Detroit, she rose to prominence in the late 1980s and 1990s. She has appeared on the covers of Vogue, Essence, and Elle, and walked runways…

1965

Alexis Denisof

American actor

Alexis Denisof is an American actor, primarily known for playing Wesley Wyndam-Pryce in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel. He also had a recurring role on How I Met Your Mother. His…

1966

Téa Leoni

American actress

Téa Leoni is an American actress. Early in her career, she starred on the television sitcoms Flying Blind (1992–1993) and The Naked Truth (1995–1998). Her breakthrough role was in the 1995 film Bad Boys, which led to…

1966

Ed Balls

English politician; Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer

Edward Michael Balls is a British broadcaster, economist and former politician. He served as a junior minister in the treasury portfolio from 2006 to 2007, as Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families from…

1967

Lesley Boone

American actress and producer

Lesley Boone is an American actress and producer, best known for her roles as Marlene Gilbert on the Fox sitcom Babes (1990–1991), as Molly Hudson in the NBC comedy-drama Ed (2000–2004) and as Rose Roberts in the ABC…

1968

Danny Crnkovich

Australian rugby league player

Danny Crnkovich is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s up to 1990s. He played his entire club football career with the Parramatta Eels. He mostly played at fullback, but…

1968

Oumou Sangaré

Malian musician

Oumou Sangaré is a Malian Wassoulou singer of Fula descent. She is often referred to as "The Songbird of Wassoulou". Wassoulou is a historical region south of the Niger River, where the music descends from age-old…

1968

Chris Barnes

American bowler and sportscaster

Chris Barnes is an American professional bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), who currently competes on the PBA50 Tour while bowling part-time on the regular PBA Tour. He has also competed…

1970

Sean Astin

American actor, director and producer

Sean Patrick Astin is an American actor and trade union leader who serves as the 4th national president of SAG-AFTRA. He began his career as a child actor, making his film debut as Mikey Walsh in The Goonies (1985),…

1971

Stuart MacGill

Australian cricketer

Stuart Charles Glyndwr MacGill is an Australian former cricketer who played 44 Test matches and three One Day Internationals for the Australian national cricket team. He is a right-arm leg spin bowler, who has been…

1971

Daniel Powter

Canadian singer-songwriter and musician

Daniel Richard Powter is a Canadian singer-songwriter. His 2005 pop single "Bad Day" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks. He was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 49th Grammy Awards for "Bad…

1971

Anson Mount

American actor

Anson Adams Mount IV is an American actor. He became known for his television roles on the western drama series Hell on Wheels (2011–2016) and Conviction (2006). He also starred in various films including Crossroads…

1973

Dominic Raab

English politician; First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

Dominic Rennie Raab is a British former politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor from September 2021 to September 2022 and again from October 2022 to…

1974

Chelsea Handler

American comedian, actress, author, and television host

Chelsea Joy Handler is an American stand-up comedian, actress, writer, television host, and producer. She hosted the late-night talk show Chelsea Lately on the E! network from 2007 to 2014 and released a documentary…

1975

Rashida Jones

American actress and writer

Rashida Leah Jones is an American actress and filmmaker. In television, she has starred as Louisa Fenn on the Fox drama series Boston Public (2000–2002), Karen Filippelli on the NBC comedy series The Office, Ann Perkins…

1976

Samaki Walker

American basketball player

Samaki Ijuma Walker is a former American professional basketball power forward and center. Walker played college basketball for the Louisville Cardinals and was selected in the 1996 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks,…

1976

Napoleon Harris

American football player and politician

Napoleon Bill Harris III is an American politician and former professional football player who has been a member of the Illinois Senate representing the 15th district since 2013. The 15th district stretches from Blue…

1979

Kash Patel

American lawyer, former federal prosecutor and official

Kashyap Pramod "Kash" Patel is an American lawyer serving since 2025 as the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Patel also served as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and…

1980

Park Ji-sung

South Korean footballer

Park Ji-sung is a South Korean former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in the South Korean capital of Seoul, Park is regarded as one of the greatest and most successful Asian players in football…

1981

Maria Kanellis

American professional wrestler, actress, and model

Mary Louis Kanellis-Bennett is an American professional wrestler, manager, promoter, singer and model. She is best known for her tenures in WWE, TNA, All Elite Wrestling, and Ring of Honor.

1982

Flavia Pennetta

Italian tennis player

Flavia Pennetta is an Italian former professional tennis player. She became Italy's first top-ten female singles player on 17 August 2009 and the first Italian to be ranked world No. 1 in doubles, on 28 February 2011.…

1982

Anton Volchenkov

Russian ice hockey player

Anton Alexeyevich Volchenkov is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

1982

Joakim Noah

French-American basketball player

Joakim Simon Noah is a former professional basketball player. Born in New York, Noah was a member of the France national team and played college basketball for the Florida Gators, winning back-to-back NCAA championships…

1985

Justin Berfield

American actor, writer, and producer

Justin Tyler Berfield is an American writer, producer and actor. He is known for his portrayals of Reese on the family sitcom Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006) and Ross Malloy on The WB sitcom Unhappily Ever After…

1986

Jameela Jamil

English actress and presenter

Jameela Alia Jamil is a British actress, activist and presenter. She began her career on Channel 4, where she hosted a pop culture series in the T4 strand from 2009 until 2012. She then became the radio host of The…

1986

James Phelps

English actor

James Andrew Eric Phelps and Oliver Martyn John Phelps are English actors, podcasters and identical twin brothers. They are known for playing Fred and George Weasley, respectively, in the Harry Potter film series from…

1986

Oliver Phelps

English actor

1986

Justin Abdelkader

American ice hockey player

Justin Abdelkader is an American former professional ice hockey winger. He played for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League (NHL), as well as EV Zug and HC Lugano of the National League (NL). He was…

1987

Tom Marshall

English photo colouriser and artist

Tom Marshall is a British model maker, voice actor, director and image editor known for his colourisations of historical black and white photographs, often working under the name PhotograFix. He is a scale model maker…

1988

Gerald McCoy

American football player

Gerald Keith McCoy Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, earning consensus…

1988

Jimmer Fredette

American basketball player

James Taft "Jimmer" Fredette is an American former professional basketball player who serves as the managing director of the USA Basketball 3x3 Men's National Team. Fredette was the 2011 National Player of the Year in…

1989

Kana Hanazawa

Japanese voice actress and singer

Kana Hanazawa is a Japanese actress and singer. A prolific voice performer in anime, she has amassed several film and television credits since her debut in 2003. She won the Seiyu Award for Best Supporting Actress in…

1989

E'Twaun Moore

American basketball player

E'Twaun Donte Moore is an American former professional basketball player who is a scout for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 2011 NBA draft…

1989

Félix Peña

Dominican baseball player

Félix Ricardo Peña is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs and…

1990

Joakim Nordström

Swedish ice hockey player

Joakim Nordström is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre who is currently playing with HC Davos of the National League (NL). He won the World Championships in 2017 with Sweden and the Stanley Cup with the Chicago…

1992

Jorge Soler

Cuban baseball player

Jorge Carlos Soler Castillo is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs, Kansas City…

1992

Erick Fedde

American baseball player

Erick James Fedde is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves,…

1993

Lukáš Sedlák

Czech ice hockey player

Lukáš Sedlák is a Czech professional ice hockey player who is a forward for HC Dynamo Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). Sedlak was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the sixth round, 158th overall, of the…

1993

Fred VanVleet

American basketball player

Fredderick Edmund VanVleet Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is also the current president of the National Basketball Players…

1994

Mario Hezonja

Croatian basketball player

Mario Hezonja is a Croatian professional basketball player for Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He also represents the Croatian national team in international competition. He was selected with the…

1995

Viktoriya Tomova

Bulgarian tennis player

Viktoriya Konstantinova Tomova is a Bulgarian professional tennis player. She reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 46 on 29 July 2024. Her best doubles ranking is No. 137, achieved on 8 September 2025.…

1995

Isabelle Fuhrman

American actress

Isabelle Fuhrman is an American actress. She is known for her breakthrough role as Esther in the horror film Orphan (2009) and its prequel Orphan: First Kill (2022). She played Clove in the dystopian adventure film The…

1997

Thon Maker

South Sudanese-Australian basketball player

Thon Marial Maker is a South Sudanese-Australian professional basketball player for Al-Ula of the Saudi Basketball League. He attended high school at Orangeville District Secondary School and played basketball for…

1997

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Italian footballer

Gianluigi Donnarumma is an Italian professional footballer, who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Manchester City and captains the Italy national team. He is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in…

1999

Matvey Safonov

Russian footballer

Matvey Yevgenyevich Safonov is a Russian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Russia national team. He has been described by media sources as a penalty…

1999

Rocky

South Korean singer, dancer and songwriter

Park Min-hyuk, known professionally as Rocky (라키), is a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter and actor. He is a former member of the South Korean boy group Astro and its sub-unit Jinjin & Rocky. In 2023, he founded…

1999

Bo Nix

American football player

Bo Chapman Nix is an American professional football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played his first three seasons of college football for the Auburn Tigers, winning SEC…

2000

Vernon Carey Jr.

American basketball player

Vernon A. Carey Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. He finished his high school career at NSU…

2001

Brandin Podziemski

American basketball player

Brandin Thomas Podziemski is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A guard, he played college basketball for the Illinois Fighting Illini…

2003

Tyler Sanders

American actor (died 2022)

Tyler Sanders was an American child actor.

2004

Noah Jupe

English actor

Noah Casford Jupe is a British actor. As a child actor, he gained recognition for his roles in the television series The Night Manager and The Undoing (2020). He also appeared in a number of films of this period,…

2005

February 25 in the Blog

The Battle of Orsha - February 25, 1514

Sigismund I's 1514 forces claim a surprising victory in Orsha, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, that year

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Who was born on February 25?

S. Rajaratnam — Singaporean politician (1915–2006)

FeaturedS. Rajaratnam

Birth year1915

Known forHe served as the first Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1965 until 1980, and subsequently as the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore from 1980 to 1985

Birthdays on this date156 (1259 – 2005)

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2026

Four people are killed and several more are injured when Cuban Border Guard Troops confront and open fire on a US-registered speedboat violating Cuban waters. Wikipedia →

2016

Three people are killed and fourteen others injured in a series of shootings in the small Kansas cities of Newton and Hesston. Wikipedia →

2015

At least 310 people are killed in avalanches in northeastern Afghanistan. Wikipedia →

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1915 — S. Rajaratnam

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