Famous Birthdays on February 26

Q: Who was born on February 26?

Famous people born on February 26 include: Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia (died 1419), Christopher of Bavaria (died 1448), Christopher Marlowe, Albert VI, Stefano Landi.

Q: What is Bill Johnston known for?

Bill Johnston, Australian cricketer and businessman (died 2007)

171 people 1361 – 2003

February 26 has seen 171 notable people enter the world across recorded history — from 1361 – 2003. Below are the most significant names born on this date.

By thisDay.info Editorial Team · February 26 — Wikipedia

1922 — Bill Johnston

Australian cricketer and businessman (died 2007)

Did you know

Johnston headed the wicket-taking lists in both Test and first-class matches on the tour, and was the last Australian to take over 100 wickets on a tour of England

Did you know

He became the fastest bowler to reach 100 Test wickets in 1951–52, at the time averaging less than nineteen with the ball

Did you know

In 1953, a knee injury forced him to remodel his bowling action, and he became less effective before retiring after aggravating the injury in 1955

Did you know

Australia won nineteen and lost only two of these Tests

Did you know

William Arras Johnston was an Australian cricketer who played in forty Test matches from 1947 to 1955

Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia (died 1419)

Wenceslaus IV was King of Bohemia from 1378 until his death in 1419 and King of the Romans and King of Germany from 1376 until he was deposed in 1400. As he belonged to the House of Luxembourg, he was also Duke of…

1361

Christopher of Bavaria (died 1448)

Christopher of Bavaria was King of Denmark, Sweden (1441–48) and Norway (1442–48) during the era of the Kalmar Union. He ruled after the Kalmar Union's King Erik of Pomerania was deposed. Early in his reign he put down…

1416

Christopher Marlowe

English playwright, poet and translator (died 1593)

Christopher Marlowe, also known as Kit Marlowe, was an English playwright, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era. Marlowe is among the most famous of the Elizabethan playwrights. Based upon the "many imitations"…

1564

Albert VI

Duke of Bavaria (died 1666)

Albert VI of Bavaria son of William V, Duke of Bavaria and Renata of Lorraine, born and died in Munich.

1584

Stefano Landi

Italian composer and educator (died 1639)

Stefano Landi was an Italian composer and teacher of the early Baroque Roman School. He was an influential early composer of opera, and wrote the earliest opera on a historical subject: Il Sant'Alessio (1632).

1587

Archibald Campbell

9th Earl of Argyll, Scottish peer (died 1685)

Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll was a Scottish peer and soldier.

1629

Quirinus Kuhlmann

German Baroque poet and mystic (died 1689)

Quirinus Kuhlmann was a German Baroque poet and mystic. Kuhlmann insisted upon the importance of the events of his life as confirmation of his divine mission.

1651

Anthony Ashley-Cooper

3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, English philosopher and politician (died 1713)

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury was an English Whig politician, philosopher and writer.

1671

Antoine Augustin Calmet

French monk and theologian (died 1757)

Antoine Augustin Calmet was a French Benedictine abbot, born in Ménil-la-Horgne, then in the Duchy of Bar, part of the Holy Roman Empire.

1672

Nicola Fago

Italian composer and teacher (died 1745)

Francesco Nicola Fago, 'II Tarantino' was an Italian Baroque composer and teacher. He was the father of Lorenzo Fago (1704-1793).

1677

Biagio Bellotti

Italian painter and architect (died 1789)

Biagio Giuseppe Maria Bellotti was an Italian painter, architect, sculptor, musician and canon.

1714

Johan Ernst Gunnerus

Norwegian bishop, botanist and zoologist (died 1773)

Johan Ernst Gunnerus was a Norwegian bishop and botanist. Gunnerus was born at Christiania. He was bishop of the Diocese of Nidaros from 1758 until his death and also a professor of theology at the University of…

1718

Gian Francesco Albani

Italian cardinal (died 1803)

Gian Francesco Albani was a Roman Catholic Cardinal. He was a member of the Albani family.

1720

Anders Chydenius

Finnish economist, philosopher and Lutheran priest (died 1803)

Anders Chydenius was a Swedish-Finnish Lutheran priest, member of the Swedish Riksdag, and one of the most important champions of democratic development in 18th-century Sweden, known as the leading classical liberal of…

1729

Maria Amalia

Duchess of Parma (died 1804)

Maria Amalia was duchess of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla by marriage to Ferdinand I, Duke of Parma. She was born an archduchess of Austria as the daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I. Upon her…

1746

Anton Reicha

Bohemian composer and flautist (died 1836)

Anton Joseph Reicha (Rejcha) was a Bohemia-born, Bavarian-educated, later naturalized French composer and music theorist. A contemporary and friend of Beethoven, he is now best remembered for his substantial early…

1770

Matija Nenadović

Serbian priest, historian, and politician, 1st Prime Minister of Serbia (died 1854)

Matija Nenadović, also known as Prota Mateja, was a Serbian archpriest, writer, and politician who served as the first prime minister of Serbia from 1805 to 1807. He was a notable leader in the First Serbian Uprising.

1777

François Arago

French mathematician and politician, 25th Prime Minister of France (died 1853)

Dominique François Jean Arago, known simply as François Arago, was a French mathematician, physicist, astronomer, freemason, supporter of the Carbonari revolutionaries, and politician.

1786

Victor Hugo

French author, poet, and playwright (died 1885)

Victor-Marie Hugo, vicomte Hugo was a French Romantic author, poet, essayist, playwright, journalist, human rights activist and politician.

1802

Honoré Daumier

French painter, illustrator, and sculptor (died 1879)

Honoré-Victorin Daumier was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, whose many works offer commentary on the social and political life in France, from the Revolution of 1830 to the fall of the Second French Empire…

1808

Nathan Kelley

American architect, designed the Ohio Statehouse (died 1871)

Nathan B. Kelley was an American architect and builder. He was a prolific architect whose designs dominated the cityscape of Columbus, Ohio at the middle of the 19th century.

1808

Levi Strauss

German-American fashion designer, founded Levi Strauss & Co. (died 1902)

Levi Strauss was a German-born American businessman who founded the first company to manufacture blue jeans. His firm of Levi Strauss & Co. (Levi's) began in 1853 in San Francisco, California.

1829

Camille Flammarion

French astronomer and author (died 1925)

Nicolas Camille Flammarion FRAS was a French astronomer and author. He was a prolific author of more than fifty titles, including popular science works about astronomy, several notable early science fiction novels, and…

1842

Buffalo Bill

American soldier and hunter (died 1917)

William Frederick Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill, was an American soldier, bison hunter, and showman. One of the most famous figures of the American Old West, Cody began performing at the age of 23. He performed in…

1846

John Harvey Kellogg

American surgeon, co-created Corn flakes (died 1943)

John Harvey Kellogg was an American businessman, inventor, physician, and advocate of the health reforms advocated by the Battle Creek Progressive Friends movement and the eugenics policies espoused by many in the…

1852

Émile Coué

French psychologist and pharmacist (died 1926)

Émile Coué de la Châtaigneraie was a French psychologist, pharmacist, and hypnotist who introduced a popular method of psychotherapy and self-improvement based on optimistic autosuggestion.It was in no small measure…

1857

Ferdinand I of Bulgaria (died 1948)

Ferdinand I was the monarch of Bulgaria from 1887 to 1918, reigning as Prince of Bulgaria from 1887 to 1908 and Tsar of Bulgaria from 1908 until his abdication in 1918. Under his rule, Bulgaria entered the First World…

1861

Nadezhda Krupskaya

Russian soldier and politician (died 1939)

Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaya was a Russian revolutionary, politician and political theorist. She was a leading figure in the Bolshevik party and was married to Vladimir Lenin.

1861

Herbert Henry Dow

Canadian-American businessman, founded the Dow Chemical Company (died 1930)

Herbert Henry Dow was an American chemical industrialist who founded the American multinational conglomerate Dow Chemical. A graduate of the Case School of Applied Science in Cleveland, Ohio, he was a prolific inventor…

1866

Gustave Mathieu

French anarchist illegalist, suspected of being one of Ravachol's main accomplices (died 1947)

Gustave Mathieu,, was a French worker and illegalist anarchist. A very militant anarchist and central to the birth of illegalism, he notably associated with Placide Schouppe, one of the first illegalists. Mathieu was…

1866

Matti Turkia

Finnish politician (died 1946)

Matti Turkia was a Finnish newspaper editor, politician and member of the Parliament of Finland, the national legislature of Finland. A member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), he represented Uusimaa Province…

1871

Henry Barwell

Australian politician, 28th Premier of South Australia (died 1959)

Sir Henry Newman Barwell KCMG was the 28th premier of South Australia.

1877

Rudolph Dirks

German-American illustrator (died 1968)

Rudolph Dirks was one of the earliest and most noted comic strip artists, well known for The Katzenjammer Kids.

1877

Frank Bridge

English viola player and composer (died 1941)

Frank Bridge was an English composer, violist and conductor.

1879

Kenneth Edgeworth

Irish astronomer (died 1972)

Kenneth Essex Edgeworth was an Irish army officer, engineer, economist and independent theoretical astronomer. He was born in Street, County Westmeath. Edgeworth is best known for proposing the existence of a disc of…

1880

Janus Djurhuus

Faroese poet (died 1948)

Jens Hendrik Oliver Djurhuus, called Janus Djurhuus, was the first modern Faroese poet. He and his younger brother Hans Andreas Djurhuus, also a poet, are called the Áarstova brothers after the house where they grew up.

1881

Husband E. Kimmel

American admiral (died 1968)

Husband Edward Kimmel was a United States Navy four-star admiral who was the commander in chief of the United States Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT) during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He was removed from that…

1882

Aleksandras Stulginskis

Lithuanian farmer and politician, 2nd President of Lithuania (died 1969)

Aleksandras Stulginskis was the second President of Lithuania (1920–1926). Stulginskis was also acting President of Lithuania for a few hours later in 1926, following a military coup that was led by his predecessor,…

1885

Grover Cleveland Alexander

American baseball player and coach (died 1950)

Grover Cleveland Alexander, nicknamed "Old Pete" and "Alexander the Great", was an American professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played from 1911 through 1930 for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago…

1887

William Frawley

American actor and vaudevillian (died 1966)

William Clement Frawley was an American vaudevillian and actor best known for playing landlord Fred Mertz in the sitcom I Love Lucy. Frawley also played "Bub" O'Casey during the first five seasons of the sitcom My Three…

1887

Stefan Grabiński

Polish author and educator (died 1936)

Stefan Grabiński was a Polish writer of fantastic literature and horror stories. He was very interested in parapsychology, magic and demonology and in the works of the German Expressionist filmmakers. He is sometimes…

1887

Wallace Fard Muhammad

American religious leader, founded the Nation of Islam (disappeared 1934)

Wallace Fard Muhammad or W. D. Fard was a religious leader who was the founder of the Nation of Islam.

1893

Dorothy Whipple

English novelist (died 1966)

Dorothy Whipple was an English writer of popular fiction and children's books. Her work gained popularity between the world wars and again in the 2000s.

1893

Andrei Zhdanov

Ukrainian-Russian civil servant and politician (died 1948)

Andrei Aleksandrovich Zhdanov was a Soviet politician. He was the Soviet Union's "propagandist-in-chief" after the Second World War, and was responsible for developing the Soviet cultural policy, the Zhdanov Doctrine,…

1896

Max Petitpierre

Swiss jurist and politician, 54th President of the Swiss Confederation (died 1994)

Max Petitpierre was a Swiss politician, jurist and member of the Swiss Federal Council, heading the Political Department (1945-1961).

1899

Halina Konopacka

Polish discus thrower and poet (died 1989)

Halina Konopacka was a Polish athlete. She won the discus throw event at the 1928 Summer Olympics, defeating American silver medal winner Lillian Copeland, breaking her own world record, and becoming the first Polish…

1900

Fritz Wiessner

German-American mountaineer (died 1988)

Fritz Wiessner was a German American pioneer of free climbing. Born in Dresden, Germany, he immigrated to New York City in 1929 and became a U.S. citizen in 1935. In 1939, he made one of the earliest attempts to conquer…

1900

Jean Bruller

French author and illustrator, co-founded Les Éditions de Minuit (died 1991)

Jean Marcel Adolphe Bruller was a French writer and illustrator who co-founded the publishing company Les Éditions de Minuit with Pierre de Lescure.

1902

Giulio Natta

Italian chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1979)

Giulio Natta was an Italian chemical engineer and Nobel laureate. Natta's work at Politecnico di Milano led to the improvement of earlier work by Karl Ziegler and to the development of the Ziegler–Natta catalyst. The…

1903

Orde Wingate

English general (died 1944)

Major-General Orde Charles Wingate, was a senior British Army officer known for his creation of the Chindit deep-penetration missions in Japanese-held territory during the Burma Campaign of the Second World War.

1903

Madeleine Carroll

English actress (died 1987)

Edith Madeleine Carroll was an English actress, popular both in Britain and in America in the 1930s and 1940s. At the peak of her success in 1938, she was the world's highest-paid actress.

1906

Tex Avery

American animator, producer, and voice actor (died 1980)

Frederick Bean "Tex" Avery was an American animator and voice actor. He was known for directing and producing animated cartoons during the golden age of American animation. His most significant work was for the Warner…

1908

Nestor Mesta Chayres

Mexican operatic tenor and bolero vocalist (died 1971)

Néstor Mesta Chayres was an acclaimed tenor in Mexico and a noted interpreter of Spanish songs, boleros and Mexican romantic music on the international concert stage. He was widely commended for his artistic renditions…

1908

Jean-Pierre Wimille

French racing driver (died 1949)

Jean-Pierre Wimille was a French racing driver and a member of the French Resistance during World War II. He was a two-time victor of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, winning in 1937 and 1939. He is generally regarded as one of…

1908

Fanny Cradock

English chef, author, and critic (died 1994)

Phyllis Nan Sortain Pechey, better known as Fanny Cradock, was an English restaurant critic, television cook and writer. She frequently appeared on television, at cookery demonstrations and in print with her fourth…

1909

Talal of Jordan (died 1972)

Talal bin Abdullah al-Hashimi was King of Jordan from the assassination of his father King Abdullah I in 1951, until his forced abdication in 1952. As a member of the Hashemite dynasty, the royal family of Jordan since…

1909

Vic Woodley

English footballer (died 1978)

Victor Robert Woodley was an English football goalkeeper who played for Chelsea was an FA Cup Winner with Derby County and the England national team between the wars.

1910

Tarō Okamoto

Japanese painter and sculptor (died 1996)

Tarō Okamoto was a Japanese artist, art theorist, and writer. He is particularly well known for his paintings, public sculptures, and murals, his theorization of traditional Japanese culture, and his avant-garde…

1911

Robert Alda

American actor, singer, and director (died 1986)

Robert Alda was an American actor, singer and dancer. He was the father of actors Alan and Antony Alda. Alda was featured in a number of Broadway productions, then moved to Italy during the early 1960s. He appeared in…

1914

Otis Bowen

American physician and politician, 44th Governor of Indiana (died 2013)

Otis Ray Bowen was an American politician and physician who served as the 44th Governor of Indiana from 1973 to 1981 and as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Cabinet of President Ronald Reagan from 1985 to…

1918

Pyotr Masherov

Leader of Soviet Belarus (died 1980)

Pyotr Mironovich Masherov was a Soviet partisan, statesman, and one of the leaders of the Belarusian resistance during World War II who governed the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic as First Secretary of the…

1918

Theodore Sturgeon

American author and critic (died 1985)

Theodore Sturgeon was an American author of primarily fantasy, science fiction, and horror, as well as a critic. He wrote approximately 400 reviews and more than 120 short stories, 11 novels, and two scripts for Star…

1918

Mason Adams

American actor (died 2005)

Mason Adams was an American actor. From the late 1940s until the early 1970s, he was heard in numerous radio programs and voiceovers for countless television commercials, the latter of which he resumed in the 1980s and…

1919

Danny Gardella

American baseball player and trainer (died 2005)

Daniel Lewis Gardella was an American professional baseball player who played most of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career as a left fielder with the New York Giants from 1944 to 1945. Born in New York City, he batted…

1920

Lucjan Wolanowski

Polish journalist and author (died 2006)

Lucjan Wilhelm Wolanowski, pseudonyms: Wilk; Waldemar Mruczkowski; W. Lucjański; (L.W.); lu; Lu; (lw); WOL., was a Polish journalist, writer and traveller.

1920

Margaret Leighton

English actress (died 1976)

Margaret Leighton was an English actress. Known for her work on stage and screen, her film appearances included Anthony Asquith's The Winslow Boy, Alfred Hitchcock's Under Capricorn, Powell and Pressburger's The Elusive…

1922

Marc Bucci

American composer, lyricist, and dramatist (died 2002)

Mark Bucci was an American composer, lyricist, and dramatist. Influenced by Giacomo Puccini, his work is composed in a contemporary yet lyrical style, which frequently employs marked rhythms and memorable harmonies and…

1924

Noboru Takeshita

Japanese soldier and politician, 74th Prime Minister of Japan (died 2000)

Noboru Takeshita was a Japanese politician who served as prime minister of Japan from 1987 to 1989.

1924

Everton Weekes

Barbadian cricketer and referee (died 2020)

Sir Everton DeCourcy Weekes, KCMG, GCM, OBE was a cricketer from Barbados. A right-handed batsman, he was known as one of the hardest hitters in world cricket. Weekes holds the record for the most consecutive Test…

1925

Doris Belack

American actress (died 2011)

Doris Belack was an American character actress of stage, film and television.

1926

Verne Gagne

American football player, wrestler, and trainer (died 2015)

Laverne Clarence "Verne" Gagne was an American amateur and professional wrestler, football player, wrestling trainer and wrestling promoter. He was the owner and promoter of the Minneapolis-based American Wrestling…

1926

Henry Molaison

American medical patient (died 2008)

Henry Gustav Molaison, known widely as H.M., was an American epileptic man who in 1953 received a bilateral medial temporal lobectomy to surgically resect parts of his brain—the anterior two thirds of his hippocampi,…

1926

Tom Kennedy

American game show host and actor (died 2020)

James Edward Narz, known professionally as Tom Kennedy, was an American television host best known for his work in game shows. Game shows Kennedy hosted included Password Plus, Split Second, Name That Tune, and You…

1927

Fats Domino

American singer-songwriter and pianist (died 2017)

Antoine Caliste Domino Jr., known as Fats Domino, was an American singer-songwriter and pianist. One of the pioneers of rock and roll music, Domino sold more than 65 million records. Born in New Orleans to a French…

1928

Ariel Sharon

Israeli general and politician, 11th Prime Minister of Israel (died 2014)

Ariel "Arik" Sharon was an Israeli general and politician who served as the prime minister of Israel from March 2001 until April 2006.

1928

Ally MacLeod

Scottish footballer and manager (died 2004)

Alistair Reid MacLeod was a Scottish professional football player and manager. He is perhaps best known for his time as the Scotland national football team manager, including their appearance at the 1978 FIFA World Cup.…

1931

James Goldsmith

French-British businessman and politician (died 1997)

Sir James Michael Goldsmith was a French-British financier and politician who was a member of the Goldsmith family. His controversial business and finance career led to ongoing clashes with British media, frequently…

1933

Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina

Algerian director, producer, and screenwriter (died 2025)

Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina was an Algerian film director and screenwriter. He is best known for his 1975 film Chronicle of the Years of Fire, which won the Palme d'Or at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival and became the first…

1934

José Policarpo

Portuguese cardinal (died 2014)

José da Cruz Policarpo, officially referred to as José IV, Patriarch of Lisbon, though usually referred to as "D. José Policarpo", was Patriarch of Lisbon from 24 March 1998 to 18 May 2013. Pope John Paul II made him a…

1936

Paul Dickson

American football player and coach (died 2011)

Paul Serafin Dickson was an American professional football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, and St. Louis Cardinals. He played college…

1937

Chuck Wepner

American boxer

Charles Wepner is an American former professional boxer. He fell just nineteen seconds short of a full fifteen rounds against world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali in a 1975 championship fight. Wepner also scored…

1939

Oldřich Kulhánek

Czech painter, illustrator, and stage designer (died 2013)

Oldřich Kulhánek was a Czech painter, graphic designer, illustrator, stage designer and pedagogue. Kulhánek created the design for the current Czech banknotes and postage stamps.

1940

Jozef Adamec

Slovak footballer and manager (died 2018)

Jozef Adamec was a Slovak football forward and manager.

1942

Paul Cotton

American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2021)

Norman Paul Cotton was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He was a member of the band Poco and the writer of their international hit song "Heart of the Night". Before that, he was co-guitarist for the Illinois…

1943

Dante Ferretti

Italian art director and costume designer

Dante Ferretti is an Italian production designer, art director, and costume designer.

1943

Bob Hite

American singer-songwriter and musician (died 1981)

Robert Ernest Hite, also known as "The Bear", was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer who was the co-lead vocalist of the blues rock band Canned Heat from 1965 until his death in 1981.

1943

Christopher Hope

South African author and poet

Christopher Hope, FRSL is a South African novelist and poet who is known for his controversial works dealing with racism and politics in South Africa. His son is violinist Daniel Hope.

1944

Ronald Lauder

American businessman and diplomat, United States Ambassador to Austria

Ronald Steven Lauder is an American businessman. He is the sole heir to The Estée Lauder Companies, founded by his parents Estée Lauder and Joseph Lauder in 1946, following the death of his brother Leonard Lauder in…

1944

Peter Brock

Australian racing driver (died 2006)

Peter Geoffrey Brock, known as "Peter Perfect", "The King of the Mountain", or simply "Brocky", was an Australian motor racing driver. Brock was most often associated with Holden for over 35 years, although he raced…

1945

Colin Bell

English footballer (died 2021)

Colin Bell was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Bell, known for his thirteen-year spell at Manchester City, is regarded as the club's greatest-ever player, and was part of the…

1946

Bingo Smith

American basketball player (died 2023)

Robert "Bingo" Smith was an American professional basketball player. He played for the San Diego Rockets, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the San Diego Clippers.

1946

Ahmed Zewail

Egyptian-American chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2016)

Ahmed Hassan Zewail was an Egyptian-American chemist, known as the "father of femtochemistry". He was awarded the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on femtochemistry and became the first Egyptian and Arab to…

1946

Sandie Shaw

English singer and psychotherapist

Sandra Ann Goodrich, better known by her stage name Sandie Shaw, is a retired English pop singer. One of the most successful British female singers of the 1960s, she had three UK number one singles with "(There's)…

1947

Sharyn McCrumb

American author

Sharyn McCrumb is an American writer best known for books that celebrate the history and folklore of Appalachia. McCrumb is the winner of numerous literary awards, and is the author of the best-selling Ballad novels,…

1948

Simon Crean

Australian trade union leader and politician, 14th Australian Minister for the Arts (died 2023)

Simon Findlay Crean was an Australian politician and trade unionist. He was the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and leader of the opposition from 2001 to 2003. He represented the seat of Hotham in the House…

1949

Elizabeth George

American author and educator

Susan Elizabeth George is an American writer of mystery novels.

1949

Emma Kirkby

English soprano

Dame Carolyn Emma Kirkby, is an English soprano and early music specialist. She has sung on more than 100 recordings.

1949

Helen Clark

New Zealand academic and politician, 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand

Helen Elizabeth Clark is a New Zealand politician who served as the 37th prime minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008 and was the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme from 2009 to 2017. She was…

1950

Billy Steinberg

American songwriter (died 2026)

William Endfield Steinberg was an American songwriter. He achieved his greatest success in the 1980s with songwriting partner Tom Kelly, together they wrote or co-wrote the No. 1 hits "Like a Virgin" by Madonna (1984),…

1950

Wayne Goss

Australian lawyer and politician, 34th Premier of Queensland (died 2014)

Wayne Keith Goss was Premier of Queensland from 7 December 1989 until 19 February 1996, becoming the first Labor Premier of the state in over 32 years. Prior to entering politics, Goss was a solicitor, and after leaving…

1951

Barbara Niven

American actress and writer

Barbara Lee Niven is an American actress, writer, and producer, best known for her performances in Hallmark and Lifetime movies, and for television roles in Pensacola: Wings of Gold, One Life to Live, Cedar Cove, and…

1953

Prince Ernst August of Hanover

head of the House of Hanover

Ernst August von Hannover is the head of the House of Hanover, members of which reigned in Great Britain and Ireland from 1714 to 1901, the Kingdom of Hanover from 1814 to 1866, and the Duchy of Brunswick from 1913 to…

1954

Andreas Maislinger

Austrian historian and academic, founded the Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service

Andreas Maislinger is an Austrian political scientist and founder and former chairman of the Austrian Service Abroad. He also is the founder of the Austrian Holocaust Memorial Award, the Braunau Contemporary History…

1955

Michel Houellebecq

French author, poet, screenwriter, and director

Michel Houellebecq is a French author of novels, poems, and essays, as well as an occasional actor, filmmaker, and singer. His first book was a biographical essay on the horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. Houellebecq…

1956

David Beasley

American lawyer and politician, 113th Governor of South Carolina

David Muldrow Beasley is an American politician, law professor, and the former executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme. A member of the Republican Party, he served one term as the 113th governor of…

1957

Joe Mullen

American ice hockey player and coach

Joseph Patrick Mullen is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins…

1957

John Jude Palencar

American artist and illustrator

John Jude Palencar is an American illustrator and fine artist who specializes in works of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. In 2010, he was given the Hamilton King Award.

1957

Keena Rothhammer

American swimmer

Keena Ruth Rothhammer is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in two events.

1957

Liza 'N' Eliaz

Belgian, transgender, hardcore DJ (died 2001)

Liza Néliaz, known by her stage name Liza 'N' Eliaz, was a Belgian hardcore techno producer and disc jockey. Described as a "spiritual leader" in the free party movement in France, she was a DJ noted for her skill and…

1958

Susan Helms

American general, engineer, and astronaut

Susan Jane Helms is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general and NASA astronaut. She was the commander, 14th Air Force ; and commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space at Vandenberg Air Force…

1958

Tim Kaine

American lawyer and politician, 70th Governor of Virginia

Timothy Michael Kaine is an American lawyer and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Virginia since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 70th governor of Virginia from 2006 to…

1958

Rolando Blackman

Panamanian-American basketball player

Rolando Antonio Blackman is a Panamanian-American former professional basketball player who spent 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), most of it with the Dallas Mavericks. He was a four-time NBA…

1959

Ahmet Davutoğlu

Turkish political scientist, academic, and politician, 37th Prime Minister of Turkey

Ahmet Davutoğlu is a Turkish academic, politician and former diplomat who served as the 26th Prime Minister of Turkey and Leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) from 2014 to 2016. He previously served as…

1959

Jaz Coleman

English singer-songwriter, keyboard player, and producer

Jeremy "Jaz" Coleman is an English singer and musician. He came to prominence in the early 1980s as the lead vocalist and keyboardist of post-punk group Killing Joke. In addition, Coleman has composed orchestral and…

1960

Ahn Cheol-soo

South Korean physician, academic, and politician

Ahn Cheol-soo is a South Korean politician, medical doctor, businessperson, and software entrepreneur. He is a member of the National Assembly as part of the conservative People Power Party. Prior to his career in…

1962

James Mitchell

American wrestler and manager

James Lamar Mitchell is an American professional wrestling manager, known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as James Vandenberg, Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) as The Sinister Minister,…

1965

Garry Conille

Haitian physician and politician, 14th Prime Minister of Haiti

Garry Conille is a Haitian politician, physician, academic, development worker, and author who served as acting prime minister from 3 June to 11 November 2024 under the Transitional Presidential Council. He previously…

1966

Marc Fortier

French-Canadian ice hockey player

Marc Fortier is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. Fortier played in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Ottawa Senators and Los Angeles Kings.

1966

Najwa Karam

Lebanese singer

Najwa Karam is a Lebanese singer, songwriter, producer, and television personality. She has sold an estimated 60 million records and is one of the highest-selling recording artists in the Middle East.

1966

Kazuyoshi Miura

Japanese footballer

Kazuyoshi "Kazu" Miura , nicknamed King Kazu, is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for J3 League club Fukushima United, on loan from J2 League club Yokohama FC. He is the world's oldest…

1967

Gene Principe

Canadian sports reporter and broadcaster

Eugenio Principe is a Canadian sports reporter and broadcaster, who is the current host of Edmonton Oilers broadcasts on Sportsnet. He is best known for his frequent use of puns and props during his pre-game segments.

1967

Leif Rohlin

Swedish ice hockey player

Leif Johan Rohlin is a former professional ice hockey defenceman who spent 2 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks and enjoyed a long career in Europe. He later worked as the General Manager…

1968

Hitoshi Sakimoto

Japanese composer and producer

Hitoshi Sakimoto is a Japanese composer and sound producer. He is best known for scoring the video games Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII, though he has composed soundtracks for numerous other games.…

1969

Predrag Danilović

Serbian basketball player and executive

Predrag "Saša" Danilović, usually referred to in English as Sasha Danilović, is a Serbian professional basketball executive who served as the president of KK Partizan and Basketball Federation of Serbia and former…

1970

Mark Harper

English accountant and politician, former Secretary of State for Transport and former Minister of State for Immigration

Mark James Harper, Baron Harper is a British politician who served in the Cabinet as Chief Whip of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2016 and as Secretary of State for Transport from 2022 to 2024. A member of the…

1970

Max Martin

Swedish-American record producer and songwriter

Karl Martin Sandberg, known professionally as Max Martin, is a Swedish record producer and songwriter. He rose to prominence in the late 1990s with songwriting credits on a string of hit singles, such as Britney…

1971

Hélène Segara

French singer-songwriter and actress

Hélène Ségara is a French singer who came to prominence playing the role of Esmeralda in the French musical Notre Dame de Paris. She has sold over 10 million records.

1971

Marshall Faulk

American football player

Marshall William Faulk is an American football coach and former professional running back who is the head coach for the Southern Jaguars. Faulk previously played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons,…

1973

Ole Gunnar Solskjær

Norwegian footballer and manager

Ole Gunnar Solskjær is a Norwegian professional football manager and former player, who was most recently manager of Beşiktaş. He spent the majority of his playing career with Manchester United and made 67 appearances…

1973

Jenny Thompson

American swimmer

Jennifer Beth Thompson is an American former competition swimmer.

1973

Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski

Filipina television actress, host and equestrienne

Mikaela María Antonia "Mikee" de los Reyes Cojuangco-Jaworski is a Filipino sports official, equestrian, model, former actress and television host. She is a member of the IOC Executive Board since 2020. She serves as…

1974

Sébastien Loeb

French racing driver

Sébastien Loeb is a French professional rally, racing and rallycross driver. He was the most successful driver in the World Rally Championship (WRC), having won the world championship a record nine times, a record since…

1974

P. J. Axelsson

Swedish ice hockey player

Anders Per-Johan Axelsson, commonly abbreviated to P. J. Axelsson, is a Swedish former professional ice hockey forward, who most recently played with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Elitserien. His nickname in Sweden is…

1975

Nalini Anantharaman

French mathematician

Nalini Florence Anantharaman is an Indian-French mathematician known for her work in mathematical physics and analysis. She is currently a professor at the University of Strasbourg. She has won major prizes for her…

1976

Chad Urmston

American singer-songwriter and guitarist

Charles Stokes Urmston, better known as Chadwick Stokes is an American musician and a human rights activist. He is the frontman for the Boston-area bands Dispatch and State Radio, and released solo music under the name…

1976

Marty Reasoner

American ice hockey player and coach

Martin Ernest Reasoner is an American former professional ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, Atlanta Thrashers…

1977

Tim Thomas

American basketball player

Timothy Mark Thomas is an American basketball coach and former professional player. He was a highly ranked prospect while playing at Paterson Catholic High School in his hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. Thomas played…

1977

Shane Williams

Welsh rugby union player

Shane Mark Williams, is a Welsh former rugby union player most famous for his long and successful tenure as a wing for the Ospreys and the Wales national team. He also played scrum-half on occasion. Williams is the…

1977

Abdoulaye Faye

Senegalese footballer

Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye, known as Abdoulaye Faye, is a Senegalese former footballer who played as a defender.

1978

Steve Evans

Welsh footballer

Steven James Evans is a Welsh football coach and former professional footballer who is manager of Flint Town United.

1979

Pedro Mendes

Portuguese footballer

Pedro Miguel da Silva Mendes is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He works as a football agent.

1979

Steve Blake

American basketball player

Steven Hanson Blake is an American professional basketball coach and former player. After winning the 2002 NCAA Championship with Maryland, Blake was selected by the Washington Wizards with the 38th overall pick in the…

1980

Kevin Dallman

Canadian-Kazakhstani ice hockey player

Kevin Jonathan Dallman is a Canadian-Kazakhstani former professional ice hockey defenceman. He most recently played for Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

1981

Kertus Davis

American race car driver

Kertus Davis is an American former NASCAR driver. He was the competition director for JD Motorsports before the team went bankrupt.

1981

Simon Maljevac

Slovenian politician

Simon Maljevac is a Slovenian LGBT rights activist, politician and current Minister of Solidarity-Based Future of Slovenia. He was the general-secretary of The Left from 2018 to 2022.

1981

Robert Mathis

American football player

Robert Nathan Mathis is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 14-year career as a defensive end and linebacker with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played…

1981

Oh Seung-bum

South Korean footballer

Oh Seung-bum is a former South Korean footballer, who played as midfielder for Gangwon FC in K League 1.

1981

Sharon Van Etten

American singer-songwriter, musician and actress

Sharon Katharine Van Etten is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress. Originally from New Jersey, and currently based in Los Angeles, Van Etten's music is noted for its indie rock aesthetic and personal…

1981

Li Na

Chinese tennis player

Li Na is a Chinese former professional tennis player. She was ranked world No. 2 in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association. Li won nine WTA Tour-level singles titles, including two majors at the 2011 French…

1982

Matt Prior

South African-English cricketer

Matthew James Prior is a South African-born English former cricketer, who played for England in Test cricket and for Sussex County Cricket Club in domestic cricket. He was a wicket-keeper and his aggressive right-handed…

1982

Jerome Harrison

American football player

Jerome Harrison is an American former professional football player who was a running back for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington State Cougars, earning…

1983

Pepe

Brazilian-Portuguese footballer

Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira OM, known as Pepe, is a former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Born in Brazil, he played for the Portugal national team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest…

1983

Emmanuel Adebayor

Togolese footballer

Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese former professional footballer who played as a striker. During his career, he played for English clubs Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace, as well as…

1984

Beren Saat

Turkish actress

Beren Saat is a Turkish actress and singer. Since the beginning of her career, she has received critical acclaim and numerous accolades for her acting. While studying at Başkent University, she participated in the…

1984

Fernando Llorente

Spanish footballer

Fernando Javier Llorente Torres, nicknamed El Rey León, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a striker.

1985

Mārtiņš Karsums

Latvian ice hockey player

Mārtiņš Karsums is a Latvian professional ice hockey player who is a winger for MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš of the Slovak Extraliga.

1986

Hannah Kearney

American skier

Hannah Angela Kearney is an American mogul skier who won a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

1986

Gabriel Obertan

French footballer

Gabriel Antoine Obertan is a French retired professional footballer who is currently an assistant coach for USL League One side Charlotte Independence.

1989

Takanoiwa Yoshimori

Mongolian sumo wrestler

Takanoiwa Yoshimori is a former sumo wrestler from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. He made his professional debut in January 2009. He has both a sandanme and a jūryō division championship. He reached the jūryō division in July…

1990

Lee Chae-rin

South Korean singer

Lee Chae-rin, better known by her stage name CL, is a South Korean rapper, singer, and songwriter. Born in Seoul, South Korea, she spent much of her early life in Japan and France. She rose to fame as a member and…

1991

Kevin Plawecki

American baseball player

Kevin Jeffrey Plawecki is an American former professional baseball catcher who currently serves as the catching coach for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the New York Mets,…

1991

Mikael Granlund

Finnish hockey player

Mikael Antero Granlund is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who is a centre for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played professionally in Finland with Oulun Kärpät and HIFK of…

1992

Morgan Gautrat

American soccer player

Morgan Paige Gautrat is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League 2 club Newcastle United W.F.C. She first appeared for the United States national team during a friendly…

1993

Jacob Trouba

American ice hockey player

Jacob Ryan Trouba is an American professional ice hockey player who is a defenseman for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Trouba was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, ninth overall,…

1994

Mahra Al Maktoum

Emirati princess.

Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is an Emirati princess and member of the Dubai ruling family as the daughter of the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. She…

1994

Jessie Bates

American football player

Jessie Bates III is an American professional football safety for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and was selected by the Cincinnati…

1997

Yeat

American rapper

Noah Olivier Smith, known professionally as Yeat is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. He is known for his experimental sound—most notably the rage sound, unique vocabulary, and unconventional…

2000

Gerard Martín

Spanish footballer

Gerard Martín Langreo is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defender for La Liga club Barcelona. Primarily a left-back, he is also capable of playing as a centre-back.

2002

César Tárrega

Spanish footballer

César Tárrega Requeni is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Valencia CF.

2002

Jamal Musiala

German footballer

Jamal Musiala is a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. Widely regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders in the…

2003

Famous birthdays

Who was born on February 26?

Bill Johnston — Australian cricketer (1922–2007)

FeaturedBill Johnston

Birth year1922

Known forA left arm pace bowler, as well as a left arm orthodox spinner, Johnston was best known as a spearhead of Don Bradman's undefeated 1948 touring team, well known as "The Invincibles"

Birthdays on this date171 (1361 – 2003)

Explore February 26

Jump between the main pages for this date to compare events, people, and the daily quiz.

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Also on February 26 in History

2026

The government of Pakistan declares "open war" against the Taliban in Afghanistan, initiating the 2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan War. Wikipedia →

2021

A total of 279 female students aged between 10 and 17 are kidnapped by bandits in the Zamfara kidnapping in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Wikipedia →

2019

Indian Air Force fighter-jets target Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camps in Balakot, Pakistan. Wikipedia →

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1922 — Bill Johnston

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