Famous people born on August 15th
August 15 is a notably wide-ranging birthday roster, spanning imperial history, modern politics, celebrated stage and screen talent, and influential voices in literature, design, and philosophy. The date’s honorees include leaders who reshaped nations, artists who redefined their fields, and thinkers whose ideas traveled far beyond their lifetimes. Together, they show how one calendar day can connect global power, cultural innovation, and public debate.
Notable highlights
- Napoleon Bonaparte (1769) - The Corsican-born commander who remade Europe’s map and left a lasting legal legacy through the Napoleonic Code.
- Jennifer Lawrence (1990) - Academy Award-winning actor whose breakout in Winter's Bone helped launch a decade of major franchise and prestige roles.
- Ben Affleck (1972) - Actor-director who moved from early stardom to acclaimed filmmaking, including a Best Picture win for Argo.
- Oscar Peterson (1925) - Virtuoso jazz pianist celebrated for swing, speed, and lyricism, and a key figure in bringing jazz to concert-hall audiences.
- Robert Bolt (1924) - Playwright and screenwriter behind A Man for All Seasons, famed for dramatizing conscience and power with razor-sharp dialogue.
- Sri Aurobindo (1872) - Philosopher and spiritual leader whose writings blended Indian traditions with a modern, evolutionary vision of consciousness.
- Paul Rand (1914) - Foundational graphic designer whose corporate identities helped define modern branding, including iconic logos for IBM and ABC.
- Stieg Larsson (1954) - Author of the Millennium series, whose investigative sensibility and social critique fueled a global crime-fiction phenomenon.
- Princess Anne (1950) - Senior British royal known for a decades-long record of public service and a no-nonsense approach to duties.
On this day
- 1057 - Malcolm III becomes King of Scots, beginning a reign that would reshape Scotland’s royal politics and succession.
- 1914 - The Panama Canal officially opens to commercial traffic, transforming global maritime trade routes.
- 1945 - Japan announces its surrender in World War II, signaling the end of the war in the Pacific.
- 1947 - India gains independence from British rule, marking the birth of a new nation and a major turning point in decolonization.
- 1971 - President Richard Nixon ends the direct convertibility of the U.S. dollar to gold, a pivotal step toward modern floating exchange rates.