Famous people born on December 12th
December 12 has an unusually rich mix of creative innovators, reform-minded public figures, and performers whose work shaped popular taste across centuries. From classic literature and modern self-help to painting, architecture, and film, the date reflects both artistic experimentation and mass appeal. It also features influential voices in politics, journalism, and social change, making the day feel broadly representative of cultural history.
Notable highlights
- Gustave Flaubert (1821) - A meticulous stylist whose novel "Madame Bovary" helped redefine realism and modern narrative technique.
- Frank Sinatra (1915) - A landmark vocalist and screen presence who set the template for the modern pop crooner and the concept of the star-driven album era.
- Edvard Munch (1863) - A pioneering expressionist whose "The Scream" became an enduring symbol of modern anxiety and emotional intensity.
- William Lloyd Garrison (1805) - A radical abolitionist editor whose newspaper "The Liberator" pushed anti-slavery arguments into the national conscience.
- Mary Astell (1666) - A foundational feminist thinker who argued for women’s education and intellectual independence in an era that resisted both.
- Og Mandino (1923) - A best-selling motivational author whose "The Greatest Salesman in the World" became a staple of personal development reading.
- Edward G. Robinson (1893) - A defining early Hollywood actor celebrated for intense, intelligent performances that shaped the gangster and noir traditions.
- Bill Nighy (1949) - A distinctive British actor known for precise comic timing and understated dramatic range across film and television.
- Tony Hsieh (1973) - An e-commerce leader who popularized customer-service culture at scale and influenced modern startup management thinking.
On this day
- 1901 - Guglielmo Marconi sent the first transatlantic radio signal, a breakthrough in long-distance wireless communication.
- 1915 - Yuan Shikai proclaimed himself emperor of China, a move that quickly faced widespread opposition and collapse.
- 1980 - The Military Coup d’etat occurred in Suriname, reshaping the country’s political trajectory for decades.
- 2015 - The Paris Agreement was adopted, establishing a global framework to limit climate change through national commitments.