Famous people born on January 10th
January 10 has produced an impressively wide range of influential figures, spanning science, music, politics, literature, and sport. From pioneering researchers and sharp-minded historians to arena-filling performers and championship competitors, the day reflects both intellectual rigor and popular appeal. The mix of eras and disciplines makes this date a fascinating cross-section of cultural and public life.
Notable highlights
- George Foreman (1949) - Heavyweight champion who famously regained a world title in his 40s, then became a global business icon.
- George Washington Carver (1864) - Agricultural scientist and educator whose work advanced soil conservation and crop diversification in the American South.
- Rod Stewart (1945) - Distinctive-voiced rock and pop star known for decades-spanning hits and magnetic stage presence.
- Donald Knuth (1938) - Computer science pioneer whose multi-volume work on algorithms helped define modern programming theory.
- Lord Acton (1834) - Historian remembered for the enduring warning about power and corruption in political life.
- Stephen Ambrose (1936) - Popular historian who brought large audiences to American military and presidential history through narrative nonfiction.
- Eduardo Chillida (1924) - Sculptor celebrated for monumental forms that explore space, weight, and the relationship between art and landscape.
- Max Roach (1924) - Jazz drummer and bandleader who pushed bebop forward and used music as a platform for social commentary.
- Pat Benatar (1953) - Rock vocalist whose powerful delivery helped shape early MTV-era rock with multiple Grammy-winning songs.
- Emma Bunton (1976) - Pop singer who rose to worldwide fame as part of the Spice Girls and later built a solo and broadcasting career.
On this day
- 49 BCE - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, igniting a civil war that transforms the Roman Republic.
- 1920 - The League of Nations officially begins operations as the first global intergovernmental organization of its kind.
- 1946 - The first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly is held in London.
- 1972 - Pakistan formally withdraws from the Commonwealth in the aftermath of the 1971 Bangladesh War.