Famous people born on January 11th
January 11 has a remarkably wide-ranging roster of birthdays, stretching from the revolutionary era to modern film, music, and activism. The date brings together influential thinkers, public servants, artists, and innovators whose work shaped institutions, culture, and social change. From philosophy and faith to motorsport engineering and pop-R&B stardom, the variety is striking.
Notable highlights
- Alexander Hamilton (1755) - A key U.S. Founding Father who helped design the nation"s financial system as the first Secretary of the Treasury.
- William James (1842) - A foundational American psychologist and philosopher whose pragmatism reshaped modern approaches to mind and experience.
- Alice Paul (1885) - A leading strategist of the U.S. women"s suffrage movement who later championed the Equal Rights Amendment.
- Aldo Leopold (1887) - A pioneering conservationist whose "land ethic" helped define modern environmental philosophy.
- Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907) - A major Jewish theologian who linked spirituality to social justice and marched alongside civil-rights leaders.
- Albert Hofmann (1906) - The Swiss chemist who first synthesized LSD, a discovery that profoundly influenced neuroscience and culture.
- Carroll Shelby (1923) - The automotive visionary behind the Shelby Cobra and high-performance collaborations that became racing legends.
- Stanley Tucci (1960) - An acclaimed actor and filmmaker celebrated for versatile roles across comedy, drama, and prestige cinema.
- Mary J. Blige (1971) - The "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul," known for blending R&B and hip-hop with emotionally direct storytelling.
- Amanda Peet (1972) - A prominent screen actress recognized for her work in ensemble comedies and dramas spanning film and television.
On this day
- 1055 - The Great Schism is traditionally dated to this period, marking the growing split between Eastern and Western Christianity.
- 1569 - The first recorded state lottery is held in England, an early example of public fundraising through lotteries.
- 1787 - William Herschel discovers Titania and Oberon, moons of Uranus, expanding knowledge of the outer solar system.
- 1922 - Insulin is first used to treat diabetes in a human patient, a breakthrough that transformed modern medicine.