Famous people born on January 26th
January 26 has a remarkably wide-ranging roster of birthdays, spanning military leadership, film and television, world-class athletics, and trailblazing voices in activism, art, and science. The date links household names with influential thinkers whose ideas shaped modern culture and public life. From the stage and screen to the laboratory and the airfield, these figures show how many different paths can lead to lasting impact.
Notable highlights
- Douglas MacArthur (1880) - A dominant U.S. commander in the Pacific during World War II, later a central figure in the early Korean War.
- Paul Newman (1925) - An Oscar-winning actor whose legacy also includes major philanthropy through the Newman's Own brand.
- Wayne Gretzky (1961) - The NHL's all-time points leader, widely regarded as hockey's defining modern superstar.
- Angela Davis (1944) - A leading scholar-activist whose work connected civil rights, prison abolition, and feminist theory.
- Barbara Kruger (1945) - Known for bold, text-driven conceptual art that critiques consumer culture and power.
- Ellen DeGeneres (1958) - A major force in American comedy and daytime television, noted for reshaping mainstream talk-show culture.
- Anita Baker (1958) - A signature voice of quiet storm R&B, celebrated for her sophisticated phrasing and enduring ballads.
- Bessie Coleman (1892) - The first African American woman to earn a pilot's license, becoming an aviation pioneer and symbol of possibility.
- Jacqueline du Pre (1945) - A legendary cellist whose recording of Elgar's Cello Concerto became a touchstone for the instrument.
- Edward Sapir (1884) - A foundational linguist and anthropologist whose work shaped the study of language and culture in the 20th century.
On this day
- 1340 - Edward III of England proclaimed himself King of France, intensifying the long conflict known as the Hundred Years' War.
- 1788 - The First Fleet arrived at Port Jackson, marking the start of the British colony at Sydney in Australia.
- 1926 - Scottish inventor John Logie Baird demonstrated an early working television system, a milestone in broadcast history.
- 1950 - India formally became a republic and adopted its constitution, a date now celebrated as Republic Day.
- 1972 - Japanese soldier Shoichi Yokoi was discovered on Guam after living in hiding for decades following World War II.