Famous people born on January 9th
January 9 gathers an unusually wide-ranging set of birthdays, spanning politics, literature, music, film, and social reform. The date connects influential public leaders with artists who reshaped their fields, from modernist writers to pop and rock performers. Across centuries, these figures reflect how creativity and power can leave parallel marks on history.
Notable highlights
- Richard M. Nixon (1913) - The 37th U.S. president, he reshaped Cold War diplomacy with landmark trips and agreements even as his legacy became defined by Watergate.
- Simone de Beauvoir (1908) - A foundational voice in modern feminism whose writing challenged assumptions about gender, freedom, and ethics in everyday life.
- Joan Baez (1941) - A folk icon who fused crystalline vocals with activism, becoming a defining performer of civil-rights and antiwar movements.
- Jimmy Page (1944) - Led Zeppelin's architect, celebrated for riffs and studio experimentation that helped set the template for hard rock.
- Dave Matthews (1967) - Frontman of the Dave Matthews Band, known for blending rock, jazz, and jam-band improvisation into a distinct touring powerhouse.
- Kate Middleton (1982) - As Catherine, Princess of Wales, she has shaped modern royal public life through high-profile charitable initiatives and cultural patronage.
- George Balanchine (1904) - A pivotal choreographer who helped define neoclassical ballet and transformed American dance institutions.
- Carrie Chapman Catt (1859) - A strategic leader of the U.S. suffrage movement whose organizing helped secure passage of the 19th Amendment.
- Karel Capek (1890) - The Czech writer who popularized the word "robot," using speculative stories to probe politics, ethics, and technology.
- Crystal Gayle (1951) - A country-pop star whose smooth crossover sound and signature style made her a radio mainstay for decades.
On this day
- 1349 - The Black Death reaches parts of Europe in early waves that would devastate populations across the continent over the following years.
- 1768 - Philip Astley stages performances widely regarded as the beginnings of the modern circus tradition in London.
- 1793 - Jean-Pierre Blanchard makes the first balloon flight in the United States, launching from Philadelphia.
- 2007 - Apple introduces the first iPhone, a launch that accelerates the smartphone era and reshapes consumer technology.