Famous people born on March 14th
March 14 brings together an unusually wide-ranging group of figures whose work spans science, politics, art, and popular entertainment. The date is anchored by world-changing ideas in physics, but it is equally defined by influential voices in music, film, photography, design, and public life. From systems thinking and data visualization to groundbreaking activism and cultural innovation, these birthdays reflect both intellectual rigor and creative daring.
Notable highlights
- Albert Einstein (1879) - Formulated the theory of relativity, transforming modern physics and reshaping how we understand space, time, and gravity.
- Michael Caine (1933) - Became a defining screen presence across decades, known for pairing working-class realism with effortless charm in roles from dramas to blockbusters.
- Quincy Jones (1933) - Producer, arranger, and bandleader whose genre-crossing career helped set the sound of modern pop and jazz orchestration.
- David Byrne (1952) - Frontman of Talking Heads who blended art-rock, world rhythms, and conceptual performance into an enduring musical and visual legacy.
- Donella Meadows (1941) - Pioneered systems thinking for the public, explaining how feedback loops and leverage points shape environmental and economic outcomes.
- Edward Tufte (1942) - Advanced the modern field of information design, championing clear, evidence-rich graphics and the ethical presentation of data.
- Diane Arbus (1923) - Redefined documentary portraiture by bringing direct, unsettling intimacy to photographs of people on society's margins.
- Billy Crystal (1947) - A versatile comedian and host celebrated for rapid-fire characters, sharp timing, and a long run as a major awards-show emcee.
- Emily Murphy (1868) - A prominent Canadian reformer and one of the "Famous Five," central to a landmark legal fight over women's status as "persons."
- Frank Borman (1928) - Commanded Apollo 8, the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon, helping open the era of deep-space human exploration.
On this day
- 1794 - Eli Whitney receives a patent for the cotton gin, accelerating cotton production and profoundly impacting the U.S. economy and slavery.
- 1883 - Karl Marx dies in London, leaving a body of work that would shape political theory and global movements for generations.
- 1900 - The Gold Standard Act is signed in the United States, formally committing U.S. currency to the gold standard at the time.
- 1964 - Jack Ruby is convicted for killing Lee Harvey Oswald, a pivotal episode in the aftermath of President John F. Kennedy's assassination.