Famous people born on March 3rd

March 3 gathers an unusually wide range of innovators and storytellers, spanning early modern poetry, foundational mathematics, landmark invention, and contemporary film, audio journalism, and sport. The date's roster blends thinkers who reshaped how we communicate and reason with performers who defined their fields on stage, page, and track. It is a cross-section of creativity where abstract theory, practical engineering, and cultural influence meet.

Notable highlights

• William Godwin (1756) - A pioneering political philosopher and novelist whose radical ideas helped shape modern anarchist and liberal thought.
• Georg Cantor (1845) - Founded set theory and introduced a rigorous way to compare infinities, transforming the foundations of mathematics.
• Alexander Graham Bell (1847) - Credited with inventing the telephone and advancing work in acoustics and hearing, bridging science and everyday life.
• Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1962) - Widely regarded as one of the greatest all-around track athletes, setting enduring standards in the heptathlon and long jump.
• Beatrice Wood (1893) - The celebrated "Mama of Dada," known for lustrous ceramics and a long, influential artistic life that spanned a century.
• Ron Chernow (1949) - A master biographer whose deeply researched narratives revived public interest in American financial and political history.
• Ira Glass (1959) - Redefined modern audio storytelling by popularizing narrative journalism formats that influenced podcasting worldwide.
• Julie Bowen (1970) - A standout comic performer whose television work helped define a generation of ensemble sitcom acting.
• Doc Watson (1923) - An iconic guitarist and singer who brought virtuosic flatpicking to a broad audience and shaped bluegrass and folk.

On this day

• 1845 - Florida is admitted to the United States as the 27th state.
• 1931 - "The Star-Spangled Banner" is officially adopted as the national anthem of the United States.
• 1991 - A videotaped beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police is captured by a bystander, igniting national debate over policing and civil rights.
• 2005 - Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world without refueling, completing a landmark aviation feat.