Famous people born on November 15th
November 15 is a remarkably wide-ranging birthday on the calendar, bringing together boundary-pushing artists, influential jurists, trailblazing scientists, and public leaders who shaped policy and culture. The date spans creators of modernist beauty and clarity in words and images, alongside figures who navigated the hardest moral and diplomatic choices of the modern era. From laboratories and concert halls to courtrooms and parliaments, these lives reflect the many ways one day can echo through history.
Notable highlights
- Georgia O'Keeffe (1887) - Reimagined American modernism with iconic large-scale flowers and Southwestern landscapes that helped define 20th-century visual language.
- Felix Frankfurter (1882) - As a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, championed judicial restraint and helped shape debates over the Court's role in democracy.
- Marianne Moore (1887) - A major modernist poet known for precise observation, inventive quotation, and a voice that balanced rigor with wit.
- Aneurin Bevan (1897) - Architect of the United Kingdom's National Health Service, transforming the idea of healthcare as a public right.
- Claus von Stauffenberg (1907) - Central figure in the July 20 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, remembered for his decisive role in German resistance.
- William Herschel (1738) - Discovered Uranus and expanded the known solar system, while his work on infrared radiation changed how we understand light.
- Daniel Barenboim (1942) - Conductor and pianist who paired elite musicianship with cultural diplomacy, notably through the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.
- Ed Asner (1929) - Beloved for "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Lou Grant", and known for outspoken labor and humanitarian advocacy.
- Sam Waterston (1940) - Long-running "Law & Order" lead whose career spans stage and film, including acclaimed historical dramas.
- Yaphet Kotto (1937) - Memorable screen presence in "Alien" and "Live and Let Die", bringing gravitas to genre and prestige roles alike.
On this day
- 1532 - Spanish forces under Francisco Pizarro captured Inca emperor Atahualpa at Cajamarca, a turning point in the conquest of the Inca Empire.
- 1889 - Brazilian leader Deodoro da Fonseca proclaimed the Republic, ending the Empire of Brazil and establishing a new political era.
- 1971 - Intel introduced the 4004, widely recognized as the first commercially available microprocessor, helping launch the modern computing revolution.
- 1988 - The Palestinian National Council issued a declaration of independence in Algiers, a landmark moment in modern Palestinian political history.