Famous people born on October 15th
October 15 stands out for an unusually rich mix of thinkers, storytellers, and public leaders. The date links groundbreaking philosophy and social theory with bestselling fiction, economic debate, and modern statecraft. From Victorian-era exploration and reform to late-20th-century film and finance writing, these birthdays span continents and disciplines.
Notable highlights
- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844) - A radical critic of morality and tradition whose ideas on power, culture, and the "death of God" reshaped modern philosophy.
- P. G. Wodehouse (1881) - Master of English comic prose, celebrated for the Jeeves and Wooster stories and a uniquely musical, playful sentence style.
- John Kenneth Galbraith (1908) - Influential public economist who brought big-idea policy arguments to mass audiences, including critiques of consumer culture and corporate power.
- Michel Foucault (1926) - Pioneering theorist of knowledge and institutions, famous for examining how power operates through prisons, medicine, and social norms.
- Mario Puzo (1921) - Author of The Godfather, whose saga helped define the modern crime epic in both fiction and cinema.
- A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (1931) - Indian scientist-statesman remembered as the "People's President" and a key figure in the country’s aerospace and missile programs.
- Lee Iacocca (1924) - Auto-industry executive widely associated with Chrysler’s turnaround and the bold marketing of American car culture.
- Italo Calvino (1923) - Innovative Italian writer whose imaginative, structurally daring novels and stories bridged realism, fable, and postmodern play.
- Isabella Bird (1831) - Trailblazing travel writer who chronicled journeys across Asia and the Americas, expanding Victorian-era ideas of exploration.
- Sarah Ferguson (1959) - Author and public figure who built a writing career spanning children’s books and memoir.
On this day
- 1066 - The Normans defeat the English at the Battle of Hastings, a turning point that reshaped England’s language, nobility, and governance.
- 1815 - Napoleon begins his exile on Saint Helena after his final defeat, ending an era of European wars and political upheaval.
- 1928 - The airship Graf Zeppelin completes the first nonstop transatlantic passenger flight, marking a milestone in long-distance aviation.
- 1964 - The Soviet Union launches the Voskhod 1 mission, the first spaceflight to carry more than one crew member.