Famous people born on 16 December

• Ludwig van BeethovenGerman composer · 1770–1827
  56 yrs
• Jane AustenAuthor, novelist, writer · 1775–1817
  41 yrs
• Arthur C. ClarkeBritish science fiction writer, inventor, and futurist · 1917–2008
  90 yrs
• Margaret MeadAmerican anthropologist · 1901–1978
  76 yrs
• Philip K. DickAmerican science fiction author · 1928–1982
  53 yrs
• Catherine of AragonFirst wife of Henry VIII of England · 1485–1536
  50 yrs
• George SantayanaSpanish-American philosopher · 1863–1952
  88 yrs
• Leopold I of BelgiumGerman prince who became the first King of the Belgians · 1790–1865
  74 yrs
• Anton Denikin ↗Russian military and political leader · 1872–1947
  74 yrs
• Alexander I of Yugoslavia ↗Prince regent of Kingdom of Serbia and later King of Yugoslavia 1921–34 · 1888–1934
  45 yrs
• Edward Emerson Barnard ↗American astronomer and astronomical photographer · 1857–1923
  65 yrs
• Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher ↗Prussian field marshal · 1742–1819
  76 yrs
• Noël Coward ↗English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer · 1899–1973
  73 yrs
• Zoltán Kodály ↗Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue · 1882–1967
  84 yrs
• Léon Walras ↗French mathematical economist · 1834–1910
  75 yrs
• Misao Tamai ↗Japanese association football player · 1903–1978
  75 yrs
• Rafael Alberti ↗Spanish poet · 1902–1999
  96 yrs
• Bill Hicks ↗American comedian · 1961–1994
  32 yrs
• Nikolai Vatutin ↗Soviet general · 1901–1944
  42 yrs
• Piet Hein ↗20th-century Danish mathematician, inventor, designer, writer and poet · 1905–1996
  90 yrs
• Rodion Shchedrin ↗Soviet and Russian composer and pianist · 1932–2025
  92 yrs
• Georgy Sviridov ↗Soviet and Russian composer · 1915–1998
  82 yrs
• Johann Wilhelm Ritter ↗German chemist, physicist and philosopher · 1776–1810
  33 yrs
• Anna Anderson ↗Romanov imposter who claimed to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia · 1896–1984
  87 yrs
• George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle ↗English soldier and politician · 1608–1670
  61 yrs

Only people with a known day of birth are listed, and only people who have died. Dates are from Wikidata (CC0), last updated 22 October 2026.

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