Famous People Born In 1898

Discover the most famous people born in 1898. The list includes people like C. S. Lewis, M. C. Escher, Rene Magritte, Bertolt Brecht, George Gershwin and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, soldiers, poets and directors born in 1898. This list includes people from United States, Germany, United Kingdom & Italy and many more countries.
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 1 
C. S. Lewis
(Known for His Classic Series 'The Chronicles of Narnia')
C. S. Lewis
24
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 29th November
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Belfast, Ireland
Died: November 22, 1963

C. S. Lewis was a British writer whose books have sold millions of copies worldwide after having been translated into over 30 languages. His works, such as The Chronicles of Narnia, have inspired the works of other famous authors. Lewis' work continues to attract readership and he was ranked 11th on The Times' 50 greatest British writers since 1945 list.

 2 
George Gershwin
(Pianist and Composer Best Known for His Orchestral Compositions ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ and ‘An American in Paris’)
George Gershwin
11
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: 26th September
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: July 11, 1937

George Gershwin was an American pianist, composer, and painter. His work Porgy and Bess is widely regarded as an American cultural classic and one of the 20th century's most important American operas. Many of his compositions have been used in films and television series. His life and work inspired the 1945 biographical movie, Rhapsody in Blue.

 3 
Enzo Ferrari
(Italian racing driver)
Enzo Ferrari
10
Birthdate: 18th February
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Turin
Died: August 14, 1988
Italian race-car driver Enzo Ferrari, also known as "il Commendatore" and "il Drake,” founded the motor-racing team Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix. He had also been part of the Italian army during World War I. He was posthumously inducted into the International Motorsports and the Automotive halls of fame.
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 4 
Randolph Scott
(One of Hollywood's Greatest and Most Popular Western Stars)
Randolph Scott
21
Birthdate: 23rd January
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Orange County, Virginia, United States
Died: March 2, 1987
Randolph Scott is best remembered as an iconic Western hero, known for films such as Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and The Texans. The Western Performers Hall of Fame inductee worked with acclaimed directors such as Budd Boetticher and received a Memoriam Golden Boot. He had also served the U.S. Army.
 5 
Paul Robeson
(Singer, Actor, and Black Activist.)
Paul Robeson
11
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: 9th April
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Princeton, New Jersey, United States
Died: January 23, 1976

Singer and actor, Paul Robeson, was as much known for his music and films as he was for his political activism. As a black man who had to endure great difficulties to establish himself, he was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement and other social justice campaigns. As a performer, he was a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance.

 6 
Bertolt Brecht
(Theatre Practitioner, Playwright, and Poet Known for His Plays: ‘The Threepenny Opera’ and ‘Life of Galileo’)
Bertolt Brecht
21
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 10th February
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Augsburg, Germany
Died: August 14, 1956

German playwright, poet, and theater director, Bertolt Brecht, is best known for co-writing the play, The Threepenny Opera, with Kurt Weill. Growing up in war-torn Germany in the early 20th century, he had a difficult life. A hardcore Marxist, he lived in exile during the Nazi period. He returned to Germany after the war and established a theater company.

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 7 
M. C. Escher
(Dutch Graphic Artist Best Known for His Works: ‘Hand with Reflecting Sphere’, ‘Relativity’ and ‘Waterfall’)
M. C. Escher
11
Birthdate: 17th June
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Leeuwarden, Netherlands
Died: March 27, 1972
Dutch graphic artist M. C. Escher is remembered for his woodcuts, mezzotints, and lithographs inspired by mathematics. He did not receive much appreciation till he turned 70, when he had his first retrospective exhibition. His notable works include Relativity and Waterfall. He also drew inspiration from nature and cityscapes.
 8 
Golda Meir
(Former Prime Minister of Israel (1969 - 1974))
Golda Meir
20
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 3rd May
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kyiv, Ukraine
Died: December 8, 1978

Born in present-day Ukraine and brought up in the United States, the phenomenal rise of Golda Meir to become the prime minister of Israel was driven by her sheer leadership qualities. She steered her country amid hostilities from its neighbourhood during her eventful term as premier which also saw the Yom Kippur War. She is remembered as a strong-willed woman.

 9 
Rene Magritte
(Belgian Surrealist Artist, Who Became Well Known for Creating a Number of Witty and Thought-Provoking Images)
Rene Magritte
21
Birthdate: 21st November
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Lessines, Belgium
Died: August 15, 1967
Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte is remembered for his art that displayed alternate perceptions of reality. His creations were influenced by elements of pop art and minimalist art. Some of his most notable works were The Empire of Light and Les Amants. The Magritte Museum is dedicated to his work.
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 10 
Irene Dunne
(One of the Greatest Actresses of Golden Age of Hollywood)
Irene Dunne
6
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 20th December
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Died: September 4, 1990

Irene Dunne was a prominent actor of the Golden Age of Hollywood. She is best known for her comedy roles and was nominated for the Academy Award five times. Some of her best-known films were Theodora Goes Wild and I Remember Mama. A devout Catholic, she received the papal knighthood.

 11 
Chesty Puller
( United States Marine Corps Officer Who Served with Distinction in World War II and the Korean War)
Chesty Puller
10
Listed In: Military Leaders
Birthdate: 26th June
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: West Point, Virginia, United States
Died: October 11, 1971
Chesty Puller was a U.S. Marine Corps officer who was part of the Banana Wars in Haiti and Nicaragua, and later served in World War II and the Korean War. He became the most decorated U.S. Marine, winning five Navy Crosses and an Army Distinguished Service Cross.
 12 
William O. Douglas
(Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States)
William O. Douglas
12
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 16th October
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Maine Township, Minnesota, United States
Died: January 19, 1980
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 13 
Armand Hammer
(Business people)
Armand Hammer
7
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: 21st May
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: December 10, 1990
 14 
Shirley Booth
(American Actress and One of the Few Performers to Achieve the Triple Crown of Acting)
Shirley Booth
10
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 30th August
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: October 16, 1992

Shirley Booth is best remembered for her Academy Award-winning role in Come Back, Little Sheba and was one of only 24 people to earn the Triple Crown of Acting, namely the Academy, the Primetime Emmy, and the Tony awards. She also appeared in a TV production of The Glass Menagerie.

 15 
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
(Author and Clergyman Known for His Best-Selling Book ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’)
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
2
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 31st May
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bowersville, Ohio, United States
Died: December 24, 1993

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was an American author and minister best known for his efforts to popularize the concept of positive thinking. His book The Power of Positive Thinking is a great testimony to his efforts. Peale influenced several US presidents, including President Richard Nixon and Donald Trump. Artist and cartoonist Scott Adams has cited Peale as a major influence.

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 16 
Rudolf Dassler
(Founder of the Sportswear Company 'Puma')
Rudolf Dassler
4
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: 26th March
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Herzogenaurach, Germany
Died: October 27, 1974
The rivalry between German shoemaker Rudolf Dassler and his brother, Adolf Dassler, led to the creation of two of the most popular shoe brands of the world. While Rudolf and Adolf were initially partners in their shoe business, a feud made Rudolf create Puma, while Adolf formed Adidas.
 17 
Erich Maria Remarque
(German Writer Best Known for His Novel ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’)
Erich Maria Remarque
6
Listed In: Novelists
Birthdate: 22nd June
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Osnabrück, Germany
Died: September 25, 1970

German novelist Erich Maria Remarque is best remembered for his landmark novel All Quiet on the Western Front. Born in the late 1890s, he was conscripted into the German Imperial Army during World War I. His wartime experiences later motivated him to write what would become his seminal work. He also authored many other poignant novels.

 18 
Peggy Guggenheim
(Art Collector)
Peggy Guggenheim
3
Listed In: Socialites
Birthdate: 26th August
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: December 23, 1979
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 19 
Bennett Cerf
(American Publisher and Co-Founder of Publishing Firm 'Random House')
Bennett Cerf
3
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 25th May
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: August 27, 1971

Bennett Cerf was an American publisher and writer. He is credited with co-founding the popular publishing firm, Random House. Cerf was also a TV personality, appearing regularly on a panel game show titled What's My Line for over 17 years.

 20 
Alexander Calder
(Sculptor, Painter)
Alexander Calder
0
Birthdate: 22nd July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Lawnton
Died: November 11, 1976

Alexander Calder was an American sculptor best remembered for his innovative kinetic sculptures designed to use either motor, air currents, or other forces of nature. A multi-talented personality, Calder was also known for his paintings, miniatures, prints, jewelry design, theater set design, political posters, and tapestries and rugs. In 1977, he was honored with the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom.

 21 
Alvar Aalto
(Architect)
Alvar Aalto
7
Listed In: Sculptors
Birthdate: 3rd February
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kuortane
Died: May 11, 1976

Finnish architect Alvar Aalto initially had his studies interrupted by the Finnish Civil War, which saw him fighting for the White Army. His first architectural design was for his parents’ house. He had experimented with furniture and glassware, too. His works showcase a move from classicism to functionalism.

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 22 
Herbert Marcuse
(Philosopher and Sociologist His Best-Known Works are "Eros and Civilization" (1955) and "One-Dimensional Man.")
Herbert Marcuse
3
Birthdate: 19th July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: July 29, 1979

The proponent of the Frankfurt School of critical theory, Herbert Marcuse largely influenced the leftist student revolts of the 1960s. Equipped with a PhD in German literature, he wrote Hegel’s Ontology and the Theory of Historicity, with Martin Heidegger. His Eros and Civilization spoke at length about capitalism.

 23 
Curly Lambeau
(American Football Player)
Curly Lambeau
2
Listed In: Coaches
Birthdate: 9th April
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States
Died: June 1, 1965
 24 
Liu Shaoqi
(Politician)
Liu Shaoqi
6
Birthdate: 24th November
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Huaminglou, Changsha, China
Died: November 12, 1969

Liu Shaoqi was a Chinese politician, revolutionary, and theorist. He served as the vice-chairman of the Chinese Communist Party from 1956 to 1966. From 1959 to 1968, he served as the Chairman of the People's Republic of China, implementing several policies of economic reconstruction in the country. For 15 long years, Liu was the third most influential man in China.

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 25 
Salvatore Ferragamo
(Italian Shoe Designer and the Founder of Luxury Goods Company 'Salvatore Ferragamo S.P.A')
Salvatore Ferragamo
4
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 5th June
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bonito, Italy
Died: August 7, 1960

Salvatore Ferragamo was an Italian shoe designer. An innovative designer, Ferragamo is remembered for inventing the Cage heel. Also a pioneering shoe designer, Ferragamo experimented with materials including fish, crocodile, and kangaroo skin. He is also credited with founding the popular luxury goods company, Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A. Today, his company has extended its operations to include a ready-to-wear clothing line.

 26 
Howard Florey
(Australian Pharmacologist and Pathologist Who Shared the Nobel Prize for His Role in the Development of Penicillin)
Howard Florey
5
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: 24th September
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Adelaide, Australia
Died: February 21, 1968

Howard Florey was an Australian pathologist and pharmacologist. He is best remembered for his role in the formation of penicillin, for which he shared the prestigious Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Alexander Fleming and Ernst Chain in the year 1945. Florey is credited with carrying out the first clinical trial of penicillin at the Radcliffe Infirmary in 1941.

 27 
Sergei Eisenstein
(Russian Film Director Best Known for His Film 'Battleship Potemkin')
Sergei Eisenstein
8
Listed In: Directors
Birthdate: 22nd January
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
Died: February 11, 1948
Known for his use of the montage as a leading element in his films, Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein of Battleship Potemkin and Ivan the Terrible fame was also fond of close-up shots. He often used an ensemble of amateur actors and also included haiku-inspired elements in his work.
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 28 
Alfred Eisenstaedt
(Father of Photojournalism)
Alfred Eisenstaedt
0
Birthdate: 6th December
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Tczew, Germany
Died: April 23, 1995

Alfred Eisenstaedt was a German-born American photojournalist and photographer who achieved popularity as a photographer for Life magazine. Remembered for capturing memorable images, Eisenstaedt is credited with capturing the V-J Day in Times Square, which became one of his most popular cover photographs. In 1989, he was honored with the prestigious National Medal of Arts.

 29 
Soong May-ling
(First Lady of the Republic of China (1950 - 1975))
Soong May-ling
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 5th March
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Shanghai, China
Died: October 23, 2003
Soong May-ling was a Chinese political figure best remembered as the wife of President Chiang Kai-shek. She played an important role in the politics of China and held several honorary and active positions. She also played a prominent role during the Second Sino-Japanese War, rallying several Chinese people against the invasion of the Japanese.  
 30 
Emmett Kelly
(Circus performer)
Emmett Kelly
9
Listed In: Comedians
Birthdate: 9th December
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Sedan, Kansas, US
Died: March 28, 1979
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 31 
Wiley Post
(Native American Aviator Who Completed the First Solo Flight around the World)
Wiley Post
0
Listed In: Aviators
Birthdate: 22nd November
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Grand Saline, Texas, United States
Died: August 15, 1935

Native American aviator Wiley Post scripted history as the first person to complete a solo flight around the world. Post and actor/humorist Will Rogers were killed when their flight crashed in Alaska in 1935. Post had created many high-altitude records and invented one of the world’s first pressure suits.

 32 
Leó Szilárd
1
Listed In: Physicists
Birthdate: 11th February
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Budapest
Died: May 30, 1964

Physicist Leó Szilárd, one of the "Martians," or eminent scientists who had migrated from Hungary to the U.S., was the first to initiate a controlled nuclear chain reaction and was closely associated with the Manhattan Project, meant to develop the atomic bomb. He later advocated for responsible use of nuclear powers.

 33 
Dorothy Gish
(Actress)
Dorothy Gish
1
Birthdate: 11th March
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Dayton, Ohio, United States
Died: June 4, 1968
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 34 
Preston Sturges
(Playwright, Director)
Preston Sturges
2
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 29th August
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: August 6, 1959
 35 
Theodore Miller Edison
(Inventor)
Theodore Miller Edison
0
Listed In: Inventors
Birthdate: 10th July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Llewellyn Park
Died: November 24, 1992
 36 
Tamara de Lempicka
(Painter)
Tamara de Lempicka
6
Listed In: Artists
Birthdate: 16th May
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Warsaw, Poland
Died: March 18, 1980
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 37 
Sara Carter
(Singer-songwriter, Singer)
Sara Carter
0
Listed In: Gospel Singers
Birthdate: 21st July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Copper Creek, Virginia
Died: January 8, 1979
 38 
Anthony McAuliffe
(Military Leader)
Anthony McAuliffe
1
Listed In: Military Leaders
Birthdate: 2nd July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Died: August 11, 1975
 39 
Lotte Lenya
(Austrian-American Actress, Singer, and Diseuse)
Lotte Lenya
5
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 18th October
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Died: November 27, 1981
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 40 
Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois
(Princess)
Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois
6
Listed In: Noblewomen
Birthdate: 30th September
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Constantine, Algeria
Died: November 16, 1977
 41 
Bessie Love
(Actress)
Bessie Love
1
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 10th September
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Midland, Texas, United States
Died: April 26, 1986
 42 
Harry Patch
(Soldier)
Harry Patch
0
Listed In: Soldiers
Birthdate: 17th June
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Somerset
Died: July 25, 2009

Harry Patch was an English soldier who served during the First World War. A supercentenarian, Patch was the last surviving combat soldier to have fought in the trenches during the First World War. At the time of his death, Harry Patch was the world's third oldest man and the oldest man in Europe.

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 43 
Gulzarilal Nanda
(Former Prime Minister of India)
Gulzarilal Nanda
8
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 4th July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sialkot, Punjab, British India (now in Punjab, Pakistan)
Died: January 15, 1998

Gulzarilal Nanda was the acting prime minister of India after the deaths of sitting prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964 and Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966. The Bharat Ratna winner had previously been jailed twice for his participation in Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement. He had also been an economics professor.

 44 
Willy Messerschmitt
(Aeronautical engineer, Engineer, University teacher)
Willy Messerschmitt
1
Birthdate: 26th June
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Frankfurt
Died: September 15, 1978
 45 
Berenice Abbott
(American photographer)
Berenice Abbott
3
Birthdate: 17th July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Springfield, Ohio
Died: December 9, 1991
 46 
Molly Picon
(Actress)
Molly Picon
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: 28th February
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: April 5, 1992
 47 
Melvin Tolson
(Poet)
Melvin Tolson
2
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 6th February
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Moberly, Missouri, United States
Died: August 29, 1966
 48 
Marilyn Miller
(Actress)
Marilyn Miller
3
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 1st September
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Evansville, Indiana, United States
Died: April 7, 1936
 49 
Umm Kulthum
(The Voice of Egypt)
Umm Kulthum
13
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 31st December
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: El-Senbellawein, Egypt
Died: February 3, 1975
 50 
George Jessel
(Actor)
George Jessel
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: 3rd April
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: May 23, 1981