8 Famous People You Didn't Know Were Born on Christmas Day

Was Jesus actually born on December 25th? Historians now largely agree that he wasn't, but that doesn't mean the date is without historical significance. From science to humanitarianism to music, a surprising number of influential figures share a Christmas birthday. Here are a few of their stories.

Foundations of Science and Service

Yes, Mr. Gravity himself, Isaac Newton, was born on Christmas Day in 1642. This was under the Julian calendar, so we now mark the anniversary on January 4th. Interestingly, Newton was one of the first to suggest that December 25th wasn't Jesus's actual birthday, but a date chosen to align with the Roman winter solstice celebration.

On December 25, 1821, Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, was born in a Massachusetts farmhouse. A teacher who became a life-changing nurse during the Civil War, her work laid the groundwork for one of the world's most vital humanitarian organizations.

A Nation's Father and Cultural Icons

While roughly 95 percent of Pakistan's residents are Muslim, the Islamic founder of the country, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was born on Christmas Day in 1876.

The list of cultural figures is just as impressive. It includes Robert Ripley, creator of Ripley's Believe It Or Not!; singer Jimmy Buffett; Eurythmics vocalist Annie Lennox; and Shane MacGowan, the lead singer of The Pogues, whose iconic song "Fairytale of New York" was released just in time for his 30th birthday in 1987.