Mental Floss

BIRTHDAYS





Bessie Coleman, David Bowie, and Martin Luther King Jr. all have January birthdays.

Some of our favorite figures from history, literature, music, pop culture, and more were born in the first month of the year. Do you share a birthday with one of these famous folks?

Miss Cellania






Queen Elizabeth II

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926. But having a second birthday is one of the many reasons why it's good to be the queen.

Hannah Keyser






Patricia Highsmith poses at home in Locarno, Switzerland in 1987.

Celebrated author Patricia Highsmith, who was known for her psychological thrillers, believed that life "didn’t make sense without crime in it."

Carla Delgado








IRINA KROLEVETC/iStock via Getty Images

We’ve been adding an extra day to February since Julius Caesar overhauled the Roman calendar and implemented leap years in 46 BCE.

Mark Mancini
Vince Bucci, Getty Images

The 'Magnum, P.I.' and 'Blue Bloods' actor has had a career spanning six decades. He also batted for the Detroit Tigers in 1991.

Jake Rossen