Happy Birthday December 13

Henry IV of France was born on December 13, 1553 in Pau, a city on the northern edge of the Pyrenees, in SW France. His parents were Queen Joan III of Navarre and her consort, Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, King of Navarre. He was the first monarch of France from the House of Bourbon, a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty. "Good King Henry" (le bon roi Henri) was remembered for his geniality and his great concern about the welfare of his subjects.

German electrical engineer Werner von Siemens was born in Lenthe, in the Kingdom of Hanover in the German Confederation, on December 13, 1816. He founded Siemens & Halske with Johann Georg Halske in 1847. In 1848, the company built the first long-distance telegraph line in Europe; 500 km from Berlin to Frankfurt am Main. The company has been known as Siemens since 1966 and is today the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe.

The boxer Archie Moore was born on December 13, 1916. He was the longest reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion of all time at nine years, four months and 24 days (December 1952 – May 1962). Moore also had one of the longest professional careers in the history of the sport, fighting professionally for almost 30 years.

The singer Taylor Swift was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania on December 13, 1989 to Scott, a financial adviser, and Andrea, a former mutual fund marketing executive. She was named after musician James Taylor. Swift's mother believed that a gender-neutral name would help forge a business career. Taylor Swift's maternal grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, was a professional opera singer, and inspired Taylor to become a singer.

For more December 13 anniversaries, including the founding of Europe's first national bank, the highest scoring game in NBA history and the marriage of Margaret and Dennis Thatcher, check out OnThatDay.