The South American nation of Peru has been home to some of the most illustrious names in politics, science and technology, art, sports, literature, and entertainment. Historyplex brings you a list of famous people from Peru.
Peru’s first Nobel laureate is Mario Vargas Llosa. He won the Nobel prize for literature in 2010, “for his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the individual’s resistance, revolt, and defeat.”
Peru’s culture is a stellar example of myriad influences, right from the ancient Norte Chico civilization, to the Inca Empire, to Spanish colonialism. Years of political instability followed after the country gained independence from Spain in 1821, which has been thankfully overcome.
Over the years, numerous prominent Peruvians have managed to leave an indelible mark on the way our world is now, with their contributions to fields as varied as literature, science, sports, and politics. We give you a list of famous Peruvians according to their field of expertise.
Politics
Ollanta Humala
Current President of Peru
Óscar R. Benavides
Ex-President of Peru
José Bustamante y Rivero
Ex-President of Peru
Ex-President of the International Court of Justice
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
Diplomat
Ex-Secretary General of the United Nations
Augusto B. Leguía
Ex-President of Peru
Alejandro Toledo
Ex-President of Peru
Víctor Andrés Belaúnde
Diplomat
Luis Bedoya Reyes
Ex-Mayor of Lima
Albina Ruiz
Environmentalist/Social activist
Luis Alberto Sánchez
First Vice President of Peru
Francisco Morales Bermúdez
Ex-President of Peru
Nicolás de Piérola
Finance Minister/Ex-President of Peru
Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre
Founder of American Popular Revolutionary Alliance
Literature
José María Arguedas
Novelist/Poet/Anthropologist
José Carlos Mariátegui
Political journalist
Martín Adán
Poet
Manuel González Prada
Literary critic
Clorinda Matto de Turner
Writer
Julio Ramón Ribeyro
Short story writer
Ricardo Palma
Author and scholar
César Vallejo
Poet/Writer/Playwright/Journalist
Abraham Valdelomar
Poet/Essayist/Dramatist
José Santos Chocano
Poet/Political activist
Mario Vargas Llosa
Writer, recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature
Sports
Teodoro “Lolo” Fernández
Football
Teófilo Cubillas
Football
Hugo Sotil
Football
Héctor Chumpitaz
Football
Jaime Yzaga
Tennis
Luis Horna
Tennis
Edwin Vásquez
Shooting
Sofia Mulanovich
Surfing
Science and Technology
Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo
Engineer/Physicist/Mathematician
Alberto Barton
Microbiologist
Gastón Pons Muzzo
Chemist
Daniel Alcides Carrión
Medical student/Researcher
Pedro Paulet
Scientist (Aeronautics)
Julio C. Tello
Archaeologist
Javier Mariátegui
Psychiatrist
Gustavo R. Paz-Pujalt
Scientist/Inventor
Artists
Carlos Baca-Flor
Pablo Amaringo
Fernando de Szyszlo
José Sabogal
Alberto Vargas
Carlos Enrique Polanco
Entertainment
Marco Zunino
Actor
Stephanie Cayo
Actress
Rossana Fernández-Maldonado
Actress/Singer
Henry Ian Cusick
Actor
Denisse Dibós
Actress/Musician/Dancer
Alex Acuña
Drummer/Percussionist
Daniel Alomía Robles
Composer
Luigi Alva
Tenor
Arturo “Zambo” Cavero
Singer
Pastorita Huaracina
Singer
Beauty Pageant Winners
Gladys Zender
Miss Universe 1957
Madeleine Hartog-Bel
Miss World 1967
Claudia Hernández
Miss Peru Mundo 2003
María Julia Mantilla
Miss World 2004
The residents of the Andean nation of Peru have contributed to the betterment of our society over time, and will continue to do so in the days to come.