Leading Figures in History

Discover the people who shaped our world — from rulers and scientists to artists and activists.

24408 persons found

Xue Yiju

Tang dynasty politician

XXXTentacion

American rapper and singer-songwriter (1998–2018)

Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy

b. 1949

Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, India

Ya'acov Ben-Dov

b. 1882

Israeli photographer

Ya'akov Cahan

b. 1881

Writer from Israel (1881–1960)

Ya'akov Hodorov

b. 1927

Israeli footballer

Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar

Amir of the Saffarid dynasty from 861 to 879

Yadier Pedroso

b. 1986

Cuban baseball player (1986–2013)

Yagyū Mitsuyoshi

Japanese samurai (1607–1650)

Yahweh ben Yahweh

Nation of Yahweh Founder (1935–2007)

Yahya Jammeh

b. 1965

President of the Gambia from 1996 to 2017

Yaime Pérez

b. 1991

Cuban discus thrower (born 1991)

Yamagata Aritomo

b. 1838

Japanese military leader and statesman (1838–1922)

Yang Chuan-kwang

b. 1933

Taiwanese decathlete (1933–2007)

Yang Jisheng (Ming dynasty)

b. 1516

Chinese statesman

Yang Liwei

b. 1965

Chinese military officer and taikonaut (born 1965)

Yang Shihou

Yang Shili

Tang Chinese general

Yang Ti-liang

b. 1929

Hong Kong judge (1929–2023)

Yang Wo

Prince of Hongnong from 905 to 908

Yanka Kupala

b. 1882

Belarusian poet (1882–1942)

Yankuba Ceesay

b. 1984

Gambian footballer (born 1984)

Yann Danis

b. 1981

Canadian ice hockey player (born 1981)

Yann M'Vila

b. 1990

French footballer (born 1990)