Leading Figures in History

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

24408 persons found

Yann Martel

b. 1963

Canadian novelist (born 1963)

Yann Tiersen

b. 1970

French musician and composer (born 1970)

Yannick Agnel

b. 1992

French swimmer (born 1992)

Yannick Noah

b. 1960

French tennis player & singer (born 1960)

Yao Yanzhang

Yarden Gerbi

b. 1989

Israeli judoka (born 1989)

Yarisley Silva

b. 1987

Cuban pole vaulter

Yaroslav Kosov

b. 1993

Russian ice hockey player

Yash Johar

Indian film producer (1929–2004)

Yasir Shah

b. 1986

Pakistani cricketer

Yasmin Paige

b. 1991

British actress

Yasmina Reza

b. 1959

French actor and writer

Yasuhiko Yabuta

b. 1973

Japanese baseball player

Yasuhiro Nakasone

b. 1918

Prime Minister of Japan from 1982 to 1987

Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu

b. 1902

Japanese prince (1902–1953)

Yasumasa Morimura

b. 1951

Japanese artist

Yasunari Kawabata

Japanese novelist (1899–1972)

Yasuo Kuniyoshi

Japanese-American painter (1889–1953)

Yasushi Akimoto

b. 1958

Japanese producer and lyricist (born 1958)

Yaya Touré

b. 1983

Ivorian footballer (born 1983)

Ye Jianying

b. 1897

Chinese communist leader and politician (1897–1986)

Yeardley Smith

b. 1964

American actress (born 1964)

Yechezkel Kutscher

b. 1909

Israeli philologist and Hebrew linguist

Yefim Fomin

Soviet political commissar (1909–1941)