Leading Figures in History

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

62247 persons found

Hernando de Soto

Spanish explorer and conquistador (c.1479–1542)

Hero Fiennes Tiffin

b. 1997

British actor and producer (born 1997)

Herrad of Landsberg

Alsatian nun, abbess, and author (12th-century)

Herschel V. Johnson

b. 1812

American politician (1812–1880)

Herschel Weingrod

b. 1947

American screenwriter (born 1947)

Hersey Hawkins

b. 1966

American basketball player (born 1966)

Hershel W. Williams

U.S. Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient (1923–2022)

Herta Müller

b. 1953

German writer and Nobel Prize recipient (born 1953)

Herta Oberheuser

b. 1911

German physician and war criminal (1911–1978)

Hertha Ayrton

b. 1854

English electrical engineer and activist

Herva Nelli

Italian and American soprano (1909–1994)

Hervé Bazin

b. 1911

French writer (1911-1996)

Hervé de Charette

b. 1938

French politician

Hervé Le Tellier

b. 1957

French author; winner of the 2020 Prix Goncourt

Hervé Vilard

b. 1946

French pop–singer (born 1946)

Hervé Villechaize

b. 1943

French actor (1943–1993)

Hervey le Breton

12th-century Bishop of Ely and Bangor

Hesham Qandil

b. 1962

Prime Minister of Egypt from 2012 to 2013

Heston Blumenthal

b. 1966

English chef (born 1966)

Hetty Green

American financier (1834–1916)

Heydar Aliyev

b. 1923

President of Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2003

Hezekiél Sepeng

b. 1974

South African middle-distance runner

Hezqeyas

Emperor of Ethiopia from 1789 to 1794

Hicham Arazi

b. 1973

Moroccan tennis player (born 1973)