Leading Figures in History

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

39103 persons found

Ardito Desio

b. 1897

Italian geologist, mountaineer and cartographer (1897–2001)

Aretha Franklin

American soul singer (1942–2018)

Argyris Pedoulakis

b. 1964

Greek basketball player and coach

Argyro Strataki

b. 1975

Greek heptathlete (born 1975)

Ari Boyland

b. 1987

New Zealand stage and television actor

Ari Graynor

b. 1983

American actress (born 1983)

Ari Vatanen

b. 1952

Finnish rally driver and politician (born 1952)

Arian Foster

b. 1986

American football player (born 1986)

Ariana Grande

b. 1993

American singer and actress (born 1993)

Ariana Greenblatt

b. 2007

American actress (born 2007)

Arianna Huffington

b. 1950

Greek and American businesswoman (born 1950)

Arianne Hartono

b. 1996

Dutch tennis player (born 1996)

Ariano Suassuna

b. 1927

Brazilian playwright (1927–2014)

Aribert Heim

b. 1914

Austrian SS doctor (1914–1992)

Arie den Hartog

b. 1941

Dutch cyclist

Ariel Atkins

b. 1996

American basketball player (born 1996)

Ariel Camacho

b. 1992

Mexican musician (1992–2015)

Ariel Castro kidnappings

b. 1960

2002–2004 kidnappings in Cleveland, Ohio, US

Ariel Dorfman

b. 1942

Argentine-Chilean writer and human rights activist (born 1942)

Ariel Durant

b. 1898

American historian (1898–1981)

Ariel Pink

b. 1978

American musician, singer, and songwriter (born 1978)

Arielle Dombasle

b. 1953

French actress

Aries Merritt

b. 1985

American hurdler (born 1985)

Arif Wazir

Pakistani politician (1982–2020)