Leading Figures in History

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

39106 persons found

Plaek Phibunsongkhram

b. 1897

Prime Minister of Thailand (1938–1944; 1948–1957)

Plas Johnson

b. 1931

American jazz saxophonist (1931–2026)

Platon Kulbusch

b. 1869

Estonian bishop

Platon of Banja Luka

Serbian Orthodox bishop of Banja Luka (1874–1941)

Plaxico Burress

b. 1977

American football player (born 1977)

Plínio de Arruda Sampaio

Brazilian politician

Pokey Reese

b. 1973

American baseball player (born 1973)

Pokimane

b. 1996

Moroccan and Canadian influencer (born 1996)

Pokwang

b. 1972

Filipino actress

Pol Pot

b. 1925

Cambodian communist leader (1925–1998)

Polina Astakhova

Soviet gymnast (1936–2005)

Polina Bogusevich

b. 2003

Russian singer (born 2003)

Polina Edmunds

b. 1998

American figure skater (born 1998)

Polissena Sforza

Italian noblewoman

Poliziano

b. 1454

Italian classical scholar and poet (1454–1494)

Polly Adler

b. 1900

American madam and author (1900–1962)

Polly Bergen

b. 1930

American actress and entrepreneur (1930–2014)

Polly Draper

b. 1955

American actress

Polly Farmer

Australian rules footballer and coach (1935–2019)

Polly Higgins

Scottish barrister, author, and environmental lobbyist (1968–2019)

Polly Holliday

b. 1937

American actress (1937–2025)

Polly Samson

b. 1962

English writer

Polly Walker

b. 1966

English actress (born 1966)

Pollyanna Pickering

b. 1942

British artist and environmentalist (1942–2018)