Leading Figures in History

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

39106 persons found

Richard Oriani

b. 1920

American chemical engineer (1920–2015)

Richard Ottaway

b. 1945

British Conservative politician (born 1945)

Richard Ottley

b. 1626

English Royalist politician and soldier

Richard Owen

b. 1804

English biologist and palaeontologist (1804–1892)

Richard Page (musician)

b. 1953

Musical artist

Richard Perham

b. 1937

English biochemist and professor

Richard Perry

b. 1942

American record producer (1942–2024)

Richard Peters (priest)

English priest

Richard Petiot

b. 1982

Canadian ice hockey player

Richard Petrie

b. 1967

New Zealand cricketer (born 1967)

Richard Petty

b. 1937

American racing driver (born 1937)

Richard Pipes

b. 1923

American historian (1923–2018)

Richard Pousette-Dart

b. 1916

American abstract expressionist artist (1916–1992)

Richard Powers

b. 1957

American novelist (born 1957)

Richard Pratt (businessman)

Australian businessman (1934–2009)

Richard Price

British philosopher, preacher and mathematician (1723–1791)

Richard Proenneke

b. 1916

American naturalist (1916–2003)

Richard R. Ernst

b. 1933

Swiss physical chemist and Nobel laureate (1933–2021)

Richard Ramirez

American serial killer and sex offender (1960–2013)

Richard Ratcliffe

15th-century English royal official and confidant

Richard Réti

b. 1889

Czechoslovak chess player (1889–1929)

Richard Rhodes

b. 1937

American author and historian

Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich

English politician (1496–1567)

Richard Riordan

b. 1930

American businessman and politician (1930–2023)