Leading Figures in History

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

39104 persons found

Robert de Ros (died 1285)

English nobleman, died 1285

Robert de Sorbon

13th century French theologian, founder of the Sorbonne college

Robert de Vere, 19th Earl of Oxford

British soldier

Robert de Vere, 6th Earl of Oxford

Robert Dean Frisbie

b. 1895

American novelist

Robert Denning

American interior designer

Robert Dewar

b. 1945

Computer scientist

Robert Dhéry

b. 1921

French comedian, actor, director and screenwriter

Robert Dinwiddie

British colonial administrator (1692–1770)

Robert DiPierdomenico

b. 1958

Australian rules footballer, born 1958

Robert Donat

English actor (1905–1958)

Robert Dorning

b. 1913

English musician, ballet dancer and actor (1913–1989)

Robert Downey Sr.

b. 1936

American film director, screenwriter, and actor (1936–2021)

Robert Doyle

b. 1953

Australian politician

Robert Drasnin

American composer and clarinet player (1927–2015)

Robert Drew

American documentary filmmaker (1924–2014)

Robert Dudley (explorer)

b. 1574

English engineer, explorer and cartographer (1574–1649)

Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester

b. 1532

English statesman (1532–1588)

Robert E. Gilka

American photojournalist

Robert E. Gross (businessman)

b. 1897

American businessman

Robert E. Howard

American pulp fiction writer (1906–1936)

Robert E. Ogren

American zoologist

Robert Earl Hughes

b. 1926

World's heaviest person without walking assistance

Robert Elliott (actor, born 1944)

b. 1944

American actor (1944–2004)