Leading Figures in History

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

21509 persons found

Charles Baudin

French admiral

Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans

b. 1670

British Duke (1670–1726)

Charles Beetham

b. 1914

American middle-distance runner (1914–1997)

Charles Berkeley, 2nd Viscount Fitzhardinge

English politician (1599–1668)

Charles Berling

b. 1958

French actor, director, and screenwriter

Charles Beyer

b. 1814

Locomotive engineer (1813–1876)

Charles Biro

b. 1911

American comic book creator and cartoonist (1911–1972)

Charles Blount (deist)

b. 1654

English deist and philosopher (1654–1693)

Charles Bonnet

Genevan botanist (1720–1793)

Charles Boucher de Boucherville

b. 1822

3rd Premier of Quebec (1822–1915)

Charles Bronfman

b. 1931

Canadian politician (born 1931)

Charles Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak

Rajah of Sarawak

Charles Bruzon

Gibraltarian politician and priest

Charles Coburn

b. 1877

American film, theater actor (1877–1961)

Charles Correa

Indian architect and urban planner (1930–2015)

Charles Cotton

b. 1630

English poet and writer (1630–1687)

Charles Cruft (showman)

b. 1852

British dog showman and businessperson (1852 - 1938)

Charles Darwin

English naturalist and biologist (1809–1882)

Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan

French captain of musketeers (1611–1673)

Charles de Freycinet

French statesman and Prime Minister (1828–1923)

Charles de Valois, Duke of Angoulême

b. 1573

Duke of Angoulême

Charles Dickens

English writer and journalist (1812–1870)

Charles Dillon Perrine

American astronomer (1867–1951)

Charles E. M. Pearce

New Zealand/Australian mathematician