Leading Figures in History

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

39104 persons found

Robert Russell Bennett

b. 1894

American composer (1894–1981)

Robert Ryman

b. 1930

American painter (1930–2019)

Robert S. Langer

b. 1948

American scientist and academic

Robert S. Mulliken

b. 1896

American physicist and chemist (1896–1986)

Robert S. Wistrich

Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1945–2015)

Robert Sabatier

French poet and writer

Robert Sarah

b. 1945

Guinean Catholic cardinal (born 1945)

Robert Schuman

b. 1886

Prime Minister of France from 1947 to 1948

Robert Schumann

b. 1810

German composer, pianist and critic (1810–1856)

Robert Shaw

b. 1927

English actor and writer (1927–1978)

Robert Shaw (conductor)

b. 1916

American conductor

Robert Sheckley

b. 1928

American writer

Robert Shirley

English soldier, diplomat and adventurer (c.1581-1628)

Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester

English noble and diplomat (1563–1626)

Robert Sinclair MacKay

b. 1956

British mathematician

Robert Skidelsky

b. 1939

British historian and economist (1939–2026)

Robert Smith (musician)

b. 1959

English rock musician (born 1959)

Robert Smithson

20th-century American artist

Robert Solow

b. 1924

American economist and Nobel Laureate (1924–2023)

Robert South

English churchman

Robert Southey

b. 1774

English romantic poet (1774–1843)

Robert Spitzer (psychiatrist)

b. 1932

American psychiatrist (1932–2015)

Robert Stack

American actor (1919–2003)

Robert Sterling

American actor (1917–2006)