Leading Figures in History

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

39103 persons found

Ban Ki-moon

b. 1944

UN Secretary-General from 2007 to 2016

Banastre Tarleton

b. 1754

British general during the American War of Independence (1754–1833)

Banda Singh Bahadur

Sikh military commander (1670–1716)

Banharn Silpa-archa

Prime Minister of Thailand from 1995 to 1996

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

b. 1838

Indian Bengali writer, poet and journalist (1838–1894)

Bảo Đại

Last emperor of Vietnam from 1926 to 1945 (1913–1997)

Bao Zheng

11th-century Chinese politician and cultural personification of justice

Baptiste Manzini

American football player and coach (1920–2008)

Baqa Jilani

b. 1911

Bar Refaeli

b. 1985

Israeli model (born 1985)

Barack Obama

b. 1961

President of the United States from 2009 to 2017

Barack Obama Sr.

b. 1934

Kenyan economist (1934–1982)

Barbara (singer)

b. 1930

French singer (1930–1997)

Barbara Ann Scott

b. 1928

Canadian figure skater (1928–2012)

Barbara Bach

b. 1947

American actress (born 1946)

Barbara Bachmann

b. 1924

American lecturer (1924–1999)

Barbara Barrie

b. 1931

American actress and author

Barbara Bel Geddes

American actress (1922–2005)

Barbara Bergmann

b. 1927

American feminist economist

Barbara Branden

b. 1929

Canadian writer (1929–2013)

Barbara Broccoli

b. 1960

American film producer

Barbara Bush

First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993

Barbara Cartland

English writer and media personality (1901–2000)

Barbara Castle

British politician (1910–2002)