Leading Figures in History

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

39103 persons found

Valeriy Neverov

b. 1964

Ukrainian chess grandmaster (born 1964)

Valeriya Novodvorskaya

b. 1950

Soviet dissident (1950–2014)

Valery Alekseyev (anthropologist)

b. 1929

Soviet anthropologist

Valery Belousov

Russian ice hockey player and coach

Valery Bykovsky

b. 1934

Soviet cosmonaut (1934–2019)

Valery Gazzaev

b. 1954

Russian footballer and manager

Valery Gergiev

b. 1953

Russian conductor (born 1953)

Valgerd Svarstad Haugland

b. 1956

Norwegian politician (born 1956)

Vali Myers

b. 1930

Australian artist, dancer, bohemian and muse

Valiulla Yakupov

Valter Birsa

b. 1986

Slovenian footballer (born 1986)

Valtteri Bottas

b. 1989

Finnish racing driver (born 1989)

Valyantsin Byalkevich

Belarusian footballer (1973–2014)

Van Alexander

American musician (1915–2015)

Van Cliburn

b. 1934

American pianist (1934–2013)

Van Heflin

American actor (1908–1971)

Van Johnson

b. 1916

American actor (1916–2008)

Van McCoy

American musician, producer and songwriter (1940–1979)

Van Miller

American sports announcer (1927–2015)

Văn Tiến Dũng

b. 1917

Vietnamese general (1917–2002)

Vance A. Larson

b. 1951

American artist (1951–2010)

Vance D. Brand

b. 1931

American naval officer, aviator, aeronautical engineer and astronaut (born 1931)

Vance Hartke

American politician (1919–2003)

Vance Heafner

b. 1954

American professional golfer (1954–2012)