Leading Figures in History

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

39103 persons found

William Carnegie, 7th Earl of Northesk

b. 1758

Royal Navy officer (1756–1831)

William Carr (rower)

b. 1876

American rower (1876–1942)

William Castle

b. 1914

American filmmaker (1914–1977)

William Catesby

English politician (1450–1485)

William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire

English politician (1640–1707)

William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire

b. 1720

Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1756 to 1757

William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire

b. 1790

English peer, courtier and politician (1790–1858)

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley

English statesman and chief adviser to Queen Elizabeth I (1520–1598)

William Champ

British Army officer and first Premier of Tasmania

William Chapman Ralston

California businessman and financier (1826–1875)

William Chester Minor

b. 1834

American surgeon, dictionary contributor, and psychiatric patient

William Clark

b. 1770

American explorer and territorial governor (1770–1838)

William Cleland (poet)

William Clingan

American Founding Father and politician

William Clito

Count of Flanders from 1127 to 1128

William Cobbett

English pamphleteer, farmer and journalist (1763–1835)

William Cohen

b. 1940

American politician (born 1940)

William Colby

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1973 to 1976

William Collins Whitney

b. 1841

American politician (1841–1904)

William Conrad Gibbons

American academic (1926–2015)

William Conway (cardinal)

Irish cardinal

William Corlett

English author (1938–2005)

William Cornwallis

Royal Navy officer and politician (1744–1819)

William Cosmo Monkhouse

British poet and critic (1840–1901)