Leading Figures in History

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

39103 persons found

Yaime Pérez

b. 1991

Cuban discus thrower (born 1991)

Yakhouba Diawara

b. 1982

French basketball player (born 1982)

Yakir Aharonov

b. 1932

Israeli physicist (born 1932)

Yakov Kulnev

Russian military leader

Yakub Memon

b. 1962

Convicted terrorist (1962–2015)

Yamagata Aritomo

b. 1838

Japanese military leader and statesman (1838–1922)

Yamini Krishnamurthy

Indian dancer (1940–2024)

Yan Gomes

b. 1987

Brazilian-American baseball player (born 1987)

Yana Mintoff

b. 1951

Maltese politician and activist (born 1951)

Yandy Díaz

b. 1991

Cuban baseball player (born 1991)

Yang Chuan-kwang

b. 1933

Taiwanese decathlete (1933–2007)

Yang Guifei

Tang dynasty imperial consort (719–756)

Yang Jisheng (Ming dynasty)

b. 1516

Chinese statesman

Yang Liwei

b. 1965

Chinese military officer and taikonaut (born 1965)

Yang Shangkun

b. 1907

President of China from 1988 to 1993

Yang Shihou

Yang Shili

Tang Chinese general

Yang Ti-liang

b. 1929

Hong Kong judge (1929–2023)

Yang Wo

Prince of Hongnong from 905 to 908

Yang Yan (empress)

Empress consort of the Jin dynasty (238-274)

Yanka Kupala

b. 1882

Belarusian poet (1882–1942)

Yankuba Ceesay

b. 1984

Gambian footballer (born 1984)

Yann Danis

b. 1981

Canadian ice hockey player (born 1981)

Yann LeCun

b. 1960

French computer scientist (born 1960)