Leading Figures in History

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

62247 persons found

Mary Anna Custis Lee

b. 1808

Wife of Robert E. Lee (1807–1873)

Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck

British writer

Mary Anning

b. 1799

British fossil collector and palaeontologist (1799–1847)

Mary Astor

b. 1906

American actress (1906–1987)

Mary Badham

b. 1952

American actress (born 1952)

Mary Baker Eddy

b. 1821

American founder of Christian Science (1821–1910)

Mary Bauermeister

b. 1934

German artist (1934–2023)

Mary Beth Hurt

b. 1946

American actress (1946–2026)

Mary Beth Peil

b. 1940

American actress and singer (born 1940)

Mary Blair

b. 1911

American artist, animator, and designer

Mary Boleyn

English noblewoman (1499–1543)

Mary Bonauto

b. 1961

American lawyer

Mary Bono

b. 1961

American politician and lobbyist (born 1961)

Mary Brewster Hazelton

American painter (1868–1953)

Mary Bucholtz

b. 1966

American linguist

Mary Burchell

b. 1904

British novelist, campaigner for Jewish refugees (1904–1986)

Mary Cadogan

English author (1928–2014)

Mary Cain (athlete)

b. 1996

American middle-distance runner

Mary Cain (editor)

American journalist

Mary Callery

b. 1903

American artist

Mary Carpenter

English educational and social reformer (1807–1877)

Mary Cassatt

b. 1844

American painter and printmaker (1844–1926)

Mary Catherine Lamb

American artist (1949–2009)

Mary Celine Fasenmyer

b. 1906

American mathematician (1906–1996)