Leading Figures in History

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

62247 persons found

Mary Proctor

British astronomer

Mary R. Calvert

b. 1884

American astronomer (1884–1974)

Mary Reibey

b. 1777

Australian businesswoman

Mary Renault

b. 1905

British novelist (1905–1983)

Mary Ritter Beard

b. 1876

American historian and women's suffrage activist (1876–1958)

Mary Roberts Rinehart

b. 1876

American mystery writer (1876–1958)

Mary Robinson

b. 1944

President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997

Mary Rodgers

American composer, author and screenwriter (1931–2014)

Mary Rogers Miller

b. 1868

American author and educator

Mary Russell, Duchess of Bedford

b. 1865

British aviator and ornithologist

Mary Schapiro

b. 1955

29th Chairwoman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (born 1955)

Mary Scheier

American artist (1908–2007)

Mary Seacole

Jamaican-British businesswoman (1805–1881)

Mary Shane

American baseball broadcaster (1945–1987)

Mary Shelley

b. 1797

English writer (1797–1851)

Mary Sherman Morgan

American rocket fuel scientist (1921–2004)

Mary Sibbet Copley

b. 1843

American philanthropist

Mary Sidney

English poet, playwright and patron (1561–1621)

Mary Soames

English author (1922–2014)

Mary Stewart (novelist)

British novelist (1916–2014)

Mary Stewart, Countess of Arran

b. 1453

Countess of Arran

Mary Stuart (1605–1607)

English-Scottish princess

Mary Stuart Masterson

b. 1966

American actress and director (born 1966)

Mary Styles Harris

b. 1949

American geneticist