Leading Figures in History

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

62243 persons found

Rishi Kapoor

Indian actor (1952–2020)

Rishi Sunak

b. 1980

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2022 to 2024

Rishikesh Shah

Nepalese writer, politician and human rights activist

Risi Pouri-Lane

b. 2000

New Zealand rugby sevens player

Risto Jarva

b. 1934

Finnish filmmaker

Risto Mannisenmäki

b. 1959

Finnish rally co-driver (born 1959)

Risto Mätas

b. 1984

Estonian javelin thrower

Risto Ryti

Finnish politician (1889–1956)

Rita Cetina Gutiérrez

b. 1846

Mexican teacher, poet and feminist (1846–1908)

Rita Coolidge

b. 1945

American singer (born 1945)

Rita Dionne-Marsolais

b. 1947

Canadian politician

Rita Donaghy, Baroness Donaghy

b. 1944

Labour politician and life peer

Rita Dove

b. 1952

American poet and author (born 1952)

Rita Gross

American Buddhist feminist scholar

Rita Hayworth

American actress and dancer (1918–1987)

Rita Levi-Montalcini

b. 1909

Italian neurologist (1909–2012)

Rita MacNeil

b. 1944

Canadian singer-songwriter (1944–2013)

Rita Marley

b. 1946

Jamaican reggae singer (born 1946)

Rita of Cascia

15th-century Italian Augustinian nun and saint

Rita Reys

Dutch jazz singer (1924–2013)

Rita Rudner

b. 1953

American comedian (born 1953)

Rita Shane

b. 1936

American soprano

Rita Verdonk

b. 1955

Dutch politician (born 1965)

Rita Wilson

b. 1956

American actress, singer, and producer (born 1956)