Leading Figures in History

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

58072 persons found

Willem van Otterloo

Dutch conductor and composer

Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

b. 1967

King of the Netherlands since 2013

Willi Boskovsky

Austrian violinist and conductor

Willi Hennig

b. 1913

German biologist and zoologist (1913–1976)

Willi Ninja

American dancer and choreographer (1961–2006)

Willi Stoph

b. 1914

German politician (1914–1999)

Willi Unsoeld

b. 1926

American mountaineer

William "Bull" Nelson

b. 1824

19th-century American naval officer and Army general

William A. Fraker

American film director, producer and cinematographer

William A. MacCorkle

b. 1857

American politician (1857–1930)

William A. Mitchell

American food chemist

William A. Rusher

b. 1923

American attorney and journalist (1923–2011)

William Adams (samurai)

English sailor and samurai (1564–1620)

William Alden Smith

b. 1859

American politician

William Alexander (author)

b. 1976

American writer and academic (born 1976)

William Alexander Smith (Boys' Brigade)

b. 1854

Founder of the Boys Brigade (1854–1914)

William Alfred Fowler

b. 1911

American nuclear physicist (1911–1995)

William Allen (cardinal)

English Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church

William Alwyn

English composer (1905–1985)

William Anders

American astronaut and lunar explorer (1933–2024)

William Andrew (priest)

Anglican priest

William Archibald Spooner

b. 1844

Oxford don (1844–1930)

William Arms Fisher

b. 1861

American historian, music editor, and writer on music (1861–1948)

William Armstrong (Virginia politician)

American lawyer, civil servant, politician, and businessperson