Leading Figures in History

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

58072 persons found

William Arnold (settler)

b. 1587

Founding settler of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

William Arnon Henry

b. 1850

American professor (1850–1932)

William Asher

American film and television producer, director, and screenwriter (1921–2012)

William Ashhurst

b. 1647

British banker, merchant and politician

William Atherton

b. 1947

American actor (born 1947)

William Attewell

English cricketer

William Auld

Scottish poet and translator (1924–2006)

William B. Bankhead

American politician (1874–1940)

William B. Jordan

b. 1940

American art historian (1940–2018)

William B. Ogden

b. 1805

American politician (1805–1877)

William B. Saxbe

b. 1916

American politician (1916–2010)

William B. Travis

b. 1809

Texian Army officer and lawyer (1809–1836)

William B. Whiting

New York politician (1731–1796)

William B. Ziff Jr.

American publishing executive (1930–2006)

William Babcock Hazen

b. 1830

United States Army general (1830–1887)

William Babington (physician)

Anglo-Irish physician and mineralogist

William Bainbridge

b. 1774

United States Navy officer (1774–1833)

William Bartram (North Carolina politician)

American scientist (1711–1770)

William Bartram (Pennsylvania politician)

Quaker politician and settler (1674–1711)

William Basinski

b. 1958

American composer (born 1958)

William Bast

American screenwriter and author (1931–2015)

William Baziotes

American painter (1912–1963)

William Beckford (novelist)

b. 1760

British writer and politician (1760–1844)

William Bedloe

b. 1650

English fraudster and Popish Plot informer