Leading Figures in History

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

58072 persons found

William Carpenter (Rhode Island colonist)

English colonist in North America (c. 1610–1685)

William Carr (rower)

b. 1876

American rower (1876–1942)

William Castle

b. 1914

American filmmaker (1914–1977)

William Catesby

English politician (1450–1485)

William Cavendish (courtier)

English politician

William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1807 to 1809

William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire

English politician (1640–1707)

William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire

b. 1698

British politician

William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire

b. 1720

Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1756 to 1757

William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire

b. 1790

English peer, courtier and politician (1790–1858)

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley

English statesman and chief adviser to Queen Elizabeth I (1520–1598)

William Champ

British Army officer and first Premier of Tasmania

William Chapman Ralston

California businessman and financier (1826–1875)

William Cheselden

b. 1688

English surgeon (1688–1752)

William Chester Minor

b. 1834

American surgeon, dictionary contributor, and psychiatric patient

William Chillingworth

b. 1602

English churchman (1602-1644)

William Christopher

b. 1932

American actor (1932–2016)

William Christopher Zeise

b. 1789

Danish organic chemist (1789–1847)

William Clark

b. 1770

American explorer and territorial governor (1770–1838)

William Cleland (poet)

William Clingan

American Founding Father and politician

William Clito

Count of Flanders from 1127 to 1128

William Cobbett

English pamphleteer, farmer and journalist (1763–1835)

William Cohen

b. 1940

American politician (born 1940)