Leading Figures in History

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

58072 persons found

William II of Athens

William II of England

King of England from 1087 to 1100

William II of Hainaut

Count of Hainaut from 1337 to 1345

William II of Nevers

William II, Count of Flanders

Count of Flanders (1224–1251)

William II, Landgrave of Hesse

b. 1469

Landgrave of Upper Hesse

William II, Prince of Orange

b. 1626

Prince of Orange from 1647 to 1650

William III of Thuringia

Landgrave of Thuringia from the Wettin dynasty

William III, Landgrave of Thuringia

b. 1425

Landgrave of Thuringia from the Wettin dynasty

William Inge

b. 1913

American playwright and novelist (1913–1973)

William Irvine (Australian politician)

b. 1858

Australian politician and judge (1858–1943)

William IV

King of the United Kingdom from 1830 to 1837

William IV of Nevers

William IV of Ponthieu

Count of Ponthieu

William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

b. 1852

Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1905 to 1912

William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel

b. 1532

16th-century German landowner and astronomer

William IV, Prince of Orange

b. 1711

Prince of Orange from 1711 to 1751

William IX of Aquitaine

b. 1071

Duke of Aquitaine and Gascony and Count of Poitou

William IX, Count of Poitiers

b. 1153

English prince (1153–1156)

William J. Bell (producer)

American screenwriter (1927–2005)

William J. Brennan Jr.

b. 1906

U.S. Supreme Court justice from 1956 to 1990

William J. Casey

Director of Central Intelligence from 1981 to 1987

William J. Crowe

American admiral and diplomat (1925–2007)

William J. Guste

American attorney and politician