Leading Figures in History

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

58072 persons found

William J. Hardee

b. 1815

American military officer (1815–1873)

William Jackson (Scottish composer)

b. 1955

Scottish harpist and composer

William Jackson Hooker

b. 1785

English botanist (1785–1865)

William James

American philosopher and psychologist (1842–1910)

William James (Australian general)

b. 1930

Soldier and military doctor (1930–2015)

William James Mayo

b. 1861

American surgeon (1861–1939)

William James Sidis

American mathematician, polyglot, and child prodigy (1898–1944)

William Jay Smith

b. 1918

American writer, translator, editor

William Jennings Bryan

American politician (1860–1925)

William Jervois

British Army general

William Joel Blass

b. 1917

American judge

William Johnson (cricketer, born 1962)

b. 1962

English cricketer

William Jonas

English footballer (1890–1916)

William Jones (mathematician)

Welsh mathematician (1675–1749)

William Jones (philologist)

b. 1746

British philologist, scholar and judge (1746–1794)

William Joseph Behr

German publicist and writer (1775–1851)

William Joseph Browne

b. 1897

Canadian politician (1897–1989)

William Joyce

b. 1906

American-born fascist and propaganda broadcaster (1906–1946)

William Judson Holloway Jr.

American judge

William Juxon

Archbishop of Canterbury from 1660 to 1663

William Kapell

American classical pianist (1922–1953)

William Kaye Estes

b. 1919

American psychologist (1919–2011)

William Kennedy Dickson

b. 1860

British-American inventor (1860–1935)

William Kidd

Scottish privateer (1654–1701)