Leading Figures in History

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

58072 persons found

William Kidston

b. 1849

Australian bookseller and politician (1849–1919)

William Kirby (entomologist)

English entomologist (1759–1850)

William Kissam Vanderbilt

American businessman and horse breeder (1849–1920)

William Kissam Vanderbilt II

b. 1878

American heir and racing driver (1878–1944)

William Kneale

b. 1906

English logician (1906–1990)

William Knibb

b. 1803

Baptist missionary and slavery abolitionist

William Kruskal

b. 1919

American mathematician and statistician (1919–2005)

William Kunstler

b. 1919

American attorney and civil rights activist (1919–1995)

William L. Guy

b. 1919

American politician (1919–2013)

William L. Marcy

American lawyer, politician, and judge (1786–1857)

William L. Yancey

American politician (1814–1863)

William Lambarde

b. 1536

English antiquarian, writer, and politician

William Lane

b. 1861

English journalist and author

William Lassell

b. 1799

English merchant and astronomer (1799–1880)

William Laud

b. 1573

Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645

William Lawson (explorer)

b. 1774

English born Australian explorer and politician (1774–1850)

William Le Baron Jenney

American architect and engineer

William Least Heat-Moon

b. 1939

American travel writer and historian (born 1939)

William Levada

b. 1936

American Catholic cardinal (1936–2019)

William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme

English industrialist, philanthropist and politician (1851–1925)

William Lewis Douglas

b. 1845

American politician (1845–1924)

William Libbey

Academic, sport shooter

William Lilly

b. 1602

English astrologer

William Livingston

American Founding Father and politician (1723–1790)