Leading Figures in History

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

58072 persons found

William Van Regenmorter

American politician

William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel

b. 1629

Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel

William Vickrey

b. 1914

Canadian-American economist and Nobel Laureate (1914–1996)

William VIII of Aquitaine

Duke of Gascony

William VIII of Montferrat

b. 1420

Marquess of Montferrat

William W. Boardman

American politician (1794–1871)

William W. Chapman

b. 1808

American politician

William W. Momyer

United States Air Force general (1916–2012)

William W. Snow

b. 1812

American politician

William Wade (English politician)

16th/17th-century English statesman

William Wakefield Baum

American Catholic prelate (1926–2015)

William Waldegrave, 1st Baron Radstock

b. 1753

Royal Navy officer and colonial administrator (1753–1825)

William Wales (optician)

English-American optical instrument inventor (1838–1907)

William Walker (filibuster)

b. 1824

American physician, lawyer, journalist, and mercenary (1824–1860)

William Wallace

Scottish knight (1270–1305)

William Waller

English soldier and politician (c. 1598-1668)

William Warburton

English writer and critic (1698–1779)

William Warham

Archbishop of Canterbury from 1503 to 1532

William Watson (scientist)

English physician and scientist (1715–1787)

William Watt (Australian politician)

Australian politician (1871–1946)

William Waynflete

15th-century English bishop and educator

William Wentworth

b. 1790

Australian statesman, writer and explorer

William Westmoreland

United States Army general (1914–2005)

William Whewell

b. 1794

English polymath (1794–1866)