Leading Figures in History

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

58072 persons found

Yandy Díaz

b. 1991

Cuban baseball player (born 1991)

Yang Chen-Ning

b. 1922

Chinese-American physicist (1922–2025)

Yang Cheng (football goalkeeper)

b. 1985

Chinese footballer

Yang Chuan-kwang

b. 1933

Taiwanese decathlete (1933–2007)

Yang Guifei

Tang dynasty imperial consort (719–756)

Yang Hucheng

Chinese general (1893–1949)

Yang Jisheng (Ming dynasty)

b. 1516

Chinese statesman

Yang Liwei

b. 1965

Chinese military officer and taikonaut (born 1965)

Yang Shangkun

b. 1907

President of China from 1988 to 1993

Yang Shihou

Yang Shili

Tang Chinese general

Yang Ti-liang

b. 1929

Hong Kong judge (1929–2023)

Yang Wo

Prince of Hongnong from 905 to 908

Yang Yan (empress)

Empress consort of the Jin dynasty (238-274)

Yang Yongsong

Chinese military officer (1919–2022)

Yang You

Emperor of the Sui dynasty from 617 to 618

Yanka Dyagileva

b. 1966

Russian poet and singer-songwriter (1966–1991)

Yanka Kupala

b. 1882

Belarusian poet (1882–1942)

Yankuba Ceesay

b. 1984

Gambian footballer (born 1984)

Yann Danis

b. 1981

Canadian ice hockey player (born 1981)

Yann LeCun

b. 1960

French computer scientist (born 1960)

Yann M'Vila

b. 1990

French footballer (born 1990)

Yann Martel

b. 1963

Canadian novelist (born 1963)

Yann Tiersen

b. 1970

French musician and composer (born 1970)