Leading Figures in History

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

39104 persons found

Charles Beyer

b. 1814

Locomotive engineer (1813–1876)

Charles Biro

b. 1911

American comic book creator and cartoonist (1911–1972)

Charles Blackman

b. 1928

Australian artist (1928–2018)

Charles Blount (deist)

b. 1654

English deist and philosopher (1654–1693)

Charles Bolden

b. 1946

American astronaut and 12th NASA Administrator (born 1946)

Charles Bonaventure de Longueval, 2nd Count of Bucquoy

17th-century Low Countries nobleman and military commander

Charles Bonnet

Genevan botanist (1720–1793)

Charles Boucher de Boucherville

b. 1822

3rd Premier of Quebec (1822–1915)

Charles Bowden

b. 1945

American writer (1945–2014)

Charles Boyer

French-American actor (1899–1978)

Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk

English nobleman, diplomat and military commander (c. 1484–1545)

Charles Bronfman

b. 1931

Canadian politician (born 1931)

Charles Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak

Rajah of Sarawak

Charles Bruzon

Gibraltarian politician and priest

Charles Bryant (actor)

British actor and film director (1879–1948)

Charles Bukowski

b. 1920

American writer (1920–1994)

Charles Busch

b. 1954

American dramatist

Charles C. Droz

b. 1924

American politician (1924–2025)

Charles Cagniard de la Tour

French engineer and physicist (1777–1859)

Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore

b. 1637

English colonial administrator (1637–1715)

Charles Cecil

b. 1962

British video game designer and director

Charles Chalmot de Saint-Ruhe

French cavalry officer (c.1650–1691)

Charles Chaynes

b. 1925

French composer (1925–2016)

Charles Chiniquy

b. 1809

Canadian Presbyterian minister and socio-political activist (1809–1899)