Leading Figures in History

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

62243 persons found

Will Smith (defensive end)

b. 1981

American football player (1981–2016)

Will Solomon

b. 1978

American basketball player (born 1978)

Will Toledo

b. 1992

Indie rock musician

Will Tura

b. 1940

Belgian singer, musician, and composer

Will Wynn (American football)

American football player (1949–2013)

Willa Beatrice Player

b. 1909

American educator and civil rights activist

Willa Cather

American writer (1873–1947)

Willa Kim

b. 1917

American costume designer (1917–2016)

Willard Boyle

Canadian physicist (1924–2011)

Willard Estey

b. 1919

Supreme Court of Canada judge (1919–2002)

Willard Harrison Bennett

b. 1903

American physicist (1903–1987)

Willard Libby

American physical chemist (1908–1980)

Willard Maas

b. 1906

American experimental filmmaker and poet

Willard Metcalf

b. 1858

American painter

Willard Miller

b. 1877

United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient

Willard Price

b. 1887

American writer

Willard Richards

b. 1804

American religious leader

Willard Scott

American weather presenter and television personality (1934–2021)

Willard Van Orman Quine

b. 1908

American philosopher and logician (1908–2000)

Willard White

b. 1946

Jamaican-born British operatic bass baritone

Willebrord Snellius

b. 1580

Dutch astronomer and mathematician (1580–1626)

Willehad

8th-century Bishop of Bremen

Willem Aantjes

Dutch politician (1923–2015)

Willem Arondeus

Dutch painter, writer and member of the Dutch anti-Nazi resistance