Leading Figures in History

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

62243 persons found

William Brodie

Scottish cabinet-maker, deacon of a trades guild (1741–1788)

William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham

b. 1527

English peer and MP for Hythe and Rochester

William Brown Meloney (1902–1971)

American writer (1902–1971)

William Bruce (cricketer)

Australian cricketer (1864–1925)

William Buell Richards

b. 1815

Chief Justice of Canada from 1875 to 1879

William Buell Sprague

William Buick

b. 1988

Norwegian-born flat jockey

William Burges

English Gothic revival architect and designer (1827–1881)

William Burnet (colonial administrator)

British governor of New York and New Jersey

William Burton (governor)

b. 1789

American politician (1789–1866)

William Byrd

English Renaissance composer (c. 1540–1623)

William Byron, 5th Baron Byron

British politician

William C. Campbell (golfer)

b. 1923

American amateur golfer (1923–2013)

William C. Campbell (scientist)

b. 1930

Irish-American microbiologist and Nobel laureate in medicine (born 1930)

William C. Davidon

American physicist and activist (1927–2013)

William C. Lee

US Army general

William C. McCool

b. 1961

American astronaut (1961–2003)

William C. White

b. 1854

Seventh-day Adventist minister

William Calley

b. 1943

US Army officer convicted for massacre at My Lai, Vietnam (1943–2024)

William Camden

b. 1551

English antiquarian (1551–1623)

William Carey (missionary)

English Baptist missionary and a Particular Baptist minister (1761–1834)

William Carlos Williams

b. 1883

American poet (1883–1963)

William Carnegie, 7th Earl of Northesk

b. 1758

Royal Navy officer (1756–1831)

William Carpenter (Rhode Island colonist)

English colonist in North America (c. 1610–1685)