Leading Figures in History

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

39104 persons found

Charles Pozzi

b. 1909

French racing driver (1909–2001)

Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden

English lawyer, judge, and politician (1714–1794)

Charles R. Drew

b. 1904

American surgeon and medical researcher (1904–1950)

Charles R. Larson

American United States Navy admiral

Charles Rangel

b. 1930

American politician (1930–2025)

Charles Ray Hatcher

b. 1929

American serial killer (1929–1984)

Charles Reed Bishop

American businessman, politician, and philanthropist (1822–1915)

Charles Rennie Mackintosh

b. 1868

Scottish designer and artist (1868–1928)

Charles Richet

b. 1850

French physiologist, Nobel laureate and spiritualist (1850–1935)

Charles Richter

b. 1900

Seismologist and physicist (born 1900)

Charles Robert Cockerell

b. 1788

English architect, archaeologist, and writer

Charles Robert Malden

British naval officer, surveyor and educator

Charles Rolls

British motoring and aviation pioneer (1877–1910)

Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck

Dutch politician (1873–1936)

Charles Saatchi

b. 1943

British businessman (born 1943)

Charles Sanders Peirce

American scientist (1839–1914)

Charles Sanderson, Baron Sanderson of Bowden

b. 1933

British Conservative Party politician and life peer

Charles Sapinaud de La Rairie

French royalist military officer (1760–1829)

Charles Saumarez Smith

b. 1954

British art historian (born 1954)

Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset

b. 1662

English peer (1662–1748)

Charles Shadwell (musician)

British conductor and bandleader (1898–1979)

Charles Sheeler

b. 1883

American painter (1883–1965)

Charles Sheffield

b. 1935

British mathematician, physicist and writer (1935–2002)

Charles Simic

b. 1938

Serbian-born American poet (1938–2023)