Leading Figures in History

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

62243 persons found

William Gilbert (physicist)

b. 1544

English physician and natural philosopher (1544?-1603)

William Gillette

American manager and playwright

William Gillies (Australian politician)

b. 1868

Australian politician (1868–1928)

William Glackens

American painter (1870–1938)

William Glasser

American psychiatrist

William Golding

British novelist, poet, and playwright (1911–1993)

William Goldman

b. 1931

American writer (1931–2018)

William Grant Stairs

Canadian-British explorer, soldier, and adventurer

William Grant Still

b. 1895

American composer (1895–1978)

William Greaves

American documentary filmmaker

William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville

b. 1759

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1806 to 1807

William Grut

b. 1914

Swedish modern pentathlete

William Guarnere

b. 1923

US Army soldier

William Guest (singer)

b. 1941

American soul singer (1941–2015)

William Gurnall

English author and Anglican clergyman

William H. Armstrong (author)

b. 1911

American children's writer (1911–1999)

William H. Dana

NASA research pilot and astronaut (1930–2014)

William H. Dobelle

American medical researcher (1941–2004)

William H. Donaldson

American businessman (1931–2024)

William H. Goetzmann

b. 1930

American historian of philosophy (1930–2010)

William H. Gray III

American politician (1941–2013)

William H. Illingworth

b. 1844

William H. McNeill

b. 1917

Canadian historian (1917–2016)

William H. Prescott

b. 1796

American historian and Hispanist (1796–1859)