Leading Figures in History

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

62243 persons found

William Irvine (Australian politician)

b. 1858

Australian politician and judge (1858–1943)

William IV

King of the United Kingdom from 1830 to 1837

William IV of Bavaria

b. 1493

Duke of Bavaria (1493–1550)

William IV of Nevers

William IV of Ponthieu

Count of Ponthieu

William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

b. 1852

Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1905 to 1912

William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel

b. 1532

16th-century German landowner and astronomer

William IV, Prince of Orange

b. 1711

Prince of Orange from 1711 to 1751

William IX of Aquitaine

b. 1071

Duke of Aquitaine and Gascony and Count of Poitou

William IX, Count of Poitiers

b. 1153

English prince (1153–1156)

William J. Bell (producer)

American screenwriter (1927–2005)

William J. Brennan Jr.

b. 1906

U.S. Supreme Court justice from 1956 to 1990

William J. Casey

Director of Central Intelligence from 1981 to 1987

William J. Crowe

American admiral and diplomat (1925–2007)

William J. Guste

American attorney and politician

William J. Hardee

b. 1815

American military officer (1815–1873)

William Jackson (Scottish composer)

b. 1955

Scottish harpist and composer

William Jackson Hooker

b. 1785

English botanist (1785–1865)

William James

American philosopher and psychologist (1842–1910)

William James (Australian general)

b. 1930

Soldier and military doctor (1930–2015)

William James Mayo

b. 1861

American surgeon (1861–1939)

William James Sidis

American mathematician, polyglot, and child prodigy (1898–1944)

William Jay Smith

b. 1918

American writer, translator, editor

William Jennings Bryan

American politician (1860–1925)