Leading Figures in History

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

62243 persons found

William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse

b. 1800

English engineer and astronomer (1800–1867)

William Paterson (judge)

US Supreme Court justice from 1793 to 1806

William Payne Whitney

American businessman (1876–1927)

William Penn

English writer and religious thinker (1644–1718)

William Penn (Royal Navy officer)

b. 1621

English naval officer and politician (1621–1670)

William Penney, Baron Penney

b. 1909

English mathematician and physicist (1909–1991)

William Pennington

b. 1796

American politician (1796–1862)

William Pepperrell

b. 1696

American merchant, politician and military officer (1696–1759)

William Pereira

b. 1909

American architect (1909–1985)

William Pershing Benedict

20th-century decorated fighter pilot and polar explorer

William Petty

b. 1623

English economist and philosopher (1623–1687)

William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne

b. 1737

Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1782 to 1783

William Petzäll

Swedish politician (1988–2012)

William Pirrie, 1st Viscount Pirrie

b. 1847

British shipbuilder and businessman (1847–1924)

William Pitt Ballinger

b. 1825

American politician and lawyer (1825–1888)

William Pitt the Younger

b. 1759

British statesman (1759–1806)

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Prime Minister of Great Britain 1766–1768 (1708–1778)

William Plankinton

b. 1843

American businessman and industrialist

William Poole

b. 1821

American boxer and gang leader (1821-1855)

William Porterfield

b. 1984

Irish cricketer

William Powell

b. 1892

American actor (1892–1984)

William Primrose

Scottish violist and teacher (1904–1982)

William Propsting

b. 1861

Australian politician

William Proxmire

b. 1915

American politician (1915–2005)