Leading Figures in History

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

62243 persons found

William Prynne

English lawyer, author and politician (1600–1669)

William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath

English politician and peer (1684–1764)

William Quantrill

Confederate guerrilla leader (1837–1865)

William R. Day

b. 1849

US Supreme Court justice from 1903 to 1922

William R. Forstchen

b. 1950

American historian and author (born 1950)

William R. Orthwein

American swimmer (1881–1955)

William R. Roy

American politician

William R. Wilkerson

American film personality and publisher

William Ramsay

Scottish chemist (1852–1916)

William Randolph Hearst

b. 1863

American newspaper publisher (1863–1951)

William Randolph Hearst Jr.

American newspaper publisher (1908–1993)

William Raspberry

American journalist (1935–2012)

William Rees-Mogg

b. 1928

British journalist (1928–2012)

William Refshauge

Australian general and public health administrator (1913 - 2009)

William Regal

b. 1968

English professional wrestler (born 1968)

William Rehnquist

Chief Justice of the United States from 1986 to 2005

William Reid (mining engineer)

b. 1906

William Reid (musician)

b. 1958

Musical artist

William Renshaw

British tennis player

William Ridenour

b. 1958

American politician (born 1958)

William Robert Grove

b. 1811

Welsh judge and physical scientist (1811–1896)

William Roberts (painter)

b. 1895

British painter (1895–1980)

William Robertson (historian)

b. 1721

Scottish historian, cleric, and educator (1721–1793)

William Robinson (Canadian architect)

Irish-born Canadian architect (1812–1894)