Leading Figures in History

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

62243 persons found

William Rootes, 1st Baron Rootes

b. 1894

British motor manufacturer

William Rosecrans

b. 1819

American diplomat, politician and army officer (1819–1898)

William Rosenberg

b. 1916

American businessman (1916-2002)

William Roth

b. 1921

American politician (1921–2003)

William Rowan Hamilton

b. 1805

Irish mathematician and physicist (1805–1865)

William Russ

b. 1950

American actor and television director

William Russell (English actor)

English actor (1924–2024)

William Russell, Lord Russell

b. 1639

English politician (1639–1683)

William S. Bowdern

American Catholic exorcist (1897–1983)

William S. Burroughs

American writer and visual artist (1914–1997)

William S. Clark

b. 1826

American chemist, botanist and college president (1826–1886)

William S. Harney

United States Army general (1800–1889)

William S. Paley

b. 1901

American television executive (1901–1990)

William S. Sessions

b. 1930

American judge (1930–2020)

William Sacheverell

English politician (1638–1691)

William Salmon

b. 1644

17th and 18th-century English empiric doctor

William Saroyan

American writer (1908–1981)

William Scamp

b. 1801

English architect and engineer

William Schallert

American actor (1922-2016)

William Schuman

b. 1910

American composer and arts administrator (1910-1992)

William Schutz

American psychologist (1925–2002)

William Scranton

b. 1917

Governor of Pennsylvania from 1963 to 1967

William Scroggs

Lord Chief Justice of England (1678–1681)

William Seabrook

American journalist (1884–1945)