Leading Figures in History

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

24408 persons found

Eleazar Wheelock

American Congregational minister, educator, and founder of Dartmouth College

Eleftheria Eleftheriou

b. 1989

Greek Cypriot singer (born 1989)

Elena Alistar

b. 1873

Bessarabian politician (1873–1955)

Elena Baltacha

British tennis player (1983–2014)

Elena Cornaro Piscopia

b. 1646

Venetian philosopher (1646–1684)

Elena Huelva

b. 2002

Spanish influencer and writer (2002–2023)

Elena Kagan

b. 1960

US Supreme Court justice since 2010

Elena Mukhina

b. 1960

Soviet gymnast (1960–2006)

Elena Nikolaidi

b. 1909

American opera singer

Elena Obraztsova

b. 1939

Soviet and Russian opera singer

Elena Poniatowska

b. 1932

Mexican journalist and author (b. 1932)

Elena Rybakina

b. 1999

Kazakhstani tennis player (born 1999)

Elena Verdugo

b. 1925

American actress (1925–2017)

Eleonora di Garzia di Toledo

Italian noblewoman

Eleonora Duse

Italian actress (1858–1924)

Eleonora Gonzaga (born 1598)

Holy Roman Empress from 1622 to 1637

Eleonore of Austria, Queen of Poland

b. 1653

Queen of Poland (1670–1673), Duchess of Lorraine (1678–1690)

Éleuthère Irénée du Pont

b. 1771

French-American chemist and industrialist (1771–1834)

Elfriede Wever

b. 1900

German middle-distance runner

Eli Lilly

b. 1838

American pharmacist, Union Army officer, businessman, philanthropist (1838–1898)

Eli Roth

b. 1972

American film director and screenwriter (born 1972)

Eli Wallach

American actor (1915–2014)

Elia Dalla Costa

b. 1872

Italian Roman Catholic prelate and cardinal

Eliades Ochoa

b. 1946

Cuban singer and composer