Leading Figures in History

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

24408 persons found

François Duvalier

President of Haiti from 1957 to 1971

François Eudes de Mézeray

French historian (1610–1683)

François Faber

Luxembourgish racing cyclist

François Gérard

b. 1770

French painter (1770–1837)

François Hemsterhuis

Dutch writer on aesthetics and moral philosophy

François Jacob

French biologist

François Jouffroy

French sculptor (1806–1882)

François Legault

b. 1957

Premier of Quebec from 2018 to 2026

François Louis, Prince of Conti

b. 1664

King of Poland (titular)

François Michelin

French businessman (1926–2015)

François Moubandje

b. 1990

Swiss footballer (born 1990)

François Quesnay

b. 1694

French physician, Physiocratic economist, and orientalist (1694–1774)

François Ravaillac

Assassin of King Henry IV of France

François Rebel

b. 1701

French composer

François Reichenbach

b. 1921

French film director (1921–1993)

François Sterchele

Belgian footballer

François Steyn

b. 1987

South African rugby union player

François Tombalbaye

b. 1918

President of Chad from 1960 to 1975

François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis

b. 1715

Catholic cardinal (1715–1794)

François-Louis Cailler

b. 1796

Swiss chocolatier (1796–1852)

François-Nicolas-Benoît Haxo

b. 1774

French general

François-Noël Babeuf

French revolutionary and journalist (1760–1797)