Leading Figures in History

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

24415 persons found

Gordon Willis

b. 1931

American cinematographer and film director

Gordon Wilson (Scottish politician)

b. 1938

Scottish politician (1938–2017)

Gorilla Monsoon

b. 1937

American professional wrestler (1937–1999)

Gösta Mittag-Leffler

Swedish mathematician (1846–1927)

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

b. 1949

President of Sri Lanka from 2019 to 2022

Gothelo I, Duke of Lorraine

Duke of Lower Lorraine from 1023 to 1044

Gotse Delchev

Macedonian Bulgarian revolutionary (1872–1903)

Gottfried Achenwall

German philosopher and historian

Gottfried Benn

b. 1886

German writer and physician (1886–1956)

Gottfried Fuchs

b. 1889

German footballer (1889–1972)

Gottfried Heinrich Graf zu Pappenheim

b. 1594

Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire (1594–1632)

Gottfried Semper

German architect and theorist (1803–1879)

Gottfried von Cramm

b. 1909

German tennis player (1909–1976)

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

b. 1646

German polymath (1646–1716)

Gotthard Graubner

German painter (1930–2013)

Gotthard Günther

b. 1900

German philosopher

Gotthard of Hildesheim

German bishop and Roman Catholic saint

Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg

United States botanist and Lutheran clergyman (1753-1815)

Gotthold Eisenstein

b. 1823

German mathematician (1823–1852)

Gotye

b. 1980

Belgian-Australian musician (born 1980)

Govan Mbeki

b. 1910

South African politician (1910–2001)

Gower Champion

b. 1919

American actor (1919–1980)

Grace Abbott

American social worker (1878–1939)

Grace Andrews (mathematician)

b. 1869

American mathematician (1869–1951)