Leading Figures in History

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

24423 persons found

Irena Sendler

20th and 21st-century Polish activist and resistance fighter against the Nazis

Irena Szewińska

b. 1946

Polish sprinter (1946–2018)

Irene Gut Opdyke

b. 1922

Polish nurse who aided Jews during WWII (1918–2003)

Irene Hunt

b. 1907

American children's writer

Irene Lieblich

b. 1923

Polish-American painter

Irene Prador

Austrian actress and writer (1911–1996)

Irene Rich

American actress (1891–1988)

Irene Ryan

American actress (1902–1973)

Irène Schweizer

b. 1941

Swiss pianist (1941–2024)

Irene van Dyk

b. 1972

New Zealand and South Africa netball international

Irene Worth

b. 1916

American actress (1916–2002)

Irfan Hadžić

b. 1993

Bosnian footballer (born 1993)

Irina Davydova

b. 1988

Russian hurdler (born 1988)

Irish Meusel

b. 1893

American baseball player (1893-1963)

Irmelin Sandman Lilius

b. 1936

Swedish-speaking Finnish writer (born 1936)

Irmgard Flügge-Lotz

German-American mathematician and aerospace engineer

Irmin Schmidt

b. 1937

German keyboardist and composer (born 1937)

Irna Phillips

b. 1901

American screenwriter and actress (1901–1973)

Irrfan Khan

Indian actor (1967–2020)

Irv Gotti

b. 1970

American record producer (1970–2025)

Irv Robbins

American businessman (1917 – 2008)

Irvin D. Yalom

b. 1931

American existential psychiatrist (born 1931)

Irvin Kershner

b. 1923

American film director (1923–2010)

Irving Adler

b. 1913

American political activist