Leading Figures in History

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

39110 persons found

Francis de Sales

b. 1567

Bishop of Geneva and Catholic saint (1567–1622)

Francis Ford (actor)

b. 1881

American film actor and director (1881–1953)

Francis Garnier

b. 1839

French explorer and colonial administrator in Indochina (1839–1873)

Francis Gary Powers

American pilot (1929–1977)

Francis Graham-Smith

b. 1923

British astronomer (1923–2025)

Francis Hopkinson

American Founding Father and jurist (1737–1791)

Francis Hughes

Provisional IRA volunteer and hunger striker

Francis Hunter

b. 1894

American tennis player (1894–1981)

Francis Hutcheson (philosopher)

b. 1694

Irish philosopher (1694–1746)

Francis I of Brittany

Duke of Brittany from 1442 to 1450

Francis I of the Two Sicilies

b. 1777

King of the Two Sicilies from 1825 to 1830

Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor

Holy Roman Emperor from 1745 to 1765

Francis II of Brittany

b. 1433

Duke of Brittany from 1458 to 1488

Francis II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg

b. 1547

Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg

Francis III of Brittany

Dauphin of France

Francis J. McCormick

American football and basketball player and coach (1903–1958)

Francis Johnson (congressman)

b. 1776

American politician (1776–1842)

Francis Lai

b. 1932

French composer (1932–2018)

Francis Ledwidge

Irish poet

Francis Lee (footballer)

b. 1944

English footballer (1944–2023)

Francis Lessard

b. 1979

Canadian ice hockey player (born 1979)

Francis Lubbock

Governor of Texas from 1861 to 1863

Francis Mackenzie, 1st Baron Seaforth

b. 1754

British Army general

Francis Marion Smith

American Mining businessman