Leading Figures in History

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

39103 persons found

Abdul Fatah Younis

Libyan general

Abdul Hafeez Kardar

Pakistani cricketer and politician

Abdul Hakim (writer)

Bangladeshi educator and writer

Abdul Haq (Urdu scholar)

Urdu linguist and scholar (1870–1961)

Abdul Latiff Ahmad

b. 1958

Malaysian politician (born 1958)

Abdul Rahim Hatif

Afghan politician

Abdul Rashid Ghazi

Pakistani Islamic scholar and diplomat (1964–2007)

Abdul Sattar Edhi

Pakistani philanthropist (1928-2016)

Abdulaziz

Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1861 to 1876

Abdulaziz al-Omari

b. 1979

Saudi terrorist and 9/11 hijacker (1979–2001)

Abdulla Yameen

b. 1959

President of the Maldives from 2013 to 2018

Abdullah Ansari

b. 1006

11th-century Sufi scholar and saint

Abdullah I of Jordan

Ruler of Jordan from 1921 to 1951

Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

b. 1924

King of Saudi Arabia from 2005 to 2015

Abdülmecid I

Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1839 to 1861

Abdülmecid II

Ottoman caliph from 1922 to 1924

Abdur Razzak (cricketer)

b. 1982

Bangladeshi cricketer

Abe Burrows

American writer, director and humorist (1910–1985)

Abe Cunningham

b. 1973

American drummer (born 1973)

Abe Forsythe

b. 1981

Australian film and television actor, director, writer and producer

Abe Fortas

b. 1910

US Supreme Court justice from 1965 to 1969

Abeba Aregawi

b. 1990

Ethiopian-born middle-distance runner

Abebe Bikila

b. 1932

Ethiopian marathon runner (1932–1973)

Abeid Karume

b. 1905

President of Zanzibar from 1964 to 1972