Leading Figures in History

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

18354 persons found

Wonpil

b. 1994

South Korean musician (born 1994)

Woo Jin-young

b. 1997

South Korean singer and rapper (born 1997)

Woo Seung-yeon

South Korean model and actress (1983–2009)

Woody Herman

b. 1913

American jazz musician and bandleader (1913–1987)

Worthington Whittredge

b. 1820

American painter

Wouter Hamel

b. 1977

Dutch singer

Wouter Weylandt

Belgian road bicycle racer

Wreckless Eric

b. 1954

English singer-songwriter (born 1954)

Wright brothers

b. 1867

American aviation pioneers, inventors of the airplane

Wright Morris

American photographer and novelist

Wu Peifu

b. 1874

Chinese general and warlord (1874–1939)

Wu Zhengyi

b. 1916

Chinese botanist (1916–2013)

Wubbo de Boer

b. 1948

Dutch civil servant (1948 – 2017)

Wubbo Ockels

Dutch astronaut (1946–2014)

Wulfstan (died 1023)

Archbishop of York from 1002 to 1023

Wyatt Roy

b. 1990

Australian politician (born 1990)

Wyndham Halswelle

b. 1882

British athlete and soldier (1882–1915)

Wynonna Judd

b. 1964

American country singer (born 1964)

Xanana Gusmão

b. 1946

Prime Minister of Timor-Leste (2007–2015; since 2023)

Xavi Simons

b. 2003

Dutch footballer (born 2003)

Xavier Herbert

b. 1901

Australian writer (1901–1984)

Xavier McDaniel

b. 1963

American basketball player (born 1963)

Xavier Rhodes

b. 1990

American football player (born 1990)

Xavier Tondo

Spanish cyclist (1978–2011)