Leading Figures in History

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

62247 persons found

Francis Browne

Irish Jesuit priest and photographer

Francis Brunn

b. 1922

German juggler (1922–2004)

Francis Caracciolo

Italian Catholic saint

Francis Carroll (archbishop)

b. 1930

Australian Catholic bishop (1930–2024)

Francis Cherry (governor)

American judge and politician (1908–1965)

Francis Chichester

British sailor

Francis Coquelin

b. 1991

French footballer (born 1991)

Francis Cotes

b. 1726

English painter (1726–1770)

Francis Crick

b. 1916

English physicist and biologist (1916–2004)

Francis Curzon, 5th Earl Howe

b. 1884

British naval officer, politician, and racing driver (1884–1964)

Francis Daniel Pastorius

b. 1651

Founder of Germantown, Pennsylvania (1651–1719)

Francis de Miomandre

b. 1880

French novelist (1880-1959)

Francis de Sales

b. 1567

Bishop of Geneva and Catholic saint (1567–1622)

Francis Dvornik

Czech historian (1893–1975)

Francis Escudero

b. 1969

President of the Senate of the Philippines from 2024 to 2025

Francis Ford (actor)

b. 1881

American film actor and director (1881–1953)

Francis Fukuyama

b. 1952

American political scientist, economist, and author (born 1952)

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 Grierson

b. 1848

American musician

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)