Leading Figures in History

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

21506 persons found

Willard Miller

b. 1877

United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient

Willard Richards

b. 1804

American religious leader

Willard Van Orman Quine

b. 1908

American philosopher and logician (1908–2000)

Willebrord Snellius

b. 1580

Dutch astronomer and mathematician (1580–1626)

Willem Barentsz

Dutch navigator, cartographer, and Arctic explorer (c. 1550 – 1597)

Willem de Kooning

b. 1904

Dutch-American abstract expressionist artist (1904–1997)

Willem de Sitter

b. 1872

Dutch mathematician, physicist, and astronomer (1872–1934)

Willem Drees

Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1948 to 1958

Willem Drost

b. 1633

Dutch painter

Willem Einthoven

b. 1860

Dutch physiologist (1860–1927)

Willem Elsschot

b. 1882

Flemish writer

Willem Frederik Hermans

Dutch writer (1921–1995)

Willem Hendrik Keesom

b. 1876

Dutch physicist (1876–1956)

Willem Jacob van Stockum

Dutch mathematician (1910–1944)

Willem van der Zaan

b. 1621

Dutch Admiral (1621–1669)

Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

b. 1967

King of the Netherlands since 2013

Willi Boskovsky

Austrian violinist and conductor

Willi Hennig

b. 1913

German biologist and zoologist (1913–1976)

William A. Fraker

American film director, producer and cinematographer

William A. MacCorkle

b. 1857

American politician (1857–1930)

William Adams (samurai)

English sailor and samurai (1564–1620)

William Alden Smith

b. 1859

American politician

William Anders

American astronaut and lunar explorer (1933–2024)

William Arms Fisher

b. 1861

American historian, music editor, and writer on music (1861–1948)