Leading Figures in History

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

21506 persons found

William Armstrong (Virginia politician)

American lawyer, civil servant, politician, and businessperson

William Arnold (settler)

b. 1587

Founding settler of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

William Arnon Henry

b. 1850

American professor (1850–1932)

William Ashhurst

b. 1647

British banker, merchant and politician

William Attewell

English cricketer

William B. Jordan

b. 1940

American art historian (1940–2018)

William B. Ogden

b. 1805

American politician (1805–1877)

William B. Saxbe

b. 1916

American politician (1916–2010)

William Babington (physician)

Anglo-Irish physician and mineralogist

William Bainbridge

b. 1774

United States Navy officer (1774–1833)

William Basinski

b. 1958

American composer (born 1958)

William Bast

American screenwriter and author (1931–2015)

William Baziotes

American painter (1912–1963)

William Bedloe

b. 1650

English fraudster and Popish Plot informer

William Bernard Ziff Jr.

b. 1930

American publishing executive (1930–2006)

William Birdwood

British army officer (1865–1951)

William Bolcom

b. 1938

American composer and pianist (born 1938)

William Bowyer (artist)

b. 1926

William Boyd (actor)

b. 1895

American actor (1895–1972)

William Bradford (governor)

English Separatist leader (1590–1657)

William Bradford (printer, born 1663)

Early English-born printer in North America

William Brede Kristensen

b. 1867

Norwegian-born Dutch theologian, professor and historian of religion

William Brereton (courtier)

Courtier to Henry VIII of England

William Brown Meloney (1902–1971)

American writer (1902–1971)