Leading Figures in History

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

21506 persons found

William Dampier

b. 1651

English explorer, pirate, privateer and naturalist (1651–1715)

William de Braose (died 1230)

13th-century Welsh nobleman

William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk

15th-century English noble

William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey

Norman warrior in the Battle of Hastings, died 1088

William de Warenne, 5th Earl of Surrey

English nobleman and royal official

William Dean Howells

American author, critic, and playwright (1837–1920)

William Debenham

b. 1794

British businessman

William Dobinson Halliburton

b. 1860

William Douglas Cook

New Zealand writer

William E. Moerner

b. 1953

Nobel prize winning American chemical physicist (born 1953)

William Eccles (physicist)

English physicist (1875–1966)

William Edwin Self

b. 1921

American actor and producer (1921–2010)

William Emerson (mathematician)

b. 1701

English mathematician

William Eustis

b. 1753

American physician, politician, and diplomat (1753–1825)

William Ewart Gladstone

British statesman (1809–1898)

William F. Albright

b. 1891

American archaeologist and biblical scholar (1891–1971)

William F. Halsey Sr.

United States Navy officer

William F. Nast

b. 1840

American diplomat and entrepreneur

William Fargo

b. 1818

American businessman and politician (1818–1881)

William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele

b. 1582

English nobleman and politician (1582–1662)

William Fox (New Zealand politician)

Premier of New Zealand (1812–1893)

William Fox (producer)

Hungarian-American film producer (1879–1952)

William Frankena

b. 1908

American moral philosopher (1908–1994)

William Funnell (public servant)

b. 1891

Australian public servant (1891–1962)