Leading Figures in History

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

21506 persons found

William Henry Barlow

b. 1812

British civil engineer

William Henry Vanderbilt

b. 1821

American businessman (1821–1885)

William Hickey (actor)

American actor (1927–1997)

William Holden

b. 1918

American actor (1918–1981)

William Holman

Australian politician

William Honan

American journalist and author

William Hooper

b. 1742

American Founding Father and politician (1742–1790)

William Howard Stein

b. 1911

American biochemist (1911–1980)

William Hoyt (athlete)

b. 1875

American pole vaulter (1875–1954)

William Hudson (engineer)

b. 1896

New Zealand–Australian engineer (1896–1978)

William Hull

b. 1753

American military officer and politician (1753–1825)

William Hunter (anatomist)

b. 1718

Scottish physician (1718–1783)

William Hutt (actor)

Canadian actor of stage, television and film

William I of Sicily

King of Sicily from 1154 to 1166

William I, Count of Hainaut

Count of Hainaut from 1304 to 1337

William II, Count of Flanders

Count of Flanders (1224–1251)

William II, Landgrave of Hesse

b. 1469

Landgrave of Upper Hesse

William II, Prince of Orange

b. 1626

Prince of Orange from 1647 to 1650

William III, Landgrave of Thuringia

b. 1425

Landgrave of Thuringia from the Wettin dynasty

William Inge

b. 1913

American playwright and novelist (1913–1973)

William IV

King of the United Kingdom from 1830 to 1837

William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

b. 1852

Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1905 to 1912

William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel

b. 1532

16th-century German landowner and astronomer

William J. Bell (producer)

American screenwriter (1927–2005)