Leading Figures in History

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

24408 persons found

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)

William J. Brennan Jr.

b. 1906

U.S. Supreme Court justice from 1956 to 1990

William J. Casey

Director of Central Intelligence from 1981 to 1987

William Jackson Hooker

b. 1785

English botanist (1785–1865)

William James (Australian general)

b. 1930

Soldier and military doctor (1930–2015)

William James Mayo

b. 1861

American surgeon (1861–1939)

William Jay Smith

b. 1918

American writer, translator, editor

William Jones (mathematician)

Welsh mathematician (1675–1749)

William Joseph Browne

b. 1897

Canadian politician (1897–1989)

William Joyce

b. 1906

American-born fascist and propaganda broadcaster (1906–1946)

William Judson Holloway Jr.

American judge

William Juxon

Archbishop of Canterbury from 1660 to 1663

William Kaye Estes

b. 1919

American psychologist (1919–2011)

William Kidd

Scottish privateer (1654–1701)

William Kirby (entomologist)

English entomologist (1759–1850)

William Kneale

b. 1906

English logician (1906–1990)

William L. Marcy

American lawyer, politician, and judge (1786–1857)

William Lassell

b. 1799

English merchant and astronomer (1799–1880)

William Lawson (explorer)

b. 1774

English born Australian explorer and politician (1774–1850)

William Le Baron Jenney

American architect and engineer

William Levada

b. 1936

American Catholic cardinal (1936–2019)