Leading Figures in History

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

24408 persons found

William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme

English industrialist, philanthropist and politician (1851–1925)

William Lilly

b. 1602

English astrologer

William Lloyd Garrison

American journalist and abolitionist (1805–1879)

William Louis Marshall

b. 1846

United States Army general (1846–1920)

William Louis, Duke of Württemberg

Duke of Württemberg from 1674 to 1677

William Lundigan

b. 1914

American actor (1914–1975)

William M. Roth

American shipping executive and special ambassador for trade

William Macready

English actor (1793–1873)

William Manchester

American author, journalist and historian (1922–2004)

William March

United States Marine, novelist, short story writer

William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke

Anglo-Norman soldier and statesman (1146/7–1219)

William McBride (doctor)

Australian obstetrician (1927–2018)

William McDougall (psychologist)

b. 1871

British psychologist (1871–1938)

William McIntyre (judge)

Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada (1918–2009)

William McMurdo

b. 1819

British Army general

William Merz

b. 1878

American sportsman (1878–1946)

William Montagu, 2nd Earl of Salisbury

Earl of Salisbury

William Morgan (actuary)

b. 1750

British scientist and actuary (1750–1833)

William Morton Wheeler

U.S. entomologist, myrmecologist and Harvard professor (1865–1937)

William Moseley (actor)

b. 1987

British actor (born 1987)

William Moulton Marston

b. 1893

American psychologist and writer

William Muldoon

b. 1852

American wrestler (1852–1933)

William Mulready

Irish genre painter (1786–1863)

William Nordhaus

b. 1941

American economist and Nobel Laureate (born 1941)