Leading Figures in History

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

24408 persons found

William Nylander

b. 1996

Swedish ice hockey player (born 1996)

William O'Connor (fencer)

b. 1864

American fencer (1864–1939)

William of Hirsau

Benedictine abbot and reformer (c.1030–1091)

William of Villehardouin

Prince of Achaea from 1246 to 1278

William of York

Archbishop of York (1141–1147, 1153–1154)

William Oughtred

English mathematician (1574–1660)

William P. Rogers

b. 1913

American politician (1913–2001)

William P. Sprague

b. 1827

American politician

William Paget, 1st Baron Paget

English statesman (1506–1563)

William Paley

English Christian philosopher (1743–1805)

William Parker, 4th Baron Monteagle

English peer, discoverer of the Gunpowder Plot (1575–1622)

William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse

b. 1800

English engineer and astronomer (1800–1867)

William Payne Whitney

American businessman (1876–1927)

William Penn (Royal Navy officer)

b. 1621

English naval officer and politician (1621–1670)

William Penney, Baron Penney

b. 1909

English mathematician and physicist (1909–1991)

William Pennington

b. 1796

American politician (1796–1862)

William Pepperrell

b. 1696

American merchant, politician and military officer (1696–1759)

William Pereira

b. 1909

American architect (1909–1985)

William Petty

b. 1623

English economist and philosopher (1623–1687)

William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne

b. 1737

Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1782 to 1783

William Pirrie, 1st Viscount Pirrie

b. 1847

British shipbuilder and businessman (1847–1924)

William Pitt the Younger

b. 1759

British statesman (1759–1806)

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1766 to 1768

William Primrose

Scottish violist and teacher (1904–1982)