Leading Figures in History

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

39107 persons found

Olin Kreutz

b. 1977

American football player (born 1977)

Olive Ann Burns

American novelist

Olive Morris

b. 1952

Jamaican-born British community leader and activist (1952–1979)

Oliver Bearman

b. 2005

British racing driver (born 2005)

Oliver Bierhoff

b. 1968

German footballer (born 1968)

Oliver Colvile

b. 1959

British Conservative politician (1959–2025)

Oliver Crawford

b. 1917

American screenwriter and author

Oliver Cromwell

b. 1599

English military and political leader (1599–1658)

Oliver Dragojević

Croatian singer (1947–2018)

Oliver Ekman-Larsson

b. 1991

Swedish ice hockey player (born 1991)

Oliver Ellsworth

b. 1745

Chief Justice of the United States from 1796 to 1800

Oliver Gillie

British journalist and scientist (1937–2021)

Oliver Hardy

American actor (1892–1957)

Oliver Hazard Perry

b. 1785

United States Navy officer (1785–1819)

Oliver Heaviside

b. 1850

British mathematician and electrical engineer (1850–1925)

Oliver Kahn

b. 1969

German footballer (born 1969)

Oliver Kirk

b. 1884

American boxer (1884–1960)

Oliver La Farge

American novelist and anthropologist (1901–1963)

Oliver Law

American labor organizer (1900–1937)

Oliver Letwin

b. 1956

British Independent politician

Oliver Lodge

b. 1851

English physicist and electrical engineer (1851–1940)

Oliver Mowat

Canadian lawyer and Father of Confederation (1820–1903)

Oliver Napier

b. 1935

British politician

Oliver Nelson

b. 1932

American composer and bandleader (1932–1975)