Leading Figures in History

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

62247 persons found

John Abernethy (minister)

b. 1680

Irish presbyterian minister and church leader (1680–1740)

John Abernethy (surgeon)

English surgeon (1764–1831)

John Abraham (American football)

b. 1978

American football player (born 1978)

John Abraham (director)

Indian film director and screenwriter

John Abramovic

American basketball player (1919–2000)

John Adam (rugby league)

b. 1955

Australian rugby league footballer (born 1955)

John Adams

Founding Father, U.S. president 1797 to 1801

John Adams II

b. 1803

Son of U.S. President John Quincy Adams (1803–1834)

John Afoa

b. 1983

New Zealand rugby union player

John Agard

b. 1949

Guyanese playwright, poet and writer

John Aglionby (bishop)

John Agrue

b. 1947

American serial killer

John Ainsworth Horrocks

Australian explorer

John Aislabie

English politician (1670–1742)

John Aitken (music publisher)

Scottish-American music publisher

John Alan Coey

American-Rhodesian soldier and medic (1950–1975)

John Albert Raven

b. 1941

British botanist (1941–2024)

John Albert Vasa

b. 1612

Polish Catholic cardinal

John Albion Andrew

b. 1818

American lawyer and politician (1817–1867)

John Alcock (bishop)

15th-century English Bishop and Chancellor of England

John Alcock (RAF officer)

b. 1892

British aviator (1892–1919)

John Aldridge

b. 1958

Association football player and manager

John Alexander (Australian politician)

b. 1951

Australian tennis player and politician

John Alexander (footballer, born 1955)

b. 1955

English footballer