Leading Figures in History

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

39103 persons found

Astley Cooper

b. 1768

British surgeon and anatomist (1768–1841)

Aston Webb

b. 1849

English architect (1849–1930)

Astor Piazzolla

Argentine composer, bandoneon player and arranger (1921–1992)

Astrid Varnay

b. 1918

American operatic soprano (1918–2006)

Astrud Gilberto

Brazilian singer (1940–2023)

Atahualpa

Last Inca Emperor (ruled 1532–1533)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Prime Minister of India (1996; 1998–99, 1999–2004)

Atanas Semerdzhiev

Atef Bseiso

b. 1948

Palestinian intelligence officer (1948–1992)

Athanase David

b. 1882

Canadian politician (1882–1953)

Athanase Josué Coquerel

b. 1820

French theologian & author

Athanasius I Gammolo

42nd Patriarch of Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch (600 - 641)

Athanasius Kircher

b. 1601

German Jesuit scholar and polymath (1602–1680)

Athanassios Fokas

b. 1952

Greek mathematician (born 1952)

Athena Farrokhzad

b. 1983

Iranian-Swedish poet and playwright

Athena Manoukian

b. 1994

Greek singer and songwriter (born 1994)

Athenagoras I of Constantinople

Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1948 to 1972

Athene Donald

b. 1953

British physicist

Athol Fugard

b. 1932

South African playwright (1932–2025)

Atholl McKinnon

b. 1932

South African cricketer (1932–1983)

Athos Bulcão

b. 1918

Brazilian painter and sculptor (1918–2008)

Athula Samarasekera

b. 1961

Sri Lankan cricketer and coach

Atiqul Haque Chowdhury

Atıf Yılmaz

Turkish film director (1925–2006)