Leading Figures in History

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

39103 persons found

William Asher

American film and television producer, director, and screenwriter (1921–2012)

William Ashhurst

b. 1647

British banker, merchant and politician

William Atherton

b. 1947

American actor (born 1947)

William Attewell

English cricketer

William B. Jordan

b. 1940

American art historian (1940–2018)

William B. Ogden

b. 1805

American politician (1805–1877)

William B. Saxbe

b. 1916

American politician (1916–2010)

William B. Travis

b. 1809

Texian Army officer and lawyer (1809–1836)

William Babington (physician)

Anglo-Irish physician and mineralogist

William Bainbridge

b. 1774

United States Navy officer (1774–1833)

William Basinski

b. 1958

American composer (born 1958)

William Bast

American screenwriter and author (1931–2015)

William Baziotes

American painter (1912–1963)

William Bedloe

b. 1650

English fraudster and Popish Plot informer

William Bell (singer)

b. 1939

American soul singer and songwriter (born 1939)

William Bennett

b. 1943

3rd United States Secretary of Education

William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland

b. 1649

Dutch-born British courtier and diplomat

William Bernard Ziff Jr.

b. 1930

American publishing executive (1930–2006)

William Bernbach

b. 1911

American businessman (1911–1982)

William Birdwood

British army officer (1865–1951)

William Blackstone

b. 1723

English jurist, judge, and politician (1723–1780)

William Blake

English poet and artist (1757–1827)

William Bland

Australian politician

William Bolcom

b. 1938

American composer and pianist (born 1938)