Leading Figures in History

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

39103 persons found

William Booth

English Methodist preacher and founder of The Salvation Army (1829–1912)

William Bourchier, 3rd Earl of Bath

English noble (1557–1623)

William Bowyer (artist)

b. 1926

William Boyd (actor)

b. 1895

American actor (1895–1972)

William Bradford (governor)

English Separatist leader (1590–1657)

William Bradford (printer, born 1663)

Early English-born printer in North America

William Brandon (standard-bearer)

English knight (1456–1485)

William Brede Kristensen

b. 1867

Norwegian-born Dutch theologian, professor and historian of religion

William Brereton (courtier)

Courtier to Henry VIII of England

William Brown Meloney (1902–1971)

American writer (1902–1971)

William Bruce (cricketer)

Australian cricketer (1864–1925)

William Buell Richards

b. 1815

Chief Justice of Canada from 1875 to 1879

William Buell Sprague

William Buick

b. 1988

Norwegian-born flat jockey

William Burges

English Gothic revival architect and designer (1827–1881)

William Byrd

English Renaissance composer (c. 1540–1623)

William Byron, 5th Baron Byron

British politician

William C. Campbell (golfer)

b. 1923

American amateur golfer (1923–2013)

William C. Campbell (scientist)

b. 1930

Irish-American microbiologist and Nobel laureate in medicine (born 1930)

William C. Lee

US Army general

William C. White

b. 1854

Seventh-day Adventist minister

William Calley

b. 1943

US Army officer convicted for massacre at My Lai, Vietnam (1943–2024)

William Camden

b. 1551

English antiquarian (1551–1623)

William Carey (missionary)

English Baptist missionary and a Particular Baptist minister (1761–1834)