Leading Figures in History

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

39103 persons found

William Kidston

b. 1849

Australian bookseller and politician (1849–1919)

William Kirby (entomologist)

English entomologist (1759–1850)

William Kissam Vanderbilt

American businessman and horse breeder (1849–1920)

William Kneale

b. 1906

English logician (1906–1990)

William Kunstler

b. 1919

American attorney and civil rights activist (1919–1995)

William L. Marcy

American lawyer, politician, and judge (1786–1857)

William L. Yancey

American politician (1814–1863)

William Lassell

b. 1799

English merchant and astronomer (1799–1880)

William Lawson (explorer)

b. 1774

English born Australian explorer and politician (1774–1850)

William Le Baron Jenney

American architect and engineer

William Least Heat-Moon

b. 1939

American travel writer and historian (born 1939)

William Levada

b. 1936

American Catholic cardinal (1936–2019)

William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme

English industrialist, philanthropist and politician (1851–1925)

William Lewis Douglas

b. 1845

American politician (1845–1924)

William Lilly

b. 1602

English astrologer

William Livingston

American Founding Father and politician (1723–1790)

William Lloyd Garrison

American journalist and abolitionist (1805–1879)

William Louis Marshall

b. 1846

United States Army general (1846–1920)

William Louis, Duke of Württemberg

Duke of Württemberg from 1674 to 1677

William Lundigan

b. 1914

American actor (1914–1975)

William Luther Pierce

American neo-Nazi (1933–2002)

William Lynch Jr.

American politician and political consultant (1941–2013)

William Lyne

Australian politician (1844–1913)

William Lyon Mackenzie King

Canadian prime minister (1874–1950)