Leading Figures in History

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

39103 persons found

William M. Roth

American shipping executive and special ambassador for trade

William Macready

English actor (1793–1873)

William Makepeace Thackeray

b. 1811

English novelist and illustrator (1811–1863)

William Manchester

American author, journalist and historian (1922–2004)

William Manuel Johnson

b. 1872

American jazz banjo and double bass player (died 1972)

William March

United States Marine, novelist, short story writer

William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke

Anglo-Norman soldier and statesman (1146/7–1219)

William Marshall (actor)

b. 1924

American actor, director, and opera singer (1924–2003)

William Maxwell (American writer)

American journalist (1908–2000)

William McBride (doctor)

Australian obstetrician (1927–2018)

William McDougall (psychologist)

b. 1871

British psychologist (1871–1938)

William McIntyre (judge)

Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada (1918–2009)

William McMurdo

b. 1819

British Army general

William Merz

b. 1878

American sportsman (1878–1946)

William Montagu, 2nd Earl of Salisbury

Earl of Salisbury

William More (died 1600)

16th-century English politician

William Morgan (actuary)

b. 1750

British scientist and actuary (1750–1833)

William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield

English motor manufacturer and philanthropist (1877–1963)

William Morton Wheeler

U.S. entomologist, myrmecologist and Harvard professor (1865–1937)

William Moseley (actor)

b. 1987

British actor (born 1987)

William Motzing

b. 1937

Musical artist

William Moulton Marston

b. 1893

American psychologist and writer

William Muldoon

b. 1852

American wrestler (1852–1933)

William Mulready

Irish genre painter (1786–1863)