Leading Figures in History

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

39103 persons found

William Murdoch

b. 1754

Scottish engineer and inventor (1754–1839)

William Nordhaus

b. 1941

American economist and Nobel Laureate (born 1941)

William Noy

English politician and jurist (1577–1634)

William Nylander

b. 1996

Swedish ice hockey player (born 1996)

William O'Connor (fencer)

b. 1864

American fencer (1864–1939)

William of Hirsau

Benedictine abbot and reformer (c.1030–1091)

William of Villehardouin

Prince of Achaea from 1246 to 1278

William of York

Archbishop of York (1141–1147, 1153–1154)

William Oldys

b. 1696

English antiquarian and bibliographer (1696–1761)

William Osler

b. 1849

Canadian physician and co-founder of Johns Hopkins Hospital (1849–1919)

William Oughtred

English mathematician (1574–1660)

William P. Clark Jr.

American judge and public servant (1931–2013)

William P. Foster

b. 1919

American bandmaster, composer, and author (1919–2010)

William P. Frye

American politician from Maine (1830–1911)

William P. Rogers

b. 1913

American politician (1913–2001)

William P. Sanders

b. 1833

Union Army officer (1833–1863)

William P. Sprague

b. 1827

American politician

William Paget, 1st Baron Paget

English statesman (1506–1563)

William Paine Lord

b. 1838

9th Governor of Oregon

William Paley

English Christian philosopher (1743–1805)

William Parker, 4th Baron Monteagle

English peer, discoverer of the Gunpowder Plot (1575–1622)

William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse

b. 1800

English engineer and astronomer (1800–1867)

William Payne Whitney

American businessman (1876–1927)

William Penn

English writer and religious thinker (1644–1718)