Leading Figures in History

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

62243 persons found

Robert Weede

American baritone (1903–1972)

Robert Welch (designer)

b. 1929

English industrial designer and silversmith (1929–2000)

Robert Westall

b. 1929

English teacher and children's novelist (1929–1993)

Robert Whitney (conductor)

b. 1904

American conductor (1904–1986)

Robert Williams (Trebor Mai)

b. 1830

Welsh poet (1830–1877)

Robert Williams Buchanan

Scottish poet, novelist and dramatist

Robert Williams III

b. 1997

American basketball player (born 1997)

Robert Wilonsky

b. 1968

American journalist

Robert Wilson (director)

b. 1941

American stage director and playwright (1941–2025)

Robert Winston, Baron Winston

b. 1940

British scientist (born 1940)

Robert Winters

b. 1910

Canadian electrical engineer, army officer, politician and businessman

Robert Wise

b. 1914

American film director, film producer and film editor (1914–2005)

Robert Wolders

b. 1936

Dutch actor (1936–2018)

Robert Wood Johnson III

b. 1920

American businessman

Robert Wright (RAF officer)

b. 1947

British Royal Air Force officer, born 1947

Robert Wuhl

b. 1951

American actor, comedian and writer (born 1951)

Robert Xavier Rodriguez

b. 1946

American classical composer (born 1946)

Robert Young (actor)

American actor (1907–1998)

Robert Z. Leonard

b. 1889

American film director (1889–1968)

Robert Zemeckis

b. 1952

American filmmaker (born 1951)

Robert Zildjian

b. 1923

American businessman

Robert Zoellick

b. 1953

11th President of the World Bank Group

Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester

Illegitimate son of Henry I of England (c.1090–1147)

Roberta Dodd Crawford

b. 1897

Lyric soprano