Leading Figures in History

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

58072 persons found

Beji Caid Essebsi

President of Tunisia from 2014 to 2019

Bekim Fehmiu

b. 1936

Yugoslavian actor (1936–2010)

Beko Ransome-Kuti

b. 1940

Nigerian doctor and activist (1940–2006)

Bel Kaufman

American novelist

Bel Mooney

b. 1946

English journalist and broadcaster (born 1946)

Béla Balázs

b. 1884

Hungarian film critic, aesthetician, writer and poet

Béla Bartók

Hungarian composer (1881–1945)

Béla Bollobás

b. 1943

Hungarian mathematician (born 1943)

Béla Csécsei

b. 1952

Hungarian politician (1952–2012)

Béla Fleck

b. 1958

American banjo player (born 1958)

Béla Guttmann

Hungarian football player and manager (1899–1981)

Béla I of Hungary

King of Hungary from 1060 to 1063

Béla III of Hungary

King of Hungary and Croatia from 1172 to 1196

Béla IV of Hungary

King of Hungary and Croatia from 1235 to 1270

Béla Jankovich

Hungarian politician (1865–1939)

Béla Juhos

Hungarian-Austrian philosopher

Bela Lugosi

Hungarian actor (1882–1956)

Béla Tarr

b. 1955

Hungarian filmmaker (1955–2026)

Belaid Abdessalam

b. 1928

Algerian politician (1928–2020)

Belaynesh Oljira

b. 1990

Ethiopian long-distance runner

Belchior (singer)

Musical artist

Belinda Carlisle

b. 1958

American singer (born 1958)

Belinda Dann

b. 1900

Indigenous Australian member of the Stolen Generations

Belinda Green

b. 1952

Australian model