Leading Figures in History

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

21506 persons found

Aloysius Paul D'Souza

b. 1941

Indian Roman Catholic Bishop

Aloysius Stepinac

b. 1898

Croatian Latin Catholic cardinal (1898–1960)

Alpay Özalan

b. 1973

Turkish footballer, manager, and politician

Alphonse Daudet

b. 1840

French novelist (1840–1897)

Alphonse Kirchhoffer

French fencer (1873–1913)

Alson Sherman

b. 1811

American politician (1811–1903)

Álvaro Cunhal

Former leader of the Portuguese Communist Party (1913–2005)

Álvaro de Luna

15th-century Spanish knight and politician

Álvaro Siza Vieira

b. 1933

Portuguese architect (born 1933)

Álvaro Vaz de Almada, 1st Count of Avranches

Portuguese knight and nobleman

Alvin Hamilton

Canadian politician

Alvin Lucier

b. 1931

American composer (1931–2021)

Alwin Schockemöhle

b. 1937

German equestrian

Aly Raisman

b. 1994

American Olympic gymnast and gold medalist (born 1994)

Alysia Montaño

b. 1986

American middle-distance runner

Alziro Bergonzo

Italian architect and painter

Amadeo Carrizo

b. 1926

Argentine footballer (1926–2020)

Amadeo I of Spain

b. 1845

King of Spain from 1870 to 1873

Amadeus IV, Count of Savoy

Italian noble (1197–1253)

Amado Nervo

Mexican poet

Amadou Hampâté Bâ

Malian writer, historian and ethnologist

Amala Shankar

b. 1919

Indian danseuse (1919–2020)

Amalasuintha

Regent and queen regnant of the Ostrogoths

Amaldus Nielsen

b. 1838

Norwegian painter (1838–1932)