Leading Figures in History

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

62243 persons found

Charles Blount (deist)

b. 1654

English deist and philosopher (1654–1693)

Charles Bolden

b. 1946

American astronaut and 12th NASA Administrator (born 1946)

Charles Bonaventure de Longueval, 2nd Count of Bucquoy

17th-century Low Countries nobleman and military commander

Charles Bonnet

Genevan botanist (1720–1793)

Charles Borromeo

b. 1538

Catholic prelate and saint (1538–1584)

Charles Boucher de Boucherville

b. 1822

3rd Premier of Quebec (1822–1915)

Charles Bowden

b. 1945

American writer (1945–2014)

Charles Boyer

French-American actor (1899–1978)

Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk

English nobleman, diplomat and military commander (c. 1484–1545)

Charles Brantley Aycock

b. 1859

American politician (1859–1912)

Charles Brenton Huggins

b. 1901

American physician (1901–1997)

Charles Bronfman

b. 1931

Canadian politician (born 1931)

Charles Bronson

American actor (1921–2003)

Charles Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak

Rajah of Sarawak

Charles Brown (musician)

b. 1922

American blues singer and pianist (1922–1999)

Charles Bruzon

Gibraltarian politician and priest

Charles Bryant (actor)

British actor and film director (1879–1948)

Charles Bukowski

b. 1920

American writer (1920–1994)

Charles Burlingame

b. 1949

American commercial airline pilot (1949–2001)

Charles Busch

b. 1954

American dramatist

Charles C. Droz

b. 1924

American politician (1924–2025)

Charles Cagniard de la Tour

French engineer and physicist (1777–1859)

Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore

b. 1637

English colonial administrator (1637–1715)

Charles Camilleri

b. 1931

Maltese composer (1931–2009)