Leading Figures in History

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

24411 persons found

Jan Peter Balkenende

b. 1956

Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2002 to 2010

Jan Reker

b. 1948

Dutch footballer and manager

Jan Roothaan

Superior General of the Society of Christ

Jan Smuts

b. 1870

South African statesman and military officer (1870–1950)

Jan Struther

b. 1901

English writer, known for character Mrs. Miniver (1901–1953)

Jan Tarnowski

Polish noble, military commander and theoretician, and statesman

Jan Tinbergen

Dutch economist and Nobel Laureate (1903–1994)

Jan van Beveren

Dutch football player and coach

Jan van Eyck

Flemish painter (died 1441)

Jan van Gilse

b. 1881

Dutch conductor and composer (1881–1944)

Jan van Goyen

Dutch landscape painter (1596–1656)

Jan van Riebeeck

b. 1619

Dutch colonial administrator (1619–1677)

Jan van Roessel

Dutch footballer (1925–2011)

Jan Vertonghen

b. 1987

Belgian footballer (born 1987)

Jan Veselý

b. 1990

Czech basketball player (born 1990)

Jan Železný

b. 1966

Czech javelin thrower

Jan-Paul Saeijs

b. 1978

Dutch footballer

Jana Čepelová

b. 1993

Slovak tennis player (born 1993)

Jancis Robinson

b. 1950

British journalist

Jane Addams

American reformer (1860–1935)

Jane Amsterdam

b. 1951

American magazine and newspaper editor (born 1951)

Jane Avril

b. 1868

French can-can dancer (1868–1943)

Jane Bathori

b. 1877

French mezzo-soprano (1877–1970)

Jane Birdwood, Baroness Birdwood

b. 1913

British far-right political activist