Leading Figures in History

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

24408 persons found

Joan Van Ark

b. 1943

American actress (born 1943)

Joan Voûte

b. 1879

Dutch astronomer (1879–1963)

Joanna Barnes

American actress and writer (1934–2022)

Joanna Gleason

b. 1950

Canadian-American actress and singer

Joanna II of Naples

b. 1371

Queen of Naples from 1414 to 1435

Joanna Kołaczkowska

b. 1966

Polish actress (1966–2025)

Joanna Krupa

b. 1979

Polish-born American model and actress

Joanna Lumley

b. 1946

Indian-born British actress (born 1946)

Joanna of Aragon, Queen of Naples

b. 1454

Queen consort of Naples

Joanna of Austria, Princess of Portugal

b. 1535

Infanta of Spain, Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Portugal

Joanna Russ

American writer and academic (1937–2011)

Joanna, Duchess of Brabant

b. 1322

Duchess of Brabant (1322–1406)

Joanna, Princess of Portugal

Portuguese princess

Joanne Herring

b. 1929

American businesswoman, activist and diplomat

Jóannes Eidesgaard

b. 1951

Faroese politician

Joannes Gijsen

Dutch Roman Catholic bishop (1932–2013)

João Braz de Aviz

b. 1947

Brazilian Catholic cardinal (born 1947)

João Cancelo

b. 1994

Portuguese footballer (born 1994)

João Cândido

b. 1880

Brazilian sailor and revolt leader (1880–1969)

João Carlos de Oliveira

b. 1954

Brazilian athlete

João de Castro

Portuguese explorer (1500–1548)

João Garcia

b. 1967

Portuguese mountaineer

João Gilberto

b. 1931

Brazilian musician, pioneer of bossa nova (1931–2019)

João Guimarães Rosa

b. 1908

Brazilian novelist, short story writer, and diplomat (1908–1967)