Leading Figures in History

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

24408 persons found

John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher

Royal Navy officer (1841–1920)

John Fitzalan, 7th Earl of Arundel

English noble

John Fitzpatrick (racing driver)

b. 1943

British racing driver (born 1943)

John Flanagan (author)

b. 1944

Australian fantasy author (1944–2026)

John Flanagan (hammer thrower)

American hammer thrower

John Flansburgh

b. 1960

American musician (born 1960)

John Fogerty

b. 1945

American musician (born 1945)

John Foley (British Army officer)

b. 1939

British Army general

John Forbes Nash Jr.

American mathematician and Nobel Laureate (1928–2015)

John Ford (dramatist)

b. 1586

English poet and playwright (1586 – c. 1639)

John Ford (musician)

b. 1948

British musician (born 1948)

John Forest

16th-century English Franciscan friar and martyr

John Foster (baseball)

b. 1978

American baseball player and coach (born 1978)

John Foster Dulles

American politician and diplomat (1888–1959)

John Fox (comedian)

American comedian, born 1953

John Foxe

English historian and martyrologist (died 1587)

John Frankenheimer

American film and television director (1930–2002)

John Franklin

b. 1786

British naval officer and explorer (1786–1847)

John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony

b. 1503

Elector of Saxony from 1532 to 1547

John Frederick, Duke of Württemberg

b. 1582

Duke of Württemberg from 1608 to 1628

John Frith (martyr)

English Protestant priest, writer, and martyr

John Fru Ndi

b. 1941

Cameroonian politician (1941–2023)

John G. Bennett

b. 1897

British academic and writer (1897–1974)

John Garang

b. 1945

Sudanese politician (1945–2005)