Leading Figures in History

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

24408 persons found

John Leake

b. 1656

Royal Navy officer and politician (1656–1720)

John LeClair

b. 1969

American ice hockey player (born 1969)

John Lee (placekicker)

b. 1964

American football player (born 1964)

John Lee Hooker

American blues musician (1912 or 1917–2001)

John Lehmann

b. 1907

English publisher (1907–1987)

John Leland (antiquary)

English Tudor poet and antiquary

John Leo

American writer and journalist (1935–2022)

John Leverett

b. 1616

Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony and Nova Scotia (1616-1679)

John Leverett the Younger

Anglo-American lawyer and president of Harvard College

John Lewis (pianist)

b. 1920

American jazz pianist, composer and arranger (1920–2001)

John Limniatis

b. 1967

Former soccer player (born 1967)

John Linnell

b. 1959

American musician (born 1959)

John Linnell (painter)

b. 1792

British artist (1792–1882)

John Littlejohn (preacher)

American tradesman, preacher, and politician (1756–1836)

John Lloyd Cruz

b. 1983

Filipino actor (born 1983)

John Logie Baird

Scottish inventor (1888–1946)

John MacArthur (American pastor)

b. 1939

American evangelical preacher (1939–2025)

John MacBride

Irish republican (1868-1916)

John Mackenzie (film director)

b. 1928

Scottish film director (1928–2011)

John Mackenzie Moore

Canadian architect (1857–1930)

John Madden (ice hockey)

b. 1973

Canadian ice hockey player (born 1973)

John Madejski

b. 1941

English businessman (born 1941)

John Mahoney

b. 1940

American actor (1940–2018)

John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale

b. 1616

Scottish statesman (1616–1682)