Leading Figures in History

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

21511 persons found

Lynn Redgrave

British and American actress (1943–2010)

Lynne Jolitz

b. 1961

American computer scientist (born 1961)

Lynne Woolstencroft

Canadian politician

Lynsey de Paul

b. 1948

English singer-songwriter and record producer (1948–2014)

Lyra McKee

Northern Ireland journalist (1990–2019)

Lyubov Popova

b. 1889

Russian artist (1889–1924)

Lyudmila Petrushevskaya

b. 1938

Russian writer, novelist and playwright (born 1938)

Lyudmila Zhuravleva

b. 1946

Soviet-Ukrainian astronomer (born 1946)

M. C. Escher

b. 1898

Dutch graphic artist (1898–1972)

M. Canagaratnam

Sri Lankan Tamil politician and Member of Parliament

M. Carl Holman

b. 1919

American poet (1919–1988)

M. F. Husain

Indian artist (1915–2011)

M. J. K. Smith

b. 1933

English cricketer (1933–2026)

M. Karunanidhi

b. 1924

Indian writer and politician (1924–2018)

Ma Rainey

b. 1886

American blues singer (1886–1939)

Ma Shaohong

Ma Xifan

Prince of Chu from 934 to 947

Maarja Nummert

b. 1944

Estonian architect (1944–2024)

Maarten Tromp

b. 1598

Dutch admiral (1598–1653)

Maarten van Heemskerck

b. 1498

Dutch painter (1498–1574)

Mabel Lucie Attwell

b. 1879

British illustrator (1879–1964)

Mac DeMarco

b. 1990

Canadian musician (born 1990)

Mac Raboy

b. 1914

American cartoonist, 1914-1967

Mac Suzuki

b. 1975

Japanese baseball player (born 1975)