Leading Figures in History

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

21510 persons found

Marthinus Wessel Pretorius

Founder of Pretoria, South Africa (1819-1901)

Martika

b. 1969

American singer (born 1969)

Martin Agricola

German Renaissance composer and music theorist (1486–1556)

Martin Andersen Nexø

Danish writer (1869–1954)

Martin Bayerle

b. 1951

American treasure hunter and author (born 1951)

Martin Bormann

German Nazi politician (1900–1945)

Martin Böttcher

b. 1927

German composer, arranger, and conductor (1927–2019)

Martin Bourboulon

b. 1979

French film director

Martin Brodeur

b. 1972

Canadian-American ice hockey player (born 1972)

Martin Brundle

b. 1959

British racing driver and broadcaster (born 1959)

Martin Bryant

b. 1967

Australian mass murderer (born 1967)

Martin Buber

Austrian-Israeli philosopher (1878–1965)

Martín Carrera

President of Mexico in 1855

Martin Carthy

b. 1941

English singer and guitarist (born 1941)

Martin Čech

b. 1976

Czech ice hockey player (1976–2007)

Martin Chivers

b. 1945

English footballer (1945–2026)

Martin Clemens

b. 1915

British-Australian colonial administrator and military officer

Martin Conway, 1st Baron Conway of Allington

British politician

Martin D'Arcy

b. 1888

English Jesuit priest and author (1888-1976)

Martín de Rada

b. 1533

Spanish missionary (1533–1578)

Martin Delrio

b. 1551

Jesuit theologian (1551–1608)

Martin Deschamps

b. 1970

Canadian rock singer (born 1970)

Martin Dillon (musician)

b. 1957

American musician and professor

Martin Fuksa

b. 1993

Czech canoeist