Leading Figures in History

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

21510 persons found

Mary Stewart, Countess of Arran

b. 1453

Countess of Arran

Mary Stuart Masterson

b. 1966

American actress and director (born 1966)

Mary Styles Harris

b. 1949

American geneticist

Mary Tenney Gray

b. 1833

American editorial writer, clubwoman, and philanthropist

Mary Testa

b. 1955

American actress

Mary Theresa Ledóchowska

b. 1863

Polish Roman Catholic sister (1863–1922)

Mary Tudor, Queen of France

Queen of France from 1514 to 1515

Mary Walsh (actress)

b. 1952

Canadian actress, comedian, and writer (born 1952)

Mary Wells

b. 1943

American singer (1943–1992)

Mary Wesley

b. 1912

English writer (1912–2002)

Mary Whitehouse

b. 1910

British conservative activist (1910–2001)

Mary Wickes

b. 1910

American actress (1910–1995)

Mary Wollstonecraft

b. 1759

English writer and philosopher (1759–1797)

Mary-Kate Olsen

b. 1986

American businesswoman, fashion designer and actress (born 1986)

Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood

b. 1897

British princess (1897–1965)

Maryam Mirzakhani

b. 1977

Iranian mathematician (1977–2017)

Maryka Holtzhausen

b. 1987

South African netball player (born 1987)

Maryvonne Dupureur

b. 1937

French middle-distance runner

Mas Oyama

Founder of Kyokushin Karate (1923–1994)

Masahide Kobayashi

b. 1974

Japanese baseball player (born 1974)

Masami Nagasawa

b. 1987

Japanese actress (born 1987)

Masanori Murakami

b. 1944

Japanese baseball player (born 1944)

Masaya Takahashi

b. 1984

Japanese professional wrestler (born 1986)

Masayo Kurata

b. 1969

Japanese voice actress (born 1969)