Leading Figures in History

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

18354 persons found

William I, Count of Hainaut

Count of Hainaut from 1304 to 1337

William II, Count of Flanders

Count of Flanders (1224–1251)

William II, Landgrave of Hesse

b. 1469

Landgrave of Upper Hesse

William II, Prince of Orange

b. 1626

Prince of Orange from 1647 to 1650

William III, Landgrave of Thuringia

b. 1425

Landgrave of Thuringia from the Wettin dynasty

William Inge

b. 1913

American playwright and novelist (1913–1973)

William IV

King of the United Kingdom from 1830 to 1837

William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

b. 1852

Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1905 to 1912

William J. Bell (producer)

American screenwriter (1927–2005)

William J. Brennan Jr.

b. 1906

U.S. Supreme Court justice from 1956 to 1990

William J. Casey

Director of Central Intelligence from 1981 to 1987

William James (Australian general)

b. 1930

Soldier and military doctor (1930–2015)

William Jay Smith

b. 1918

American writer, translator, editor

William Joseph Browne

b. 1897

Canadian politician (1897–1989)

William Joyce

b. 1906

American-born fascist and propaganda broadcaster (1906–1946)

William Judson Holloway Jr.

American judge

William Juxon

Archbishop of Canterbury from 1660 to 1663

William Kaye Estes

b. 1919

American psychologist (1919–2011)

William Kidd

Scottish privateer (1654–1701)

William Lassell

b. 1799

English merchant and astronomer (1799–1880)

William Lawson (explorer)

b. 1774

English born Australian explorer and politician (1774–1850)

William Le Baron Jenney

American architect and engineer

William Levada

b. 1936

American Catholic cardinal (1936–2019)

William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme

English industrialist, philanthropist and politician (1851–1925)