Leading Figures in History

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

21506 persons found

Valery Belousov

Russian ice hockey player and coach

Valery Gergiev

b. 1953

Russian conductor (born 1953)

Văn Tiến Dũng

b. 1917

Vietnamese general (1917–2002)

Vance A. Larson

b. 1951

American artist (1951–2010)

Vance D. Brand

b. 1931

American naval officer, aviator, aeronautical engineer and astronaut (born 1931)

Vanessa Boslak

b. 1982

French pole vaulter

Vanessa Bryant

b. 1982

Mexican-American philanthropist and public figure (born 1982)

Vanessa Kirby

b. 1988

British actress (born 1987/88)

Vangelis

Greek composer and musician (1943–2022)

Vangelis Mantzaris

b. 1990

Greek basketball player (born 1990)

Vannesa Rosales

b. 1989

Venezuelan activist and teacher

Vannevar Bush

American science official (1890–1974)

Varun Dhawan

b. 1987

Indian actor (born 1987)

Vasanti N. Bhat-Nayak

b. 1938

Indian mathematician (1938–2009)

Vasco Gonçalves

Former Prime Minister of Portugal

Vasek Pospisil

b. 1990

Canadian tennis player (born 1990)

Vasil Bykaŭ

Belarusian writer, human rights activist, and politician (1924–2003)

Vasili Berezutski

b. 1982

Russian footballer

Vasilije Adžić

b. 2006

Montenegrin footballer (born 2006)

Vasilije Mokranjac

Serbian composer and musicologist (1923–1984)

Vasilis Diamantopoulos

Greek actor (1920–1999)

Vasilis Kikilias

b. 1974

Greek politician and basketball player

Vasilis Torosidis

b. 1985

Greek footballer (born 1985)

Vasiliy Kaptyukh

b. 1967

Belarusian discus thrower (born 1967)