Leading Figures in History

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

21506 persons found

Walter Rodney

Guyanese politician, activist and historian (1942–1980)

Walter Russell

b. 1871

American artist (1871–1963)

Walter Rutherford (golfer)

b. 1870

Scottish golfer

Walter Sickert

b. 1860

British artist (1860–1942)

Walter Simon (philanthropist)

b. 1857

German banker, councillor and philanthropist (1857–1920)

Walter Sisulu

South African anti-apartheid activist (1912–2003)

Walter Slezak

Austrian-born actor (1902–1983)

Walter Stewart (journalist)

b. 1931

Walter Tewksbury

American track and field athlete

Walter Tull

b. 1888

English footballer (1888–1918)

Walter Ulbricht

b. 1893

Leader of East Germany from 1950 to 1971

Walter Walsh

b. 1907

Federal Bureau of Investigation agent and sport shooter

Walter White (Scottish footballer)

b. 1882

Scottish footballer

Walter Yust

b. 1894

American journalist and writer

Walter Zenga

b. 1960

Italian footballer and manager

Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria

11th-century Anglo-Saxon earl of Northumbria

Walther Funk

German economist and politician (1890–1960)

Walther Nernst

b. 1864

German physical chemist (1864–1941)

Walther Rathenau

German businessman and politician (1867–1922)

Wanda Gág

American artist and children's writer (1893–1946)

Wanda Janicka

b. 1923

Polish architect (1923–2023)

Wanderléa

b. 1946

Brazilian singer (born 1944)

Wang Anshi

Chinese Song dynasty politician (1021–1086)

Wang Chuqin

b. 2000

Chinese table tennis player