Leading Figures in History

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

21506 persons found

William Tate (painter)

English painter (1747–1806)

William the Silent

b. 1533

Dutch statesman and revolt leader (1533–1584)

William Thomson Sloper

William Thornton

b. 1759

American inventor and architect (1759–1828)

William Tilbury Fox

English dermatologist

William Tite

English architect (1798–1873)

William Tolbert

b. 1913

President of Liberia from 1971 to 1980

William Trevor

b. 1928

Irish writer (1928-2016)

William Van Regenmorter

American politician

William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel

b. 1629

Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel

William Vickrey

b. 1914

Canadian-American economist and Nobel Laureate (1914–1996)

William W. Snow

b. 1812

American politician

William Walker (filibuster)

b. 1824

American physician, lawyer, journalist, and mercenary (1824–1860)

William Warburton

English writer and critic (1698–1779)

William Watson (scientist)

English physician and scientist (1715–1787)

William Whewell

b. 1794

English polymath (1794–1866)

William Whitelaw

b. 1918

British politician (1918–1999)

William Wilson Morgan

American astronomer

William Wishart

William Wordsworth

English Romantic poet (1770–1850)

William, Prince of Orange

Dutch prince (1840–1879)

William, Prince of Wales

b. 1982

Heir apparent to the British throne (born 1982)

Williamina Fleming

b. 1857

Scottish astronomer (1857–1911)

Willibald Alexis

b. 1798

German novelist