Leading Figures in History

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

21506 persons found

Xavier Worthy

b. 2003

American football player (born 2003)

Xenophon Zolotas

b. 1904

Greek economist (1904–2004)

Xi Jinping

b. 1953

Leader of China since 2012

Xiahou Dun

Chinese Han dynasty general (died 220)

Xiang Zhongfa

Chinese politician (1879–1931)

Xiao Qing

Chinese politician

Xiao Tong

Crown Prince of Liang Dynasty (501–531)

Xin Qiji

b. 1140

Chinese poet (1140–1207)

Xochitl Gomez

b. 2006

American actress (born 2006)

Xu Guangqi

b. 1562

Chinese intellectual (1562–1633)

Xue Yiju

Tang dynasty politician

XXXTentacion

American rapper and singer-songwriter (1998–2018)

Ya'acov Ben-Dov

b. 1882

Israeli photographer

Ya'akov Cahan

b. 1881

Writer from Israel (1881–1960)

Ya'akov Hodorov

b. 1927

Israeli footballer

Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar

Amir of the Saffarid dynasty from 861 to 879

Yadier Pedroso

b. 1986

Cuban baseball player (1986–2013)

Yagyū Mitsuyoshi

Japanese samurai (1607–1650)

Yahweh ben Yahweh

Nation of Yahweh Founder (1935–2007)

Yahya Jammeh

b. 1965

President of the Gambia from 1996 to 2017

Yaime Pérez

b. 1991

Cuban discus thrower (born 1991)

Yamagata Aritomo

b. 1838

Japanese military leader and statesman (1838–1922)

Yang Jisheng (Ming dynasty)

b. 1516

Chinese statesman

Yang Liwei

b. 1965

Chinese military officer and taikonaut (born 1965)