People
Historical Figures and Influential People in History
Explore rulers, generals, thinkers, scientists and reformers who shaped world history. Search for a specific person, or browse by era, region, country and A–Z.
Early Modern Era Figures in Americas
Use the filters on the right to narrow the figure index while keeping the main results in view.
4 results
Benjamin Franklin
1706–1790United States
He flew a kite in a thunderstorm, charmed the French court, and helped write a declaration that started a revolution — and still found time to invent bifocals.
Open profile →
George Washington
1732–1799United States
He was asked to become king and said no — a decision so unusual in the history of military victors that people are still talking about it.
Open profile →
John Adams
1735–1826United States
He spent his presidency being compared unfavourably to Washington, lost to Jefferson in a bitter re-election campaign, and had to wait until he was dead for history to decide he'd been right about more than people admitted.
Open profile →
Thomas Jefferson
1743–1826United States
He wrote that all men are created equal, owned more than six hundred enslaved people, and spent his life writing about liberty — a contradiction the country has never fully resolved.
Open profile →