A list of famous people, chosen mainly from the nineteenth, twentieth or twenty-first centuries. This list includes famous actors, politicians, entrepreneurs, writers, artists and humanitarians.

1. Marilyn Monroe (1926 – 1962) American actress, singer, model
2. Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865) US President during American civil war
3. Nelson Mandela (1918 – 2013)  South African President anti-apartheid campaigner
4. Queen Elizabeth II (1926 – 2022) British monarch since 1954
5. John F. Kennedy (1917 – 1963) US President 1961 – 1963
6. Martin Luther King (1929 – 1968)  American civil rights campaigner
7. Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965) British Prime Minister during WWII
8. Donald Trump (1946 – ) Businessman, US President.
9. Bill Gates (1955 – ) American businessman, founder of Microsoft
10. Muhammad Ali (1942 – 2016) American Boxer and civil rights campaigner
11. Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948) Leader of Indian independence movement
12. Mother Teresa (1910 – 1997) Macedonian Catholic missionary nun
13. Christopher Columbus (1451 – 1506) Italian explorer
14. Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882) British scientist, theory of evolution
15. Elvis Presley (1935 – 1977) American musician
16. Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) German scientist, theory of relativity
17. Paul McCartney (1942 – ) British musician, member of Beatles
18. Queen Victoria ( 1819 – 1901) British monarch 1837 – 1901
19. Pope Francis (1936 – ) First pope from the Americas
20. Jawaharlal Nehru (1889 – 1964) Indian Prime Minister 1947 – 1964
21. Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519) Italian, painter, scientist, polymath
22. Vincent Van Gogh (1853 – 1890) Dutch artist
23. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 – 1945) US President 1932 – 1945
24. Pope John Paul II (1920 – 2005) Polish Pope
25. Thomas Edison ( 1847 – 1931) American inventor
26. Rosa Parks (1913 – 2005)  American civil rights activist
27. Lyndon Johnson (1908 – 1973) US President 1963 – 1969
28. Ludwig Beethoven (1770 – 1827) German composer
29. Oprah Winfrey (1954 – ) American TV presenter, actress, entrepreneur
30. Indira Gandhi (1917 – 1984) Prime Minister of India 1966 – 1977
31. Eva Peron (1919 – 1952) First Lady of Argentina 1946 – 1952
32. Benazir Bhutto (1953 – 2007) Prime Minister of Pakistan 1993 – 1996
33. George Orwell (1903 – 1950) British author
34. Vladimir Putin (1952 – ) Russian leader
35. Dalai Lama (1938 – ) Spiritual and political leader of Tibetans
36. Walt Disney (1901 – 1966) American film producer
37. Neil Armstrong (1930 – 2012) US astronaut
38. Peter Sellers (1925 – 1980) British actor and comedian
39. Barack Obama (1961 – ) US President 2008 – 2016
40. Malcolm X (1925 – 1965) American Black nationalist leader
41. J.K.Rowling (1965 – ) British author
42. Richard Branson (1950 – ) British entrepreneur
43. Pele (1940 – ) Brazilian footballer, considered greatest of 20th century.
44. Angelina Jolie (1975 – ) Actress, director, humanitarian
45. Jesse Owens (1913 – 1980) US track athlete, 1936 Olympics
46. John Lennon (1940 – 1980) British musician, member of the Beatles
47. Henry Ford (1863 – 1947) US Industrialist
48. Haile Selassie (1892 – 1975) Emperor of Ethiopia 1930 – 1974
49. Joseph Stalin (1879 – 1953) Leader of Soviet Union 1924 – 1953
50. Lord Baden Powell (1857 – 1941) British Founder of scout movement
51. Michael Jordan (1963 – ) US Basketball star
52. Vladimir Lenin (1870 – 1924) Leader of Russian Revolution 1917
53. Ingrid Bergman (1915 – 1982) Swedish actress
54. Fidel Castro (1926 – ) President of Cuba 1976 – 2008
55. Leo Tolstoy (1828 – 1910) Russian author and philosopher
56. Greta Thunberg (2003 – ) Environmentalist activist)
57. Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973) Spanish modern artist
58. Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900) Irish author, poet, playwright
59. Coco Chanel (1883 – 1971) French fashion designer
60. Charles de Gaulle (1890 – 1970) French resistance leader and President 1959 – 1969
61. Amelia Earhart (1897 – 1937) Aviator
62. John M Keynes (1883 – 1946) British economist
63. Louis Pasteur (1822 – 1895) French chemist and microbiologist
64. Mikhail Gorbachev (1931 – ) Leader of Soviet Union 1985 – 1991
65. Plato (423 BC – 348 BC) Greek philosopher
66. Adolf Hitler (1889 – 1945) leader of Nazi Germany 1933 – 1945
67. Sting (1951 – ) British musician
68. Elon Musk (1971 – ) Business magnate, and entrepreneur.
69. Mary Magdalene (4 BCE – 40CE) devotee of Jesus Christ
70. Alfred Hitchcock (1899 – 1980) English / American film producer, director
71. Michael Jackson (1958 – 2009) American musician
72. Madonna (1958 – ) American musician, actress, author
73. Mata Hari (1876 – 1917) Dutch exotic dancer, executed as spy
74. Cleopatra (69 – 30 BCE) Queen of Egypt
75. Grace Kelly (1929 – 1982) American actress, Princess of Monaco\
76. Malala Yousafzai (1997 – ) Pakistani human rights activist
77. Steve Jobs (1955 – 2012) co-founder of Apple computers
78. Ronald Reagan (1911 – 2004) US President 1981-1989
79. Lionel Messi (1987 – ) Argentinian footballer
80. Babe Ruth (1895 – 1948) American baseball player
81. Bob Geldof (1951 – ) Irish musician, charity worker
82. Roger Federer (1981 – ) Swiss Tennis player
83. Sigmund Freud (1856 – 1939) Austrian psychoanalyst
84. Woodrow Wilson (1856 – 1924) US president 1913 – 1921
85. Mao Zedong (1893 – 1976) Leader of Chinese Communist revolution
86. Katherine Hepburn (1907 – 2003) American actress
87. Audrey Hepburn (1929 – 1993) British actress and humanitarian
88. David Beckham (1975 – )  English footballer
89. Tiger Woods (1975 – ) American golfer
90. Usain Bolt (1986 – ) Jamaican athlete and Olympian
91. Carl Lewis (1961 – ) US athlete and Olympian
92. Prince Charles (1948 – )  Heir to British throne
93. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929 – 1994) American wife of JF Kennedy
94. Joe Biden (1942 – ) US President
95. Kim Kardashian (1980 – ) American socialiate
96. C.S. Lewis (1898 – 1963) British author
97. Billie Holiday (1915 – 1959) American jazz singer
98. J.R.R. Tolkien (1892 – 1973) British author
99. Billie Jean King (1943 – ) American tennis player and human rights activist
100. Margaret Thatcher (1925 – 2013) British Prime Minister 1979 – 1990

More famous people

1. Anne Frank (1929 – 1945) Dutch Jewish author who died in Holocaust
2. Simon Bolivar (1783 – 1830) Venezuelan independence activist in South America.
3. Marie Antoinette (1755 – 1793) French Queen, executed during the French revolution
4. Cristiano Ronaldo (1985 – ) Portuguese footballer.
5. Emmeline Pankhurst  (1858 – 1928) English suffragette.
6. Emile Zatopek (1922 – 2000) Czech athlete
7. Desmond Tutu (1931 – 2021) South African Bishop and opponent of apartheid
8. Lech Walesa (1943 – ) Polish leader of Solidarity movement
9. Julie Andrews (1935 – ) British singer, actress
10. Florence Nightingale (1820 – 1910) British nurse
11. Marie Curie (1867 – 1934) Polish / French scientist
12. Stephen Hawking (1942 – ) British scientist
13. Tim Berners Lee (1955 – ) English creator of World Wide Web
14. Aung San Suu Kyi (1945 – ) Burmese opposition leader
15. Lance Armstrong (1971 – ) American cyclist
16. Shakira (1977 – ) Colombian singer
17. Jon Stewart (1962 – ) American comedian
18. Wright Brothers  Orville (1871 – 1948) and Wilbur (1867 – 1912) American inventors, aviation pioneers
19. Ernest Hemingway (1899 – 1961) American author
20. Roman Abramovich (1966 – ) Russian oligarch
21. Tom Cruise (1962 – ) American actor
22. Rupert Murdoch (1931 – ) Media owner of News Corporation
23. Al Gore (1948 – ) US presidential candidate and environmental campaigner
24. Sacha Baron Cohen (1971 – ) English comedian
25. George Clooney (1961 – ) American actor and political activist
26. Paul Krugman (1953 – ) American Nobel Prize winning economist
27. Jimmy Wales (1966 – ) American creator of Wikipedia
28. Brad Pitt (1963 – ) Actor
29. Kylie Minogue (1968 – ) Australian singer and actress
30. Stephen King (1947 – ) American author

More Famous people

A list of famous and influential women, including women’s rights activists, poets, musicians, politicians, humanitarians and scientists.

A list of women in chronological order

Sappho (circa  570 BCE) One of the first known female writers. Much of her poetry has been lost but her immense reputation has remained. Plato referred to Sappho as one of the great 10 poets.

Cleopatra (69 BCE–30 BCE) The last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt. Cleopatra sought to defend Egypt from the expanding Roman Empire. In doing so she formed relationships with two of Rome’s most powerful leaders, Marc Anthony and Julius Caesar.

Mary Magdalene (4 BCE–40BCE) Accounts from the Gospels and other sources suggest Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus’ most devoted followers. Mary Magdalene stood near Jesus at his crucifixion and was the first to see his resurrection.

Boudicca (1st Century CE) Boudicca was an inspirational leader of the Britons. She led several tribes in revolt against the Roman occupation. Initially successful, her army of 100,000 sacked Colchester and then London. Her army was later defeated.

Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) Mystic, author and composer. Hildegard of Bingen lived a withdrawn life, spending most of her time behind convent walls. However, her writings, poetry and music were revelatory for the time period. She was consulted by popes, kings and influential people of the time. Her writings and music have influenced people to this day.

Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122–1204) The first Queen of France. Two of her sons Richard and John went on to become Kings of England. Educated, beautiful and highly articulate, Eleanor influenced the politics of western Europe through her alliances and influence over her sons.

Joan of Arc (1412–1431) The patron saint of France, Joan of Arc inspired a French revolt against the occupation of the English. An unlikely hero, at the age of just 17, the diminutive Joan successfully led the French to victory at Orleans. Her later trial and martyrdom only heightened her mystique.

Mirabai (1498–1565) Indian mystic and poet. Mirabai was born into a privileged Hindu family, but she forsook the expectations of a princess and spent her time as a mystic and devotee of Sri Krishna. She helped revitalise the tradition of bhakti (devotional) yoga in India.

St Teresa of Avila (1515–1582) Spanish mystic, poet and Carmelite reformer. St Teresa of Avila lived through the Spanish inquisition but avoided being placed on trial despite her mystical revelations. She helped to reform the tradition of Catholicism and steer the religion away from fanaticism.

Elizabeth I (1533–1603) Queen of England during a time of great economic and social change, she saw England cemented as a Protestant country. During her reign, she witnessed the defeat of the Spanish Armada leaving Britain to later become one of the world’s dominant superpowers.

Catherine the Great (1729–1796) One of the greatest political leaders of the Eighteenth Century. Catherine the Great was said to have played an important role in improving the welfare of Russian serfs. She placed great emphasis on the arts and helped to cement Russia as one of the dominant countries in Europe.

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797) English author, Wollstonecraft wrote the most significant book in the early feminist movement. Her pamphlet “A Vindication of the Rights of Women” laid down a moral and practical basis for extending human and political rights to women. She was a pioneer in the struggle for female suffrage.

Jane Austen (1775–1817) One of the most famous female authors of all time, Jane Austen wrote several novels, which remain highly popular today. These include Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Northanger Abbey. Jane Austen wrote at a time when female writers were not encouraged, helping pave the way for future writers.

Sojourner Truth (1797 – 1883) African-American abolitionist and women’s rights campaigner. In 1851, gave a famous extemporaneous speech “Ain’t I a woman?” which explained in plain language how women were equal to men.

Margaret Fuller (1810–1850) An American women’s rights advocate. Her book Women in the Nineteenth Century (1845) was influential in changing perceptions about men and women, and was one of the most important early feminist works. She argued for equality and women being more self-dependent and less dependent on men.

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896) A lifelong anti-slavery campaigner. Her novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a bestseller and helped to popularise the anti-slavery campaign. Abraham Lincoln later remarked that her books were a major factor behind the American civil war.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902) American social activist and leading figure in the early women’s rights movement. She was a key figure in helping create the early women’s suffrage movements in the US. She was the principal author of Declaration of Sentiments in 1848.

Queen Victoria (1819–1901) British Queen. Presiding over one of the largest empires ever seen, Queen Victoria was the head of state from 1837 – 1901. Queen Victoria sought to gain an influence in British politics whilst remaining aloof from party politics. She came to symbolise a whole era of Victorian values.

Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) British nurse. By serving in the Crimean war, Florence Nightingale was instrumental in changing the role and perception of the nursing profession. Her dedicated service won widespread admiration and led to a significant improvement in the treatment of wounded soldiers.

Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906) American Campaigner against slavery and for the promotion of women’s and workers rights. She began campaigning within the temperance movement and this convinced her of the necessity for women to have the vote. She toured the US giving countless speeches on the subjects of human rights.

Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910) Born in Britain, Blackwell was the first woman to receive a medical degree in America and the first woman to be on the UK medical register. Blackwell helped to break down social barriers, enabling women to be accepted as doctors.

Clara Barton (1821-1912) – Barton was a pioneering nurse in the American civil war. She overcame stiff opposition to lead medical units close to the front lines. She was the founder president of the American Red Cross society and spent her life serving others in need. Barton was supportive of women’s suffrage and broke many gender barriers during her lifetime.

Emily Dickinson (1830–1886) One of America’s greatest poets, Emily Dickinson lived most of her life in seclusion. Her poems were published posthumously and received widespread literary praise for their bold and unconventional style. Her poetic style left a significant legacy on 20th Century poetry.

Millicent Fawcett (1846–1929)  A leading suffragist and campaigner for equal rights for women. She led Britain’s biggest suffrage organisation, the non-violent (NUWSS) and played a key role in gaining women the vote. She also helped found Newnham College, Cambridge.

Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928) A British suffragette, Emily Pankhurst dedicated her life to the promotion of women’s rights. She explored all avenues of protest including violence, public demonstrations and hunger strikes. She died in 1928, 3 weeks before a law giving all women over 21 the right to vote.

Marie Curie (1867–1934) Polish/French scientist. Curie was the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize and the first person to win the Nobel Prize for two separate categories. Her first award was for research into radioactivity (Physics, 1903). Her second Nobel prize was for Chemistry in 1911. A few years later she also helped develop the first X-ray machines.

Emily Murphy (1868–1933) The first woman magistrate in the British Empire. In 1927 she joined forces with four other Canadian women who sought to challenge an old Canadian law that said, “women should not be counted as persons.”

Helen Keller (1880–1968) American social activist. At the age of 19 months, Helen became deaf and blind. Overcoming the frustration of losing both sight and hearing she campaigned tirelessly on behalf of deaf and blind people.

Coco Chanel (1883–1971) French fashion designer. One of the most innovative fashion designers, Coco Chanel was instrumental in defining feminine style and dress during the 20th Century. Her ideas were revolutionary; in particular she often took traditionally male clothes and redesigned them for the benefit of women.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) Wife and political aide of American president F.D.Roosevelt. In her own right Eleanor made a significant contribution to the field of human rights, a topic she campaigned upon throughout her life. As head of UN human rights commission she helped to draft the 1948 UN declaration of human rights.

Annie Besant (1847–1933) British campaigner for social justice, an advocate of women’s rights and later member of the Theosophist society. She also actively campaigned for Indian independence.

Margaret Sanger (1879-1966) – Sanger was a leading pioneer in offering contraception and health care services to women. Controversial at the time, Sanger is credited with playing a leading role in legalising both contraception and publishing information about family planning. She founded the American Birth Control League and encouraged the development of the contraceptive pill.

Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American actress. An iconic figure of twentieth Century film, Katharine Hepburn won four Oscars and received over twelve Oscar nominations. Her lifestyle was unconventional for the time and through her acting and life, she helped redefine traditional views of women’s roles in society.

Rachel Carson (1907 – 1964) American conservationist. Rachel Carson was a pioneering environmentalist. Her work, Silent Spring (1962) highlighted the dangers of unregulated pesticide use. It played an important role in creating the modern ecological movement.

Simone de Beauvoir (1908–1986) French existentialist philosopher. Simone de Beauvoir developed a close personal and intellectual relationship with Jean-Paul Satre. Her book “The Second Sex” depicted the traditions of sexism that dominated society and history. It was a defining book for the feminist movement.

Mother Teresa (1910–1997) Albanian nun and charity worker. Devoting her life to the service of the poor and dispossessed Mother Teresa became a global icon for selfless service to others. Through her Missionary of Charities organisation, she personally cared for thousands of sick and dying people in Calcutta. She was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1979.

Dorothy Hodgkin (1910–1994) British chemist. Hodgkin was awarded the Nobel prize for her work on critical discoveries of the structure of both penicillin and later insulin. These discoveries led to significant improvements in health care. An outstanding chemist, Dorothy also devoted a large section of her life to the peace movement and promoting nuclear disarmament.

Rosa Parks (1913–2005) American civil rights activist. Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, indirectly led to some of the most significant civil rights legislation of American history. She sought to play down her role in the civil rights struggle but for her peaceful and dignified campaigning she became one of the most well respected figures in the civil rights movements.

Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022) Elizabeth II was Britain’s longest-serving monarch (70 years) She witnessed rapid social and economic change and was been a unifying and stabilising influence for Britain and the Commonwealth.

Billie Holiday (1915–1959) American jazz singer. Given the title “First Lady of the Blues” Billie Holiday was widely considered to be the greatest and most expressive jazz singer of all time. Her voice was moving in its emotional intensity and poignancy. Despite dying at the age of only 44, Billie Holiday helped define the jazz era and her recordings are still widely sold today.

Indira Gandhi (1917–1984) First female prime minister of India. She was in power from between 1966–77 and 1980–84. Accused of authoritarian tendencies she only narrowly avoided a military coup by agreeing to hold an election at the end of the “emergency period” of 1977. She was assassinated in 1984 by her Sikh bodyguards, in response to her storming of the Golden Temple.

Eva Peron (1919–1952) Eva Peron was widely loved by the ordinary people of Argentina. She campaigned tirelessly for both the poor and for the extension of women’s rights. She died aged only 32 in 1952.

Rosalind Franklin (1920 – 1958) British Chemist who made significant contributions to understanding the structure of DNA and RNA, which led to the discovery of the DNA double helix. Franklin also worked on the chemistry of coal and viruses.

Betty Friedan (1921–2006) American social activist and leading feminist figure of the 1960s. She wrote the best-selling book “The Feminine Mystique.” Friedan campaigned for an extension of female rights and an end to sexual discrimination.

Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) The first female Prime minister of Great Britain, she governed for over 10 years, putting emphasis on individual responsibility and a belief in free markets.

Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962) American actress who became one of the most iconic film legends. Her films were moderately successful, but her lasting fame came through her photogenic good looks and aura of glamour and sophistication.

Anne Frank (1929–1945) Dutch Jewish author. Anne Frank’s diary is one of the most widely read books in the world. It reveals the thoughts of a young, yet surprisingly mature 13-year-old girl, confined to a secret hiding place. “Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.”

Audrey Hepburn (1929–1993) British actress. Influential female actor of the 1950s and 60s. Audrey Hepburn defined feminine glamour and dignity and was later voted as one of the most beautiful women of the twentieth century. After her acting career ended in the mid-1960s, she devoted the remaining period of her life to humanitarian work with UNICEF.

Germaine Greer (1939– ) Australian feminist icon of the 1960s and 1970s, Germaine Greer enjoys raising contentious issues. In particular her book “The Female Eunuch” was a defining manifesto for the feminist movement, which proved influential in the 1960s.

Wangari Maathai (1940–2011 ) Kenyan-born environmentalist, pro-democracy activist and women’s rights campaigner. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to prevent conflict through the protection of scarce resources.

Betty Williams (1943– ) Together with Mairead Corrigan, Betty Williams campaigned to bring an end to the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. They founded the Community for Peace and were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 (post dated for 1976).

Billie Jean King (1943– ) American tennis player. Billie Jean King was one of the greatest female tennis champions, who also battled for equal pay for women. She won 67 professional titles including 20 titles at Wimbledon.

Shirin Ebadi (1947– ) An Iranian lawyer, Ebadi has fought for human rights in Iran, representing political dissidents and founding initiatives to promote democracy and human rights. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.

Benazir Bhutto (1953–2007) The first female prime minister of a Muslim country. She helped to move Pakistan from a dictatorship to democracy, becoming Prime Minister in 1988. She sought to implement social reforms, in particular helping women and the poor. She was assassinated in 2007.

Oprah Winfrey (1954– ) American talk show host and businesswoman. Oprah Winfrey was the first woman to own her own talk show. Her show and book club are very influential, focusing on issues facing American women.

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997) British Royal princess who was noted for her humanitarian charity work. Despite her troubled marriage to Prince Charles, she was popular for her natural sympathy with the poor and disenfranchised.

J.K.Rowling (1965– ) British author of the phenomenal best selling Harry Potter series. The volume of sales was so high, it has been credited with leading a revival of reading by children. She wrote the first book as a single mother, struggling to make ends meet, but her writing led to her great success.

Tegla Loroupe (1973– ) Kenyan athlete. Loroupe held the women’s marathon world record and won many prestigious marathons. Since retiring from running, she has devoted herself to various initiatives promoting peace, education and women’s rights. In her native Kenya, her Peace Race and Peace Foundation have been widely praised for helping to end tribal conflict.

Malala Yousafzai (1997– ) Pakistani schoolgirl who defied threats of the Taliban to campaign for the right to education. She survived being shot in the head by the Taliban and has become a global advocate for women’s rights, especially the right to education.

Jacinda Ardern (1980 – ) Youngest female Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2018. Her style of leadership which emphasises kindness and empathy has received substantial praise. She has called for global action on climate change and universal recognition of human rights.

Greta Thunberg (2003 – ) Swedish schoolgirl who has become a global leader for environmental issues and leading protests against global warming. Thunberg has spoken at events across the world – making it clear we face a real environmental crisis unless we make wholesale changes to the way we live.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan. “Women who changed the world”, Oxford, UK. www.biographyonline.net. Last updated 11 November 2021. Originally published 18 April 2010.

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