Biographies

Charles Haughey: Irish statesman, Fianna Fáil leader and three-time Taoiseach Charles Haughey Overview of Charles J. Haughey (1925–2006), his political career as Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach, major offices held, policy impact and the controversies and inquiries that mar…

Charles Boardman Hawes Charles Hawes American writer of sea tales and historical juvenile fiction, noted for The Dark Frigate; third Newbery Medal recipient and first U.S.-born winner, remembered for vivid nautical st…

Charles Hendry British Conservative politician who represented Wealden and served as a minister with responsibilities for energy and climate change in the early 2010s.

Charles Huxtable (1931–2018) — British Army general Charles Huxtable Profile of General Sir Charles R. Huxtable, a senior British Army officer who served in Korea and led Land Forces (1988–1990); overview of his career, honours and significance.

Charles I (1600–1649), King of England, Scotland and Ireland Charles I of England King of England, Scotland and Ireland (1625–1649) whose disputes with Parliament and religious policy precipitated the English Civil War; tried and executed in 1649. Patron of the…

Charles II, King of England, Scotland and Ireland (Restoration monarch) Charles II of England Charles II (1630–1685) restored the Stuart monarchy in 1660. His reign saw the Great Plague, Great Fire of London, cultural revival, maritime conflict, and recurring religious and…

Charles II, Duke of Guelders (Charles of Egmond) Charles II, Duke of Guelders Charles of Egmond (1467–1538), known as Charles II of Guelders, was a Dutch noble who led his duchy through prolonged conflict with Burgundian and Habsburg power and allied with Fr…

Charles III — King of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Charles III Biography and overview of Charles III, his roles, background, public duties, interests, and constitutional position as monarch of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms.

Charles III of Spain: Bourbon Reformer and Patron of the Arts Charles III of Spain King Charles III (1716–1788) was a Bourbon monarch who ruled Naples and Sicily before becoming king of Spain. He is remembered for administrative reforms, Enlightenment patronage,…

Charles IV of France (1294–1328) Charles IV of France Last direct Capetian king of France (reigned 1322–1328), also King of Navarre and Count of Champagne; his death without a male heir produced a succession crisis that helped spark t…

Charles IV of Spain King of Spain from 1788 to 1808; noted for delegating authority to his favorite Manuel Godoy, his reign faced Revolutionary and Napoleonic turmoil and ended with abdication and exi…

Charles Ives: American experimental composer Charles Ives Charles Ives (1874–1954) was an American composer who pioneered polytonality, polyrhythms and musical collage. Largely unappreciated in his lifetime, his work influenced later 20th…

Charles IX of France King of France (1560–1574) from the Valois line whose reign was dominated by the Wars of Religion and the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre; son of Henry II and Catherine de' Medici.

Charles J. Colgan — Virginia state senator and businessman Charles J. Colgan Charles J. Colgan (1926–2017) was an American businessman and Democratic politician who served 40 years in the Virginia Senate, led the chamber as President pro tempore and founded…

Charles J. Hynes — American prosecutor and public official Charles J. Hynes Charles J. Hynes (1935–2019) was an American Democratic politician and longtime Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney, and served earlier as New York City Fire Commissioner.

Charles J. Urstadt American real estate executive and public official who led the Battery Park City Authority and influenced New York rent regulation; born in Manhattan, died in Bronxville in 2020.

Charles James Napier (1782–1853): British general and conqueror of Sindh Charles James Napier Biography of Sir Charles James Napier, a 19th-century British general known for military service in Europe, the conquest and administration of Sindh (1843), and his contested legac…

Charles Juste de Beauvau, 2nd Prince of Craon (1720–1793) Charles Juste de Beauvau, Prince of Craon French nobleman and military leader. Charles Juste de Beauvau (1720–1793) succeeded as 2nd Prince of Craon, became Marshal of France in 1783, and took part in 18th‑century aristocr…

Charles Kay (English actor) Charles Kay English character actor Charles Kay (born Charles Piff, 31 August 1930), noted for Royal Shakespeare Company stage work and numerous British television and radio performances.

Charles Kay Ogden: linguist, philosopher and promoter of Basic English Charles Kay Ogden Charles Kay Ogden (1889–1957) was an English linguist, philosopher and writer best known for coauthoring The Meaning of Meaning, translating Wittgenstein, and developing the 850-wo…

Charles Keating: Businessman, S&L Figure, and Controversial Public Figure Charles Keating Charles H. Keating Jr. (1923–2014) was an American lawyer, developer and banker best known for his role in the 1980s savings and loan crisis, high-profile political controversies,…

Charles Keating (actor) British actor Charles Keating (1941–2014) was known for stage, screen and audiobook narration. He gained recognition on US daytime dramas such as Another World and All My Children…

Charles Kennedy Charles Kennedy (1959–2015) was a British politician who led the Liberal Democrats from 1999 to 2006; known for his early rise, opposition to the Iraq War and a later public strugg…

Charles S. Kettles — U.S. Army aviator and Medal of Honor recipient Charles Kettles Biography of Charles S. Kettles (1930–2019), U.S. Army helicopter pilot honored with the Medal of Honor for actions in Vietnam; service, recognition, and legacy.

Charles Kimbrough American actor best known for playing anchorman Jim Dial on Murphy Brown; veteran stage performer and voice actor across television, film, and theatre.

Charles Kingsford Smith — Australian aviation pioneer Charles Kingsford Smith Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (1897–1935) was an Australian aviator who made the first successful trans-Pacific flight to Australia and led several other early long-distance flights.

Charles Kittel: Physicist, Educator, and Author of a Foundational Solid‑State Text Charles Kittel Overview of Charles Kittel (1916–2019), his career at UC Berkeley, contributions to solid‑state physics including the RKKY interaction, and the influence of his textbook Introducti…

Charles Koch American businessman, CEO of Koch Industries, philanthropist and advocate of free‑market ideas. Known for leadership at Koch Industries, the Charles Koch Foundation, and political…

Charles Koechlin (1867–1950) Charles Koechlin French composer, teacher and writer noted for a vast, eclectic output, inventive orchestration and support of younger composers; known for symphonic poems, chamber works, piano mus…

Charles Koffi Diby (1957–2019) — Ivorian Politician and Diplomat Charles Koffi Diby Overview of Charles Koffi Diby, his roles as an Ivorian minister and diplomat, career highlights, contributions to diplomacy and economy, and circumstances of his death in Abidjan.

Charles Koppelman American music industry executive and media executive born in 1940; former EMI Records chairman, former Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia chairman, and CEO of CAK Entertainment.

Charles Krauthammer: American columnist, physician, and political commentator Charles Krauthammer Profile of Charles Krauthammer (1950–2018), the Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist, former physician, and influential conservative commentator whose work reached hundreds of newspape…

Charles Laughton English-born stage and film actor, director, and producer noted for commanding character performances, his Oscar-winning turn as Henry VIII, and his acclaimed film The Night of the…

Charles Lee (United States Attorney General, 1795–1801) Charles Lee (Attorney General) Charles Lee (1758–1815) was a Virginia lawyer who served as U.S. Attorney General from 1795 to 1801 under Presidents Washington and Adams, helping to shape early federal legal prac…

Charles Levin Charles Levin is a personal name shared by several people; most commonly it refers to Charles Levin (1949–2019), an American character actor. This entry distinguishes bearers and o…

Charles Lewis Tiffany Founder of Tiffany & Co., Charles Lewis Tiffany (1812–1902) shaped American jewelry and silver standards, founding a leading New York luxury firm and promoting sterling silver and…

Charles Lindbergh: pioneering aviator and public figure Charles Lindbergh American aviator Charles Lindbergh (1902–1974) made the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in 1927 and became an influential, sometimes controversial, figure in aviation and p…

Charles Liteky: Army Chaplain, Medal of Honor Recipient, and Peace Activist Charles Liteky American Army chaplain awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam who later became a peace activist and the first person to return the medal in protest of U.S. policy.

Charles Lyell: Pioneer of Modern Geology and Advocate of Uniformitarianism Charles Lyell Charles Lyell (1797–1875), British geologist whose Principles of Geology popularized uniformitarianism, influenced Charles Darwin, and shaped 19th-century thinking about Earth's de…

Charles Manson: Leader of the 'Family' and the 1969 murders Charles Manson Charles Manson (1934–2017) was an American criminal and cult leader whose followers committed the 1969 Tate–LaBianca killings; convicted and imprisoned for life, he remains a symbo…

Charles Martel: Frankish leader, military commander and founder of Carolingian power Charles Martel Charles Martel (c.688–741), Mayor of the Palace and de facto ruler of the Franks, who consolidated power in Gaul, halted an Islamic advance at Tours, and laid foundations for the C…

Charles Martinet: Voice of Mario and Noted Video Game Performer Charles Martinet Charles Martinet (born 1955) is an American actor and voice actor best known for portraying Mario and several other characters in Nintendo’s Mario franchise since the mid-1990s.

Charles Michel Belgian politician and lawyer who served as Prime Minister (2014–2019) and has been President of the European Council since December 2019, known for his work in national government…

Charles Miossec (1938–2020), long-serving French Deputy from Finistère Charles Miossec Charles Miossec (1938–2020) was a French politician born in Lanhouarneau who served as a Deputy in the National Assembly from 1978 to 2002 and represented constituencies in Finistè…

Charles N'Zogbia — French professional football winger Charles N'Zogbia Profile of Charles N'Zogbia, a French winger known for dribbling and pace; overview of his career from Le Havre academy to the English Premier League, playing style, clubs and nota…

Charles Napier — American character actor Charles Napier Overview of Charles L. Napier (1936–2011), a U.S. character actor known for tough-guy and authority roles in film and television, his background, career highlights, and legacy.

Charles Nicolle — French physician and Nobel laureate in typhus research Charles Nicolle Charles Jules Henri Nicolle (1866–1936), director at the Institut Pasteur de Tunis, demonstrated lice transmission of epidemic typhus and received the 1928 Nobel Prize for this wor…

Charles O. Finley — Owner and Innovator of the Oakland Athletics Charles O. Finley American sports owner Charles O. Finley (1918–1996) led the Oakland Athletics through major change, known for promotions, uniform innovations and three consecutive World Series tit…