Biographies

Sir George Ferguson Bowen George Ferguson Bowen British colonial administrator and author, best known as the first governor of Queensland who helped set up early institutions and published works on colonial life and government.

George Fernandes Indian trade unionist and politician who rose from labour activism to senior ministerial office; founder of the Samata Party and a prominent figure in coalition-era Indian politics…

George Fischbeck George Fischbeck, widely known as Dr. George, was an American television weatherman who worked in Albuquerque and Los Angeles from the 1960s into the 1990s and remained a memorable…

George Foreman: Boxer, Two-Time Heavyweight Champion, Entrepreneur and Minister George Foreman Comprehensive overview of George Foreman: his life, boxing career, comeback as the oldest heavyweight champion, business ventures including the George Foreman Grill, and his public…

George Foster Peabody (1852–1938): American Banker and Philanthropist George Foster Peabody Biography of George Foster Peabody, his career in finance, philanthropic work, and the legacy that includes the Peabody Awards recognizing excellence in broadcasting and electronic…

George Fox (1624–1691), founder of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) George Fox English religious leader who founded the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Emphasized direct experience of God, simplicity, equality and pacifism; traveled widely and faced p…

George Freese (1926–2014) George Freese American professional baseball third baseman, long-time minor leaguer and coach; played in MLB in the 1950s and 1960s and later managed and coached in the minors and majors.

George Frideric Handel German-born Baroque composer who spent most of his career in London; famed for operas, oratorios (especially Messiah), and public orchestral works such as Water Music and Music for…

George Galloway: British politician, campaigner and broadcaster George Galloway Profile of George Galloway, a British politician known for his parliamentary service, anti-war activism, media work and role in the Respect Party after leaving Labour in 2003.

George Gamow: physicist, cosmologist, and popular science author George Gamow Concise biography of George Gamow (1904–1968), his work on quantum tunneling, early-universe nucleosynthesis, science popularization and his influence on twentieth-century cosmolog…

George Gaylord Simpson: Life and Contributions to Paleontology George Gaylord Simpson Overview of George Gaylord Simpson (1902–1984), his work on fossil mammals, contributions to the modern evolutionary synthesis, ideas on tempo and mode, taxonomy, and legacy.

George Gaynes: Stage and Screen Character Actor (1917–2016) George Gaynes Biography of George Gaynes, the Finnish-born American actor best known as Commandant Eric Lassard in Police Academy and as Henry Warnimont on Punky Brewster.

George Gekas: Pennsylvania Republican Congressman (1930–2021) George Gekas Profile of George W. Gekas, Republican U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania (1983–2003), his state legislative service, the 2002 redistricting upset, and his political legacy.

George Genyk: Michigan lineman, 1959 captain and longtime high school coach George Genyk George Genyk was a University of Michigan football lineman and 1959 team captain, a 1960 AFL draftee by the New York Titans, and a Michigan high school coach for more than 30 years…

George Gershwin: Composer, Pianist, and Bridge Between Popular and Classical Music George Gershwin An overview of George Gershwin (1898–1937), his musical style, major works such as Rhapsody in Blue and Porgy and Bess, career highlights, and lasting influence on American music.

George Gilder: Writer, Investor, and Technology Theorist George Gilder George Gilder (born 1939) is an American writer, investor and technology enthusiast known for Wealth and Poverty, advocacy of supply-side economics, co‑founding the Discovery Insti…

George Givot American character actor and comic performer (1903–1984), noted for ethnic dialects and radio/film work; voiced Tony in Disney’s Lady and the Tramp. Born in Omaha, Nebraska; died i…

George Goodman (pen name Adam Smith) — author and economics commentator George Goodman George Goodman (1930–2014), known as Adam Smith, was an American author and economics commentator, best known for the best-selling The Money Game and for making markets accessible…

George Graham (1673–1751): English clockmaker and scientific instrument maker George Graham (clockmaker) George Graham (1673–1751) was a leading English clockmaker and instrument maker, a Fellow of the Royal Society, noted for precision timepieces and innovations such as the mercury c…

George Graham (footballer and manager) George Graham (footballer) Scottish former professional footballer and manager, noted for organizing defensively strong teams, major trophies with Arsenal including domestic and European honours, and a later…

George Grove (1820–1900) — British engineer and music scholar George Grove English civil engineer turned music writer and organizer, best known for compiling Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians and for his influence on Victorian concert life and mus…

George H. Hitchings: pioneer of antimetabolites and mechanism‑based drug discovery George H. Hitchings Biography of George H. Hitchings (1905–1998), his education, biochemical strategy of antimetabolites, key drug discoveries, awards including the 1988 Nobel Prize, and his influence…

George H. Kerr: American Diplomat, Historian, and Chronicler of Taiwan George H. Kerr George H. Kerr (1911–1992) was an American diplomat, scholar and author known for his reporting on Taiwan, his book Formosa Betrayed, and his studies of Okinawa and the Ryukyu Isla…

George H. McKee — U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General and Training Commander George H. McKee Biography of Lieutenant General George H. McKee (1923–2015), U.S. Air Force command pilot and commander of Air Training Command at Randolph Air Force Base, with overview of roles a…

George Haigh: English footballer and long-lived Stockport County alumnus George Haigh George Haigh (1915–2019) was an English professional footballer associated with Stockport County and widely noted for his longevity as a former player, reaching age 103.

George Hainsworth George Hainsworth was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who starred in the early NHL with the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs; noted for durability and a rem…

George Hamilton (actor) American film, television and stage actor noted for a suave, suntanned persona and comic roles in films like Love at First Bite; born August 12, 1939 in Memphis, Tennessee.

George Hamilton IV American singer who began as a 1950s teen idol and became a country music mainstay, known for hits like “A Rose and a Baby Ruth” and “Abilene” and a long association with the Grand…

George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen Scottish peer and statesman (1784–1860), twice Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister 1852–1855; led a Peelite–Whig coalition whose ministry collapsed amid the Crimean War.

George Harrison: English guitarist, songwriter and member of the Beatles George Harrison George Harrison (1943–2001) was an English musician known as the Beatles' lead guitarist, a solo artist, collaborator and film producer who brought Indian music and spiritual theme…

George Hearst: 19th‑Century Miner, Businessman and Early Media Owner George Hearst George Hearst (1820–1891) was an American self‑made mining entrepreneur who amassed wealth in gold, silver and copper, later entering politics and buying the San Francisco Examiner…

George Henry Hoyt George Henry Hoyt (1837–1877) was an American abolitionist, lawyer, Union cavalry officer associated with the Kansas Red Legs, and later served as the sixth Attorney General of Kan…

George Henry Thomas: Union General and the 'Rock' of the Western Theater George Henry Thomas Biography of George H. Thomas (1816–1870), a Union general known for leadership in the Western Theater, key Civil War battles, and defending Tennessee; career, battles, reputation,…

George Herbert Walker III American businessman, diplomat and philanthropist; served as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary (2003–2006); member of the Walker–Bush family; born in St. Louis (1931), died in Creve Coeur…

George Herriman: American Cartoonist and Creator of Krazy Kat George Herriman George Herriman (1880–1944), American cartoonist best known for creating the comic strip Krazy Kat (1913–1944). Renowned for inventive visuals, playful language, and a lasting infl…

George Hilton (Uruguayan actor) George Hilton (actor) George Hilton (1934–2019) was a Uruguayan-born actor known for his leading roles in spaghetti westerns and Italian genre films; he worked widely in 1960s–1970s European cinema and…

George W. Hilton (1925–2014): Historian and economist of transportation and regulation George Hilton (historian) Biography and overview of George W. Hilton, an American economic historian known for his work on transportation economics, regulation by commission, labor history, and the history…

George Ho Ho-chi — Hong Kong broadcasting pioneer George Ho George Ho Ho-chi (1919–2014) was a Hong Kong media entrepreneur who founded Commercial Radio and Commercial Television and shaped modern Cantonese broadcasting.

George H. Niederauer: Archbishop of San Francisco and Bishop of Salt Lake City George Hugh Niederauer Biography of George H. Niederauer, American Roman Catholic bishop who led the Diocese of Salt Lake City (1994–2005) and served as Archbishop of San Francisco; covers his life, educ…

George Huntington (1850–1916), American physician who described Huntington's disease George Huntington American physician who first provided the classic 1872 clinical description of hereditary chorea, later named Huntington's disease; noted for emphasizing familial transmission and…

George I of Great Britain: Elector of Hanover and founder of the Hanoverian line George I of Great Britain George I (1660–1727), Elector of Hanover who became King of Great Britain and Ireland in 1714. His reign established the Hanoverian dynasty, shaped early Georgian politics and stre…

George I of Greece: King (1845–1913) and founder of the modern Greek Glücksburg dynasty George I of Greece George I (born Prince William of Glücksburg) reigned as King of the Hellenes from 1863 to 1913, guiding territorial expansion, constitutional development and dynastic ties across E…

George II Regnal name borne by several monarchs. Most prominent are George II of Great Britain (reigned 1727–1760) and George II of Greece (1890–1947); the name also appears among medieval a…

George II of Great Britain King of Great Britain and Ireland (1727–1760), Elector of Hanover, and last British monarch born outside Great Britain; his reign shaped early Georgian politics and foreign policy.

George II of Imereti King of Imereti (western Georgia) from 1565–1585, a member of the Bagrationi dynasty who ruled during a period of noble rivalry and external pressures that shaped late medieval Geo…

George III: King of Great Britain, Ireland and Hanover (1738–1820) George III Comprehensive overview of King George III's life, reign, policies, illness and legacy, including the loss of the American colonies, the Act of Union, Hanoverian connections, and th…

George IV, Prince Regent and King of the United Kingdom and Hanover George IV George IV (1762–1830) served as Prince Regent from 1811 and reigned as King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Hanover from 1820. He is known for patronage of t…

George Jonas: Hungarian‑born Canadian writer and journalist George Jonas George Jonas (1935–2016) was a Hungarian-born Canadian journalist, poet and author of 16 books, best known for Vengeance, an account of a post‑Munich operation later adapted into t…