Biographies

Almazbek Atambayev Kyrgyz politician who served as Prime Minister and as President of Kyrgyzstan (2011–2017); leader of the Social Democratic Party and a central figure in post-2010 Kyrgyz politics.

Almir Guineto: Brazilian sambista and formative figure in pagode Almir Guineto Overview of Almir Guineto (1946–2017), his musical style, role in samba and pagode, instruments, career context in Rio de Janeiro, and his influence and legacy.

Almuth Schult Almuth Schult (born 9 February 1991) is a German football goalkeeper known for her club career with Turbine Potsdam and VfL Wolfsburg and for representing Germany at major internat…

Aloe Blacc American singer, songwriter and producer known for soulful baritone vocals, hits like "I Need a Dollar" and "The Man", and for singing on Avicii's global hit "Wake Me Up".

Alois Alzheimer — life, work and legacy Alois Alzheimer German psychiatrist and neuropathologist who first described a presenile dementia in patient Auguste Deter; his clinicopathological observations led to recognition of Alzheimer’s d…

Alois Brunner: SS officer, Holocaust perpetrator and postwar fugitive Alois Brunner Austrian SS officer Alois Brunner helped organize deportations of Jews during World War II, later escaped justice, was wounded by Mossad letter bombs, and spent decades as a fugiti…

Alois Hitler (1837–1903) — Austrian customs official and father of Adolf Hitler Alois Hitler Alois Hitler (born Alois Schicklgruber) was an Austrian imperial customs official, born in the Waldviertel in 1837. He is best known as the father of Adolf Hitler and for his conte…

Alois Mock Austrian conservative politician (1934–2017), vice-chancellor and long-serving foreign minister who helped lead Austria into the European Union and played a visible role in the 198…

Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein Biography and role of Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein: his background, regency since 2004, constitutional duties, family connections and notable aspects of the principali…

Aloïse Moudileno Massengo: Congolese Lawyer and Vice President (1933–2020) Aloïse Moudileno Massengo Biography of Aloïse Moudileno Massengo, a pioneering Congolese lawyer and politician who served as Vice President of the Republic of the Congo (1971–1972) and influenced post‑colon…

Alojz Rebula: Slovene Writer, Playwright and Essayist (1924–2018) Alojz Rebula Alojz Rebula was a prominent Slovene-language novelist, playwright, essayist and translator from the Slovene minority in Italy, known for works exploring identity, faith, history a…

Alojz Uran — Slovenian Roman Catholic Archbishop Alojz Uran Biography of Alojz Uran (1945–2020), Slovenian prelate who served as Auxiliary Bishop and later Archbishop of Ljubljana; overview of his roles, dates, resignation and legacy.

Alojzy Orszulik — Polish Roman Catholic Bishop (1928–2019) Alojzy Orszulik Biography of Alojzy Orszulik, a Polish Roman Catholic priest ordained in 1957 who served as auxiliary bishop of Siedlce and as bishop of Łowicz during Poland's post‑communist trans…

Alok Nembang — Nepali film and music-video director (1973–2014) Alok Nembang Alok Nembang (1973–2014) was a Nepali filmmaker and influential music-video director, best known for the feature film Kohi Mero (2010) and for shaping contemporary visual styles in…

Alon Abutbul Israeli film and television actor known for a multi-decade career in Israeli and international cinema, including a role in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises.

Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga — Spanish nobleman, soldier and epic poet Alonso de Ercilla Spanish nobleman (1533–1594) best known for La Araucana, an epic poem about the Arauco War that blends eyewitness military detail, classical epic form, and sympathetic portrayal of…

Alonso Sánchez Coello: Spanish Renaissance Portraitist and Court Painter Alonso Sánchez Coello Alonso Sánchez Coello (c.1531/32–1588) was a leading Spanish Renaissance portrait painter, court artist to Philip II, and a key figure in establishing the formal Spanish portrait t…

Alonzo Church: Logician and Pioneer of Computability Alonzo Church Alonzo Church (1903–1995), American logician and mathematician, created the lambda calculus, formulated Church's thesis, and proved foundational results that shaped computability a…

Alou Diarra Alou Diarra (born 15 July 1981) is a French defensive midfielder known for his physical presence and leadership. He played for Girondins de Bordeaux and the France national team an…

Aloysius Gonzaga (1568–1591) — Italian Jesuit saint and patron of youth Aloysius Gonzaga Italian noble who renounced his inheritance to become a Jesuit; known for caring for plague victims in Rome and for his patronage of young students and Christian youth.

Aloyzas Kveinys — Lithuanian Chess Grandmaster and Five-time National Champion Aloyzas Kveinys Aloyzas Kveinys (1962–2018) was a Lithuanian chess grandmaster, awarded the GM title in 1992 and five-time Lithuanian champion, active in national and international tournaments.

Alpay Özalan: Turkish central defender and international footballer Alpay Özalan Profile of Alpay Özalan (born 29 May 1973), a former Turkish central defender who represented Turkey at major tournaments and had a career in domestic and international club footba…

Alpha Condé — Guinean politician and former president Alpha Condé Profile of Alpha Condé (born 1938), long-time opposition leader who became Guinea's president in 2010, his political career, controversies including mining-related allegations, and…

Alpha Oumar Konaré: Malian president and former African Union chair Alpha Oumar Konaré Alpha Oumar Konaré (born 1946) is a Malian historian and politician who led Mali (1992–2002) and served as Chairperson of the African Union Commission (2003–2008).

Alphons Egli — Swiss Federal Councillor and President of the Confederation (1986) Alphons Egli Alphons Egli (1924–2016) was a Swiss politician from the Christian Democratic People's Party who served on the Federal Council (1983–1986) and was President of the Confederation in…

Alphonse Daudet: French novelist and storyteller (1840–1897) Alphonse Daudet Alphonse Daudet, a French novelist and short‑story writer, celebrated for Tartarin de Tarascon and Lettres de mon moulin. Known for vivid provincial scenes, laconic humor and popul…

Alphonse Mucha: Czech Art Nouveau Painter and Designer Alphonse Mucha Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939), Czech painter and decorative artist, famed for his stylized posters, illustrations and designs that became emblematic of the Art Nouveau movement.

Alphonse of Poitiers, 13th-century Count of Poitou and Toulouse Alphonse of Poitiers French prince Alphonse of Poitiers (1220–1271), son of Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile, count of Poitou and later Toulouse; known for his marriage to Joan of Toulouse and for str…

Alphonso Taft American lawyer and statesman; served in President Ulysses S. Grant's cabinet as Secretary of War and Attorney General and was the father of President William Howard Taft.

Alson Sherman (1811–1903), Mayor of Chicago (1844–1845) Alson Sherman Alson Sherman was a 19th-century American politician who served as mayor of Chicago from 1844 to 1845. He was born in Vermont, raised a large family, and died in Waukegan, Illinois…

Alsou — Russian-Tatar pop singer, Eurovision star and cultural ambassador Alsou Alsou (born 1983) is a Russian pop singer of Tatar origin who rose to fame as a teenager, finished second at Eurovision 2000, released international recordings and serves as a cult…

Altaf Fatima: Pakistani Urdu Novelist, Short Story Writer and Educator Altaf Fatima Altaf Fatima (1927–2018) was a Pakistani Urdu novelist and teacher whose work addressed social change and the human cost of Partition; her novel Dastak Na Do is widely regarded as…

Altaf Gauhar: Pakistani civil servant, journalist and writer (1923–2000) Altaf Gauhar Profile of Altaf Gauhar, a Pakistani civil servant who worked closely with General Ayub Khan, later became a journalist and author, and remained a controversial figure in Pakistan'…

Altair Gomes de Figueiredo (1938–2019) Altair Gomes de Figueiredo Brazilian right back who spent most of his career at Fluminense and represented the Brazil national team in the 1960s; remembered as a durable, attack-minded full back and club leg…

Altamas Kabir — Indian jurist and 39th Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir Altamas Kabir (1948–2017) was an Indian lawyer and judge who served as the 39th Chief Justice of India from 29 September 2012 until his retirement on 18 July 2013. He was born and…

Altero Matteoli Italian centre-right politician (1940–2017) who served as Minister of the Environment and Minister of Infrastructures and Transport, senator and mayor of Orbetello.

Althea Gibson: Pioneer of Tennis and Barrier-Breaking Athlete Althea Gibson Althea Gibson (1927–2003) was the first African-American woman to compete on the international tennis circuit and to win a Grand Slam title, a trailblazer whose achievements reshap…

Alun Gwynne Jones, Baron Chalfont: British soldier, historian and politician Alun Gwynne Jones, Baron Chalfont Overview of Alun Gwynne Jones, Baron Chalfont (1919–2020): military officer, Foreign Office minister, historian of the Napoleonic era, Privy Counsellor and long-serving member of t…

Alun Michael — Welsh politician and first head of the National Assembly for Wales Alun Michael Profile of Alun Michael (born 1943), Welsh Labour politician, former journalist, inaugural leader of Wales's devolved government and later public officeholder.

Alun Wyn Jones — Welsh rugby union lock and long-serving captain Alun Wyn Jones Profile of Alun Wyn Jones, Welsh rugby union lock known for his longevity, leadership with Wales and the Ospreys, British & Irish Lions appearances, and role in Wales' 2019 Rugby W…

Alvarito (Álvaro Rodríguez Ros) — Spanish footballer and manager Alvarito Alvarito (Álvaro Rodríguez Ros, 1936–2018) was a Spanish football defender who played for Atlético Madrid and appeared for Spain in 1960; he later worked as a manager.

Álvaro Arbeloa Spanish former professional footballer, mainly a right-back, who played for Real Madrid and Liverpool and was part of Spain's 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 winning squads.

Álvaro Colom Guatemalan politician and businessman who served as President of Guatemala from 2008 to 2012; noted for social programs, leadership of the UNE party, and a contested legacy.

Álvaro Corcuera (1957–2014): Mexican priest and leader of the Legionaries of Christ Álvaro Corcuera Álvaro Corcuera was a Mexican Roman Catholic priest who led the Legionaries of Christ from 2005 to 2012, guiding the congregation through the aftermath of its founder's abuse scand…

Álvaro Lapuerta — Spanish deputy and long-serving treasurer of the People's Party Álvaro Lapuerta Álvaro de Lapuerta (1927–2018) was a Spanish politician who served in the Congress (1977–2004) and as treasurer of the People's Party (1993–2008). His later years were marked by pu…

Álvaro Lopes Cançado — Brazilian footballer (1912–1984) Álvaro Lopes Cançado Álvaro Lopes Cançado (1912–1984) was a Brazilian footballer who represented the national team. This article summarizes his life, the era in which he played, and his place in Brazil…

Álvaro Mutis (1923–2013) Álvaro Mutis Colombian poet, novelist and essayist, celebrated for the itinerant figure Maqroll and for lyrical prose that explores exile, memory and the sea. Recipient of the 2001 Cervantes Pr…

Álvaro Obregón: Mexican revolutionary leader and president (1880–1928) Álvaro Obregón Military commander and president who rose from Sonoran roots to lead Mexico after the Revolution; noted for battlefield skill, agrarian and educational policies, and his assassinat…