Biographies

James F. Sirmons — CBS Broadcasting Executive (1917–2018) James F. Sirmons James F. Sirmons (1917–2018) was an American broadcasting executive who spent nearly six decades at CBS, rising to Executive Vice President of Industrial Relations and shaping labo…

James Fairfax: Australian publisher, company director and philanthropist James Fairfax James Oswald Fairfax (1933–2017) was a member of the Fairfax newspaper family, a long-serving director of John Fairfax & Sons, and a noted patron of the arts and charitable causes…

James Farentino — American actor (1938–2012) James Farentino Profile of James Farentino, an American stage, film, television and voice actor known for roles in The Final Countdown, Jesus of Nazareth and Dynasty. Life, career, and legacy.

James Fenimore Cooper: American novelist and creator of Natty Bumppo James Fenimore Cooper James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851), an early American novelist, known for the Leatherstocking Tales and for shaping frontier and sea fiction in the 19th century.

Ian James Ferguson-Lees James Ferguson-Lees British ornithologist (1929–2017) noted for his work on rare-bird records and for helping expose the Hastings Rarities; long associated with British bird-recording and identificati…

James Florio: U.S. Congressman and Governor of New Jersey James Florio James Florio (born 1937) served 15 years in the U.S. House and was the 49th governor of New Jersey (1990–1994). His tenure is noted for fiscal reforms, controversial tax measures,…

James Forrestal American financier and government official; served as Secretary of the Navy and the first U.S. Secretary of Defense, influential in post‑World War II military organization and earl…

James Fox (British actor) James Fox James Fox (born 1939) is an English film, television and stage actor whose career of more than six decades includes roles in Sexy Beast, Patriot Games and Charlie and the Chocolate…

James Francis Edward Stuart — the Old Pretender and Jacobite claimant James Francis Edward Stuart James Francis Edward Stuart (1688–1766), son of James II, was the Jacobite claimant to the British thrones; known as the Old Pretender, he led a dynasty in exile and inspired 18th‑…

James Franco American actor, filmmaker and writer known for roles in Spider-Man, 127 Hours and The Disaster Artist, with a career spanning acting, directing, producing and occasional academic w…

James Freeman Gilbert — Geophysicist and Pioneer of Inverse Theory James Freeman Gilbert American geophysicist (1931–2014) noted for developing the Backus–Gilbert approach to inverting geophysical data and for helping establish an international network of long‑period s…

James Gammon (1940–2010): American character actor James Gammon American character actor James Gammon was best known as Lou Brown in Major League and for steady supporting roles across film and television. Born in Newman, Illinois; died in Cost…

James Gandolfini James Gandolfini (1961–2013) was an American actor best known for portraying Tony Soprano on HBO's The Sopranos. He won multiple Emmys and a Golden Globe and left a lasting influen…

James Garner: actor best known for Maverick and The Rockford Files James Garner Overview of James Garner (1928–2014), his career in film and television, signature roles, notable films, awards, and legacy.

James Gilbert (producer) — BBC comedy producer and director James Gilbert (producer) Cecil James Gilbert (1923–2016) was a Scottish television producer and director who served as Head of Comedy at the BBC (1973–77) and helped create and produce major British sitcom…

James Gillray: British satirist and founder of the political cartoon James Gillray James Gillray (1756/57–1815) was a British caricaturist and printmaker noted for incisive etched political and social satires that influenced public opinion during the late 18th an…

James Gobbo — Australian jurist and 25th Governor of Victoria James Gobbo Biography of Sir James Gobbo (1931–2021), Australian jurist, community leader and the 25th Governor of Victoria; summary of his career, honours and public service.

James Gordon, Baron Gordon of Strathblane Scottish businessman and public figure (1936–2020). A manager, cultural and civic leader, CBE and life peer who contributed to Scottish public life and national institutions.

James Gosling — Creator of Java James Gosling James Gosling (born 1955) is a Canadian computer scientist best known for creating the Java programming language and its original virtual machine, influencing modern software and w…

James Govan — American blues and soul singer James Govan James Govan (1949–2014) was an American blues and soul vocalist best known for his long residency on Beale Street, the 1996 album I'm in Need, and collaborations with Memphis music…

James R. Green: Historian of Labor and Social Movements James Green James R. Green (1944–2016) was an American historian and labor activist known for bottom-up studies of U.S. social movements and unions; professor emeritus at the University of Mas…

James Hedges: Prohibition Party Activist and Local Official James Hedges James Hedges (born 1938) is a longtime Prohibition activist and former tax assessor from Pennsylvania, notable as the only person elected to office for the Prohibition Party in the…

James Herbert Brennan Irish writer born 1940, known for works on occultism and fantasy including 1974's Occult Reich and a popular 1980s quest gamebook. His books influenced popular interest in esoteric…

James Hetfield — Metallica's founding vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter James Hetfield Overview of James Hetfield, his role in Metallica, musical style, career milestones, personal challenges, and legacy in heavy metal.

James Hilton — English novelist and creator of Shangri‑La James Hilton English novelist (1900–1954) best known for Lost Horizon and Goodbye, Mr. Chips; popularized the idea of Shangri-La and had several novels adapted for stage and screen.

James Hinchcliffe — Canadian IndyCar driver and media personality James Hinchcliffe Profile of James Hinchcliffe, a Canadian IndyCar driver known for on-track success, recovery from a serious 2015 crash, media presence as 'mayor of Hinchtown', and later work in br…

James E. Holshouser Jr. James Holshouser American politician who served as Governor of North Carolina from 1973 to 1977; a Republican known for moderate reforms in education, health and government administration.

James Holzhauer: Jeopardy! champion and high-stakes game strategist James Holzhauer Profile of James Holzhauer, his Jeopardy! run, records, strategy, tournament results and influence on quiz-show play and popular culture.

James Hong: Veteran American Character Actor and Voice Artist James Hong James Hong (b. 1929) is an American character actor, comedian and voice artist whose long career includes film, television and animation; he is widely known as the voice of Mr. Pin…

James Horner: American Film Composer (1953–2015) James Horner James Horner was an American film composer known for scores including Titanic and Avatar. He won two Academy Awards and left a lasting influence on cinematic music before his death…

James Hunt — British Formula One World Champion and Broadcaster James Hunt James Hunt (1947–1993) was a British Formula One driver who won the 1976 World Championship. Known for his flamboyant personality and fierce rivalry with Niki Lauda, he later worke…

James Hutchinson Woodworth: Chicago mayor and Illinois statesman James Hutchinson Woodworth James H. Woodworth (1804–1869) was an American politician who served as Chicago mayor (1848–1850), held seats in the Illinois legislature and Chicago city council, and later served…

James Hutton: pioneer of modern geology and the concept of deep time James Hutton Scottish physician, chemist and naturalist James Hutton (1726–1797) developed the theory that gradual natural processes shape Earth’s surface, founding modern geology and the idea…

James Hylton — American stock car racer and NASCAR veteran James Hylton James Hylton (1934–2018) was an American stock car driver, two-time NASCAR Cup winner and three-time series runner-up. A long-time ARCA competitor and owner-driver, he died in a ca…

James I of Scotland (1394–1437) James I of Scotland King of Scots in title from 1406 and ruling in person from 1424. Captured in youth, returned to reassert royal authority, pursue administrative and legal reforms, patronize literat…

James I. Robertson Jr., American Civil War historian James I. Robertson Jr. James I. Robertson Jr. (1930–2019) was an American historian noted for his scholarship on the American Civil War, a longtime Virginia Tech professor, author, and public commentator…

James II and VII: last Catholic monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland James II of England Overview of James II & VII (1633–1701): his life, reign (1685–1688), religious policies, the Glorious Revolution, exile in France, the Jacobite cause and his legacy.

James II of Scotland King of Scotland from 1437 to 1460. Succeeded his father as a child, struggled with powerful nobles, promoted artillery in warfare and died during the siege of Roxburgh.

James III of Scotland (c.1451/1452–1488) James III of Scotland King of Scotland from 1460 to 1488. His reign combined artistic patronage and attempts at royal reform with persistent noble resistance that ended in rebellion and his death at Sau…

James Ingram: American singer, songwriter and recording artist James Ingram Overview of James Ingram (1952–2019), his career as a singer, songwriter and keyboardist, major recordings and collaborations, awards and legacy in R&B and film music.

James B. Irwin — Apollo 15 lunar module pilot and astronaut James Irwin James Benson Irwin (1930–1991) was a U.S. Air Force test pilot and NASA astronaut who served as lunar module pilot on Apollo 15 and became the eighth person to walk on the Moon.

James IV of Scotland King of Scotland from 1488 to 1513. A popular and energetic ruler known for administrative reform, cultural patronage, naval expansion and his death at the Battle of Flodden; his m…

James Ivory American film director, producer and screenwriter noted for literary adaptations and period dramas; co‑founder of Merchant Ivory Productions and Oscar winner for Call Me by Your Na…

James Jabara — first American jet ace and Korean War fighter pilot James Jabara James "Jabby" Jabara (1923–1966) was a United States jet fighter pilot in the Korean War, credited with becoming the first American ace in jet-to-jet combat and a triple ace with 1…

James Jesus Angleton: Architect and Controversy of CIA Counterintelligence James Jesus Angleton Overview of James Jesus Angleton (1917–1987), long-serving chief of CIA counterintelligence, his career from OSS to the CIA, mole-hunting methods, controversies including Operation…

James Joseph Brady (1944–2017), U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana James Joseph Brady James J. Brady was a United States district judge who served the Middle District of Louisiana from 2000 until his death in 2017; he was appointed by President Bill Clinton.

James Joseph Dresnok — American defector and North Korean actor (1941–2016) James Joseph Dresnok James Joseph Dresnok was a U.S. soldier who defected to North Korea, where he worked as an actor, translator and teacher and became the subject of Western documentaries and reporti…

James Joyce: Irish modernist writer and experimental novelist James Joyce James Joyce (1882–1941), Dublin-born modernist writer and poet, reshaped the novel with experimental techniques — notably stream of consciousness — in Dubliners, A Portrait, Ulysse…