Biographies

John Garamendi American businessman and Democratic politician from California; has served as U.S. Representative, Lieutenant Governor, Insurance Commissioner and U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Inte…

John Gardner (American novelist, critic, and teacher) John Gardner (American writer) John Gardner (1933–1982) was an American novelist, essayist and critic best known for Grendel; he argued for 'moral fiction', taught creative writing, and died in a motorcycle acci…

John Gardner (English thriller writer) John Gardner (British writer) English thriller novelist John Gardner (1926–2007) wrote over fifty books, best known for reviving James Bond, creating the Boysie Oakes series and penning Moriarty continuation no…

John Gavin: Actor, SAG President, and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico John Gavin American actor and diplomat John Gavin (1931–2018) was a Screen Actors Guild president and served as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico under President Reagan, known for film roles and publ…

John George Bartholomew — Scottish cartographer and modern mapmaker John George Bartholomew John George Bartholomew (1860–1920), a leading British cartographer, modernized map design, held a royal warrant as Cartographer to the King, and helped standardize place names inc…

John George Kemeny Hungarian‑born American mathematician, educator, and computer scientist who co‑created the BASIC programming language and championed accessible computing at Dartmouth College.

John Gielgud: British actor and director John Gielgud Comprehensive overview of Sir John Gielgud (1904–2000), his career in theatre, radio, film and television, major awards, personal life and lasting influence on 20th-century acting.

John Gilbert (bushranger): life, crimes and historical context John Gilbert (bushranger) Overview of John Gilbert (1842–1865), a Canadian-born Australian bushranger, member of Frank Gardiner and Ben Hall gangs, participant in the 1862 Eugowra gold robbery, and his lega…

John Gilbert (naturalist) — English collector and Australian explorer John Gilbert (naturalist) John Gilbert (c.1812–1845), English naturalist and specimen collector for John Gould; active in Australia, participated in overland exploration, and remembered in species and place…

John Gilliland: Radio Documentarian and Chronicler of American Popular Music John Gilliland American radio broadcaster John Gilliland (1935–1998) produced the Pop Chronicles, a landmark audio history of U.S. popular music. His tapes are preserved as the John Gilliland Col…

John Glenn — astronaut and U.S. senator John Glenn American astronaut and politician John Glenn (1921–2016) was the first American to orbit Earth, served as a U.S. Senator from Ohio (1974–1999), and returned to space in 1998 at age…

John Glover (American actor) John Glover American character actor John Glover is known for film and TV villain roles, extensive stage work including a 1995 Tony Award, and his portrayal of Lionel Luthor on Smallville.

John Gokongwei Filipino-Chinese businessman (1926–2019), founder of JG Summit and Universal Robina; a diversified industrialist with major interests in aviation, food, petrochemicals, telecoms an…

John Goodman (American actor) John Goodman Overview of John Goodman, an American actor known for his role on Roseanne, major film and voice work, awards, career highlights, and notable characteristics.

John Gordon — English writer of supernatural and fantasy fiction John Gordon John Gordon (1925–2017) was an English author best known for The Giant Under the Snow and a body of supernatural and fantasy stories for young readers and adults.

John Gorton — 19th Prime Minister of Australia John Gorton Biography and assessment of Sir John Gorton (1911–2002): wartime service, political career as Liberal leader and prime minister (1968–1971), policies, personality, and legacy.

John Gotti American mobster and longtime leader of New York's Gambino crime family, known for his public persona, high-profile trials, and convictions that led to a life sentence.

John Gould: English Ornithologist, Illustrator, and Victorian Naturalist John Gould John Gould (1804–1881) was an English ornithologist and bird illustrator whose illustrated monographs, species descriptions and work on Galápagos finches influenced Victorian natur…

John Graham (New Zealand rugby union player, educator and administrator) John Graham (rugby union) Sir John Graham (1935–2017) was a New Zealand All Black loose forward, long-serving headmaster of Auckland Grammar, university chancellor and national rugby administrator.

John Graves (1920–2013): American author and nature writer John Graves (author) John Graves, best known for Goodbye to a River, was a Texas-born writer whose lyrical essays about landscape, history and conservation shaped mid‑20th century American nature writi…

John Graves Simcoe British Army officer and the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, remembered for founding York (Toronto), administrative reforms, road building and the 1793 Act to limit slav…

John Green — American young‑adult author and online educator John Green American writer best known for contemporary young‑adult novels (Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars), co‑creator of Vlogbrothers and Crash Course, and founder o…

John Greenleaf Whittier: Quaker Poet and Abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier 19th-century American Quaker poet and abolitionist from Haverhill, Massachusetts, known for lyrical and narrative poems, his role in the anti-slavery movement, and works such as Sn…

John Gregory (English footballer and manager) John Gregory Profile of John Gregory, an English former professional footballer who became a club manager and coach; overview of his playing role, managerial career, style and place in English…

John Grisham: American legal novelist, lawyer, and former legislator John Grisham Overview of John Grisham’s life and work: career as a lawyer and state legislator, rise as a bestselling author of legal thrillers, notable works and adaptations, themes and influe…

John Guare — American playwright John Guare John Guare (born 1938) is an American playwright noted for smart, satirical dramas such as The House of Blue Leaves and Six Degrees of Separation.

John Guillermin — British film director (1925–2015) John Guillermin Biography and overview of John Guillermin, a British director known for large-scale adventure, disaster and action films from the 1950s–1980s, with key titles and assessment of his…

John Gurdon: pioneer of nuclear transplantation and cellular reprogramming John Gurdon British developmental biologist Sir John Gurdon pioneered nuclear transplantation and cloning, showing that mature cells can be reprogrammed; his work laid foundations for stem cel…

John H. McArthur Canadian-American educator and business leader; Dean of Harvard Business School (1980–1995), co‑founder of Partners HealthCare, chair of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, and…

John Habgood, Baron Habgood (1927–2019) John Habgood British Anglican bishop and theologian who served as Bishop of Durham (1973–1983), Archbishop of York (1983–1995) and later as a life peer; noted for scholarship, public engagement…

John Hagee: American Evangelical Pastor and Founder of Christians United for Israel John Hagee Profile of John Hagee, a prominent American Pentecostal pastor, founder of Cornerstone Church and Christians United for Israel, his ministries, beliefs, media work, controversies,…

John Hall Buchanan Jr. — U.S. Representative from Alabama (1965–1981) John Hall Buchanan Jr. John H. Buchanan Jr. (1928–2018) was an American Republican who represented Alabama's 6th congressional district in the U.S. House from 1965 to 1981. Born in Paris, Tennessee; died…

John Hampshire: English cricketer, captain and umpire John Hampshire John 'Jack' Hampshire (1941–2017) was an English first-class cricketer for Yorkshire and Derbyshire, an England international, captain of Tasmania and later an international umpire…

John Hancock: American Patriot, Merchant, and Statesman John Hancock John Hancock (1737–1793) was a wealthy Boston merchant who became a leading Patriot, president of the Continental Congress when the Declaration was signed, and a long-serving gover…

John Hanson (British diplomat, academic and cultural leader) John Hanson Senior British diplomat and academic leader who directed the British Council (1992–1998) and served as Warden of Green College, Oxford (1998–2006).

John Harbaugh (American football coach) John Harbaugh John Harbaugh (born 1962) is the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, known for a strong special‑teams background, sustained postseason success, a Super Bowl win, and membership in…

John Harlan (American radio and television announcer) John Harlan (announcer) Overview of John Henry Harlan (1925–2017), an American radio and television announcer best known for the Bob Hope specials and as announcer for Name That Tune.

John Harron (1903–1939) — American actor of the silent and early sound era John Harron John Harron was an American film actor credited in 167 films from 1918 to 1940. Born in New York City, he worked through the silent-to-sound transition and died of spinal meningiti…

John Hart (c. 1711–1779), New Jersey delegate and signer of the Declaration John Hart John Hart, a colonial New Jersey public official and delegate to the Continental Congress, was a signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence who endured personal hardship during…

John Hartnell — able seaman of the Franklin Expedition John Hartnell John Hartnell was an able seaman who died early in Sir John Franklin’s 1845 Arctic expedition; his burial on Beechey Island and later scientific study have contributed to knowledge…

John Hartson Welsh former professional footballer and coach, a powerful centre-forward who starred for clubs in England and Scotland and represented Wales internationally.

John Harvard (Canadian politician and broadcaster) John Harvard (politician) Canadian journalist and Liberal politician from Manitoba; MP from 1988–2004 and the 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, noted for his long broadcasting career and public service.

John Hasler: English Voice Actor and Performer John Hasler Profile of John Hasler (born 1974), an English actor and voice artist known for voicing characters in children's series including Thomas and Friends and Fireman Sam.

John Havelock Parker: Northern Administrator and Long‑Time Commissioner John Havelock Parker Canadian public official John Havelock Parker (1929–2020) served as Mayor of Yellowknife and as Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, guiding territori…

John Havlicek (Hondo) — American basketball player and eight-time NBA champion John Havlicek John Havlicek (1940–2019) was a versatile guard/forward for the Boston Celtics, a 13-time All-Star, eight-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer known for stamina, defense and clutch…

John Hawkes (actor) American character actor and musician John Hawkes (born John Marvin Perkins, 1959). Known for Winter's Bone (Academy Award nomination), The Sessions, HBO's Deadwood and Eastbound &…

John Hawkins (1532–1595): English seafarer, merchant and naval administrator John Hawkins English navigator, merchant, shipbuilder and early participant in England’s transatlantic slave trade. Noted for maritime voyages, naval reforms, involvement in 1571 political inte…

John Heard (1945–2017) — American film, television and stage actor John Heard John Heard (1945–2017) was an American character actor whose long career in stage, film and television included memorable roles in Big and the Home Alone films.