Biographies

William Lawson (1774–1850): explorer and colonial official in New South Wales William Lawson (explorer) Scottish‑born William Lawson was a New South Wales Corps officer and joint leader of the 1813 expedition that crossed the Blue Mountains, later a colonial magistrate and landholder…

William Lewis (chess player) English chess player and author (1787–1870), noted for the Lewis Countergambit and an early use of the term “Grandmaster”; contributor to 19th‑century chess instruction and opening…

William Lloyd Garrison: American Abolitionist and Reformer William Lloyd Garrison William Lloyd Garrison (1805–1879) was a leading American abolitionist, editor of The Liberator, advocate of immediate emancipation and women's rights, and a founder of the America…

William Longsword, second ruler of Normandy William Longsword William Longsword (c.900–942), son of Viking leader Rollo, strengthened and expanded early Normandy and shaped its relations with West Francia; he was succeeded by his son Richard…

William Luce (American playwright and screenwriter) William Luce American playwright and television writer known for biographical monodramas such as The Belle of Amherst and Barrymore; frequent collaborator with Julie Harris. Born 1931, died 201…

William Lyon — U.S. Air Force Reserve major general and Chief of Air Force Reserve William Lyon (general) William Lyon (1923–2020), U.S. Air Force Reserve major general who led the Air Force Reserve Command and served as Chief of Air Force Reserve, advising Air Force leadership on rese…

William M. Branham: mid‑20th century faith healer and influential Pentecostal figure William M. Branham American minister William M. Branham (1909–1965) was a prominent faith healer whose campaigns shaped postwar revivalism and influenced televangelism and the modern Charismatic move…

William Makepeace Thackeray: life, work, and literary significance William Makepeace Thackeray English novelist and satirist (1811–1863), best known for Vanity Fair and its heroine Becky Sharp; noted for ironic narration, social satire of Victorian life, and contributions to…

William Margold American adult film actor and director (1943–2017), active from the early 1970s; credited for hundreds of films and recognized by the AVN Hall of Fame. He was also known as a mento…

William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke Medieval English knight and statesman (c.1147–1219) who rose from modest origins to become Earl of Pembroke, served five kings, and acted as regent for the young Henry III.

William McIlvanney Scottish novelist, short story writer and poet (1936–2015), best known for Laidlaw and for originating the literary strand called Tartan Noir with his gritty portrayals of Glasgow.

William McPherson — American writer, critic, and Pulitzer Prize winner William McPherson William McPherson (1933–2017) was an American journalist, literary critic and novelist who won the 1977 Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Criticism and wrote two novels and many ess…

William Mullan — Scottish football referee and FIFA official William Mullan Overview of William Joseph Mullan (1928–2018), his refereeing career in Scottish Division One, appointment as a FIFA referee, selection for UEFA Euro 1972, and his legacy.

William Kenzo Nakamura — Japanese American soldier and Medal of Honor recipient William Nakamura Profile of William Kenzo Nakamura (1922–1944), a Japanese American U.S. Army soldier honored with the Medal of Honor for his World War II service and remembered for his bravery.

William Needles: Canadian Shakespearean Actor and Teacher William Needles George William Needles (1919–2016) was a longtime member of the Stratford Festival company, an accomplished stage actor and teacher, known for more than a hundred roles in classica…

William A. Newsom III — American jurist and trustee William Newsom Biography of William A. Newsom III (1934–2018), American lawyer, judge on California appellate bench, administrator of the Getty family trust, and father of Governor Gavin Newsom.

William O'Brien (Royal Navy officer) British admiral (1916–2016) who held senior Royal Navy commands including Naval Secretary, Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers, and Commander-in-Chief of the Far East and Western Fleets…

William of Ockham 14th-century English Franciscan philosopher and theologian, known for nominalism and the methodological principle known as Occam's razor.

William Orpen (1878–1931) William Orpen Irish-born portrait painter William Orpen was a leading portraitist and official British war artist during WWI; his work is known for luminous finish, formal elegance, and a large…

William P. Carey (1930–2012) — Founder and sale‑leaseback pioneer William P. Carey American businessman and financier who founded W. P. Carey & Co., popularized sale‑leaseback financing for corporate real estate, and built a prominent publicly traded net‑lease in…

William P. Frye: Maine Statesman and Long‑Serving U.S. Senator William P. Frye Biography of William P. Frye (1830–1911), a Maine lawyer and Republican who served in the U.S. House and a 30-year U.S. Senate career, including service as president pro tempore an…

William Peter Van Ness American lawyer and United States federal judge (1778–1826), known for his New York legal career and for serving as Aaron Burr’s second in the 1804 duel with Alexander Hamilton.

William Pfaff American journalist and author known for commentary on international affairs and critical essays on U.S. foreign policy; longtime op-ed contributor to international publications.

William Powell (1892–1984), American actor best known for The Thin Man William Powell William Powell was an American stage and film actor celebrated for his urbane charm and comic timing. Best known as Nick Charles in The Thin Man, he earned three Academy Award nomi…

William Powers Jr.: American attorney, academic and University of Texas president William Powers Jr. William C. Powers Jr. (1946–2019) was an attorney and university leader who served as the 28th president of the University of Texas at Austin (2006–2015), noted for strengthening r…

William Clarke Quantrill William Quantrill Confederate guerrilla leader (1837–1865) active on the Missouri–Kansas border during the American Civil War; led irregular raids including the 1863 Lawrence Massacre and died in Ke…

William R. Maples — American forensic anthropologist William R. Maples Profile of William R. Maples (1937–1997), his work at the C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory, contributions to forensic anthropology, notable cases, methods, and legacy.

William Riker (Star Trek: The Next Generation) William Riker Fictional Starfleet officer William T. Riker serves as first officer aboard the USS Enterprise-D in Star Trek: The Next Generation, portrayed by Jonathan Frakes; a prominent charac…

William S. Rosecrans: Union General, Engineer, and Politician William Rosecrans William Starke Rosecrans (1819–1898), West Point–trained engineer, Union general in the Western Theater of the U.S. Civil War, later businessman and U.S. congressman from Californi…

William Ruckelshaus American lawyer and public servant, the first EPA Administrator who resigned during the Watergate crisis and later returned to lead the agency; awarded the Presidential Medal of Fr…

William Safire: American columnist, language commentator and speechwriter William Safire Profile of William Safire, the New York Times columnist and presidential speechwriter best known for his long-running 'On Language' column, political commentary, books, and influen…

William Saroyan: Armenian‑American writer of plays and short stories William Saroyan Overview of William Saroyan (1908–1981), his life in Fresno, major works and themes, literary style, historical context, and legacy in American and Armenian‑American letters.

William Scrots Flemish-born painter active at the Tudor court in the mid-16th century. Known for royal portraiture in England and for introducing Mannerist proportions and an anamorphic portrait…

William Shand (1902–1997): Scottish-born Argentine poet, playwright and translator William Shand Writer and translator William Shand moved from Scotland to Argentina in 1938. He produced poetry and plays, reviewed books for La Nación, translated major English poets into Spanis…

William Smith O'Brien (1803–1864) William Smith O'Brien Irish parliamentarian turned Young Ireland leader who led an 1848 uprising during the Great Famine, was convicted of treason, transported to Van Diemen's Land, pardoned in 1856 and…

William Somerset Maugham English novelist, short‑story writer and playwright (1874–1965), noted for clear, economical prose, psychological insight, travel writing and novels such as Of Human Bondage and Th…

William Stanley Peart (1922–2019) William Stanley Peart British physician and clinical researcher who first demonstrated noradrenaline release from sympathetic nerves; influential in autonomic pharmacology and awarded the Buchanan Medal…

William T. Anderson ("Bloody Bill") William T. Anderson William T. "Bloody Bill" Anderson (1840–1864) was a notorious pro-Confederate guerrilla leader on the Missouri–Kansas border, known for violent raids against Union forces and civil…

William Taylor Adams (Oliver Optic): 19th-Century Author and Editor William Taylor Adams William Taylor Adams (1822–1897), known as Oliver Optic, was an American teacher, writer, and editor best known for popular boys' series and children's magazines in the mid‑to‑late…

William Tecumseh Sherman Union general William T. Sherman (1820–1891) was a key military leader of the American Civil War known for the Atlanta Campaign and his March to the Sea; later he led the U.S. Army…

William the Silent (William I of Orange-Nassau) William the Silent William the Silent (1533–1584) led the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule, became Prince of Orange and stadtholder, and is remembered as a founder of the Dutch state and subject of…

William Thomas Stead British journalist and editor (1849–1912), pioneer of investigative reporting and campaigning journalism. Editor of the Pall Mall Gazette and author of influential exposés; died in…

William Troy (1848–1907): U.S. Navy Sailor and Medal of Honor Recipient William Troy William Troy (1848–1907) was a U.S. Navy sailor awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the 1871 Korean Expedition. He was wounded while rescuing a comrade and is commemorate…

William Turner: name, notable bearers, and cultural impact William Turner Overview of notable individuals named William Turner, focusing on the English Baroque composer and the painter J. M. W. Turner, with notes on fictional uses and their lasting influ…

William Verity Jr. (1917–2007) — U.S. Steel Executive and Commerce Secretary William Verity Jr. Calvin William Verity Jr. was an American steel industry executive who served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 1987 to 1989 under President Reagan. He died in 2007 in Beaufort, S…

William Waad (1546–1623): English diplomat, administrator and interrogator William Waad English official who served Elizabeth I, acted as a diplomatic agent in France, and as a Tower official involved in interrogation of high‑profile political prisoners.

William Wallace Denslow American illustrator and caricaturist (1856–1915), noted for bold flat-color illustrations for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and for early newspaper comics such as Billy Bounce.

William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley British aristocrat, Conservative politician and military officer; Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1902–1905) and Governor‑General of Australia (1908–1911).