Notable people
Notable peoplePoliticians and leadersScientists, inventors, and mathematiciansWriters and journalistsReligious figuresRevolutionaries and activistsPhilosophers and social scientistsWritersScientists, inventors and mathematiciansMusicians and composersPhilosophers, historians, political and social scientistsVisual artistsSports figuresMilitary leaders and theoristsRebels, revolutionaries and activistsEntertainersLeaders and politiciansExplorersDirectors, producers and screenwritersBusinesspeopleScientists and inventorsMathematiciansJournalistsArtistsMusiciansCriminalsFilmmakers
W
- W. R. WardWilliam Reginald Ward FRHistS FBA (1925 – 2010) was a British historian who was President
- Waffen-SSMilitary branch of the SS (1933–1945)
- Wales in the World WarsWales, as part of the United Kingdom, participated as part of the allies in World War I (1
- Wallace CraigWallace Craig (1876–1954) was an American experimental psychologist and behavior scientist
- Walter Bradford CannonAmerican physiologist (1871–1945)
- Walter BrueggemannAmerican Protestant Old Testament scholar and theologian (1933–2025)
- Walter Burley GriffinAmerican architect (1876–1937)
- Walter Elliot (naturalist)Sir Walter Elliot, KCSI (16 January 1803 – 1 March 1887) was a British civil servant in co
- Walter Gross (politician)Dr. Walter Gross (written Groß in German) (21 October 1904 in Kassel – 25 April 1945 in Be
- Walter J. OngAmerican Jesuit priest and historian (1912–2003)
- Walter KohnAmerican physicist (1923–2016)
- Walter MigulaGerman botanist (1863–1938)
- Walter MunkAmerican oceanographer (1917–2019)
- Walter NollAmerican mathematician (1925–2017)
- Walter RauschenbuschAmerican theologian and Baptist pastor (1861-1918)
- Walter SisuluSouth African anti-apartheid activist (1912–2003)
- Walter V. BinghamWalter Van Dyke Bingham (1880–1952) was an applied and industrial psychologist who made si
- Walter W. PowellWalter W. Powell (also known as Woody Powell), born August 15, 1951, is a contemporary Ame
- Walther MayerWalther Mayer (11 March 1887 – 10 September 1948) was an Austrian mathematician, born in G
- Wang ChuzhiWang Chuzhi (王處直, Wade–Giles: Wang Chʻu-chih) (862–922), courtesy name Yunming (允明, Wade–G
- Wang Jian (Former Shu)Wang Jian (Chinese: 王建; 847 – July 11, 918), courtesy name Guangtu (光圖), also known by his
- Wang Jingwei regimePuppet state of Japan in China (1940–1945)
- Wang YiChinese diplomat (born 1953)
- Wangarĩ MaathaiKenyan environmental activist (1940–2011)
- Wanjira MathaiWanjira Mathai (born December 1971) is a Kenyan environmentalist and activist. She is Mana
- War in southern Vietnam (1945–1946)Prelude to the Indochina Wars (1946–1991)
- War Measures ActCanadian legislation which provided the government emergency powers (1914–88)
- War of DevolutionWar between France and Spain (1667–1668)
- War of LawsConflicts between the central USSR government and SSR governments (1989–1991)
- War of the League of CambraiFourth & Fifth phase of the Italian Wars (1508–1516)
- War of the League of CognacSeventh phase of the Italian Wars (1526–1530)
- War of the ReunionsWar (1683–84) between France and a European coalition
- Ward EdwardsWard Edwards (1927–2005) was an American psychologist, who is prominent for work on decisi
- Waris Ali ShahIndian Sufi saint (1817–1905)
- Waris ShahPunjabi Sufi Poet (1722–1798)
- WarnerMediaAmerican media conglomerate (1972–2022)
- Warrington and Newton RailwayThe Warrington and Newton Railway was a short early railway linking Warrington to the Live
- Washington IrvingAmerican writer, historian and diplomat (1783–1859)
- Wat TylerLeader of the 1381 Peasants' Revolt (1341 or c. 1320 – 1381)
- Watchtower (magic)A watchtower or guardian in ceremonial magical tradition is a tutelary spirit of one of th
- Wavertree Lane railway stationWavertree Lane was one of the original stopping-places on the Liverpool & Manchester Railw
- Wayne C. BoothAmerican academic (1921–2005)
- Wee-Lek ChewWee-Lek Chew (周偉力; born 1932) is a Singaporean-born botanist.
- Weißensee, ThuringiaWeißensee (German for "white lake") is a town in the district of Sömmerda, in Thuringia, G
- Wendell BerryAmerican writer (1934–2026)
- Werner Emmanuel BachmannWerner Emmanuel Bachmann (November 13, 1901 – March 22, 1951) was an American chemist. Bac
- Werner Meyer-EpplerWerner Meyer-Eppler (30 April 1913 – 8 July 1960), was a Belgian-born German physicist, ex
- Wesley Clair MitchellAmerican economist (1874–1948)
- Wessel GansfortDutch theologian (1419–1489)
- West BerlinPolitical enclave (1948–1990)
- West FloridaEuropean colony in North America (1763–1821)
- West PakistanFormer provincial wing of Pakistan (1955–1970)
- Western Liang (Sixteen Kingdoms)Dynastic state of China (400–421)
- Western tulkuWestern-born Tibetan Buddhist master
- Western Virginia campaignThe western Virginia campaign, also known as operations in western Virginia or the Rich Mo
- Western ZhouDynastic era in China (c. 1046 – 771 BC)
- Whisk Broom IIWhisk Broom II (1907–1928) was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who raced in the Un
- White Terror (China)Political repression by the Chinese Nationalists (1927–1930s)
- White Terror (Hungary)Repressive period in Hungary (1919–1921)
- Whites (Finland)Anti-communist faction of the Finnish Civil War (1918)
- Whittaker ChambersAmerican defected communist spy, writer, editor (1901–1961)
- WidowPerson whose spouse has died
- WiefelstedeWiefelstede (Low German: Wiefelstä) is a municipality in the Ammerland district, in Lower
- Wilfred OwenEnglish poet and soldier (1893–1918)
- Wilhelm GideonWilhelm Gideon (15 November 1898, in Oldenburg – 23 February 1977) was a Schutzstaffel off
- Wilhelm HaackeJohann Wilhelm Haacke (23 August 1855 – 6 December 1912) was a German zoologist born in Cl
- Wilhelm Heinrich WaagenWilhelm Heinrich Waagen (23 June 1841 – 24 March 1900) was a German geologist and paleonto
- Wilhelm Heinrich WackenroderWilhelm Heinrich Wackenroder (13 July 1773 – 13 February 1798) was a German jurist and wri
- Wilhelm JohannsenDanish botanist and geneticist (1857–1927)
- Wilhelm KillingGerman mathematician (1847–1923)
- Wilhelm MarrGerman journalist who popularized the term antisemitism (1819–1904)
- Wilhelm MarstrandNicolai Wilhelm Marstrand (24 December 1810 – 25 March 1873), painter and illustrator, was
- Wilhelm MautnerWilhelm Mautner (28 November 1889 – 1944) was born in Vienna. He was an Austrian-German ec
- Wilhelm Philippe SchimperWilhelm Philippe Schimper (January 12, 1808 – March 20, 1880, in Lichtenberg) was an Alsat
- Wilhelm RöpkeGerman economist (1899–1966)
- Wilhelm StapelGerman writer (1882–1954)
- Wilhelm von BeetzWilhelm von Beetz (27 March 1822 – 22 January 1886) was a German physicist, known for his
- Wilhelm WeitlingGerman tailor, inventor, and political activist (1808–1871)
- Will PaynterWilliam Thomas Paynter (6 December 1903 – 11 December 1984) was a Welsh miners' leader inv
- Will SteffenWilliam Lee Steffen (25 June 1947 – 29 January 2023) was an American-born Australian chemi
- Willem Jacob van StockumDutch mathematician (1910–1944)
- William AberhartPremier of Alberta (1935–1943)
- William AndersAmerican astronaut and lunar explorer (1933–2024)
- William Batchelder GreeneAmerican minister and activist (1819–1878)
- William Binney (intelligence official)Former U.S. intelligence official and cryptoanalyst; whistleblower (born 1943)
- William BurnsideWilliam Burnside (2 July 1852 – 21 August 1927) was an English mathematician. He is known
- William C. BrayWilliam Crowell Bray (2 September 1879 – 24 February 1946) was an American chemist, born i
- William Christie (astronomer)Sir William Henry Mahoney Christie KCB FRS (1 October 1845 – 22 January 1922) was a Britis
- William Dale PhillipsWilliam Dale Phillips (October 10, 1925 – December 15, 1993) was an American chemist, nucl
- William DallasWilliam Sweetland Dallas FLS (1824–1890) was a British zoologist and curator. He curated c
- William DenisonSir William Thomas Denison KCB (3 May 1804 – 19 January 1871) was Lieutenant Governor of V
- William Drummond of LogiealmondSir William James Charles Maria Drummond of Logiealmond FRS FRSE DCL (bapt. 26 September 1
- William Edward Hanley StannerAustralian anthropologist (1905–1981)
- William Elford LeachEnglish zoologist and marine biologist (1790–1836)
- William F. Buckley Jr.American conservative author and commentator (1925–2008)
- William FarelFrench reformer (1489–1565)
- William G. MorganWilliam George Morgan (January 23, 1870 – December 27, 1942) was the inventor of volleybal
- William GodwinEnglish philosopher and novelist (1756–1836)
- William H. HintonAmerican intellectual (1919–2004)
- William Henry (chemist)William Henry FRS (12 December 1774 – 2 September 1836) was an English chemist. He was the
- William Henry GoodyearWilliam Henry Goodyear (1846–1923) was a noted architectural historian, art historian, and
- William HodgesEnglish painter (1744-1797)
- William Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of EffinghamWilliam Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of Effingham (27 December 1577 – 28 November 1615) was an
- William IvensWilliam Ivens (June 28, 1878 – June 20, 1957) was a religious and political figure in Mani
- William Jones (philologist)British philologist, scholar and judge (1746–1794)
- William Knox (Queensland politician)Sir William Edward Knox OSJ, KSJI (14 December 1927 – 22 September 2001) was born in Kew,
- William L. RoweAmerican philosopher of religion (1931–2015)
- William Lamb, 2nd Viscount MelbournePrime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834; 1835–1841)
- William Lane CraigAmerican philosopher and theologian (born 1949)
- William LillerAmerican astronomer (1927–2021)
- William Lyon Mackenzie KingCanadian prime minister (1874–1950)
- William Marion ReedyAmerican journalist and editor (1862–1920)
- William MorrisEnglish textile artist, author, and socialist (1834–1896)
- William N. SchoenfeldWilliam N. Schoenfeld (December 6, 1915 – August 3, 1996) was an American psychologist and
- William NordhausAmerican economist and Nobel Laureate (born 1941)
- William O. DouglasAmerican jurist (1898–1980)
- William PaleyEnglish Christian philosopher (1743–1805)
- William PettyEnglish economist and philosopher (1623–1687)
- William Pitt, 1st Earl of ChathamPrime Minister of Great Britain 1766–1768 (1708–1778)
- William SaroyanAmerican writer (1908–1981)
- William SartainWilliam Sartain (November 21, 1843 – October 25, 1924) was an American artist, known for t
- William Simon (sociologist)William Simon (1930–2000) was a sociologist of human sexualities between 1970 and 2000. Hi
- William SturgeonEnglish electrical engineer and inventor (1783–1850)
- William SwainsonEnglish naturalist and artist (1789–1855)
- William Thomas HenleyWilliam Thomas Henley (1814–1882) was a pioneer in the manufacture of telegraph cables. He
- William Thomas SmedleyWilliam Thomas Smedley (March 26, 1858 – March 26, 1920), was an American artist born in C
- William TyndaleEnglish biblical scholar, translator, and reformer (1494–1536)
- William W. MurdochWilliam W. Murdoch (born 1939) is a Charles A. Storke II professor of population ecology a
- William WhewellEnglish polymath (1794–1866)
- William Wilson HunterScottish historian and statistician (1840-1900)
- William-Adolphe BouguereauFrench academic painter (1825–1905)
- William, Prince of WalesHeir apparent to the British throne (born 1982)
- Willibald HentschelGerman activist (1858–1947)
- Willis ShapleyWillis Harlow Shapley (March 2, 1917 – October 24, 2005) was an American civil servant bes
- Wilson GreatbatchWilson Greatbatch (September 6, 1919 – September 27, 2011) was an American engineer and pi
- Windows MobileFamily of mobile operating systems by Microsoft (2000–2013)
- Windows Mobile Device CenterWindows Mobile Device Center is a synchronization software program developed by Microsoft,
- Winona LaDukeAuthor and activist (born 1959)
- Witold PileckiPolish military officer (1901–1948)
- Władysław GomułkaLeader of Poland (1956–1970)
- Wolete Israel SeyoumWolete Israel Seyoum (1907–1989) was the daughter of Leul Ras Seyoum Mengesha, Prince of T
- Wolf LadejinskyAmerican agricultural reformer and economist (1899–1975)
- Wolfgang KrullWolfgang Krull (26 August 1899 – 12 April 1971) was a German mathematician who made fundam
- Wolfgang RindlerAustrian physicist (1924–2019)
- Women in the Nepalese Civil WarWomen were a significant group who were involved in the Maoist movement during the Nepales
- WoncheukKorean Buddhist monk (613–696)
- Wood's glassWood's glass is an optical filter glass invented in 1903 by American physicist Robert Will
- Workers Party of the United StatesThe Workers Party of the United States (WPUS) was established in December 1934 by a merger
- World's Smallest Political QuizThe World's Smallest Political Quiz is a ten question educational quiz, designed primarily
- WormerveerWormerveer is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipal
- Wu SanguiChinese general and rebel (1612–1678)
- Wu YantongVietnamese Zen master (759–826)
- Wu ZhouChinese imperial dynasty (690–705)
- Wyndham DunstanSir Wyndham Rowland Dunstan KCMG FRS FCS (1861-1949), was professor of chemistry and Direc