Diplomat

William J. Burns

1956 - today

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William John Burns (October 19, 1861 – April 14, 1932) was an American private investigator and law enforcement official. He was known as "America's Sherlock Holmes" and earned fame for having conducted private investigations into a number of notable incidents, such as clearing Leo Frank of the 1913 murder of Mary Phagan, and for investigating the deadly 1910 Los Angeles Times bombing conducted by members of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers. From August 22, 1921, to May 10, 1924, Burns served as the fourth director of the Bureau of Investigation (BOI), predecessor to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He was born in Baltimore and educated in Columbus. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in 29 different languages on Wikipedia. William J. Burns is the 27th most popular diplomat (up from 42nd in 2024), the 1,415th most popular biography from United States (up from 2,680th in 2019) and the 8th most popular American Diplomat.

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Among Diplomats

Among diplomats, William J. Burns ranks 27 out of 90Before him are Chaim Herzog, Chiune Sugihara, Hasekura Tsunenaga, Viktor Chernomyrdin, Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, and George F. Kennan. After him are Alfonso García Robles, Megasthenes, Thomas Klestil, Irina Bokova, Robert Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood, and J. Christopher Stevens.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1956, William J. Burns ranks 36Before him are Ingemar Stenmark, Min Aung Hlaing, Bidzina Ivanishvili, Khaled Mashal, William Fichtner, and Steve Harris. After him are Leslie Cheung, Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Gina Haspel, David M. Brown, Kim Cattrall, and Eric Roberts.

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In United States

Among people born in United States, William J. Burns ranks 1,415 out of 20,380Before him are Kevin Hart (1979), Don Norman (1935), Alicia Keys (1981), Robert M. La Follette (1855), Robert Englund (1947), and William Morris Davis (1850). After him are E. Donnall Thomas (1920), Matt Groening (1954), Timothy M. Dolan (1950), Mae West (1893), Sam Jones (1933), and Jeremy Renner (1971).

Among Diplomats In United States

Among diplomats born in United States, William J. Burns ranks 8Before him are John Jay (1745), John R. Bolton (1948), Antony Blinken (1962), Adlai Stevenson II (1900), Jean Kennedy Smith (1928), and George F. Kennan (1904). After him are J. Christopher Stevens (1960), Dean Acheson (1893), Richard Holbrooke (1941), Richard Armitage (1945), Ralph Bunche (1904), and Victoria Nuland (1961).