POLITICIAN

William J. Donovan

1883 - 1959

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William Joseph "Wild Bill" Donovan (January 1, 1883 – February 8, 1959) was an American soldier, lawyer, intelligence officer and diplomat. He is best known for serving as the head of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the Bureau of Intelligence and Research and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), during World War II. He is regarded as the founding father of the CIA, and a statue of him stands in the lobby of the CIA headquarters building in Langley, Virginia. A decorated veteran of World War I, Donovan is believed to be the only person to have been awarded all four of the following prestigious decorations: the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the National Security Medal. He is also a recipient of the Silver Star and Purple Heart, as well as decorations from a number of other nations for his service during both World Wars. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in 26 different languages on Wikipedia. William J. Donovan is the 13,549th most popular politician (down from 12,676th in 2024), the 6,091st most popular biography from United States (down from 5,052nd in 2019) and the 491st most popular American Politician.

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Among POLITICIANS

Among politicians, William J. Donovan ranks 13,550 out of 19,576. Before him are Oʻtkir Sultonov, Gisulf II of Benevento, Herbert Wehner, João de Castro, Luo Ruiqing, Calixto García, and Ecgfrith of Mercia. After him are Agum III, Rachel Cohen-Kagan, Laodice V, Alcmenes, and Karl Schenk.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1883, William J. Donovan ranks 179. Before him are Max Fleischer, Alberto Braglia, Hjalmar Bergman, Theodor Loos, Émile Eddé, and Olaf Bull. After him are Enoch L. Johnson, Jacques Ochs, Jay O'Brien, Raimu, Abel Bonnard, and Franklin Clarence Mars. Among people deceased in 1959, William J. Donovan ranks 133. Before him are Alfonso Reyes, Carl Enckell, Ion Gigurtu, Alfonso López Pumarejo, Lou Costello, and Ali-Akbar Dehkhoda. After him are Giuseppe Bottai, Roald Larsen, Alexander Rueb, Esfir Shub, Jean Grémillon, and Friedrich Waismann.

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In United States

Among people born in United States, William J. Donovan ranks 6,091 out of 20,380. Before him are John Spencer (1946), Tate Taylor (1969), Shemar Moore (1970), Eydie Gormé (1928), Alexis Bledel (1981), and Kevin Smith (1970). After him are William Windom (1923), Phyllis Smith (1951), Peter Straub (1943), Alexander Wetmore (1886), Eric Martin (1960), and Melissa Mathison (1950).

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Among POLITICIANS In United States

Among politicians born in United States, William J. Donovan ranks 491. Before him are Robert Byrd (1917), Stephen A. Douglas (1813), Dean Phillips (1969), Jim Gibbons (1944), Leo Ryan (1925), and Olene Walker (1930). After him are Enoch L. Johnson (1883), Clyde Tolson (1900), Michael Kahn (1935), Otis Bowen (1918), Sally Yates (1960), and Anna Harrison (1775).

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