Jacques Rousseau (1630–1693), French painter
Jean-Baptiste Rousseau (1670–1741), French poet
Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778), French philosopher
Théodore Rousseau (1812–1867), French painter of the Barbizon school
Jean-Siméon Rousseau de la Rottière (1747–1820), French decorative painter
Camille Félix Michel Rousset (1821–1892), French historian
Edward John Routh (1831–1907), English mathematician
Martin Joseph Routh (1755–1854), English classical scholar
George Routledge (1812–1888), English publisher
Maurice Rouvier (1842–1911), French statesman
Elizabeth (Singer) Rowe (1674–1737), English lady, eminent for her writings both in prose and verse
Nicholas Rowe (1674–1718), English dramatist and miscellaneous writer
Henry Augustus Rowland (1848–1901), American physicist
Richard Rowlands (c. 1550–1640), Anglo-Dutch antiquary
Samuel Rowlands (c. 1570–c. 1630), English author of pamphlets in prose and verse
Thomas Rowlandson (1756–1827), English caricaturist
William Rowley (c. 1585–1626), English actor and dramatist
Montagu William Lowry-Corry, Baron Rowton (1838–1903), English politician and philanthropist
Roxana (d. c. 310 B.C.), wife of Alexander the Great
Earls and Dukes of Roxburghe
William Roy (1726–1790), famous British surveyor, military draughtsman, antiquary, &c.
Josiah Royce (1855–1916), American philosopher
Agnes Maude Royden (1876–1956), English social worker and preacher
Pierre-Paul Royer-Collard (1763–1845), French statesman and philosopher
John Forbes Royle (1799?–1858), British botanist and teacher of materia medica
Marie Roze (1846–1926), French singer
Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), Flemish painter
Anton Rubinstein (1829–1894), Russian pianist
William of Rubruquis (c. 1210–c. 1270), Franciscan friar, one of the chief medieval travellers and travel-writers
Friedrich Rückert (1788–1866), German poet
Rūdakī (Tenth Century), first great literary genius of modern Persia
Thomas Ruddiman (1674–1757), Scottish classical scholar
François Rude (1784–1855), French sculptor
Antonio Starabba, Marquis di Rudini (1839–1908), Italian statesman
Rudolph I. (1218–1291), German King
Rudolf II. (1552–1612), Roman Emperor
Rudolf (d. 1080), German King, and Duke of Swabia, opponent of the Emperor Henry IV.
Lope de Rueda (1510?–1565), Spanish dramatist
Pierre Ruffey (1851–1928), French general
Giovanni Ruffini (1807–1881), Italian novelist
Fabrizio Ruffo (1744–1827), Neapolitan Cardinal and politician
Rufinus (345–410), presbyter and theologian
Gaius Valgius Rufus (First Century B.C.), Latin poet
Lucius Varius Rufus (c. 74–14 B.C.), Roman poet
Arnold Ruge (1802–1880), German philosopher and political writer
David Ruhnken (1723–1798), one of the most illustrious scholars of the Netherlands
Jacob van Ruisdael (1628/9?–1682), most celebrated of the Dutch landscapists
Juan Ruiz (c. 1283–c. 1350), Spanish poet
Ventura Ruiz Aguilera (1820–1881), Spanish poet
Juan Ruiz de Alarcón y Mendoza (c. 1580–1639), Spanish dramatist
Don Manuel Ruiz Zorrilla (1833–1895), Spanish politician
Claude Carloman de Rulhière (1734–1791), French poet and historian
Publius Servilius Rullus (First Century B.C.), Roman tribune of the people
Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford (1753–1814), British-American man of science, philanthropist and administrator
Jalāl-ad-dīn Rūmī (1207–1273), the greatest Sūfic poet of Persia
Carl Rümker (1788–1862), German astronomer
James Rumsey (1743?–1792), American inventor
Alexander Runciman (1736–1785), Scottish historical painter
Walter, Viscount Runciman (1870–1949), British politician
Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804–1877), Swedish poet
Saint Rupert (d. 718?), Apostle of the Bavarians
Prince Rupert (1619–1682), Count Palatine of the Rhine and Duke of Bavaria
Rupert (1352–1410), German King
Publius Rupilius (d. c. 123 B.C.), Roman statesman
Benjamin Rush (1746–1813), American physician
Richard Rush (1780–1859), American statesman and diplomatist
John Rushworth (c. 1612–1690), compiler of Historical Collections
John Ruskin (1819–1900), English writer and critic
Russell, English Whig house
Bertrand Russell (1872–1970), English mathematician and philosopher
Edward Russell (1653–1727), British admiral
“A. E.” (George William Russell) (1867–1935), Irish writer and painter
Israel Cook Russell (1852–1906), American geologist
John Russell (1745–1806), British portrait painter in pastel
John Russell (d. 1494), English Bishop and chancellor
Lord John Russell (1792–1878), British statesman
John Scott Russell (1808–1882), British engineer
Sir Odo Russell (1829–1884), British diplomatist and ambassador
Thomas Russell (1762–1788), English poet
Thomas Wallace Russell (1841–1920), Irish politician
Lord William Russell (1639–1683), English politician
William Clark Russell (1844–1911), British author
Sir William Howard Russell (1820–1907), English war correspondent
Charles, Baron Russell of Killowen (1832–1900), Lord Chief Justice of England
William, Baron Russell of Thornhaugh (c. 1558–1613), English soldier
Nikolai Russky (1854–1918), Russian general
Wilhelm Rüstow (1821–1878), Swiss soldier and military writer
Rutebeuf (fl. c. 1249–c. 1277), French trouvére
Ruth, Book in the Old Testament
Ernest Rutherford (1871–1937), British physicist
Samuel Rutherford (1600?–1661), Scottish divine
William Gunion Rutherford (1853–1907), English scholar
Ruthven, name of a noble Scottish family
Rutilius Claudius Namatianus (fl. Fifth Century), Roman poet
Publius Rutilius Lupus (First Century B.C.–First Century A.D.), Roman rhetorician
Publius Rutilius Rufus (c. 154–c. 75 B.C.), Roman statesman, orator and historian
Earls and Dukes of Rutland
John James Robert Manners, Duke of Rutland (1818–1906), English statesman
Edward Rutledge (1749–1800), signer of the Declaration of Independence
John Rutledge (1739–1800), American jurist and politician
Frank Rutley (1842–1904), English geologist and petrographer
Jan van Ruusbroec (1293–1381), Dutch mystic
Henri de Massue, Marquis de Ruvigny (1648–1720), French soldier
Michiel Adriaanszoon de Ruyter (1607–1676), Dutch naval officer
Abram Joseph Ryan (1838–1886), American poet
John Dennis Ryan (1864–1933), American capitalist
Lacy Ryan (c. 1694–1760), English actor
Viktor Rydberg (1828–1895), Swedish author and publicist
Albert Pinkham Ryder (1847–1917), American artist
William Wynne Ryland (1732–1783), English engraver
John Rylands (1801–1888), English manufacturer and merchant
John Charles Ryle (1816–1900), English Bishop
Thomas Rymer (1641–1713), English historiographer royal
 
Sa‘adia ben Joseph (882–942), greatest figure in the literary and political history of medieval Judaism
Diego de Saavedra Fajardo (1584–1648), diplomatist and man of letters
Saint Sabas (439–532), Palestinian monk
Louis Auguste Sabatier (1839–1901), French Protestant theologian
Sabbatai Sebi (1626–1676), Jewish mystic
Sabellius (fl. 230), early Christian presbyter and theologian
Joseph Sabin (1821–1881), bibliophile
Sir Edward Sabine (1788–1883), English astronomer and geodesist
Sabinianus (d. 606), Pope
Madeleine de Souvré, Marquise de Sablé (1599–1678), French writer
Franco Sacchetti (c. 1330–c. 1400), Italian poet and novelist
Andrea Sacchi (1599?–1661), Italian painter of the later Roman school
Antonio Sacchini (1730–1786), Italian musical composer
Eduard Sachau (1845–1930), German orientalist
Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1835–1895), Austrian author
Henry Sacheverell (1674?–1724), English ecclesiastic and politician
William Sacheverell (1638–1691), English statesman
Hans Sachs (1494–1576), German poet and dramatist
Julius Sachs (1832–1897), German botanist
Michael Sachs (1808–1864), German rabbi
George, Viscount Sackville (1716–1785), English soldier and politician
Mortimer Sackville-West, Baron Sackville (1820–1888), English courtier
José Antonio Saco (1797–1879), Cuban author and publicist
Joannes de Sacro Bosco (fl. 1230), astronomical author
Marquis de Sade (1740–1814), French licentious writer
Francisco de Sá de Miranda (1481?–1558), Portuguese poet
Sa’dī (c. 1213–1291), greatest didactic poet and the most popular writer of Persia
Michael Thomas Sadler (1780–1835), English, social reformer and economist
Sir Ralph Sadler (1507–1587), English statesman
Jacopo Sadoleto (1477–1547), Italian humanist and churchman
Jørgen Jensen Sadolin (c. 1499–1559), Danish reformer
Pavel Jozef Šafárik (1795–1861), Slavonic philologist
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta (1825–1903), Spanish statesman
Russell Sage (1816–1906), American financier
Mrs. Russell Sage (1828–1918), American philanthropist
Said Halim (1863–1921), Turkish statesman
Said Pasha (1838?–1914), Turkish statesman
Said Pasha Kurd (1834–1907), Turkish statesman
Takamori Saigō (1828–1877), Japanese patriot
Earls and Dukes of St. Albans
Henry Jermyn, Earl of St. Albans (c. 1604–1684), English courtier
Alexandre Rousselin de Corbeau de Saint-Albin (1773–1847), French politician
Michael Edward Hicks-Beach, Earl of St. Aldwyn (1837–1916), English statesman
Marc Antoine Gérard, Sieur de Saint-Amant (1594–1661), French poet
Jacques d’Albon, Seigneur de Saint André (c. 1510–1562), French soldier and favourite of Henry II. of France
Jeanbon Saint-André (1749–1813), French revolutionist
Jacques Leroy de Saint-Arnaud (1801–1854), Marshal of France
Arthur St. Clair (1734–1818), American general
Mary Amelia St. Clair (May Sinclair) (1863–1946), English author
Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve (1804–1869), French critic
Henri Sainte-Claire Deville (1818–1881), French chemist
Jean-Baptiste de La Curne de Sainte-Palaye (1697–1781), French scholar
Saint-Évremond (1613–1703), French satirist and literary critic
Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848–1907), American sculptor
Mellin de Saint-Gelais (1491–1558), French poet
Henri Saint-Georges (1801?–1875), French dramatist
Comte de Saint-Germain (d. 1784), celebrated adventurer
Claude-Louis, Comte de Saint-Germain (1707–1778), French general
Auguste de Saint-Hilaire (1799–1853), French botanist and traveller
Joseph Xavier Boniface Saintine (1798–1865), French novelist and dramatist
Charles St. John (1809–1856), English naturalist and sportsman
James Augustus St. John (1795–1875), British author and traveller
John Pierce St. John (1833–1916), American publicist and Prohibitionist lecturer
Oliver St. John (c. 1598–1673), English statesman and judge
Percy Bolingbroke St. John (1821–1889), English author
Saint-Just (1767–1794), French revolutionary leader
Jean-François de Saint-Lambert (1716–1803), French poet
Sir Anthony St. Leger (c. 1496–1559), Lord Deputy of Ireland
Saint-Marc Girardin (1801–1873), French politician and man of letters
Louis Claude de Saint-Martin (1743–1803), French philosopher
St. Nectaire, Feudal French house
Prosper Sainton (1813–1890), French violinist
Charlotte Helen Sainton-Dolby (1821–1885), English contralto singer
Bernardin de Saint-Pierre (1737–1814), French man of letters
Charles Irénée Castel, Abbé de Saint-Pierre (1658–1743), French writer
Counts of St. Pol
François-Emmanuel Guignard, Comte de Saint-Priest (1735–1821), French statesman
César de Saint-Réal (1643–1692), French historian
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921), French composer
George Saintsbury (1845–1933), English man of letters
Henri, comte de Saint-Simon (1760–1825), the founder of French socialism
Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon (1675–1755), French soldier, diplomatist and writer of memoirs
Paul de Saint-Victor (1827–1881), French author
John Jervis, Earl of St. Vincent (1735–1823), British admiral
Saint Yon, family of Parisian butchers
Kinmochi Saionji (1849–1940), Japanese statesman
Bernard Saisset (d. c. 1314), French Bishop
Émile Edmond Saisset (1814–1863), French philosopher
George Augustus Sala (1828–1895), English journalist
Saladin (1137–1193), first Ayyubite sultan of Egypt
Antonio Salandra (1853–1931), Italian statesman
Sir Salar Jung (1829–1883), Indian statesman of Hyderabad
Alonso Jerónimo de Salas Barbadillo (1581–1635), Spanish novelist and playwright
Friedrich Christoph von Saldern (1719–1785), Prussian soldier and military writer
George Sale (c. 1697–1736), English orientalist
Sir Robert Henry Sale (1782–1845), British soldier
Saleius Bassus (fl. First Century), Roman epic poet
William Salesbury (c. 1520–c. 1600), Welsh scholar
Antoine-Christophe Saliceti (1757–1809), French revolutionist
Antonio Salieri (1750–1825), Italian composer
Bertrand de Salignac, Seigneur de La Mothe-Fénelon (1523–1589), French diplomatist
Salimbene da Parma (1221–1287), Italian writer
Earls of Salisbury
James Edward Hubert Gascoyne-Cecil, Marquess of Salisbury (1861–1947), English politician
Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury (1563–1612), English Lord Treasurer
Robert Cecil, Marquess of Salisbury (1830–1903), British statesman
Thomas de Montacute, Earl of Salisbury (1388–1428), English soldier
William Longespée, Earl of Salisbury (1175–1226), English noble
Denis de Sallo, Sieur de la Coudraye (1626–1669), French writer, and founder of the first French literary and scientific journal
Sallust (c. 86–c. 34/5 B.C.), Roman historian
Nicolás Salmerón y Alonso (1838–1908), Spanish statesman
George Salmon (1819–1904), British mathematician and divine
Salome, in Jewish history the name borne by several women of the Herod dynasty
Sir Titus Salt (1803–1876), English manufacturer
John William Salter (1820–1869), English naturalist and palæontologist
Richard Saltonstall (1586?–1658?), American colonist
Edgar Evertson Saltus (1855–1921), American author
Francis Saltus Saltus (1849–1889), American author
Mikhail Saltykov (Shchedrin) (1826–1889), Russian satirist
Narcisse-Achille Salvandy (1795–1856), French politician
Salvian (c. 400–c. 480), Christian writer
Tommaso Salvini (1829–1915), Italian actor
Hermann von Salza (c. 1170–1239), Master of the Teutonic Order, and councillor of the Emperor Frederick II.
Francisco Salzillo y Alcaraz (1707–1781), Spanish sculptor
Albert Victor Samain (1858–1900), French poet
Félix María de Samaniego (1745–1801), Spanish fabulist
Samblançay, French noble family of Touraine
Edward Linley Sambourne (1844–1910), English draughtsman, illustrator and designer
William Thomas Sampson (1840–1902), American naval commander
Samson, in the Bible, the antagonist of the Philistines
Samson (1135–1211), Abbot of St. Edmund’s
Ezra Sampson (1749–1823), American clergyman and author
George Whitefield Samson (1819–1896), American theologian and art critic
Joseph Isidore Samson (1793–1871), French actor and playwright
Alexander Samsonov (1859–1914), Russian general
Samuel, a prominent figure in Old Testament history
Samuel of Nehardea (c. 177–c. 257), Babylonian rabbi
Herbert Louis, Viscount Samuel (1870–1963), British politician
James Samuelson (b. 1829), British author
Sanā’ī (d. c. 1150), earliest among the great Ṣūfic poets of Persia
Sanatruces (First Century B.C.), Parthian King
Franklin Benjamin Sanborn (1831–1917), American philanthropist
Sanchez, three persons of this name enjoyed considerable literary celebrity
Alonso Sánchez Coello (1531/2–1588), Spanish painter
Sanchuniathon, ancient Phoenician sage
William Sancroft (1617–1693), Archbishop of Canterbury
Nicolas de Harlay de Sancy (1546–1629), French soldier and diplomatist
George Sand (1804–1876), most prolific authoress in the history of literature, and unapproached among the women novelists of France
William Sanday (1843–1920), English theological scholar
Carl Ludwig Fridolin von Sandberger (1826–1898), German palæontologist and geologist
Paul Sandby (1731–1809), English water-colour painter
Leonard Sylvain Jules Sandeau (1811–1883), French novelist
Sir Robert Groves Sandeman (1835–1892), Indian officer and administrator
Daniel Sanders (1819–1897), German lexicographer
Nicholas Sanders (c. 1530–1581), Roman Catholic agent and historian
John Sanderson (1783–1844), American author
Robert Sanderson (1587–1663), English divine
John de Sandford (d. 1294), Archbishop of Dublin
Joachim von Sandrart (1606–1688), German art-historian and painter
Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich (1625–1672), English admiral
John Montagu, Earl of Sandwich (1718–1792), English statesman
Edwin Sandys (1516?–1588), English Archbishop
Sir Edwin Sandys (1561–1629), British statesman and one of the founders of the colony of Virginia
Frederick Sandys (1829–1904), English painter and draughtsman
George Sandys (1578–1644), English traveller, colonist and poet
Sangallo, surname of a Florentine family
John Sanger (1816?–1889), English circus proprietor
Antonino Paternò Castello, Marchese di San Giuliano (1852–1914), Italian statesman
Margaret Elizabeth Sangster (1838–1912), American journalist
Sanetomi Sanjō (1837–1891), Japanese statesman
Śaṅkarācārya (c. 789–820), Hindu theologian
Ira David Sankey (1840–1908), American evangelist
José de San Martin (1778–1850), South American soldier and statesman
Michele Sanmichele (1484–1559), Italian architect
Jacopo Sannazaro (1458–1530), Italian poet of the Renaissance
Charles-Henri Sanson (1739–1806), public executioner of Paris
Nicolas Sanson (1600–1667), French cartographer
Andrea Sansovino (1460–1529), Florentine sculptor
Jacopo Sansovino (1486–1570), Italian sculptor
Antonio López de Santa Anna (1794?–1876), Mexican soldier and politician
Santorre Annibale Derossi de Pomarolo, Count of Santarosa (1783–1825), Piedmontese insurgent, and leader in the revival (Resorgimento) of Italy
George Santayana (1863–1952), American philosopher and writer
Antoine-Joseph Santerre (1752–1809), French revolutionist
Jean-Baptiste Santerre (1651–1717), French painter
Iñigo López de Mendoza, Marquis of Santillana (1398–1458), Castilian poet
Giovanni Santini (1787–1877), Italian astronomer
Sir Charles Santley (1834–1922), English vocalist
Marino Sanudo (c. 1260–1343), Venetian statesman, geographer, &c.
Marino Sanudo (1466–1536), Venetian historian
Sappho (fl. c. 610–580 B.C.), Greek poetess
Giuseppe Saracco (1821–1907), Italian politician and financier, and knight of the Annunziata
Pablo de Sarasate (1844–1908), Spanish violinist
Jean-François Sarasin (1614?–1654), French author
Adrian Saravia (1531–1613), theologian
Francisque Sarcey (1827–1899), French journalist and dramatic critic
Sardanapalus, according to Greek fable, the last King of Assyria
Victorien Sardou (1831–1908), French dramatist
Epes Sargent (1813–1880), American journalist and poet
John Singer Sargent (1856–1925), Anglo-American artist
Winthrop Sargent (1753–1820), American soldier
Sargon (d. 705 B.C.), Assyrian ruler
Paolo Sarpi (1552–1623), Venetian patriot, scholar and church reformer
Maurice Sarrail (1856–1929), French general
Jacques Sarrazin (1592?–1660), French painter
Bernard Sarrette (1765–1858), founder of the Conservatoire National de Musique et de Déclamation in Paris
Patrick Sarsfield (d. 1693), Irish Jacobite and soldier
John Sartain (1808–1897), American artist
Giuseppe Sarti (1729–1802), Italian composer
Andrea del Sarto (1486–1530), celebrated painter of the Florentine school
Wolfgang Sartorius von Waltershausen (1809–1876), German geologist
Sir Albert Abdullah David Sassoon (1818–1896), British Indian philanthropist and merchant
Walter Satterlee (1844–1908), American figure and genre painter
Lucius Appuleius Saturninus (Second Century B.C.), Roman demagogue
Saul, in the Old Testament, King of Israel
Claude Saumaise (1588–1653), French classical scholar
Edward James Saunderson (1837–1906), Irish politician
Nicholas Saunderson (1682–1739), English mathematician
Jacques Saurin (1677–1730), French preacher
Horace Bénédict de Saussure (1740–1799), Swiss physicist and Alpine traveller
Nicolas Théodore de Saussure (1767–1845), Swiss scientist
Henri Sauval (1623–1676), French historian
Joseph Sauveur (1653–1716), eminent French mathematician