Woodrow Wilson
28th U.S. President, World War I leadership, League of Nations advocate
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856 – February 3, 1924) was the 28th President of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. Before his presidency, Wilson was a professor of political science and served as President of Princeton University, bringing an intellectual approach to governance. His presidency was defined by progressive domestic reforms including the Federal Reserve Act, antitrust legislation, and labor protections. However, his legacy is most closely tied to World War I and its aftermath. Initially elected on a peace platform with the slogan 'He kept us out of war,' Wilson eventually led America into the conflict in 1917. At the war's conclusion, he championed the League of Nations and Fourteen Points as a framework for lasting peace, though the U.S. Senate ultimately rejected League membership. Wilson won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1920 for his peace efforts. He suffered a severe stroke in 1919 that left him partially incapacitated during his final years in office. His presidency marked America's emergence as a global superpower.
Wilson Fisk
Marvel villain, Kingpin, 'Daredevil' antagonist
Wilson Kipchoge
First sub-2-hour marathon, Olympic gold medalist, elite distance runner
Wilson Bethel
Actor, 'Hart of Dixie,' television and film career
Wilson Pickett
Soul and R&B singer, 'In the Midnight Hour,' 'Mustang Sally'
Wilson Rawls
Author of 'Where the Red Fern Grows,' children's literature classic
Political Leader
American
1856
1924
Thinking about the name
Wilson
English origin
“Meaning 'son of Will,' Wilson emerged as a surname in medieval England and became a given name in American culture. The name carries professional respectability and steady reliability, popularized both as a surname (President Woodrow Wilson) and as a given name. It bridges classic tradition with accessible modernity.”