Welcome to American National Biography Online

The landmark American National Biography offers portraits of more than 17,400 men & women — from all eras and walks of life — whose lives have shaped the nation. The American National Biography is the first biographical resource of this scope to be published in more than sixty years.

Enter a name in the Quick Search box (at top right and on every page) to get started; browse by name; or use the advanced search to find people by realm of renown, life dates, or birthplace.
bio image

Biography of the Day

Cleburne, Patrick Ronayne (17 Mar. 1828-30 Nov. 1864),
Confederate Army Officers, (665) words

Confederate officer, was born in Ireland, the son of Joseph Cleburne, a physician, and Mary Ann Ronayne. In 1846, failing to gain admission to medical school in Dublin, he enlisted in the British Forty-first Regiment of Foot. In 1849, ...

Read More

.

Explore articles chosen by Oxford editors across 12 research topics, including the Civil War, Women's History, and more!

Make ANB Online work for you with a Teacher's Guide designed to help you get the most out of this valuable resource.

New to ANB Online, the acclaimed Oxford Companion to United States History provides valuable context on US history and culture.

What's New