Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (DNB) contains short biographical entries for men and women who have shaped British history and culture, worldwide, from ancient times to the present. It includes over 60,000 biographies and 11,000 portraits. Each biography concisely describes a person’s life, accomplishments, and influence, citing relevant sources. Biographies are written by expert scholars and overseen by academic editors at Oxford University.

This database is the electronic counterpart and continuation of the 60-volume print publication Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004). New biographies are regularly added to the database, making it an improvement of the print original. According to DNB’s editorial standards, no living persons are included; only deceased persons are included.