Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Subjects covered: An illustrated collection of 50,000 biographies of people who shaped the history of the British Isles and beyond. The biographies -- of artists, scientists, writers, industrialists, performers, explorers, criminals, and eccentrics as well as politicians, church leaders, and soldiers, mariners, doctors, and lawyers -- are written by experts and provide up-to-date scholarship but are also concise and readable. There are over 50,000 biographical articles in the Oxford DNB, and 9,294 cross-reference entries. There are no entries for living persons.

This is a major reference work for anyone interested in the histories and cultures of the British Isles. The Oxford DNB takes an inclusive approach to the "national" in its title. It covers those who were born and lived in the British Isles, including Ireland; people born there who made their mark in former colonies and in Europe; those who lived in the former colonies when involved directly with British rule; and some people born abroad who lived in or left significant records of the British Isles.

Content: Over 50,000 biographies
Dates covered: 4th c. BCE -
Updated: 3 times/year
Provider: Oxford University Press
Help using this database: Oxford online help