The historical figure who led the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 was Martin Luther King Jr. This iconic march was a pivotal event in the American civil rights movement, aimed at combating racial discrimination and advocating for African American voting rights. The march covered approximately 54 miles along U.S. Route 80, and it was marked by the violent confrontation at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, known as "Bloody Sunday." King’s leadership during this event drew national attention and support, ultimately influencing the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.