Biography of important personalities
He chose people on a ranking of who had done the most to influence the world. I recommend reading the book as it offers an interesting insight into the influence of different individuals. Hart at Amazon. Hart, Michael H. New York: Citadel Press Book. The list by Michael Hart is very useful for finding a list of very influential people. My main observation is that he has given a high weighting to scientists and writers than I might.
Most notable omissions. Abraham Lincoln who prevented the United States splitting apart and helped to reinvigorate the democratic principles of the Declaration of Independence. Sri Krishna principle figure in Hinduism. The Bhagavad Gita has influence whole religion and culture of India, and is now spreading to rest of world. Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan.
Last updated 1 March Books that changed the world : Important books which influenced and changed society and the world. Inspirational people : People who made a difference in a positive way and left the world a better place. Ideas that changed the world : Scientific, political, religious and technological ideas that transformed the world, including democracy, feminism, human rights and relativity.
Inventions that changed the world : Famous inventions that made a great difference to the progress of the world, including aluminium, the telephone and the printing press. Book of Most Influential People. Hart Author at Amazon. He was born in and championed religious revolutions until his time of death in He was a theologian, and reformer in religious matters and an important person that led to protestant reformation.
Previously a catholic monk, Martin Luther championed biographies of important personalities in the catholic churches to fight corruption and illegal business in the church. He famously wrote ninety-five these criticizing the acts in the church. After translating the bible in Germany, he made it easier for people to understand the word of god.
Therefore, his thesis landed in safe hands, spreading fast across Europe. His teachings on religious matters emphasized religious purity, faith, and salvation which was the basis for protestant Christianity. Find out: Top 15 Facts about Martin Luther He was a powerful leader in the Soviet Union until he died in Stalin is remembered for his ruthlessness and execution of his political opponents, and the people close to him for disloyalty suspicion.
He captured, tortured, and killed close to a million people in two years to instill fear and eliminate disloyal members. Russian troops suffered losses but managed to repel the Germans in He is the reason behind the cold war because of his desperation for nuclear weapons after seeing what happened to Japan. However, the Soviet Union leader died in during the cold war after suffering a stroke.
Albert Einstein See file page for creator info. Scientists have Albert Einstein to thank for his contribution to physics. He is remembered for his contribution to theoretical physics. Einstein was born in Germany, moved to Switzerland, and eventually to America after Adolf Hitler rose to power. While in America, the genius made discoveries that changed the world.
He helped us to know how time works, as well as space and energy. He remains an intelligent man in history. Christopher Columbus was born and raised in Italy before he became an explorer and navigator who discovered land abroad. He is remembered for setting on several sailing journeys in the late fifteenth century, with the help of the Catholic Church in Hispaniola.
He sailed off to find Japan and China, but ended up in the Bahamas and later deep in the Americas. Columbus arrived in the Caribbean in having a way for more Europeans to set sail to the land abroad. Although he is celebrated in Spain and across the world for discovering unpopulated land, he is also remembered s being the cause of colonization which led to devastating effects on the indigenous people.
His actions led to increased global exploration, marking the beginning of the global connection. Plato Plato, a student of Socrates and later on a teacher and mentor to Aristotle, was a man with several titles.
Biography of important personalities
Apart from being a philosopher, Plato was also an excellent mathematician whose teachings and writings greatly influenced the thinkers in Western philosophy. He founded the first higher learning institution in the Western world, the Academy in Athens. In his seven and a half decades on earth, Plato, a polymath, changed philosophy, mathematics, logic, and ethics in the Western world.
As a teacher, he instilled the art of storytelling in his students, often allowing them to ask questions and think for themselves. He expanded the French territories through military campaigns and constant war with the neighboring nations. He encountered social and economic challenges during his reign due to his self-centered policies as the king.
However, his reign established the monarchy and shaped French culture. Ludwig von Beethoven was a German musical genius who changed the music industry. He aided the transition of classical music to romantic music during his five decades on Earth. He was live between andhaving composed several songs and symphonies including the Ninth Symphony.
He faced life challenges such as progressive deafness, leaving him completely deaf in his last years. However, being an expert and talented musician, Beethoven continued composing songs in his last fifteen years in isolation. Ulysses S. Grant was one of the biographies of important personalities of the United States of America, after being one of the most respected military leaders.
He was born in in Ohio, rising to power after his appointment by Abraham Lincoln. Grant was an aggressive and tactical military leader whose skills helped the American military to victory over the Confederacy. He is also remembered for defeating General Robert E. Lee which was an important victory in ensuring that America remained united.
Grant biography of important personalities later be elected the eighteenth president of the United States, serving from to He died eight years after finishing his term as president. Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian artist, mathematician, painter, philosopher, and scientist whose contribution changed the Renaissance era in Europe.
He also explored several fields such as engineering often making discoveries that would help people in the future. He is a symbol of creativity in the world today. He was previously called Gaius Octavius or Octavian. His father died when he was four years, thus being adopted by Julius Caesar. Augustus became famous in Rome when Julius Caesar was assassinated.
He quickly rose to power and implemented several reforms that helped in expanding the Roman Empire. The Pax Romana was the name used to refer to his reign which was accompanied by relative peace and success in the empire. Sir Isaac Newton was born in and lived up to after making a series of scientific discoveries. He was both a mathematician, physicist, and a scientist whose contribution in every field is used today.
Some of his scientific achievements included his discoveries in mechanics and the law of gravity in the universe. He made developments in creating a telescope and the discovery of colors. His discoveries revolutionized the way we view the world, and understand natural things. His intelligence and brilliance have been a legacy to date. He was born in Liege, Belgium where he grew up until his rise to power.
His involvement in military operations at an early age paved the way for Charlemagne to become a powerful king and military commander in the future. His father, Pepin the Short and Frankish king died in leaving Charlemagne and his younger brother, Carloman, to fight for the throne. They divided the kingdom in two but Carloman died a few years later leaving Charlemagne the only king.
He is remembered as the father of Western Europe, and his reforms to enforce Christianity in the kingdom. He helped cultivate culture and identity in Western Europe until he died in His kingdom crumbled, but his legacy is celebrated today. Theodore Roosevelt was the twenty-sixth president of the United States of America, statesman, and author.
Often referred to as Teddy or T. He was a successful president who advocated for environmental conservation, and enforced labor rights in the country. He is in American history as one of the greatest leaders. Explore: Top 10 Facts about Theodore Roosevelt Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a possibly famous person from a young age as a child prodigy.
He grew to become one of the most influential people in Australia and classical music in Western Europe. He was one of the best classical music composers in the country during the eighteenth century. Born inin Salzburg, Mozart began showing interest in music at an early age. His talent was natural because he was born into a musical family. He was a star in compositions such as symphonies, concertos, and chamber music.
He was arguably the first person to apply musical harmony and melody control in singing. George W. Bush is an American politician, statesman, and businessman who served as the 43 rd president of the United States of America. Before being elected president inGeorge Bush served as a governor in Texas. He made tax reforms in the country, alongside organizing several military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He played an important role in shaping crucial policies that shaped the country. Genghis Kahn Genghis Khan, born Temujin was a Mongolian warrior and military commander who established the Mongolian empire. His empire stretched from Europe to Asia and he acquired land through aggressive military operations. His armies were known to leave a trail of fear, death, and destruction wherever they went.
Khan was responsible for the formation of a huge empire that share one language. He also allowed people to practice their preferred religion and held a strong guard on the trade routes. His difficult childhood groomed him into the man that led the strongest army in the twelfth century. He died in at sixty-three years after establishing the biggest empire of the time.
Charles, I lived between andafter ruling over three nations as the king. He was the king of England, Scotland, and Ireland for over two decades before he was executed during the civil war. His reign as king was marked by constant conflict when he tried to make the kingdom have absolute power. He also faced economic, and religious problems and would often collide with the parliament.
However, his reign sparked political differences leading to the civil war in Great Britain. After the war, Charles I was tried and found guilty of treason. He was executed, leading to the end of his reign. Winston Churchill was an eloquent and convincing man in Britain. He was a British statesman who lived between andserved as Prime Minister, and changed the world through his leadership.
He was a key figure in the United Kingdom during the Second World War, rallying troops to fight through his powerful public addresses. He fostered the spirit of resilience among the soldiers and became an important person in the country. Thomas Edison was an American businessman and scientist whose inventions are still used today. He was born in Milan, Ohio in where he studied before moving to Kentucky where he worked as a telegraph operator.
He was a difficult child who irritated his teachers with his inability to grasp concepts like other students. He would ask a lot of questions whenever he was in class. Being unteachable, Edison resolved on being self-taught and read every book in the library. His achievements as a scientist laid the foundation for modern science. He passed on in Carl Linnaeus was born in Sweden in and lived until after impacting the field of biology in immeasurable ways.
He is referred to as the father of modern taxonomy. He is the man behind the systems of classification of organisms. His expertise in botany, zoology, and physics made science what it is today. He is famous for his binomial nomenclature which is the basis for classifying and naming animals and plants. His inventions revolutionized the study of biology to date.
Ronald Reagan was the man who rose from being an actor to becoming the 40 th president of the United States of America. He was born in and lived in the world wars until He served in the position of president between andmaking reforms that transformed America. He is remembered for his policies such as tax cuts, deregulation, and opposing communism.
He was also a key figure in the attempt to end the cold war that brought better relations with the Soviet Union. Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Ronald Reagan Born in in a modest family, dickens had a difficult childhood due to a lack of enough money. He, therefore, ventured into writing to change the situation. He used his speaking and writing skills to criticize the social injustices that were prevailing in England.
He protested for the rights of minority groups, which inspired him to write books. He was known for being a strong opponent of the Christian faith in his early life. He participated in the persecution of Christians until his conversion to become a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. He would, later on, spread the preaching of Jesus in the Roman Empire before writing journals that formed the basis of the new testament of the bible.
His contribution to the world included the teachings on grace, faith, and salvation forming the foundation for the Christian faith to date. Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath who was vast in science, philosophy, and business. He was also a statesman, ambassador, and free thinker whose works set off the American Renaissance. He was involved in drafting the American Constitution and fostered the American Revolution during the seventeenth century.
He also contributed to science by inventing a lightning rod and bifocals. He also wrote several essays and books to share his wisdom on social matters in the country with the spirit of enlightenment. Check out: Top 15 Facts about Benjamin Franklin Woodrow Wilson served as the twenty-eighth president of the United States of America between and He was a statesman whose progressive policies and passion for international peace changed America and the world.
He implemented the Federal Reserve System in America and was a key figure in the First World War as he ensured the formation of the League of Nations before the war began. His vision for a peaceful and just world inspired democracy in the world today. Johann Sebastian Bach, popularly known as J. Bach was a German musician, composer, organist, and writer whose work inspired modern classical music.
Born in Eisenach, young Bach showed his talent at a tender age inspired by his father. His parents passed away when he was ten years. His older brother, Johann Christoph took the responsibility to raise Bach. He was introduced to a local church where he learned to play violin alongside other musical organs. He had unique vocals which he used to his advantage, composing some of the best classical music.
His musical innovations continue to inspire generations. Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomic scientist and mathematician whose discoveries helped people understand the universe and the sun. He was born in in Pisa, Florence in Italy. Before meeting his death inGalileo had made a significant discovery about the revolution of the universe.
He enhanced and used a telescope to study the universe, coming up with the conclusion that the earth revolved around the sun. His theory was opposed by the Catholic Church and he faced persecution. He remains an iconic figure in the history and science of the universe. Oliver Cromwell was born in Cambridge shire, England in where he was raised and schooled.
He attended Cambridge University before launching his political journey. He is remembered by some people as the defender of the English democracy. He championed the formation of the Commonwealth of England and overthrew King Charles, and oversaw his execution. Cromwell also served as the Lord Protectorate of England, during which he led to the execution of Scots and Jews.
His rule was marked with religious tolerance until he died in However, any disagreed with his policies, and his body was dug up and hanged. He is remembered as a man who forged the way to biography of important personalities modern England. James Madison was another one of the presidents of the United States between and He was an American statesman, a politician, and a theorist whose role in the country as president led to the creation of the best constitution of his time.
He advocated for a strong central government and balanced bills of rights. He is remembered for his intellectual leadership. His time as king faced religious conflicts between Protestants and Catholics in England. He was responsible for the translation of the bible from the original language to English. This translation led to the creation of the King James Version of the bible.
His regime faced opposition because he focused on creating an absolute government. He was the pioneer of the Stuart dynasty and was also the cause of long religious conflicts in the country. Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher and statesman whose life shaped the traditional theories of morality. He was a freethinker who emphasized willpower and often urged people to reason on their own.
His writings continue to inspire literature today. Franklin D. Roosevelt Photograph: Leon A. His reign between and was the toughest because of the great depression and the Second World War. As president, Roosevelt implemented policies called the New Deal which aimed at recovering the economy of the country. He is given credit for expanding the role of the federal government.
He died in after a successful regime in the country. Sigmund Freud, born in and died in ,was an Australian polymath whose knowledge of many different subjects changed the world. He graduated from the University of Vienna where he joined at seventeen years and studied philosophy and zoology. He explored some topics that had never been looked into, such as the meaning of dreams, sexuality, and human behavior.
Despite facing challenges, his discoveries have helped to treat people with mental disability. He is an inspiration to free thinkers today. Alexander Hamilton was born in West Indies and immigrated to the United States of America where he was pivotal in the country. As the first secretary of the treasury, he made several internal reforms with the president that led to enormous industrial growth in America.
His contribution to the Constitution and support of the national government earned him a spot among significant people in American history. He was an Indian strong spiritual leader, teacher, and founder of Buddhism. Despite being lucky to be born into a wealthy family in India, Buddha denounced his family to search for truth and self-awareness.
He went on a mission to enlightenment through meditation and reading. After several years of meditation, he gained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree. He went on to pass knowledge to missions of other people in the country and beyond. His teachings focused on helping people find inner peace and reduce human suffering. People use his teachings today to find inner peace and live fulfilling lives.
Mark Twain A. Mark Twain was an American author who used his sense of humor, wit, and satire to pass the message to the people. He was a strong advocate for equal human rights in America which inspired him to write books. His writings targeted social injustices such as racism, and social segregation of minority groups in the country.
His skills to pass important information with humor make him one of the greatest writers in history. He was born in and died in after a successful career in the film industry. He was well known for his storytelling skills and often told horrific stories. His work explored unimaginable themes such as insanity, and mortality leading to the discovery of horror movies.
He is the founder of the horror movies genre which continues to play in cinema halls today. Despite his struggles with life, he managed to cement his name in the film industry as a legend. Joseph Smith Jr. He founded the Latter Day Saint movement which was highly supported by Mormons. According to joseph smith, God, and Jesus Christ visited him and instructed him to restore the gospel and establish a church that would help preach the word of God.
He became the president of the church of Mormons, facing rejection and persecution. His teachings shaped the lives of millions of people making him a key figure in history. Adam Smith was a Scottish philosopher and economist whose contribution led to the birth of modern economics. He was much ahead of his time because his works are used in modern economics.
He developed the theory of capitalism which was widely used in the early years in Europe and America. He led to the Scottish Enlightenment and his emphasis on economic prosperity through specialization is applied in many economies today.