Famous people seem almost ideal to everyone else; it seems that they immediately became famous, or that they cannot get into funny and absurd situations. But, in fact, they are people like everyone else. Not everyone immediately understood what exactly they were talented at, and some did not immediately receive recognition. Reading interesting stories from, you begin to treat them not only as special individuals, but also as people who can make mistakes, get into ridiculous situations and achieve their goals.

Jules Verne

This is not just a writer of adventure novels, but also one of those authors who could foresee some things. Jules Verne also belonged to this category, and his works were the favorite books of not only children, but also adults. They contained not only fantastic inventions for that time, but also colorful descriptions of nature and the depths of the sea. And the life of Jules Verne was as bright and a little mysterious as his novels.

  1. Back in 1839, the boy, who was only 11 years old, went to the port of Nantes, where the schooner Coralie was located. This is exactly what this boy chose as a cabin boy. This ship was supposed to go to the fabulous and mysterious India, where he so dreamed of going. But he was noticed in time and put ashore. Many years later, already as a grown man, he told those around him that his calling was in maritime affairs. And he regretted that he could not become a sailor then. This boy was Jules Verne.
  2. People often said that his novels described technologies that would be invented in the future. One of these stories is connected with the legend of the writer’s family. Allegedly, in 1863 the writer finished work on the novel “Paris in the 20th Century.” He returned from the publishing house puzzled: the publisher refused to print the manuscript because it was too fantastic! And suddenly, in 1989, Verne’s great-grandson discovered that very novel and the inventions that were described in the book actually existed.
  3. Jules Verne is one of those writers who popularized science in society thanks to his writing talent. Therefore, for many designers and engineers of spacecraft, as well as cosmonauts and astronauts, his books have become reference books. His talent and faith in science were rewarded: a large crater on the far side of the Moon was named in his honor.

The famous Russian writer, whose talent was most clearly revealed in drama, managed to completely change the idea of ​​what a play should be. In his works, Anton Pavlovich knew how to very accurately select expressions that would describe all the weaknesses of human nature. At the same time, the writer himself was philanthropic and throughout his life he urged everyone to “take care of the person within you.” Chekhov did not like to write about himself, but the writer’s notebooks, his letters, and the memories of people who had the opportunity to communicate with him allow us to get acquainted with interesting facts from the life of Anton Pavlovich.

1. There was always a place for medicine in Chekhov’s life. After all, initially he saw his calling as a doctor, and writing stories, plays and humorous notes for him was just a way to earn extra money. Among the teachers at the medical faculty where the writer studied was the famous Nikolai Sklifosovsky. Later, Anton Pavlovich began working as a doctor.

After some time, there was a change in priorities, and in January 1886 a sign was removed from his door, which stated that a doctor was seeing there. It was not only that Anton Pavlovich began to seriously engage in writing, but a difficult case occurred in his practice: two of his patients died of typhus. During his famous trip to Sakhalin, Chekhov wrote that he was ready to leave medicine.

But, in fact, he always continued to be a doctor. Anton Pavlovich attended various medical congresses to keep abreast of the latest news in this area. On his estate in Melikhovo he continued to provide medical care to all those in need, and treated the sick in Yalta. Even when he was already seriously ill, Anton Pavlovich was ready to go to the Far East not as a writer, but as a doctor.

2. It was Chekhov who “gave” Sakhalin to Russia. In 1890, the playwright made the most difficult expedition to Sakhalin, which was a place of exile for prisoners and convicts. One newspaper wrote about this trip as a significant event. Anton Pavlovich took a responsible approach to the trip: he studied the history of the Russian prison, all kinds of records about the island, the works of historians, geographers and ethnographers about Sakhalin.

When Chekhov went to Sakhalin, then this place was not fully studied, of no interest to anyone, there was not even accurate data on the population. The trip lasted three months, during which the writer took a census of the population and studied the life of convicts. It was thanks to Anton Pavlovich that Russian and foreign researchers became interested in the island.

3. Chekhov was engaged in charity work, which was not limited to medical assistance. He raised funds for the needy, built schools, opened public libraries, to which he donated his numerous books, which were of museum value. Well, of course, he helped all the sick and even arranged for those who had little money to go to a sanatorium. All his life he followed his covenant: “Take care of the person within you!”

An outstanding scientist who laid the foundations of chemistry, creator of the periodic table, professor - the life of such a talented person as Dmitry Mendeleev was just as interesting. It contained some very interesting facts that reveal a different side to the scientist.

1. The most important well-known fact of the scientist’s biography is the famous dream in which he had a periodic table of chemical elements. No matter how it gives a certain aura of mystery to Mendeleev’s personality, it is not so. Dmitry Ivanovich created this table through long research and reflection.

The periodic law was discovered in 1869. On February 17, the scientist sketched a table on the back of one letter, which contained a request to come and help production. Later, Mendeleev wrote on separate cards the names of all chemical elements known at that time, as well as their atomic weights, and arranged them in order. Therefore, the trip was postponed, and Dmitry Ivanovich himself plunged into work, as a result of which the periodic table of chemical elements was obtained. And in 1870, the scientist was able to calculate the atomic mass of those elements that had not yet been studied, which is why there were “empty” spaces in his table, which were later filled with new elements.

2. Despite his numerous scientific works and important discoveries, Dmitry Ivanovich never received the Nobel Prize. Although he was nominated for it more than once, each time it was awarded to a different doctor. In 1905, Mendeleev was among the candidates, but the German chemist became the laureate. In 1906, it was decided to present the prize to Dmitry Ivanovich, but then the Royal Swedish Academy changed its mind and presented the award to the French scientist.

In 1907, a proposal was voiced to divide the prize between the Italian scientist and Mendeleev. But on February 2, 1907, the 72-year-old outstanding scientist passed away. A possible reason why Dmitry Ivanovich did not become a laureate is the conflict between him and the Nobel brothers. It occurred due to disagreements over the introduction of a tax on oil, thanks to which the brothers were able to get rich and control some of the Russian shares.

The Swedes started a rumor about the depletion of the oil field. A special commission was created, among whose members was Mendeleev. He was opposed to introducing a tax, and denied the rumor started by the Nobel brothers, which became the cause of the conflict between the Nobels and the scientist.

3. Despite the fact that for the majority the name Mendeleev is associated with chemistry, in fact, works devoted to chemistry accounted for only 10% of the total amount of scientific research. Dmitry Ivanovich was also interested in shipbuilding and participated in the development of navigation in Arctic waters. And he devoted about 40 works to this area.

Mendeleev took an active part in the construction of the first Arctic icebreaker "Ermak", which was launched on October 29, 1898. For his active participation in the study of Arctic development, a ridge located under water in the Arctic, discovered in 1949, was named in his honor. .

The facts written above are only a small part of the cases that happened to these outstanding people. But these stories show that famous personalities did not always immediately determine their calling, tried to set an example for other people and follow their principles. Therefore, interesting stories from the lives of great people can inspire humanity to do something important for the development of science or contribute to art or simply help other people.

Once, Henry Ford, while traveling in his company's compact car, saw on the road exactly the same car with a bad engine.

He immediately provided the unknown motorist with the necessary assistance: he supplied him with spare parts and adjusted the engine. When the grateful owner of the stuck car handed over five dollars, Ford smiled: “No, no, no money needed. Things are going well for me as it is.” “I don’t really believe it, sir! - he answered. “If you succeeded in business, you wouldn’t be shaking in a pathetic Ford car...”

Galileo Galilei spent his wedding night reading a book. Noticing that it was already dawn, he went to the bedroom, but immediately came out and asked the servant: “Who is lying in my bed?” “Your wife, sir,” answered the servant. Galileo completely forgot that he got married.

The German mathematician Peter Gustav Dirichlet was very taciturn. When his son was born, he sent his father-in-law a telegram, perhaps the shortest in the history of the telegraph: “2 + 1 = 3.”

The outstanding American scientist Thomas Edison, the author of many inventions in the fields of electrical engineering and communications, film technology and telephony, chemistry and mining, and military equipment, never worked without an assistant. For a long time, Edison was helped in conducting laboratory experiments and demonstrating new technology by one of his assistants, a former simple sailor. When he was asked a question about how Edison made his inventions, he was sincerely surprised every time: “I can’t imagine it myself. After all, I do everything for him, and Edison only frowns and makes comments about me. And in general: I work, and he rests!”

Once Voltaire was invited to a dinner party. When everyone was seated, it turned out that the maestro found himself between two grumpy gentlemen. Having drunk well, Voltaire’s neighbors began to argue about how to properly address the servants: “Bring me some water!” or “Give me some water!” Voltaire unwittingly found himself right in the middle of this controversy. Finally, tired of this disgrace, the maestro could not stand it and said: “Gentlemen, both of these expressions are inapplicable to you!” You should both say, “Take me to water!”

While traveling around France, Mark Twain traveled by train to the city of Dijon. The train was passing, and he asked to wake him up on time. At the same time, the writer said to the conductor: “I sleep very soundly.” When you wake me up, maybe I will scream. So ignore it and be sure to drop me off in Dijon. When Mark Twain woke up, it was already morning, and the train was approaching Paris. The writer realized that he had passed through Dijon and became very angry. He ran to the conductor and began to reprimand him. - I have never been as angry as I am now! - he shouted. “You are not as angry as the American whom I dropped off in Dijon at night,” answered the guide.

After the first telegram from Europe to America was successfully transmitted, Alexander Stepanovich Popov made another report in one of the capital's clubs about his invention of a wireless telegraph system. Representatives of the royal court were present in the audience in the hall, some of them were very skeptical about Popov’s message. Thus, one of the high society ladies, not understanding a word from the report, turned to Popov with what she thought was a tricky question: “However, how do you still explain that this is a telegram as it passes through the ocean, from continent to continent?” , didn’t drown and didn’t even get wet?” Alexander Stepanovich just shrugged his shoulders, and the lady, looking around, smiled smugly.

At the closing ceremony of the 1896 automobile exhibition in Paris, French physicist and electrical engineer Marcel Despres proposed a toast to the future automobile, which would reach a speed of 60 kilometers per hour. In response, one then famous car designer responded dissatisfiedly: “Why is there always someone who will ruin the whole celebration with his stupid predictions!”

One day, an acquaintance of Alexander Pushkin, officer Kondyba, asked the poet if he could come up with a rhyme for the words “cancer” and “fish”. Pushkin replied: “Fool Kondyba!” The officer was embarrassed and suggested making a rhyme for the combination “fish and cancer.” Pushkin was not at a loss here either: “Kondyba is a fool.”

“There is no great man for a servant.” An interesting confirmation of this old rule was the opinion of an old gardener who served Charles Darwin for several decades. He treated the famous natural scientist with love, but had a “minimal opinion” about his abilities: “Good old gentleman, it’s just a pity that he can’t find a worthwhile occupation for himself. Judge for yourself: he stands for several minutes, staring at some flower. Well, would a person who has some serious occupation do this?

Once, speaking at a debate on proletarian internationalism at the Polytechnic Institute, Vladimir Mayakovsky said: “Among Russians, I feel like a Russian, among Georgians, a Georgian...” “And among fools?” - suddenly someone shouted from the hall. “And this is my first time among fools,” Mayakovsky answered instantly.

The English theoretical physicist Paul Dirac married Wigner's sister. Soon an acquaintance came to visit him, who still knew nothing about the event. In the midst of their conversation, a young woman entered the room, calling Dirac by name, pouring tea and generally acting like the mistress of the house. After some time, Dirac noticed the guest’s embarrassment and, slapping himself on the forehead, exclaimed: “Sorry, please, I forgot to introduce you - this is... Wigner’s sister!”

Bernard Shaw, already a famous writer, once collided with a cyclist on the road. Fortunately, both escaped with only fright. The cyclist began to apologize, but Shaw objected: “You're out of luck, sir!” A little more energy - and you would deserve immortality as my killer.

One day a very fat man said to the skinny Bernard Shaw: “You look as if your family were starving.” - And to look at you, one might think that you are the cause of this disaster.

The Prussian King Frederick II, considering himself an erudite man, loved to talk with members of his Academy of Sciences, sometimes asking the most ridiculous questions during these conversations. He once asked academics: “Why does a glass filled with champagne produce a clearer sound than a glass filled with Burgundy?” Professor Sulzer, on behalf of all the academicians present, replied: “Members of the Academy of Sciences, with the low content assigned to them by Your Majesty, are unfortunately deprived of the opportunity to carry out such experiments.”

Once Ilf and Petrov were asked if they had to write under a pseudonym. To which they replied: “Of course, Ilf sometimes signed himself Petrov, and Petrov Ilf.”

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as a joke, chose the addresses of 12 of the largest London bankers, who enjoy the reputation of exceptionally honest and respectable people, and sent each of them a telegram with the following content: “Everything has come out. Hide." The next day, all 12 bankers disappeared from London. By the fact of their flight, they all recognized the criminal and antisocial nature of their activities.

Alexandre Dumas once dined with the famous doctor Gistal, who asked the writer to write something in his book of reviews. Dumas wrote: “Since Dr. Gistal is treating entire families, the hospital needs to be closed.” The doctor exclaimed: “You flatter me!” Then Dumas added: “And build two cemeteries...”

Guy de Maupassant worked for some time as an official in the ministry. A few years later, in the archives of the ministry they found a description of Maupassant: “A diligent official, but he writes poorly.”

In 1972, a young Indian wrote to John Lennon that he had a dream to travel around the world, but had no money, and asked him to send the necessary amount. Lennon replied: “Meditate and you can see the whole world in your mind.” In 1995, the Indian nevertheless went on a trip around the world. He received the required amount by auctioning Lennon's letter.

Once, a customs officer, inspecting the luggage of the British playwright, poet and writer Oscar Wilde, who was widely known for his wit, arrived in New York, asked the distinguished guest if he had jewelry and art objects with him that needed to be included in the declaration. “Nothing but my genius,” answered Oscar Wilde.

When the current heir to the British crown, Prince Charles, studied at Cambridge, a bodyguard went with him to all classes. The Cambridge education system allowed the bodyguard to participate in discussion and debate. And at the end of the training, the teachers asked him to take exams. As a result, the bodyguard scored more points than the prince himself and also received a diploma.

Once at a reception, Charlie Chaplin performed a very complex opera aria for the assembled guests. When he finished, one of the guests exclaimed: “Amazing!” I had no idea that you sing so wonderfully. “Not at all,” Chaplin smiled, “I never knew how to sing.” I was simply imitating now the famous tenor whom I heard at the opera.

While Vladimir Vysotsky was vacationing in Sochi, thieves looked into his hotel room. Along with their belongings and clothes, they took all the documents and even the key to the Moscow apartment. Having discovered the loss, Vysotsky went to the nearest police station, wrote a statement, and they promised to help him. But no help was needed. When he returned to the room, the stolen things and a note were already lying there: “Sorry, Vladimir Semenovich, we didn’t know whose things these were. Unfortunately, we have already sold the jeans, but we are returning the jacket and documents safe and sound.”

I found the photo on the Internet

Who do you consider the most worthy example and inspiration for yourself personally? Martin Luther King Jr., Yuri Gagarin or maybe your grandfather? Our world took several millennia to form, and many historical figures took part in this difficult process, who made their invaluable contribution to science, culture and many other spheres of life, both in their countries and in all of humanity. It is very difficult and almost impossible to select those whose influence was most significant. However, the authors of this list still decided to try and collect in one publication the most inspiring personalities in the history of world civilizations. Some of them are known to everyone, others are not known to everyone, but they all have one thing in common - these people changed our world for the better. From the Dalai Lama to Charles Darwin, here are 25 of the most outstanding figures in history!

25. Charles Darwin

A famous British traveler, naturalist, geologist and biologist, Charles Darwin is most famous for his theory, which changed the understanding of human nature and the development of the world in all its diversity. Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection suggests that all species, including humans, are descended from common ancestors, a concept that shocked the scientific community at the time. Darwin published The Theory of Evolution with some examples and evidence in his revolutionary book On the Origin of Species in 1859, and since then our world and the way we understand it have changed greatly.

24. Tim Berners-Lee


Photo: Paul Clarke

Tim Berners-Lee is a British engineer, inventor and computer scientist best known as the creator of the World Wide Web. Sometimes called the "Father of the Internet", Berners-Lee developed the first hypertext web browser, web server and web editor. The technologies of this outstanding scientist spread worldwide and forever changed the way information is generated and processed.

23. Nicholas Winton


Photo: cs:User:Li-sung

Nicholas Winton was a British philanthropist, and since the late 1980s he has become best known for smuggling 669 Jewish children out of Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia just before World War II. Winton transported all these children to British orphanages, and some of them even managed to be placed in families, which definitely saved them all from inevitable death in concentration camps or during the bombings. The philanthropist organized as many as 8 trains from Prague and also took children out of Vienna, but using other modes of transport. The Englishman never sought fame, and for 49 years he kept his heroic deed a secret. In 1988, Winton’s wife discovered a notebook with notes from 1939 and the addresses of the families who took in young Salvationists. Since then, recognition, orders and awards have fallen upon him. Nicholas Winton died at the age of 106 in 2015.

22. Buddha Shakyamuni (Gautama Buddha)


Photo: Max Pixel

Also known as Siddhartha Gautama (from birth), Tathagata (the comer) or Bhagavan (the blessed one), Shakyamuni Buddha (the awakened sage of the Shakya lineage) was the spiritual leader and founder of Buddhism, one of the world's three leading religions. Buddha was born in the 6th century BC into a royal family and lived in absolute isolation and luxury. As the prince grew older, he left his family and all his property to plunge into self-discovery and seek to rid humanity of suffering. After several years of meditation and contemplation, Gautama achieved enlightenment and became the Buddha. Through his teachings, Shakyamuni Buddha influenced the lives of millions of people around the world.

21. Rosa Parks

Photo: wikimedia commons

Also known as the "First Lady of Civil Rights" and the "Mother of the Freedom Movement," Rosa Parks was a true pioneer and founder of the black civil rights movement in 1950s Alabama, which was still heavily segregated by race. In 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, a courageous African-American woman and passionate civil rights activist, Rosa Parks, refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger, disobeying the driver's orders. Her rebellious act provoked other blacks into what was later called the legendary "Montgomery Bus Boycott." This boycott lasted 381 days and became one of the key events in the history of the black civil rights movement in the United States.

20. Henry Dunant

Photo: ICRC

A successful Swiss entrepreneur and active public figure, Henri Dunant became the first person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901. During a business trip in 1859, Dunant encountered the terrible consequences of the Battle of Solferino (Italy), where the troops of Napoleon, the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Austrian Empire under the leadership of Franz Joseph I clashed, and the troops were left to die on the battlefield. almost 9 thousand wounded. In 1863, in response to the horrors of war and the brutality of the battle he saw, the entrepreneur founded the well-known International Committee of the Red Cross. The Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded, adopted in 1864, was also based on ideas expressed by Henri Dunant.

19. Simon Bolivar

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Also known as the Libertador, Simon Bolivar was a prominent Venezuelan military and political leader who played a key role in the liberation of six countries in South and Central America - Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama - from Spanish rule. Bolivar was born into a wealthy aristocratic family, but he devoted most of his life to military campaigns and the fight for the independence of the Spanish colonies in America. The country of Bolivia, by the way, was named in honor of this hero and liberator.

18. Albert Einstein

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Albert Einstein is one of the most respected and influential scientists of all time. This outstanding theoretical physicist, Nobel laureate and public figure-humanist gave the world over 300 scientific works on physics and about 150 books and articles on history, philosophy and other humanitarian areas. His whole life was full of interesting research, revolutionary ideas and theories, which later became fundamental for modern science. Einstein was most famous for his Theory of Relativity, and thanks to this work he became one of the greatest personalities in human history. Even after almost a century, this Theory continues to influence the thinking of the modern scientific community working to create a Theory of Everything (or Unified Field Theory).

17. Leonardo da Vinci


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It is difficult to describe and list all the areas in which Leonardo da Vinci, a man who changed the whole world with his mere existence, succeeded. Over the course of his entire life, this Italian genius of the Renaissance managed to achieve unprecedented heights in painting, architecture, music, mathematics, anatomy, engineering, and many other areas. Da Vinci is recognized as one of the most versatile and talented people to ever live on our planet, and he is the author of such revolutionary inventions as the parachute, helicopter, tank and scissors.

16. Christopher Columbus

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The famous Italian explorer, traveler and colonizer, Christopher Columbus was not the first European to sail to America (after all, the Vikings had been here before him). However, his voyages gave rise to an entire era of the most outstanding discoveries, conquests and colonizations, which continued for several centuries after his death. Columbus's travels to the New World greatly influenced the development of geography of those times, because at the beginning of the 15th century people still believed that the Earth was flat and that there were no more lands beyond the Atlantic.

15. Martin Luther King Jr.


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This is one of the most influential personalities of the 20th century. Martin Luther King Jr. is best known for his peaceful movement against discrimination, racial segregation and for the civil rights of black Americans, for which he even received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Martin Luther King was a Baptist preacher and powerful speaker who inspired millions of people around the world to fight for democratic freedoms and their rights. He played a key role in promoting civil rights through peaceful protests based on Christian faith and the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.

14. Bill Gates

Photo: DFID – UK Department for International Development

The founder of the legendary multinational company Microsoft, Bill Gates was considered the richest person in the world for almost 20 years. Recently, however, Gates has become known primarily as a generous philanthropist rather than for his success in business and in the information technology market. At one time, Bill Gates stimulated the development of the personal computer market, making computers accessible to the simplest users, which is exactly what he wanted. Now he is passionate about the idea of ​​​​providing Internet access to the whole world. Gates is also working on projects dedicated to combating global warming and combating gender discrimination.

William Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest writers and playwrights in the English language, and he has had a profound influence on a galaxy of literary figures, as well as millions of readers around the world. In addition, Shakespeare introduced about 2,000 new words, most of which are still in use in modern English. With his works, the national poet of England has inspired a great many composers, artists and film directors from all over the world.

12. Sigmund Freud

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Austrian neurologist and founder of the science of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud is famous precisely for his unique research into the mysterious world of the human subconscious. With them, he forever changed the way we evaluate ourselves and the people around us. Freud's work influenced 20th-century psychology, sociology, medicine, art, and anthropology, and his therapeutic techniques and theories in psychoanalysis are still studied and practiced today.

11. Oskar Schindler

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Oskar Schindler was a German entrepreneur, Nazi Party member, spy, womanizer and drinker. None of this sounds very appealing and certainly doesn't sound like the characteristics of a real hero. However, despite all of the above, Schindler deservedly made it onto this list, because during the Holocaust and World War II, this man saved about 1,200 Jews, rescuing them from death camps to work in his factories. The heroic story of Oskar Schindler has been told in many books and films, but the most famous adaptation was Steven Spielberg's 1993 film Schindler's List.

10. Mother Teresa

Photo: wikimedia commons

A Catholic nun and missionary, Mother Teresa devoted almost her entire life to serving the poor, sick, disabled and orphans. She founded the charitable movement and women's monastic congregation “Missionary Sisters of Love” (Congregatio Sororum Missionarium Caritatis), which exists in almost all countries of the world (in 133 countries as of 2012). In 1979, Mother Teresa became a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and 19 years after her death (in 2016) she was canonized by Pope Francis himself.

9. Abraham Lincoln

Photo: wikimedia commons

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and one of the most influential figures in American history. Coming from a poor farming family, Lincoln fought for the reunification of the country during the Civil War between the North and the South, strengthened the federal government, modernized the American economy, but he earned his reputation as an outstanding historical figure primarily for his contribution to the development of a democratic society and the fight against slavery and oppression black population of the USA. Abraham Lincoln's legacy continues to shape the American people today.

8. Stephen Hawking


Photo: Lwp Kommunikáció / flickr

Stephen Hawking is one of the most famous and respected scientists in the world, and he has made invaluable contributions to the development of science (especially cosmology and theoretical physics). The work of this British researcher and ardent popularizer of science is also impressive because Hawking made almost all of his discoveries in spite of a rare and slowly progressing degenerative disease. The first signs of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis appeared in his student years, and now the great scientist is completely paralyzed. However, severe illness and paralysis did not prevent Hawking from marrying twice, becoming the father of two sons, flying in zero gravity, writing many books, becoming one of the founders of quantum cosmology and the winner of a whole collection of prestigious awards, medals and orders.

7. Unknown rebel


Photo: HiMY SYeD / flickr

This is the conventional name given to an unknown man who independently held back a column of tanks for half an hour during the protests in Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen, China) in 1989. In those days, hundreds of protesters, most of whom were ordinary students, died in clashes with the military. The identity and fate of the unknown rebel remains unknown, but the photograph has become an international symbol of courage and peaceful resistance.

6. Muhammad

Photo: wikimedia commons

Muhammad was born in 570 AD in the city of Mecca (Mecca, modern Saudi Arabia). He is considered a Muslim prophet and the founder of the Islamic religion. Being not only a preacher, but also a politician, Muhammad united all the Arab peoples of those times into a single Muslim empire, which conquered most of the Arabian Peninsula. The author of the Qur'an started out with a few followers, but eventually his teachings and practices formed the basis of the Islamic religion, which is now the second most popular religion in the world, with some 1.8 billion believers.

5. The 14th Dalai Lama


Photo: wikimedia commons

The 14th Dalai Lama, or by birth Lhamo Thondup, is a 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a renowned preacher of Buddhist philosophy of peace, professing respect for all life on Earth and calling for the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. The former spiritual and political leader of Tibet in exile, the 14th Dalai Lama always tried to find a compromise and sought reconciliation with the Chinese authorities who invaded Tibet with territorial claims. In addition, Lhamo Dhondrub is a passionate supporter of the women's rights movement, interfaith dialogues and advocates for solving global environmental problems.

4. Princess Diana


Photo: Auguel

Also known as “Lady Di” and “the people’s princess,” Princess Diana captured the hearts of millions around the world with her philanthropy, hard work and sincerity. She devoted most of her short life to helping those in need in third world countries. The Queen of Hearts, as she was also known, founded the movement to end the production and use of anti-personnel mines, and was actively involved in several dozen humanitarian campaigns and non-profit organizations, including the Red Cross, London's Great Ormond Street Hospital and AIDS research. Lady Di died at the age of 36 from injuries received in a car accident.

3. Nelson Mandela


Photo: Library of the London School of Economics and Political Science

Nelson Mandela was a South African politician, philanthropist, revolutionary, reformer, passionate advocate for human rights during apartheid (policy of racial segregation) and President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He had a profound influence on the history of South Africa and the world. Mandela spent almost 27 years in prison for his beliefs, but he did not lose faith in the liberation of his people from the oppression of the authorities, and after leaving prison he achieved democratic elections, as a result of which he became the first black president of South Africa. His tireless work to peacefully end the apartheid regime and establish democracy inspired millions of people around the world. In 1993, Nelson Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize.

2. Jeanne d'Arc

Photo: wikimedia commons

Also known as the Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc is the greatest heroine in French history and one of the most famous women in world history. She was born into a poor farming family in 1412 and believed that she was chosen by God to lead France to victory in the Hundred Years' War with England. The girl died before the end of the war, but her courage, passion and devotion to her goal (especially during the siege of Orleans) caused a long-awaited moral upsurge and inspired the entire French army to the final victory in the protracted and seemingly hopeless confrontation with the British. Unfortunately, in battle, the Maid of Orleans was captured by her enemies, condemned by the Inquisition and burned at the stake at the age of 19.

1. Jesus Christ

Photo: wikimedia commons

Jesus Christ is the central figure of the Christian religion, and He has had such a profound impact on our world that He is often called the most influential and inspiring person in human history. Compassion, love for others, sacrifice, humility, repentance and forgiveness, which Jesus called for in His sermons and personal example, were concepts completely opposite to the values ​​of ancient civilizations during His life on Earth. Yet today there are approximately 2.4 billion followers of His teachings and Christian faith in the world.

The Russian Federation is a great state, occupying first place on the planet in terms of territory and national wealth. However, its main pride is its outstanding citizens who have left a noticeable mark on history. Our country has raised a huge number of famous scientists, politicians, military leaders, athletes and artists of world renown. Their achievements allowed Russia to occupy one of the leading positions in the list of superpowers on the planet.

Rating

Who are they, outstanding citizens of Russia? The list can be continued endlessly, because every period in the history of our Fatherland has its great people who became famous in different fields of activity. Among the most prominent personalities who, to one degree or another, influenced the course of both Russian and world history, it is worth mentioning the following:

  1. Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky.
  2. Peter the Great.
  3. Alexander Suvorov.
  4. Mikhail Lomonosov.
  5. Dmitriy Mendeleev.
  6. Yuri Gagarin.
  7. Andrey Sakharov.

Minin and Pozharsky

The outstanding citizen of Russia Kuzma Minin and his equally famous contemporary Prince Dmitry Pozharsky went down in history as the liberators of Russian lands from Polish invaders. At the beginning of the 17th century, the Time of Troubles began in the Russian state. The crisis, which engulfed many areas of life, was aggravated by the presence of impostors on the capital’s throne. In Moscow, Smolensk and a number of other cities, the Polish gentry ruled in full swing, and the western borders of the country were occupied by Swedish troops.

In order to drive out foreign invaders from Russian lands and liberate the country, the clergy called on the population to create a people's militia and liberate the capital from the Poles. The Novgorod zemstvo elder Kuzma Minin (Sukhoruk), who, although not of noble origin, responded to the call, but was a true patriot of his Motherland. In a short time, he managed to gather an army from the residents of Nizhny Novgorod. Prince Dmitry Pozharsky from the Rurik family agreed to head it.

Gradually, residents of surrounding cities, dissatisfied with the dominance of the Polish gentry in Moscow, began to join the people's militia of Nizhny Novgorod. By the fall of 1612, the army of Minin and Pozharsky numbered about 10 thousand people. At the beginning of November 1612, the Nizhny Novgorod militia managed to expel the Poles from the capital and force them to sign an act of surrender. The successful operation was made possible thanks to the skillful actions of Minin and Pozharsky. In 1818, the memory of the heroic liberators of Moscow was immortalized by the sculptor I. Martos in a monument erected on Red Square.

Peter the First

The significance of the reign of Peter I, nicknamed the Great State for his services to the state, is difficult to overestimate. An outstanding citizen of Russia, Peter the Great was on the throne for 43 years, coming to power at the age of 17. He turned the country into the greatest empire, founded the city of Petersburg on the Neva and moved the capital to it from Moscow, carried out a number of successful military campaigns, thanks to which he significantly expanded the borders of the state. Peter the Great began trading with Europe, founded the Academy of Sciences, opened many educational institutions, introduced compulsory study of foreign languages, and forced representatives of the noble classes to wear secular attire.

The significance of the reign of Peter I for Russia

The sovereign's reforms strengthened the economy and science, contributed to the development of the army and navy. His successful domestic and foreign policies became the basis for the further growth and development of the state. Voltaire highly appreciated the internal transformations of Russia in Peter's times. He wrote that the Russian people managed to achieve in half a century what other nations could not achieve in 500 years of their existence.

A. V. Suvorov

The most outstanding citizen of Russia in the second half of the 18th century is, of course, the great commander, Generalissimo of the Russian land and naval forces, Alexander Suvorov. This talented military leader fought more than 60 major battles and was not defeated in any of them. The army under the command of Suvorov managed to win even in cases where the enemy forces significantly outnumbered it. The commander took part in the Russian-Turkish wars of 1768-1774 and 1787-1791, brilliantly commanded Russian troops during the storming of Prague in 1794, and in the last years of his life he led the Italian and Swiss campaigns.

In battles, Suvorov used combat tactics that he personally developed, which were significantly ahead of their time. He did not recognize military drill and instilled in his soldiers a love for the Fatherland, considering it the key to victory in any battle. The legendary commander made sure that during military campaigns his army was provided with everything necessary. He heroically shared all the hardships with the soldiers, thanks to which he enjoyed great authority and respect among them. For his victories, Suvorov was awarded all the high military awards existing in his time in the Russian Empire. In addition, he was a holder of seven foreign orders.

M. V. Lomonosov

Outstanding citizens of Russia glorified their country not only in the art of statecraft or military tactics. Mikhail Lomonosov belongs to the cohort of the greatest Russian scientists who made a huge contribution to the development of world science. Born into a poor family and unable to receive a decent education, from early childhood he had a high intelligence and was drawn to knowledge. Lomonosov's desire for science was so strong that at the age of 19 he left his village, walked to Moscow and entered the Slavic-Greco-Roman Academy. This was followed by studies at St. Petersburg University at the Academy of Sciences. To improve his knowledge of the natural sciences, Mikhail was sent to Europe. At 34, the young scientist became an academician.

Without exaggeration, Lomonosov can be considered a universal person. He had brilliant knowledge of chemistry, physics, geography, astronomy, geology, metallurgy, history, and genealogy. In addition, the scientist was an excellent poet, writer and artist. Lomonosov made many discoveries in physics, chemistry and astronomy, and became the founder of the science of glass. He owns the project for the creation of Moscow University, which was later named after him.

D. I. Mendeleev

The world-famous chemist Dmitry Mendeleev is the pride of Russia. Having been born in Tobolsk in the family of a gymnasium director, he had no barriers to receiving an education. At the age of 21, young Mendeleev graduated from the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of the St. Petersburg Pedagogical Institute with a gold medal. A few months later, he defended his dissertation for the right to lecture and began teaching practice. At the age of 23, Mendeleev was awarded a master's degree in chemistry. From this age he began teaching at the Imperial University of St. Petersburg. At the age of 31 he became a professor of chemical technology, and after 2 years - a professor of general chemistry.

Worldwide fame of the great chemist

In 1869, at the age of 35, Dmitry Mendeleev made a discovery that made him famous throughout the world. We are talking about the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements. It became the basis for all modern chemistry. Attempts to systematize elements by properties and atomic weight were made before Mendeleev, but he was the first who managed to clearly formulate the pattern existing between them.

The periodic table is not the only achievement of the scientist. He wrote many fundamental works on chemistry and initiated the creation of the Chamber of Weights and Measures in St. Petersburg. D.I. Mendeleev was a holder of eight honorary orders of the Russian Empire and foreign countries. He was awarded a doctorate from the Turin Academy of Sciences, Oxford, Cambridge, Priston, Edinburgh and Göttingen universities. Mendeleev's scientific authority was so high that he was nominated for the Nobel Prize three times. Unfortunately, the winners of this prestigious international award were different scientists each time. However, this fact does not in any way diminish the merits of the famous chemist to the Fatherland.

Yu. A. Gagarin

Yuri Gagarin is a prominent citizen of Soviet-era Russia. On April 12, 1961, on the Vostok-1 spacecraft, he flew into space for the first time in the history of mankind. Having spent 108 minutes in Earth's orbit, the cosmonaut returned to the planet as an international hero. Even world movie stars could envy Gagarin’s popularity. He made official visits to more than 30 foreign countries and traveled throughout the USSR.

An outstanding citizen of Russia, Yuri Gagarin, was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and the highest insignia of many countries. He was preparing for a new space flight, but a plane crash that happened in March 1968 in the Vladimir region tragically cut short his life. Having lived only 34 years, Gagarin became one of the greatest people of the 20th century. Streets and squares in all major cities of Russia and the CIS countries are named after him, and monuments to him have been erected in many foreign countries. In honor of Yuri Gagarin's flight, International Cosmonautics Day is celebrated all over the world on April 12.

A. D. Sakharov

In addition to Gagarin, there were many other outstanding Russian citizens in the Soviet Union. The USSR became famous throughout the world thanks to academician Andrei Sakharov, who made an invaluable contribution to the development of physics. In 1949, together with Yu. Khariton, he developed a project for a hydrogen bomb - the first Soviet thermonuclear weapon. In addition, Sakharov conducted a lot of research on magnetic hydrodynamics, gravity, astrophysics, and plasma physics. In the mid-70s, he predicted the emergence of the Internet. In 1975, the academician was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

In addition to science, Sakharov was engaged in active human rights activities, for which he fell out of favor with the Soviet leadership. In 1980, he was stripped of all titles and highest awards, after which he was deported from Moscow to Gorky. After the start of Perestroika, Sakharov was allowed to return to the capital. The last years of his life he continued to engage in scientific activities, and was also elected as a deputy of the Supreme Council. In 1989, the scientist worked on a draft of a new Soviet constitution, which proclaimed the right of peoples to statehood, but sudden death did not allow him to complete the work he had begun.

Outstanding citizens of Russia of the 21st century

Today in our country there live a huge number of people who glorify it in politics, science, art and other fields of activity. The most famous scientists of our time are physicists Mikhail Allenov and Valery Rachkov, urbanist Denis Vizgalov, historian Vyacheslav Vorobyov, economist Nadezhda Kosareva, etc. Outstanding artists of the 21st century include artists Ilya Glazunov and Alena Azernaya, conductors Valery Gergiev and Yuri Bashmet, opera singers Dmitry Hvorostovsky and Anna Netrebko, actors Sergei Bezrukov and Konstantin Khabensky, directors Nikita Mikhalkov and Timur Bekmambetov and others. Well, the most outstanding politician in Russia today is its President, Vladimir Putin.

All of us, graduates of Soviet and post-Soviet secondary schools, can remember at least something about famous historical figures. Well, for example, that Gaius Julius Caesar was killed as a result of a conspiracy involving a certain Brutus. Or that Albert Einstein is the author of the general theory of relativity. However, there are a number of interesting facts about famous people that you are unlikely to be taught about at school.

1. Once upon a time, a famous physicist had a chance to become the president of Israel. However, he refused this position with the caveat that he would not be able to decide state affairs due to their significance and scale.

2. Perhaps, while dying, Albert Einstein finally put forward another brilliant theory or said something equally significant. Alas, we will never know about this, since he died in the presence of a nurse who did not understand a word of German.


3. The last wish of the founder of the Nobel Prize was a request not to be considered a promoter of violence due to the fact that he invented dynamite.


4. Queen Anne of England was the mother of 17 children and outlived them all.


5. Elizabeth the First introduced a tax for those men who wore a beard.

6. She also passed a law obliging everyone, except very rich people, to wear special hats on Sunday.


7. One can only guess what happened during feasts before Catherine the First issued a law stating that no man had the right to get drunk during a feast before 21.00.


8. For her wedding, among other things, Queen Victoria received a “piece” of cheese weighing half a ton and three meters in diameter.


9. Lady Astor is credited with saying the following to Prime Minister Winston Churchill: “If you were my husband, I would put poison in your coffee.” They say that a worthy answer was received to this: “If you were my wife, I would drink it.”


10. And the British Prime Minister himself smoked about 15 cigars a day.


11. The autograph of a famous Roman emperor is valued at $2 million. The problem is that no one has been able to find it yet.

12. The appearance of a laurel wreath on the head of Julius Caesar is associated with his attempt to hide the beginning of hair loss.


13. The loving Israeli king Solomon had about 700 wives and at least a hundred mistresses.


14. The sex icon's bra, which Marilyn wore in Some Like It Hot, fetched $14,000 at auction.


15. The famous writer Charles Dickens slept exclusively facing north. He firmly believed that this would help improve his writing talent.


16. What would US President Thomas Jefferson think of his descendants if he learned that the house in which he wrote the Declaration of Independence is now... a diner?


17. George Washington can be proud that his birthday is the only birthday that is an official holiday in all states of America.


18. During World War I, the future Pope John XXIII served as a sergeant in the Italian army.


19. Isaac Newton was interested in occult and supernatural ideas.


20. John Rockefeller gave away more than $500 million to charitable causes during his lifetime.


21. Personally, I am perplexed by the fact that a two-time Nobel Prize winner was unable to become a member of the prestigious French Academy solely because she was a woman.


22. Mozart never went to school.


23. There was a payphone in the mansion of one of the richest people in the world.



24. The first chairman of the Chinese Communist Party worked as an assistant librarian at Beijing University before taking power.

25. The three most famous names in China are striking in their modesty and originality: Jesus Christ, Richard Nixon and Elvis Presley.


26. John Glenn became the first American astronaut to reach Earth's orbit.


27. This professional illusionist claimed that his extraordinary abilities came to him from the distant planet Huva.

And finally



28. Italians owe their national flag to Napoleon Bonaparte.