Who From History Knew How To Work A Room?

History often remembers people for their accomplishments, but what lies behind the "stats" is a personality. Some wouldn't have been able to achieve what they did without their wicked sense of humor, while others took a different avenue, instilling fear and intimidation to gain power. Who could deliver a witty zinger that cut through tension, and who was so serious that they never even cracked a smile? Here are 10 people from history with a killer sense of humor and 10 who were notoriously dour.

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1. Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was widely known for his sense of humor and prolific storytelling. He used his wit to win votes and disarm political opponents in debates.

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2. Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill was known for his sharp wit and caustic humor, even during Britain's "darkest hour." He used his speech impediment (a lisp) to humorous effect, and his clever, biting remarks to gain the upper hand over his opponents.

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3. Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was known for being witty and sociable, helping him connect to a wide range of people. His humor is apparent in his essays in which he often used satire to poke fun at things and people he saw as pretentious.

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4. Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great was not only Russia's most accomplished and powerful empress, but she also had a wicked sense of humor. She was known for her clever, sharp wit and biting sarcasm, which can be seen in the satirical plays she wrote.

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5. Albert Einstein

As demonstrated in his most famous photograph, where he has his tongue sticking out, Albert Einstein was known for his playful humor. Despite being the target of antisemitism throughout his life, he maintained his lighthearted disposition.

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6. Voltaire

Voltaire was known for his sharp, dark humor, which he used to criticize authority. In his books, he used satire and irony to make philosophical arguments and point out absurdities in society.

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7. Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I was known for being extremely clever and witty. An exceptionally well-educated woman and ambitious, she used her sharp wit to courtiers in line and navigate a male-dominated world.

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8. Socrates

Socrates used his famous humor to attract young Athenians who flocked to listen to his philosophical discussions. Rather than lecturing, he'd hold playful and highly entertaining interrogations, cornering people with logic and turning philosophy into a spectator sport.  

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9. Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt was known for his boisterous sense of humor. He was an excellent storyteller who loved self-deprecatory jokes and would diffuse criticism with humor.

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10. Leonardo da Vinci

The legendary Renaissance painter and polymath, Leonardo da Vinci, also had a witty side. His notebooks are full of jokes, riddles, puns, and playful caricatures. 

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Now that we've talked about some of history's most unexpectedly funny figures, let's cover the infamously stoic ones.

1. Ulysses S. Grant

The commander of the Union Army and the 18th president of the US, Ulysses S. Grant, may have been a brilliant general, but he wasn't much of a comedian. He was known for being serious and extremely reserved, even to the point of awkwardness.

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2. Joseph Stalin

Joseph Stalin was one of the clearest examples of someone who took themselves too seriously. Despite the propagandistic image of him as being charismatic or even benevolent, he was really a grim, paranoid, and ruthless man who lacked any charm whatsoever. 

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3. Girolamo Savonarola

Girolamo Savonarola was a friar who ruled Florence in the late 15th century. Largely remembered as one of the most humorless figures in history, he was known for his fiery sermons condemning luxury, vice, and pleasure. He had a severe demeanor and no patience for humor.

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4. Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell may have been one of the most important figures in British history, but that didn't mean he had a good sense of humor. He was known for his strictness and even banned theater, music, and other forms of entertainment, which he saw as flippant.

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5. Robespierre

Maximilien Robespierre, one of the leaders of the French Revolution and the main architect behind the Reign of Terror, was an intense and serious figure who saw pleasure and humor as a distraction from the cause. Apparently, he was too busy changing the world and being ruthless to make jokes.

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6. John Brown

John Brown was an American abolitionist in the 19th century. He was intense, rigid, devout, and single-minded on his mission to end slavery.

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7. Pol Pot

The leader of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, Pol Pot, was known for being cold, ruthless, and intense. Under his rule, any public display of humor was rarely seen and might've even been punished if it was in a political context. 

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8. Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte is remembered as a brilliant military strategist, not for his sense of humor. He was highly disciplined and had an impatient, irritable temperament, and rarely laughed or said anything funny.

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9. Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria and the Victorian Era are often associated with austerity and solemnity. Particularly after the death of her husband, Queen Victoria became famously serious and rarely smiled. The phrase, "We are not amused", is often attributed to her.

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10. Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was another man from history who took himself far too seriously. He was ideologically extreme, intense, grim, and rigid, with any "humor" he exhibited being the mocking, manipulative kind.

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