The People Who Shaped History

Throughout the centuries, many men and women have changed the world, making it a safer and more equal place for all. From civil rights to medical breakthroughs, we owe a lot to the people who risked their lives and safety for the betterment of society. Here are 20 historical figures who changed the world for the better.  

Photograph by Orren Jack Turner, Princeton, N.J. Modified with Photoshop by PM_Poon and later by Dantadd. on Wikimedia

1. Martin Luther King Jr. 

A Baptist minister turned civil rights leader, King put it all on the line to bring an end to U.S. segregation. He was a vocal and iconic leader and led the March on Washington in 1963. His "I have a dream" speech is one of the most important and recognizable speeches of all time. 

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2. Nelson Mandela

Mandela dedicated his life to ending South African apartheid and was wrongfully imprisoned for close to three decades. He eventually became the first black president in the history of South Africa, which saw the country transition from racial segregation to democracy and freedom. 

South Africa The Good News on Wikimedia

3. Marie Curie

A revolutionary physicist and chemist, Curie changed the world by discovering radium and polonium. A trailblazing figure in the scientific community, Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize. 

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4. Albert Einstein

Some people think Einstein only transformed our understanding of physics, but his theories and discoveries helped shape our understanding of our world, the universe, and our place in it. In 1921, Einstein received the Nobel Prize for his explanation of the photoelectric effect. 

Ferdinand Schmutzer on Wikimedia

5. Florence Nightingale

Nightengale is credited with revolutionizing modern nursing during the Crimean War. Her efforts led to a dramatic increase in sanitary conditions in field hospitals, which reduced the death rate of soldiers. She also opened the first secular nursing school in 1860. 

U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. 1789 on Wikimedia

6. Leonardo Da Vinci

A true Renaissance man, Da Vinci was a scientist, painter, engineer, and inventor. His two masterpieces, "The Last Supper" and "Mona Lisa," were world-changing and are still revered. 

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7. Winston Churchill

Churchill was Britain's Prime Minister during WWII, and his inspired leadership helped defeat the Nazis. His refusal to negotiate with Hitler was a key moment in the 20th century and would define his legacy. 

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8. Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks was a central figure in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. In 1955, she refused to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger. Her arrest resulted in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by a young Martin Luther King Jr, and it lasted close to 400 days.

Gene Herrick for the Associated Press; restored by Adam Cuerden on Wikimedia

9. Susan B. Anthony

Anthony was a leading suffragist who paved the way for American women to receive the right to vote. She was a staunch activist, and her arrest for voting in 1872 drew national attention. 

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10. Jonas Salk

Salk developed the first inactivated polio vaccine, which helped eradicate polio. Polio killed or paralyzed tens of thousands of people every year until Salk's vaccine was released. Due to Salk's tireless efforts, cases of polio reduced dramatically around the world. 

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11. Galileo Galilei

Galileo transformed the world of astronomy and gave humanity a deeper understanding of the world. Using improved telescopic technology, he observed lunar mountains, sunspots, phases of Venus, and Jupiter's moons. His work challenged established theories of physicists and church doctrine.

Justus Sustermans on Wikimedia

12. John Snow

Snow was a British physician who was the founder of modern epidemiology. He was essential in fighting London's Cholera outbreak in 1854, and his efforts and work are still used as part of many countries' current outbreak response.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on Unsplash

13. Thomas Edison

Edison is one of history's greatest inventors, and he held over 1,000 patents. The phonograph, motion picture camera, and the lightbulb were some of his inventions that changed the world significantly. 

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14. Alexander Fleming

Fleming was a Scottish bacteriologist who discovered penicillin in 1928, which continues to be one of the most important scientific discoveries in history. Without penicillin, there would be no antibiotics, which have saved countless people. 

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15. Confucius

Confucius was a Chinese philosopher who developed a system of governance and ethics that reshaped East Asia. He touted benevolence and respect for tradition, and these tenets changed many educational systems and political structures. 

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16. Johannes Gutenberg

Gutenberg's invention of the movable-type printing press around 1440 changed how the world communicated and ushered in a brave new era of education and literacy. This is arguably the most vital invention in history. 

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17. George Washington

Washington led American forces to victory during the American Revolution. After securing independence from Britain, he would become the first President in U.S. history, establishing many processes for governance and democratic precedents.

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18. Charles Darwin

A titan of biology, Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection revealed how our species adapts, diversifies, and survives. His work challenged religious institutions and governments and changed the world in unprecedented ways. 

Elliott & Fry on Wikimedia

19. Isaac Newton

Newton laid the foundation for classical mechanics and co-invented calculus. His work also reformed England's currency system. Newton was deeply religious, but still able to bridge empirical science with natural philosophy. His frameworks revolutionized engineering and many notable industries.

Godfrey Kneller on Wikimedia

20. Louis Pasteur

Pasteur's work in microbiology changed public health and medicine. His pioneering work was the germ theory of disease, which showed that microorganisms cause infections. Somehow, his creation of the pasteurization process might be even more impressive as it minimized foodborne illnesses. 

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