-
1543
543 Nicolaus Copernicus
he was a astronomer who said that the planets orbit around the Sun, that Earth is a planet which, besides orbiting the Sun annually, also turns once daily on its own axis; and that very slow changes in the direction of this axis account for the precession of the equinoxes. -
Francis Bacon
played an indirect role in the contribution to plate tectonic theory and solid Earth geophysics, but was influential to all in the scientific community. Francis Bacon created the Scientific Method, also known as the Bacon Method. -
Galileo Galilei
he was the first to report telescopic observations of the mountains on the moon, the moons of Jupiter, the phases of Venus, and the rings of Saturn. -
1641 Rene Descartes
he invented analytic geometry, a method of solving geometric problems algebraically and algebraic problems geometrically. He also devised a universal method of deductive reasoning, -
Isaac Newton
He formulated laws of motion and gravitation. These laws are math formulas that explain how objects move when a force acts on them. Isaac published his most famous book, Principia, in 1687 while he was a mathematics professor at Trinity College, Cambridge. -
1679 John Locke
defended the claim that men are by nature free and equal against claims that God had made all people naturally subject to a monarch. -
Montesquieu
What was Montesquieu best known for? French political philosopher Montesquieu was best known for The Spirit of Laws (1748), one of the great works in the history of political theory and of jurisprudence. -
Denis Diderot
Diderot's major work is l'Encyclopédie, which still is a monument of the French Enlightenment, representing the standard of scholarly knowledge of its time and the spirit of rationalism which pervaded 18th century thought. -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan born political and moral philosopher of the Enlightenment Era. He is well known for his work On the Social Contract, which questioned the purpose and place of government and its responsibility for its citizens. -
Voltaire
His most famous works included the fictitious Lettres philosophiques (1734) and the satirical novel Candide (1759). The former—a series of essays on English government and society—was a landmark in the history of thought. -
James Watt
James Watt is chiefly known for inventing different types of steam engine that helped start the Industrial Revolution. To describe the efficiency of his engines, he coined the term 'horsepower' and devised a rev counter. Watt's inventions were not confined to engines. -
Adam Smith
Smith is most famous for his 1776 book, The Wealth of Nations. Smith's writings were studied by 20th-century philosophers, writers, and economists. Smith's ideas—the importance of free markets, assembly-line production methods, and gross domestic product (GDP)—formed the basis for theories of classical economics. -
George Washington
George Washington – first American president, commander of the Continental Army, president of the Constitutional Convention, and farmer. Through these roles, Washington exemplified character and leadership. -
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson, a spokesman for democracy, was an American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and the third President of the United States (1801–1809). -
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was one of the most influential, popular and prolific composers of the classical period. He composed over 600 works, including some of the most famous and loved pieces of symphonic, chamber, operatic, and choral music. Mozart was born in Salzburg to a musical family. -
Maximillien Robespierre
Maximilien Robespierre (1758-1794) was a leader of the French Revolution best known for spearheading the Reign of Terror. He was an important member of the Jacobin political party. -
Miguel Hidalgo
Hidalgo is best remembered for his speech, the “Grito de Dolores” (“Cry of Dolores”), which called for the end of Spanish colonial rule in Mexico. Today, Hidalgo is celebrated as “the father of Mexican independence.” -
Simon Bolivar
Crisis Manager. Simón Bolivar is remembered today as the greatest leader of South American independence. Highly influenced by the examples of the United States, the French Revolution and Napoleon, he led a massive revolt against Spanish colonial rule in South America, beginning in 1810.