Historical Figures

From Musketeers to Nazis, Archimedes to Harriet Tubman, these famous historical figures changed the course of history -- for better or worse.

Learn More / Page 8

History tells us that Betsy Ross designed and sewed America's first flag. But is that really the truth or is it just legend?

By Ed Grabianowski

Although there's been a lot of talk about Meghan Markle being the first mixed race person to marry into the British royal family, historians say that's not really true.

By Alia Hoyt

Violet Jessop survived not one, not two, but three disasters at sea.

By Kate Kershner

Advertisement

One theory about the fate of everybody's favorite female aviator is that her remains ended up as food for coconut crabs on a remote island in the South Pacific. But why?

By Jesslyn Shields

Unusual street art in Rapid City, the "City of Presidents," aims to personalize the presidency.

By Jesslyn Shields

Women have long been instrumental in America's labor rights movement. One early leader was Lucy Parsons, a woman of color who agitated for the eight-hour workday.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Did Adolf Hitler really commit suicide with Eva Braun like history says he did? Tune in to Stuff They Don't Want You To Know and see what Matt, Ben and Noel have to say.

By Diana Brown

Advertisement

William Rufus DeVane King was the U.S.'s 13th vice president, and the only one to take the oath of office in another country. He and President James Buchanan were also the subjects of scandalous talk.

By Laurie L. Dove

As a zealous advocate for marginalized people in the LGBTQ community, Sylvia Rivera was a progressive and important figure in the movement.

By Kate Kershner

Corpsenapping still happens today, with grave robbers targeting celebrities and politicians. Here are some famous recent examples.

By Laurie L. Dove

Ayn Rand's philosophies have drawn a very diverse, even contradictory, group of followers.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Advertisement

Even 1,600 years later, we still reach for the name Attila the Hun when we want an example of vicious (and successful) fighter. But how did his memory live on so long?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

The 11th president of the United States is buried in Nashville, Tennessee. There's a campaign underway to exhume and move his remains, and it's happened before.

By Laurie L. Dove

In the era before anesthesia, a surgeon with quick hands was highly sought-after.

By Alia Hoyt

Actress Nichelle Nichols was about to quit "Star Trek" until none other than Dr. Martin Luther King persuaded her to stay.

By David Dennis

Advertisement

Look beyond Europe for history! The "Arthashastra," written in the third century B.C.E., predated "The Prince." Maybe we should be saying Kautilyan, not Machiavellian.

By Laurie L. Dove

Professional wrestling has had more than its share of giants, but none stood taller in the eyes of wrestling fans than the legendary Andre The Giant. During the 70’s and 80’s, Andre was legitimately the biggest wrestling star in the entire world, and his fame expanded outside the squared circle, even into the realm of […] The post 10 Fascinating Facts About The Life Of Andre The Giant appeared first on Goliath.

By Stephen Randle

Harriet Tubman won't be the first non-president whose face appears on the front of U.S. paper currency, but in 2020 hers will be the first black woman's to do so.

By Christopher Hassiotis

Advertisement

Ben Franklin was the kind of guy who couldn't help tinkering with everything he touched, whether it was eyeglasses, catheters or ... the alphabet.

By Bryan Young

He was a man who made good in the realm of popular culture before he tried his hand at politics. Like few before or after him, he reached the pinnacle of both “career” fields. Ronald Reagan was successful as an actor, and well respected in Hollywood during the golden age of cinema. He even served […] The post 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Ronald Reagan appeared first on Goliath.

By James Sheldon

Star of a musical, cover boy for the $10 bill, shaper of the American economy — is there anything Founding Father Alexander Hamilton can't do?

By Clint Pumphrey

Simeon Ellerton walked the U.K. in search of the right materials to build his home. Was the centenarian merely eccentric? Or completely brilliant?

By Bryan Young

Advertisement

We’ve read about them in books and see them in movies all the time but is the the world of espionage and secret agents really as flashy and exciting as Ian Fleming would have us believe? Well, perhaps not in all respects, but many real-life spies have been tasked with missions that are just as […] The post 12 Unbelievably Daring Real-Life Spies appeared first on Goliath.

By Wes Walcott

Imagine the cast of the "Ocean’s Eleven" trilogy in breeches and broad collars, and you have an inkling of this famous plot and why Fawkes' likeness lives on.

By Candace Gibson