Every so often, a leader emerges whose legacy seems larger-than-life. Some of them inspire us and invite us to envision a better future, like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Others had tumultuous lives and careers that read like a cautionary tale, such as Mary, Queen of Scots and Henry VIII. Still others were tyrants, politicians on the wrong side of history, and various other leaders whose examples we’d do well not to follow, like Russia’s Ivan the Terrible and Andrew Johnson, the first US president to be impeached.
If you want to know more about the people who stood out from their contemporaries, for better or worse, you’ve come to the right place. Our research on historical leaders examines not just who they were and what they did, but the lasting impact they’ve had on the world.
She's the subject of a new historical film, Firebrand.
Gustavus of Sweden was no typical king.
Why was Roosevelt allowed to remain in office for 12 years?
Britain's longest-reigning male monarch suffered from recurrent bouts of a mysterious illness.
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating those who made great strides in the name of equality.
Do you know which one ended up in jail?
By Orrin Grey
Get a fresh take on the men who led—and currently lead—our country.
From great triumphs to continuing struggles, learn more about African American history with these books.
We’re revisiting figures from the ancient world.
His fascinating life included two stints in the Tower of London.
By Orrin Grey
The scorched earth policy left chaos in its wake.
By Orrin Grey
They were more than a stuffy group of old men—in fact, many of them were young and rowdy.
It sheds light on Russian history, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and more.
The civil rights leader was the target of a covert FBI project to discredit him.
By Orrin Grey
Find out why his likeness is still on the $10 bill.
By Orrin Grey
These leaders looked outside science and established religion for answers.
By Orrin Grey
As his dictatorship came crumbling down, he was captured while trying to flee the country.
By Orrin Grey
From an odd use of mummies to the man who survived two atomic bombings.
By Grace Felder