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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.
This cavalry regiment was celebrated for its role in the Spanish-American War.
By Lee D'Amato
Did he liberate the people, or brutally oppress them?
From great triumphs to continuing struggles, learn more about African American history with these books.
What goes on behind closed doors?
By Sara Kapheim
He spent years with an up-close look at what it's like to rule Britain—and now the responsibility rests on his shoulders.
The prime minister was also a prolific writer and historian.
By Grace Felder
There are two sides to every story...
Explore the lives of people who had a large impact on their nation and the world.
By Kimmy Kelly
He was determined to take down William Chaloner, an audacious coiner.
By Lee D'Amato
Attempts to destroy her legacy have been unsuccessful.
Russia's last empress overthrew her own husband.
Elizabeth II died peacefully after a historic 70 years on the throne.
He was instrumental in ending the Cold War.
He led the bloodiest civil war in world history.
By Lee D'Amato
They're impossible to forget.
By Robert Walsh
Sudden and illegal seizures of power have the capacity to change world history.
These powerful speeches continue to linger in the public imagination.
They were more than a stuffy group of old men—in fact, many of them were young and rowdy.
By Sara Barry & Ella Burch