Leaders in History Articles

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.

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11 Presidential Autobiographies to Take a Break With This Election Season

Reflecting on their own lives, these autobiographies offer a unique look into the leaders of the United States.

Winston Churchill’s Paranormal Encounter Allowed Him to Face His Distant Father

Referring to the empty seat at the dinner table, Churchill's daughter asked, “If you could seat anyone there, whom would it be?” He replied, without hesitation, “My father.”

Genghis Khan's Tomb, Lost to This Day, is Protected by an Ancient Tribe of Nomads

Though even they don't know the tomb's precise location, the Darkhad continue to keep their leader's final resting place a treasured secret.

Grant and Twain: How Two American Icons Relived the War in Literature

The Confederate deserter and the victorious Union general shared their reminisces with each other and the country.