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.
These 10 accomplished women led countries, wrote poetry, chronicled history, and made their own.
The Archduke was murdered by a Yugoslav nationalist, setting off an explosive chain of events.
These incredible women refused to wait on history's sidelines.
Margaret Rhodes looks back at her life alongside the monarchy.
The 33rd president had an admirable military career.
Showing a weakness made our founding father strong.
The 17th president narrowly avoided conviction in 1868.
Dig into 46 top-notch biographies—one for each American president.
Over 90 years after his birth, we look back on King's legacy with these vital reads.
Roosevelt led the United States through some of its most trying decades.
By Kara Brand
Re-center yourself with some of history's most moving thoughts about leadership.
Reflecting on their own lives, these autobiographies offer a unique look into the leaders of the United States.
By Kara Brand
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.”
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.
Meet the man as he became a legend.
The 22nd and 24th U.S. president lived a historically groundbreaking life.
Turn to these wise words to guide you through hard times.
The Confederate deserter and the victorious Union general shared their reminisces with each other and the country.
By John Tuttle