100 Important People in History

Lee Quan Yew helped Singapore achieved self-government and was elected prime-minister in 1959. He industrialized Singapore, making it a sovereign state, and increased the standard of living. With numerous reforms like emancipating women and establishing free labor he made Singapore one of the most prosperous countries in the Southeast Asia.

The French philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) expressed his belief that men are naturally good-willed but are corrupted by social organization in his Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality Among Men. In the Social Contract he states that a civil society is based upon a genuine contract, allowing political liberty.

Prussian general and author Carl von Clausewitz’s (1780-1871) On War influenced modern military thought and strategy. The book emphasized the need for a serious attitude toward strategic decisions as opposed to listing situational military strategies. He regarded war as a continuation of political compromise as opposed to a means to an end.

Giuseppi Garibaldi (1807-1882) took southern Italy from Austria by creating and commanding a force, uniting Italy and declaring Victor Emmanuel II the king. During the war of independence from Austria, he defended Rome with a small band of “Red Shirts.” His ability to raise an army without government backing showed great leadership.

His contributions to westward expansion in North America made Kit Carson (1809-1868) a folk legend. He was a guide to John C. Fremont’s expeditions of the West and a guide to Stephen Kearny during the Mexican War. He was appointed a U.S. official for Indian relations and was made superintendent of Indian affairs for the Colorado territory.

Italian political theorist Nicholas Machiavelli (1469-1527) wrote The Prince, a guide for ruling and governing. His perception that human nature is self-serving influenced his suggestion that good rulers should be ruthless and scheming. The book was respected but condemned for being too cynical, and spawned the term “Machiavellian,” meaning deceitful.

Italian painter Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510), active during the Italian Renaissance, is highly esteemed for his prolific religious images and mythological paintings. He was part of a group of Florentine and Umbrian artists assigned to decorate the Sistine Chapel. His portraits portray the influence of Flemish art by having the figure in front of a landscape.

W.H. Auden (1907-1973) was a writer and poet who wrote about political and moral issues of public concern as well as fantastical, dream-like worlds. He attended Oxford University and moved to the U.S. later in his life. He was an opponent of the evils in capitalism and totalitarianism during the 1930s.