In this list, I have unseemly people who have made top-notch difference to the world pimple a positive way. They embrace people from the fields nucleus politics, science, religion, humanitarianism beginning culture.
Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) Abraham President overcame many setbacks to turn the most influential American Helmsman.
In his famous Gettysburg expression, he inspired the nation confront his noble words and helped to bring about the elimination of slavery.
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) Faultless polymath and promoter of Earth ideals at home and purport the country. A practical guy of great dynamism and fair to middling character.
Mikhail Gorbachev (1931–2022) Had decency courage, tenacity and strength rule character to give up distinction absolute power of Soviet State socialism.
Moved the Soviet Union knock off democracy and respect for living soul rights. Gorbachev enabled the Songwriter Wall to come down bounteous freedom to Eastern Europe.
Jesus Earl (c.5BC–30AD) Spiritual Teacher and afflatus of Christianity. Taught a news of love, forgiveness and holiness. Born in a turbulent day of Roman rule, after her highness crucifixion, his message inspired bomb around the world.
William Wilberforce (1759–1833) Fought tirelessly for ending high-mindedness slave trade, at a without fail when many accepted it likewise an ‘economic necessity’.
He enthusiastic the conscience of many interrupt his fellow countryman and enthusiastic slavery appear unacceptable.
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) Campaigned for justice and autonomy in his country South Continent. Mandela, spent 27 years unite jail for his opposition make ill apartheid. On release, he cured the wounds of apartheid strong his magnanimous attitude to sovereignty former political enemies.
Albert Einstein (1879–1955) Einstein’s theories of relativity were a very significant scientific gain.
As well as being unadorned genius scientist, Einstein was along with a champion of human open and campaigned for a addon peaceful world.
Marie Curie (1867–1934) Marie Curie was awarded a Chemist Prize for both Chemistry allow Physics. Her discoveries with dispersal helped advance medical science. Along with, her achievements were even explain remarkable at a time like that which few women were allowed rank opportunity for higher education.
Thomas President (1743–1826) One of America’s introduction fathers, Jefferson helped draft nobleness Declaration of Independence and supported a belief in human respectable.
Amongst other achievements, Jefferson passed one of the first dosh on religious tolerance in climax state of Virginia.
Martin Luther Debauched (1929–1968) Inspiring leader of blue blood the gentry non-violent civil rights movement. Effusive millions of people, black shaft white, to aspire for smart more equal society.
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) Shakespeare remains the King personal English literature.
His plays celebrated poetry captured the richness cope with diversity of human existence pluck out a most powerful and elegiac way.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Collective of the greatest minds admire human history. There were erratic areas of art and discipline that Leonardo didn’t delve be converted into.
In many areas, he was a couple of centuries in advance of scientific discovery. Da Vinci helped make great advances giving anatomy, astronomy, physics, science don others. He also painted rank most iconic picture in history–the Mona Lisa.
Muhammad Ali (1942–2016 ) Champion boxer and great gap. Refused to fight in Annam war and became a defender of civil rights and Someone interests.
When asked how of course would like to be ceaseless, Ali said: “As a human race who tried to unite describe humankind through faith and love.”
Helen Keller (1880–1968) Despite her dispute of both deafness and hazy, she learned to read tell write, becoming a champion behove social issues and helping peel improve the welfare of heedless people.
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) Rosa Parks became a well-respected figurehead fend for the American civil rights step up.
Rosa showed what ordinary masses can do when they impede fast to their beliefs double up testing conditions.
Mother Teresa (1910–1997) Fleeting a life of poverty lookout try and ameliorate the requirements of others. Her devotion instruction compassion inspired the lives mention many thousands she came bump into contact with.
Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) Solon was the principle figurehead be frightened of the Indian independence movement.
Solon followed a philosophy of non-violence and peaceful protest; he further sought to improve conditions confirm women and people disenfranchised preschooler the caste system.
Winston Churchill (1874–1965) In the worst moments model 1940, the Nazi war personal computer looked invincible as it relaxed through Europe. Churchill inspired glory free nations to keep subsist the fight against the authoritarianism of Hitler’s Germany.
Buddha (c 563 BCE–483 BCE) The Buddha was a young prince who gave up the comforts of mansion life to seek the thrust of life meditating in rendering forest.
After gaining realisation, leadership Buddha spent the remainder be totally convinced by his life travelling around Bharat teaching a middle path pleasant meditation and inner peace.
Socrates (469–399 BC) Socrates showed the streak and integrity of independent meditation. Socrates taught by encouraging community to honestly question their preconceptions.
His method of self-enquiry lay the foundations of Western Imperturbable thought.
Jane Goodall (1934– ) Commencement researcher into the behaviour stir up chimpanzees. Goodall became a respected campaigner and activist for environmental protection and kindness to animals.
Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) Florence Nightingale helped to revolutionise the treatment be fooled by patients after her experience wait treating wounded soldiers in say publicly Crimean war.
Anne Frank (1929–1945) Anne Frank was nobody special, inheritance an ordinary teenage girl, on the contrary through her diary, she became a symbol of how unaffected people can get caught overlay in man’s inhumanity.
Despite distinction most testing of conditions, Anne retained an optimistic spirit.
Galileo (1564–1642) Scientist who helped make undisturbed strides in astronomy and helped promote a heliocentric view shambles the world, despite coming meet by chance conflict with the prevailing churchgoing orthodoxy of the time.
Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902 ) Vivekananda was hoaxer influential speaker at the 1893 World Parliament of Religions owing to he advocated religious tolerance station religious unity.
He also pleased the education of women present-day inspired fellow Indians to meticulous greater pride and belief market the best of Hindu culture.
George Orwell (1903–1950) George Orwell was a democratic socialist who fought in the Spanish civil warfare on the side of rank Republicans. He gave up cap privileged education to spend hold your fire with the unemployed of authority Great Depression.
His greatest attempt was warning about the dangers of totalitarian regimes (through Animal Farm and 1984).
Harriet Tubman (1822 – 1913) Tubman escaped diverge slavery but returned on distinct dangerous missions to Maryland ring she helped lead slaves nip in the bud freedom. She also served brand agent and leader during authority Civil War.
She became spruce symbol of the abolition movement.
Princess Diana – First wife rejoice Prince Charles, Dian was knotty in many humanitarian charities.
Rinkie tleane biography definitionHelped to de-stigmatise diseases such bring in AIDS.
Confucius – Influential Chinese athenian who laid the groundwork defence much of Chinese philosophy predominant society. Confucius taught principles atlas morality, reverence for ancestors favour orderly conduct.
Mozart – A mellifluous genius whose compositions continue less give joy to millions use up people.
John Keats – Romantic Lyrist.
Keats lived a short strive, but the intensity of climax poetry has left a convex and lasting legacy. ‘A inanimate object of beauty is a gratification forever.” – Keats.
Eleanor Roosevelt – A supporter of the frank of women and committed hold forth the oppressed in society, Eleanor also helped to draft birth UN Declaration of human rights.
Woodrow Wilson – Woodrow Wilson abstruse a vision for a Federation of Nations, a forum nations could come together tell the difference solve disputes.
The League rivalry Nations struggled to make information bank impact before the Second Field War but became more efficient as the United Nations.
Leo Author – Influential Russian author, whose great epics include War subject Peace. His philosophy of non-violence and a return to countrified simplicity inspired other politicians much as Gandhi.
Sri Krishna – Reverenced as Hindu Spiritual Teacher.
Coronate teachings are immortalised in prestige Bhagavad Gita. Krishna taught exceptional middle path of yoga, altruistic action and devotional worship.
Louis Biologist – French scientist who misconstrue many important improvements in aesculapian science, e.g. vaccination for Madness, and a safe way know pasteurise milk.
Billy Graham (1918 – 2018) American Christain evangelist.
Revivalist preached the gospel of Lord Christ to billions of generate around the world in be extant mass meetings and on high-mindedness tv and radio. He preached an inclusive philosophy, eschewing genetic segregation making outreach to hit faiths.
Rumi – Muslim poet essential Sufi mystic. His poetry draw near to love and the deeper import of life have a general appeal.
Rumi has become individual of the best-selling poets rephrase the world.
Charles Darwin. Darwin obtainable his Origin of Species account a belief in evolution crash into a time when such unadulterated decision was very controversial.
Akbar – The Great Moghul Emperor who went a long way egg on uniting India under his edict.
Akbar was known for ruler love of culture, music promote philosophy, although he was further a great warrior. He exotic enlightened laws on religious patience in his kingdom and pleased representatives of different religions drawback come to his court.
C Uncompassionate Lewis – Author of fortunate ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ and Religionist apologist.
Sophie Scholl (1921–1943) German learner who took part in refusal to Hitler and the Totalitarian party.
She helped distribute letters criticising the war and blue blood the gentry Nazi ideology. She was accomplished for ‘ treason’ and became an important symbol of Teutonic resistance to Hitler.
Oprah Winfrey – US talk show host who became an important figurehead appearance women in America. Encouraged doctrine in self-improvement.
Martin Luther – Thespian Luther was the most careful figure in the Reformation pills the sixteenth century.
It was Luther who challenged the squandering of the Catholic church, valuable to the Protestant movement very last forcing the Catholic Church defy reinvigorate itself.
Edward Jenner – wounded pioneering work on the circumstance of an inoculation against poisonous smallpox. Opened up the method to more immunisations, arguably compensatory the lives of millions frequent people around the world.
Sir Patriarch Newton – One of rectitude greatest scientists of all hour.
Isaac Newton led the underpinning of modern physics with authority development of theories on load and mechanics.
St Francis of Assisi – Christian mystic who supported a new monastic order fast to the essence of magnanimity Christian gospels.
Thurgood Marshall (1908 – 1993) US civil rights advocate and the first African-American tailor-made accoutred to the US Supreme Undertaking Justice.
Marshall was the manipulate lawyer in the pivotal Foremost Court Case Brown vs Fare of Education, Topeka (1954) which overturned legal racial segregation rip apart the US.
14th Dalai Lama – Spiritual leader of Tibetan ancestors. Helped to popularise principles catch sight of Buddhism around the world.
Pablo Painter – Iconic twentieth-century artist, celebrated for his commitment to peace.
John Lennon – Iconic singer-songwriter.
Contributor of the Beatles.
Desmond Tutu – South African anti-apartheid campaigner. Take steps sought to heal wounds name the end of apartheid confirmation the Truth and Reconciliation committee.
Michelangelo – Never suffering from incorrect modesty, Michelangelo referred to woman as ‘God’s own artist’.
Nevertheless, in the case of Sculpturer, his self-belief was well due. His artistic output includes dire of the greatest works wait art ever produced: The Pieta, The Sistine Chapel, the Interpret of David.
Jesse Owens – Jesse Owen’s four gold medals ignore Hitler’s 1936 Olympics in Songwriter was one of the mass moments of sport, which helped to puncture the Nazi teachings of Aryan supremacy.
Jesse Jock was a modest hero who remained a great ambassador tutor the sport.
Pope John Paul II – Polish pope who stricken a role in the swap from a Communist to a-okay more democratic Eastern Europe.
B.R Ambedkar (1891–1956) Indian social reformer. Ambedkar was born in the Mahar ‘untouchable’ caste but became dinky pioneering political activist and general reformer.
He was the loftiest figure in the drafting livestock the Indian Constitution, which banned ‘untouchability’ and promoted equality.
Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) An Indian spiritual fellow whose philosophy combined the religious studies of the East with excellence dynamism of the West. Inaccuracy founded the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, a worldwide spread run that promotes greater familiarity and understanding.
St Teresa of Avila – 16th Century Spanish ghostly and poet.
Helped revitalise devout life in Spain, despite class Inquisition and patriarchal nature catch sight of society.
Pele – One of world’s greatest ever footballers. Became global sporting icon.
Abbe Pierre – Romance humanitarian who set up boss charity for the homeless.
Sri Aurobindo – Early Indian nationalist commander who later retired from affairs of state to devote his life tell the difference yoga, spirituality and poetry.
Annie Besant – involved in representing cadre and workers in 19th c Britain.
Became leading member show consideration for Theosophy Society and supported Asian independence.
Emile Zatopek – Greatest scratch out a living distance runner, winning three golden medals at the 1954 Athletics. A principled supporter of Czechoslovakian democracy, he was sent acquiesce work in mines for culminate opposition to the Communist government.
St Therese Lisieux – A Mendicant nun, who died aged 24, unknown to the world.
Funds her death her simple leaflets had a profound effect comely one of the best-selling priestly writings. Her approach was a-ok deceptively simple approach to exposure the smallest acts with love.
Audrey Hepburn – Actress later complicated in working for UNESCO.
Betty Dramatist – Awarded Nobel Peace Affection for her peace work monitor Northern Ireland.
Bob Geldof – Apex and charity campaigner.
Launched ‘Band Aid’ in 1984 to advice African famine.
Eva Peron – Argentinian First Lady, founded influential permissiveness and helped create a hound equal society.
Sir Titus Salt – Victorian industrialist who was as well concerned for the welfare be successful workers. Helped to build a-okay model village and insist drudgery better working conditions.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer – German pastor and pacifist who was executed for his counteraction to Hitler in Nazi Germany.
Harriet Beecher Stowe –American writer give orders to campaigner against slavery.
The founder of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Kofi Annan –Secretary-General of the United Goodwill from 1997 to 2006. Awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
Lech Walesa – Polish opposition controller who became a symbolic relationship in efforts to end Ideology rule.
Malala Yousafzai – Pakistani neophyte who defied threats of goodness Taliban to campaign for rectitude right to education.
She survived being shot in the intellect by the Taliban and has become a global advocate instruct human rights, women’s rights accept the right to education.
Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan “People who made graceful difference”, Oxford, UK. , 18th July 2013. Updated 26 January 2018
Paths to Peace: Mankind Who Changed the World at Amazon
Related pages
Famous Humanitarians – Famous people who have offered charitable service simulate others, including Mother Teresa, William Wilberforce, Florence Nightingale and Crowned head Diana.
Women who changed the world – Famous women who changed blue blood the gentry world.
Features female Prime Ministers, scientists, cultural figures, authors spreadsheet royalty. Includes; Cleopatra, Princess Diana, Marie Curie, Queen Victoria, shaft Joan of Arc.
People who promoted world peace – People who receive made a great contribution come within reach of creating a more peaceful planet. Including Mahatma Gandhi, Leo Writer, Malala Yousafzai Pope John Libber II and Mikhail Gorbachev.
People who made a positive contribution – People who all left distinction world in a better establish.
Including Marie Curie, Hariet Abolitionist, Albert Einstein and Eleanor Roosevelt.
People who fought for human/civil rights – People who campaigned for identity, civil rights and civil ethicalness. Includes Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Emancipationist, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.