History
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Nile Kinnick: Heisman Winner and Naval Aviator
Nile Kinnick (1918–1943) won the 1939 Heisman Trophy as a consensus All-American for Iowa. He died as a Navy aviator…
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Jack Kelly: The Maverick Who Stayed
Jack Kelly (1927–1992) was an American actor best known for playing Bart Maverick in the ABC western series Maverick, appearing…
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John VI of Portugal: Absolute Monarch in Turbulent Times
John VI of Portugal (1767–1826) was the last absolute monarch of Portugal, ruling during the Napoleonic Wars. He fled to…
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Jan III Sobieski: Poland’s Saviour of Vienna
Jan III Sobieski (1629–1696) was King of Poland whose victory at the Battle of Vienna in 1683 earned him recognition…
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Christopher Columbus: Navigator of the Atlantic
Christopher Columbus (1451–1506) was an Italian explorer whose 1492 voyage across the Atlantic opened the Americas to European exploration and…
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Saint Edith of Wilton: Royal Nun and Reluctant Heir
Saint Edith of Wilton (c. 961–984) was an English saint and nun who refused both abbess positions and the English…
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Augustus: Founder of the Roman Empire
Augustus (63 BC–AD 14) was the founder and first emperor of the Roman Empire, establishing the Pax Romana and the…
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Prince Rogers Nelson: The Minneapolis Sound Pioneer
Prince Rogers Nelson (1958–2016) was an American singer-songwriter who pioneered the Minneapolis sound and became one of the best-selling music…
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John D. MacDonald: Master of Crime and Suspense
John D. MacDonald (1916–1986) was an American crime and suspense novelist who sold 70 million books and created the Travis…
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Billy Taylor: Jazz Pioneer and Educator
Billy Taylor (1921–2010) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and educator who served as artistic director for jazz at the…
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Agatha Christie: Queen of Detective Fiction
Agatha Christie (1890–1976) was an English author and the best-selling novelist of all time, known for detective novels featuring Hercule…
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Leo Ornstein: Pioneer of the Tone Cluster
Leo Ornstein (1895–2002) was an American experimental composer and pianist who pioneered the tone cluster in classical music and became…
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Gordon Willis: Cinematographer of the 1970s
Gordon Willis (1931–2014) was an American cinematographer who defined the visual look of 1970s cinema through work on the Godfather…
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Theodor Herzl: Founder of Modern Political Zionism
Theodor Herzl (1860–1904): Hungarian journalist and founder of modern political Zionism. Established the Zionist Organization and is the spiritual father…
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Dame Millicent Fawcett: Pioneer of Women’s Suffrage
Dame Millicent Fawcett (1847–1929) was an English political activist who led the NUWSS and campaigned for women's suffrage through legal…
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