Miscellaneous

The first person to walk on the Moon, Neil Armstrong was an astronaut and aeronautical engineer. Prior to his trip to the Moon, he became NASA's first civilian astronaut to fly in space. After resigning from NASA, he taught in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. He was a Presidential Medal of Freedom awardee.

The first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, Princess Diana was a member of the British royal family. As a princess, she became known for her unconventional approach to charity work. She was celebrated as a style icon and fashionista as well. She divorced Charles in 1996 and died in a tragic car accident the following year.

Wife of the former U.S President, Barack Obama, and one of the most popular First Ladies of the United States, Michelle Obama is a celebrity in her own right. She is still very popular and is a sought-after speaker around the globe and often lends her voice to issues like poverty awareness, education, nutrition, women’s rights, immigration and racism.

Born to parents who were bonded slaves, Harriet Tubman life was a difficult one from the very beginning. Yet with her remarkable courage and determination, she not only escaped slavery herself, but also led other enslaved people to freedom. The prominent political activist and abolitionist was also the first woman to lead an armed expedition during the American Civil War.

Marco Polo was a Venetian explorer, writer, and merchant. He explored Asia along the Silk Road and is credited with providing the Europeans with descriptions of the culture of the Eastern world, which remained unknown until his exploration. Polo's travel book inspired other travelers like Christopher Columbus. His writings also influenced European cartography, which led to the Fra Mauro map.

Desmond Doss was a US Army corporal. Doss served as a combat medic in World War II. For his actions during the Battle of Okinawa, Desmond Doss became the only conscientious objector to be honored with the prestigious Medal of Honor as he saved 75 men. His life and work inspired several books and the biographical war film Hacksaw Ridge.

Katherine Schwarzenegger is a young and confident woman. As an author, she encourages young women to achieve a positive self-image and confidence. Each of her books serves as a guiding light for women, children, and youngsters. She is also associated with non-profit organizations, such as Best Friends Animal Society and American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

German monk Martin Luther challenged the dogmas of Roman Catholicism and the authority of the pope, in his Ninety-five Theses, and was thus excommunicated. His German translation of the Bible enriched the German culture, and his marriage set an example for clerical marriage. His teachings are now known as Lutherans.

The recipient of Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award of India, Jaggi Vasudev is a mystic, yogi, and author.  His spiritual program called inner engineering is famous all over the world, particularly in the Western world. Popularly known as Sadhguru, Jaggi Vasudev's yoga programs, environmental initiatives, and educational and social initiatives have earned him celebrity status in India.

American investor, business tycoon and philanthropist Warren Buffett is considered one of the most successful investors in the world by the media. The chairman and largest shareholder of the firm, Berkshire Hathaway, he is often called as the ‘Oracle’ or ‘Sage’ of Omaha. Notably, he has pledged to give away a sizable portion of his wealth to philanthropic causes.

A U.S. Navy SEAL sniper, Chris Kyle was the recipient of one Silver Star Medal and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He was a respected figure who had performed many acts of heroism. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 2009. In an unfortunate turn of events, he was murdered by a former Marine in 2013.

A rebellion at heart with a colourful personality, Princess Margaret Rose Windsor, Countess of Snowdon could not be more different from her reserved elder sister, Queen Elizabeth II. Known for her lavish lifestyle filled with parties and drinks and glamour, this fiercely independent Royal’s life was rocked with scandals and unfulfilled romances.

A lawyer, law professor, political analyst and a civil rights activist, Maya Harris’s list of achievements is huge. One of the youngest in the US to become a law school dean, Maya Harris has worked with Hillary Clinton and her own sister Kamala Harris in their respective presidential campaigns.

Like many of her other family members, Kendall Jenner gained fame after starring in the American reality television show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which focuses on the personal and professional lives of the Kardashian-Jenner family. She is also a fashion model, co-designs a clothing line and was named the world's highest-paid model of 2018 in the Forbes top-earning models list.

The first lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993, Barbara Bush was the wife of the 41st US President George H. W. Bush. She was also the mother of  George W. Bush, the 43rd president of US. As the first lady, she focused on family literacy and was the founder of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

Feminist and civil rights icon Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was the longest-serving U.S First Lady. She was a prominent human rights activist, wrote columns, and hosted a radio show. She was named to Gallup's List of Most Widely Admired People of the 20th Century in 1999.

Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo, was known for her many portraits and self-portraits. Her work is said to have been inspired by the nature, artifacts and popular culture of Mexico. Her work was not much known until the late 1970s, when it was rediscovered by art historians and political activists. By early 1990s, she became a recognized figure in art history.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the second President of India and served from 1962 to 1967. He is regarded as one of India’s most eminent scholars and wrote extensively on Indian philosophy and religion. Lifelong he defended Hindu traditions and culture against criticism from the West. September 5, his birthday, is observed as Teachers Day in India, in his honour.

Pablo Picasso was a renowned artist whose paintings sell by millions of dollars at auctions even today, many years after his death. With masterful strokes, attractive shades and rich textures, Picasso created some of the most visually impressive arts of the 20th century. While exploring new styles and experimenting with different techniques, Picasso co-founded Cubist art style and co-invented collage.

Wallis Simpson was an American socialite. She remains a controversial figure in the history of British politics as she played a major role in causing a constitutional crisis that eventually led to the abdication of British King Edward VIII. Edward VIII abdicated in order to marry Wallis as he could not marry Wallis, a divorcée, while remaining on the throne.

Security guard and law enforcement officer, Richard A. Jewell, came to limelight for alerting the police prior to the Centennial Olympic Park bombing in 1996. Initially hailed as a hero, he later became a suspect in the case. His name was cleared after Eric Rudolph eventually confessed to that bombing. Jewell died of severe illness in 2007.  

Joel Osteen is an American pastor, author, and televangelist. He is one of the most popular televangelists in the world, with his televised sermons being watched by millions of people every week in over 100 countries, including 10 million viewers in the US alone. In 2006, he was named in the 10 Most Fascinating People list published by Barbara Walters.

John F Kennedy Jr was the son of former US President John F Kennedy. He tragically died at a young age of 38 when the plane he was flying crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts in 1999. He was a lawyer and a journalist and had founded the trendy political magazine, George, which stopped publication in 2001.   

Nancy Reagan was an American actress who also served as the first lady of the US between 1981 and 1989. One of her major initiatives as the first lady was her role in founding a drug awareness campaign called Just Say No. She had a strong influence on President Ronald Reagan, having an impact on many of his diplomatic decisions.

British explorer, navigator, and cartographer James Cook, who had also served the merchant navy and Royal Navy, was the first to complete an expedition around New Zealand. He explored areas in the South Pacific, such as eastern Australia and Hawaii. He was killed while trying to kidnap a Hawaiian king.

Considered a great saint and a symbol of French unity, Joan of Arc led the French army to the watershed victory over the English forces in Orleans in 1429. In 1430, she was captured by the Anglo-Burgundians while defending Compiegne. She was burned at the stake at the age of 19 in 1431. Pope Benedict XV canonised her in 1920.

Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was the first to link Europe and Asia through an ocean route, when he reached Calicut in 1498, thus enriching Portuguese trade with Asia. He made a second voyage later. He was made Count of Vidigueira in 1519 and the viceroy of India in 1524.

Nicole Brown Simpson was the ex-wife of O. J. Simpson. Her murder led to one of the most famous criminal trials of all time, the O. J. Simpson murder case. After her murder, The Nicole Brown Charitable Foundation was established in her memory. Her story inspired several movies, such as the 1995 TV movie The O. J. Simpson Story.

Amelia Earhart became the first female pilot to complete a solo trans-Atlantic flight, in 1932. A champion for equal rights, Amelia later wrote best-selling memoirs and contributed to the women pilot’s group The Ninety-Nines. In 1937, Amelia disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean and was later declared dead.

First gaining media attention as a friend and stylist of Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian didn’t take long to become a celebrity in her own right. She came into the limelight in the early 2000s owing to a leaked sex tape and quickly became a social media celebrity with millions of followers across platforms.

The first American to orbit the Earth, John Glenn was an astronaut, aviator, politician, and businessman. Beginning his career as an army man, he was a fighter pilot in World War II. He later joined NASA and was one of the Mercury Seven. Following his retirement from NASA, he became a politician and served in the US Senate.

The second child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, is 14th in line to the throne as of May 2019. She is the royal couple’s only daughter. She is the patron of over 300 organizations and is known for her high-profile charity work. She is considered one of Britain's most popular royals.

Ashley Biden, youngest daughter of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, has been the executive director of the Delaware Center for Justice. Ashley owns a clothing company, Livelihood, which donates its sales proceeds to various charities, partnering with online retailer Gilt Groupe. She has fought against animal testing and for dolphin conservation.

Audie Murphy displayed such valor as an American soldier in World War II that he did not have problems establishing a successful acting career after the war, as he was already famous for his heroism which he demonstrated by single-handedly holding off many German soldiers for an hour before leading a successful counterattack despite being wounded and out of ammunition.

Jackie Kennedy was a literature editor, photographer, and socialite who was once married to the former American President John F. Kennedy. She became the First Lady of the United States when her husband became the president. She was known for her iconic fashion style. She is considered one of the most popular and recognizable First Ladies in American history.

One of the most popular social media celebrities in the US, Kourtney Kardashian is best known for her appearance in the TV series Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Along with her sisters, she endorses products like prescription drugs, Coca-Cola, and waist slimming pants, for which she gets paid between $75,000 and $300,000 per post on social media.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex is the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II. He supports the Queen of England in her official duties and has also assumed the duties of his father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He has been granted the additional title of The Earl of Forfar by the Queen.