Your favourite historical personality

[Dodge]

Who's your favourite person, from throughout the history of the world, and why? p-)

[pigmode]

Stonewall Jackson


http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/4055/stonewalljacksonstaingllq3.jpg

[Try&die]

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, cause he owned big time.

[ArchieGates]

In before this legendary thread screws the pooch.

The Duke, because he drank tequila like it was water and hated everybody, f*cking legend.

[Thumpsquid]

Peter the Great. through brute strength and the power of his personality, he took an unimportant closeted medieval nation and dragged it kicking and screaming up to a world power. including the invention of a navy, a professional army, a modern bureaucracy and the beginnings of a european-style civil society

[boone]

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/8058/robertjip2.gif (http://imageshack.us)
He invented Rock 'n Roll.

[wotsnext]

Sir Issac Newton.

[IDF_TANKER]

King Solomon. He was wicked wise and got laid like A LOT.

[tornadoss]

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
http://adonis.pozitifpc.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/mustafa_kemal_ataturk_resimleri10.jpg

[Bro Jangles]

Mel Brooks.

[Alpheus]

Sir Winston Churchill.

"I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is quite another matter."

[matthew.manhorn]

Ronald Reagan for sure.

[Gunge]

tie between TR and Chesty

[Templar@Large]

The Marquis La Fayette (1757-1834) Because he was a life long friend of freedon and liberty ......And just seems to have been a really cool Dude !

[Antimatty]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Theodore_Rooseveltnewtry.jpg


one of the most bad ass people of all time

( although i really wanted to say DRACULA)

[gosciu555]

FDR: Put an ass-whooping on Wall-Street which brought this nation up from the Brink.
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/fdr.jpg

[planeman]

Murad III, of Ottoman Empire
Wiki: "He was also a renowned womanizer obtaining more than 1,200 of the most beautiful girls available at slave markets for his enjoyment; among the largest and most prestigious harems in the world. As his empire was deteriorating, he could usually be found comfortably ensconced in the harem. This lifestyle led him to sire 103 children"

[Antimatty]

Murad III, of Ottoman Empire
Wiki: "He was also a renowned womanizer obtaining more than 1,200 of the most beautiful girls available at slave markets for his enjoyment; among the largest and most prestigious harems in the world. As his empire was deteriorating, he could usually be found comfortably ensconced in the harem. This lifestyle led him to sire 103 children"

not really a womanizer if they didn't have any choice huh?
he's like casanova with a gun.
speaking of which, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giacomo_Casanova

[Bro Jangles]

{ Bigass picture of FDR}

thats a huge pic of Roosevelt.

[domokun]

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg241/762rk95/kekkonen.jpg

[JJHH]

Murad III, of Ottoman Empire
Wiki: "He was also a renowned womanizer obtaining more than 1,200 of the most beautiful girls available at slave markets for his enjoyment; among the largest and most prestigious harems in the world. As his empire was deteriorating, he could usually be found comfortably ensconced in the harem. This lifestyle led him to sire 103 children"

Excellent choice! While his empire was deteriorating, he was inventing games for his harem to play as they bathed. Great leader.

[Deathchant]

Joe Stalin. He ran a tight ship. So tight that after he killed his doctor he rather suspiciously died not long after. But he worked his way to the top properly. Robing banks and killing who he needed to in a sneaky way. A role model to all I think.

[planeman]

Excellent choice! While his empire was deteriorating, he was inventing games for his harem to play as they bathed. Great leader.agreed .

[Alfacentori]

1st Viscount Horatio Nelson

The man had a remarkable career and life.

Alfa

[scttgillies]

The "Black Douglas", Scottish lord and hero, who was so hard that an English lord surrendered his forces to the fallen body of the above.

[bigvig]

Chandragupta Maurya

Julian the Apostate

[Abbadon the Despoiler]

T.G.Masaryk, Malcol X and many many others

[Lancero]

D. Afonso Henriques (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afonso_I_of_Portugal)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Afonso_I_de_Portugal.jpg/526px-Afonso_I_de_Portugal.jpg


You got to love a guy that defeats it's mother in battle, makes her prisioner and goes on founding a country.

[Stainless Steel Rat]

Can't be just one.

Abraham Lincoln. Perhaps the most masterful politician (and human) ever to be elected President.

Timur the Lame (Tamerlane). Ended the Muslim and Indian Empires of the time in such a manner that his name is still reviled in those realms.

Rosa Parks. My personal hero(ine). One little lady saying no caused the chain leading to Barak Obama as President of the United States.

My Dad. Did nothing of historical importance except raising me. That's enough.

Press on.

[Albatross]

Teddy Roosevelt.

[LineDoggie]

Terry de la Mesa Allen

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h222/linedoggie/TerryAllen.jpg


Robert T.Frederick

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h222/linedoggie/Robert_t_Frederick.jpg

And this fella

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h222/linedoggie/rommel_erwin_bernd.jpg

[LongShot]

Benjamin Franklin, Sitting Bull, Voltaire........

[commanding]

tough question, ....#1 is likely George S. Patton (world war two) and #2 is Robert E. Lee (war of rebellion)

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h8/clovisfirst/MILITARY/Pattonphoto.jpg


http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h8/clovisfirst/MILITARY/robert-e-lee.jpg

though many others are great! General Chuck Yeager, Teddy Roosevelt (reading the book on him by Nathan Miller now), Stormin' Norman, Chesty Puller, etc.

[deli_dumrul]

Murad III, of Ottoman Empire
Wiki: "He was also a renowned womanizer obtaining more than 1,200 of the most beautiful girls available at slave markets for his enjoyment; among the largest and most prestigious harems in the world. As his empire was deteriorating, he could usually be found comfortably ensconced in the harem. This lifestyle led him to sire 103 children"

HAHAHAHAHA.

Wth? Even I didn't know this...rofl

[Asp]

Abraham Lincoln is a favorate of mine...

But I'd also mention William Marshal, John Hawkwood, Don Juan of Austria, Maurice of Nassau and Alessandro Farnese, the Duke of Parma.

[Johnny_H02]

Maj-General James Wolfe without question.
Close runners up are Duke of Wellington, Admiral Horatio Nelson, Gordon of Khartoum.

[gosciu555]

Why is everybody raving about Teddy of whom has been said:

"You must always remember that the President is about six."?

And who said:

"The most ultimatelly righteous war is a war with savages"

[Hellfish]

http://www.fmft.net/Harry%20Flashman%20George%20MacDonald%20Fraser.JPG

[SBL]

Why is everybody raving about Teddy of whom has been said:

"You must always remember that the President is about six."?

And who said:

"The most ultimatelly righteous war is a war with savages"
I don't get it.

[Bro Jangles]

Why is everybody raving about Teddy of whom has been said:

"You must always remember that the President is about six."?

And who said:

"The most ultimatelly righteous war is a war with savages"
yeah, being Secretary of the navy, then joining the army to lead a combat unit in war, then become president, make the building of the panama canal possible, and create most of the countries national parks.....

yeah that bastard didnt do much.

[world_@_war]

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
http://adonis.pozitifpc.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/mustafa_kemal_ataturk_resimleri10.jpg

[LineDoggie]

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
http://adonis.pozitifpc.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/mustafa_kemal_ataturk_resimleri10.jpg Just did a quick read of the Wiki Bio of him.

Interesting Man, the Geo. Washington of Modern Turkey, and an able military commander who wanted peace.

[Abbadon the Despoiler]

Im dissapointed that nobody mentioned this great man

http://i39.tinypic.com/j8o4y1.jpg

[commanding]

Why is everybody raving about Teddy of whom has been said:

"You must always remember that the President is about six."?

And who said:

"The most ultimatelly righteous war is a war with savages"

I think all men have weakness and make errors. TR was however, very charismatic. One thing that impressed me was that he was a very weak child, suffering from various ailments and thru force of will built up his body to become the barrell chested man he was. Shot in the chest when running for pres on the bull moose party, he declined medical attention and went on to give a speech an hour + long.
He suffered many things in his life and overcame them all (his first wife and mother died the same day in the same house while he was there).
He wrote about 46 books, and over 150 thousand letters (that survive) during his lifetime. Combat vet, hunter, lost one son to battle in WWI.

[SrB-23Q]

One of my favourite historical personalities would have to be

Martin Luther King, Jr

http://www.writespirit.net/inspirational_talks/political/martin_luther_king_talks/martin-luther-king2.jpg

http://www.africawithin.com/bios/ml_king.jpg

[commanding]

gotta throw in one more of my fav heroes, marine sniper from Nam, Gunny Carlos Hathcock, may he RIP
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h8/clovisfirst/MILITARY/carlos3.jpg

[BlackFlag]

Not sure if my favorite of all time, but definately up there...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/IronCross1985/church.jpg

[LineDoggie]

gotta throw in one more of my fav heroes, marine sniper from Nam, Gunny Carlos Hathcock, may he RIP
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h8/clovisfirst/MILITARY/carlos3.jpg

Somewhere, I have an Old American Rifleman magzine from 1964. It lists L/Cpl Carl Hathcock as the Wimbeldon cup winner, so odd to see him in print before he became famous.

Shame how he ended.

[USAF LOADMASTER]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Moshe_Dayan_croped.JPG/200px-Moshe_Dayan_croped.JPG (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Moshe_Dayan_croped.JPG)
"I have only one eye. Do you want me to look at the road or the at the speedometer." Moshe Dayan

[Hadamar]

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4783/alexanderhamiltonuz4.jpg
Alexander Hamilton

[Clayton Gold]

http://www.fmft.net/Harry%20Flashman%20George%20MacDonald%20Fraser.JPG

Damn - beat me to it ! p-)

[El Diablo Rojo]

Ted Roosevelt, Patton, Churchill, Moshe Dayan. I'm so original.

[commanding]

Somewhere, I have an Old American Rifleman magzine from 1964. It lists L/Cpl Carl Hathcock as the Wimbeldon cup winner, so odd to see him in print before he became famous.

Shame how he ended.

after reading some books on Hathcock, several of his exploits are so impressive. Of course the killing of the NVA general after being put in alone and crawling a very long way to approach the generals HQ, killing him with a single shot, and having to crawl out again. The other one that really sticks in my mind is the time he and his spotter caught an NVA company(?) crossing a dike in the middle of a bunch of rice fields and tied them down for days in the heat without water with the 50 caliber, using it as a sniper weapon. I may be off on some of the specifics, but the generalities are on. Believe he was using a 50 cal machine gun but squeezing off a single shot each time (but that is my memory).

[commanding]

One more for me, General Hal Moore:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h8/clovisfirst/MILITARY/Photo005.jpg

who was the CO of Fort Ord when I was there (in 71) after la Trang
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h8/clovisfirst/MILITARY/23_QU_18_d_HM_012ps.jpg

[domokun]

I've already posted on this thread with just photo of Urho Kaleva Kekkonen, he was president of Finland from 1956-1982. Partially for sake of good photo, partially as he was interesting politician and partially due to fact that I was drunk.

More honest answers would be Miyamoto Musashi or Simo Häyhä. Both of them were exeptional warriors.

Musashi was feudal age Japanese samurai, who was most skilled swordsman of his age (probably ever). He wrote The Book of Five Rings, that is one of classic works in field of strategy, tactics and bushido.

Simo Häyhä was Finnish soldier who is likely most skilled individual boot on ground soldier in resent history. He had about 500 kills as sniper and he was on front for less than 105 days. He was badly wounded at end Winter war and he didn't took part for Continuation war.

[commanding]

Simo Häyhä was Finnish soldier who is likely most skilled individual boot on ground soldier in resent history. He had about 500 kills as sniper and he was on front for less than 105 days. He was badly wounded at end Winter war and he didn't took part for Continuation war.
This Simo Hayda Finnish soldier w/ 500 kills, what era was that in? Any info on him on line, books? Would be interested to learn more on this. thanks,

[Johnny_H02]

http://www.fmft.net/Harry%20Flashman%20George%20MacDonald%20Fraser.JPG

.................x2!

[Basillicus]

I'm not so enthusiastic about idolizing historical figures. Mostly they were just ordinary people who did a few remarkable things, and everything else is long forgotten. Then afterwards someone reads a list of his achievements and gets a rosy picture of a super human. Most of these big mouthed war heroes were probably total bastards in their every day lives. Same goes for scientific geniouses, most of them had very difficult personalities (such as Newton).

After thinking a while I came up with one name: Claude Shannon. A brilliant mathematician and engineer who laid the foundations of information theory and digital circuit design. Because of his work we understand how to digitalize data, how to efficiently transmit and receive it and employ error correction, how to construct digital computers etc. Applications such as wired and wireless digital telecommunications (the Internet, mobile phones etc.), CD, DVD, HDTV and so on are directly based on the concepts of information theory, most of which were invented by Shannon during an era when almost nobody even understood what a computer is. In addition I've got the impression that he wasn't a complete jerk either.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Shannon

[California Joe]

after reading some books on Hathcock, several of his exploits are so impressive. Of course the killing of the NVA general after being put in alone and crawling a very long way to approach the generals HQ, killing him with a single shot, and having to crawl out again. The other one that really sticks in my mind is the time he and his spotter caught an NVA company(?) crossing a dike in the middle of a bunch of rice fields and tied them down for days in the heat without water with the 50 caliber, using it as a sniper weapon. I may be off on some of the specifics, but the generalities are on. Believe he was using a 50 cal machine gun but squeezing off a single shot each time (but that is my memory).

He was using his Winchester M70 during that engagement, it was only one day but all day, and the casualty count was very high. The 50 cal was a separate incident with a 2000+ yard shot.

Good Lord, ask any Finn on this board about Simo Häyhä. Their eyes light up. :) He was a helluva shooter. WWII era. Finnish/Soviet winter war.

[domokun]

This Simo Hayda Finnish soldier w/ 500 kills, what era was that in? Any info on him on line, books? Would be interested to learn more on this. thanks,

He was sniper in Second World War, in Finnish terms he fought in Winter War. Finnish participation to WWII is divided in three parts: Winter War, Continuation War and Lappland War. Simo Häyhä fought on Kollaa front, where

Wiki articles over himself, Kollaa and Winter War.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simo_H%C3%A4yh%C3%A4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kollaa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_War

Couple other web articles about him, writer of first have been here on this forum sometimes:
http://www.mosinnagant.net/finland/simohayha.asp
http://www.kevos4.com/Simo_Hayha.htm

[gaijinsamurai]

Hard to pick just one, but if I could name a few:

(+ Benjamin Franklin and x2 on Hellfish's mention of Sir Harry Flashman and Boone's Robert Johnson).


Sir Winston Churchill, Josep Broz Tito, Teddy Roosevelt, Clint, Joe Strummer, John Lee Hooker, Admiral Togo, Miscellaneous Samurai, Gregory "Pappy" Boington:

[freak77power]

Stefan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefan_(title)) Uroš IV Dušan (The Mighty) (1308-1355) was the King of Serbia and Emperor (Tsar) of The Serbs and Greeks

[commanding]

He was sniper in Second World War, in Finnish terms he fought in Winter War. Finnish participation to WWII is divided in three parts: Winter War, Continuation War and Lappland War. Simo Häyhä fought on Kollaa front, where

Wiki articles over himself, Kollaa and Winter War.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simo_H%C3%A4yh%C3%A4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kollaa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_War

Couple other web articles about him, writer of first have been here on this forum sometimes:
http://www.mosinnagant.net/finland/simohayha.asp
http://www.kevos4.com/Simo_Hayha.htm

thanks! that is impressive!

[Bruisercruiser]

gotta throw in one more of my fav heroes, marine sniper from Nam, Gunny Carlos Hathcock, may he RIP
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h8/clovisfirst/MILITARY/carlos3.jpg

Great tribute http://oldbluejacket.com/CarlosHathcock.htm

[Comrade Kane]

Hannibal Barca from the Punic Wars. The battle of Cannae was one of the greatest military feats in history.

[jemesouviens]

My ancestor,the comte de Grasse. He was born in 1722 and die in 1788 (65 years), he was the Admiral of the French navy in 1741 to 1782. He was the key victory of the U.S indepandance in 1776. He won the Battle of Ushant , the Battle of Chesapeake, the Battle of Saint-Kitts , the Battle of the Saintes , the Siege of Yorktown. He was the commander of the Ville de Paris.

Two French ships have his name the :


croiseur De Grasse (1939-1974).
frégate De Grasse (1975-present)


Three american ships have his name the :


USS Comte de Grasse (DD-974) (1978-1998)
USS De Grasse (1943-1946)
USS De Grasse (1918)

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/9518/03oe271o6degrassetr5.jpg

Le Ville de Paris during the Battle of the Saintes in 1782 http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5811/whitcombe2cbattleoftheshd9.jpg

[gaijinsamurai]

^ Very interesting! Merci for posting, and welcome to mp.net!

[INAT]

Radomir Putnik, also known as Vojvoda Putnik.

Was a Serbian Field Marshal and Chief of General Staff in the Balkan Wars and the World War I, and took part in all wars that Serbia fought from 1876 to 1917.

[Paya]

Nikola Tesla

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/N.Tesla.JPG

In his day, a living proof that brilliant and bat**** insane often go hand in hand.


There is something within me that might be illusion as it is often case with young delighted people, but if I would be fortunate to achieve some of my ideals, it would be on the behalf of the whole of humanity. If those hopes would become fulfilled, the most exciting thought would be that it is a deed of a Serb.

[Fallap]

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg197/homerjay77/King_Leonidas_in_Sparta.jpg

I managed to find a NON 300 related picture of King Leonidas

[El Diablo Rojo]

Now we know where they got the mohawk from...

[FunnyX]

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

[commanding]

well I have already named my "favorites" but runner ups include Admiral Stockdale, now deceased, who suffered terribly at the Hanoi Hilton, and was the running mate vp of Ross Perot. Stockdale was a brilliant man.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h8/clovisfirst/MILITARY/James_Stockdale_Formal_Portait.jpg

[Gleipnir]

The Marquis de Sade
Cornelis Lely

[Abbadon the Despoiler]

Ahmed Shah Massoud.
how could I forget this great man and true hero of his people.

[Fallap]

http://photos-f.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v251/19/98/1226565453/n1226565453_39957_766.jpg

Michael Strunge 1958-86

A poet who gave his "No future" Generation a voice.

He was slightly lunatic, and commited sueside in 86.