People
Historical Figures and Influential People in History
Explore rulers, generals, thinkers, scientists and reformers who shaped world history. Search for a specific person, or browse by era, region, country and A–Z.
Early Modern Era Figures from United States
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4 results
Benjamin Franklin
1706–1790Americas
He flew a kite in a thunderstorm, charmed the French court, and helped write a declaration that started a revolution — and still found time to invent bifocals.
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George Washington
1732–1799Americas
He was asked to become king and said no — a decision so unusual in the history of military victors that people are still talking about it.
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John Adams
1735–1826Americas
He spent his presidency being compared unfavourably to Washington, lost to Jefferson in a bitter re-election campaign, and had to wait until he was dead for history to decide he'd been right about more than people admitted.
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Thomas Jefferson
1743–1826Americas
He wrote that all men are created equal, owned more than six hundred enslaved people, and spent his life writing about liberty — a contradiction the country has never fully resolved.
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