Who was the "Person of the Century" for the 1800's and 2000's?

[EGarrett]

Time Magazine named Einstein the Person of the 20th Century. What about the 19th and 21st Century, so far?

Off the top of my head, perhaps Abraham Lincoln or Napoleon for the 19th? Bill Gates or Osama Bin Laden for the 21st? Of course that's identical to the Einstein/Hitler debate for the 20th century...

[LostAngeles]

Bill Gates would belong more to the last century, if we're talking when they took the major influential actions. Osama bin Laden would probably be the most influential so far. His actions have led to major shifts in foreign policy (around the world) and has entered us, alone, into two wars.

I'm hoping that Kamen finds a way to make his new water purifier cheap soon and then he'd be likely able to take the title.

I want to say Darwin for the 19th. Him and/or Pasteur. Origin was a biological revolution and Pasteur helped to expand vaccination from its humble cowpox beginnings with his rabies vaccine and anthrax and really developed the germ theory of sickness so...


...Yeah, I convinced me. It's Pasteur.

[thaiboxerken]

I think Warren Buffet.

[leonAzul]

...Yeah, I convinced me. It's Pasteur.

In the 19th century, if you speak of Pasteur, a good case could be made for Theodor Schwann (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodor_Schwann)as well.

In fact, the whole germ theory of Pasteur, as well as its antiseptic applications by Lister, can be traced to Schwann's influence.
Link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodor_Schwann#Vitalism_and_germ_theory)

His hypothesis that "All living things are composed of cells and cell products" and the methodology by which he confirmed it have had a profound effect on establishing the scientific basis for research in biology and medicine.

[leonAzul]

Time Magazine named Einstein the Person of the 20th Century. What about the 19th and 21st Century, so far?


It will be fun to speculate, but it is really too early to tell who the Person of the 21st Century shall be. If in 1909 you asked someone to estimate the impact that Albert Einstein, FDR or Ghandi would have on the 20th Century, they would probably have responded "Who?"

Although he continues to have a great impact, I would argue that ObL is essentially continuing what he started in the 20th Century, merely adapting the same methods to the opportunities that technology provides.

It should be noted that of the top three contenders for Time Person of the Century (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Person_of_the_Century), only FDR was selected to be a Person of the Year (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Person_of_the_Year) (for a record three times).

[leonAzul]

I think Warren Buffet.

Time will tell. His personal example for economic responsibility certainly gives more concrete evidence than any so-called theory.

[Mark6]

It will be fun to speculate, but it is really too early to tell who the Person of the 21st Century shall be. If in 1909 you asked someone to estimate the impact that Albert Einstein, FDR or Ghandi would have on the 20th Century, they would probably have responded "Who?"
Time's "Person of half-century" selected in 1950 was Winston Churchill. I would say in 1909 he was already noticeable.

[Uzzy]

No mention of Bismarck for person of the 1800's? From a position of relative weakness he led Prussia through three wars into becoming one of the dominant forces in Europe as Germany. I'd also mention Queen Victoria, given that she was in charge during the zenith of the British Empire, which certainly had an impact on the world stage throughout the 1800's.

[EGarrett]

I'm not that big of a fan of naming someone who rose to prominence or power by luck of birth as Person of the Century. It takes much more influence to do so from obscurity.

[LostAngeles]

I agree. My reasoning for my choice (and I think the suggestion of Schwann is good as well) is picking who changed the world in a very substantial way. Pasteur's work on germ theory and vaccinations has saved countless lives and avoided suffering.

[Uzzy]

I'm not that big of a fan of naming someone who rose to prominence or power by luck of birth as Person of the Century. It takes much more influence to do so from obscurity.

True. Really, Victoria is my way of shorthanding the influence the likes of successive British Prime Ministers had, from Peel to Gladstone, in changing the world during the Victorian Era with the development of the British Empire.

[leonAzul]

No mention of Bismarck for person of the 1800's?

Agreed, his contributions to statecraft in Germany and all of Europe have had a great impact to this day--national health insurance, anyone?

Which leads to yet another candidate: Karl Marx. That is as much for his sociological insights as his political and economic theories.

[Simon39759]

I would put Napoleon as person of the XIXth century, while short lived his empire introduced many Europeans countries to the concept of Democracy.

[Simon39759]

And, yes, so far, I agree than Bin Laden's impact is very significant.

However, his impact his mostly due to what reactions he induced into the American leadership. So the real impact was performed by the American leadership during the Bush' years (that covers not only the war on terror but other aspects of its policy that do not concern Bin Laden, such as the answer to Katrina and the delayement of Stem cell research (and all research in general, research budgets were severely cut down during this time) and the fight against global warming.
So, if you want a single name, I'd say whoever was in charge of the U.S then, either George W. Bush or Dick Cheney or Riiiilk Sssssultra, their reptoid handler.

[theprestige]

I would put Napoleon as person of the XIXth century, while short lived his empire introduced many Europeans countries to the concept of Democracy.
This notion--that Europe was generally unfamiliar with democracy prior to Napoleon, and that spreading the idea is one of his signal contributions to human history--is not one I am familiar with. Would you be willingn to explain it in greater detail?

[Simon39759]

Well; that's pretty much it.
The enlightenment started in Western Europe and the Eastern and Central countries of Europe were very much still absolute monarchy.
At the time of Napoleon, pretty much the only Republic in the world were France and the US.
Napoleon and most of his troops participated in the French revolution and, while he quickly decided to be above it, the ideology of the Napoleonian empire was rooted in the Revolution. Many of his generals emerged from the people rather than be of noble birth (although many were ennobled by Napoleon himself, it was mostly a reward earned rather than a hereditary acquisition).

For many of the old absolute monarchy, the occupation by the French forces were the first exposure to these ideas.
Of course, one favouring factor was probably that Napoleon did not trust the old traditional structures that he has just kicked out of power and had to promote another system through which rule these countries, which was achieved by promoting people from outside the nobility.

Anyway, this, I was told, played an important role in exposing people to the democratic ideals and explain why France had for a long time, a reputation has the country of human right.
This, I believe, would be Napoleon's most significant effect has other aspect of his reign either were very short lived or deep but limited to France (the penal code he created is still in use, as are some of the prestigious college he had founded and some of the decorations he created).

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Time Magazine named Einstein the Person of the 20th Century. What about the 19th and 21st Century, so far?

Off the top of my head, perhaps Abraham Lincoln or Napoleon for the 19th? Bill Gates or Osama Bin Laden for the 21st? Of course that's identical to the Einstein/Hitler debate for the 20th century...

19th - Darwin
21st - Someone who hasn't been born yet

[Doc Daneeka]

Time's "Person of half-century" selected in 1950 was Winston Churchill. I would say in 1909 he was already noticeable.

Noticeable, yes. I doubt that many would have thought him a likely PM at the time, though.

[Doc Daneeka]

19th Century: either Darwin, Marx, or Bonaparte.
The first two on the list really shook the earth in the 20th century, but I include them because it was obvious in the 19th that their ideas were potentially of enormous import should they gain a large following.

20th Century: Hitler, Mao, or Planck.
Hitler for obvious reasons. Mao, because he dramatically altered the political/economic/cultural environment for a sixth of the planet's people. Planck, for setting the scene for most of 20th century physics, and also for providing the name for every scientific institute in modern Germany:)

21st Century: a person whose name almost none of us (myself included) would yet recognise.

[ddt]

This, I believe, would be Napoleon's most significant effect has other aspect of his reign either were very short lived or deep but limited to France (the penal code he created is still in use, as are some of the prestigious college he had founded and some of the decorations he created).

You're mistaken there. Napoleon also exported the French penal and civil code to much of Western Europe. In Holland, e.g., the French versions even were in active use (alongside the Dutch counterparts the were crafted on their model) until the 1870s.

And don't forget the metric system. Napoleon gave us a sensible and standardized system of measures.

[wollery]

Blimey! Only 8 years into the century and you want to discuss who the "Person of the Century" was? :boggled:

[Simon39759]

You're mistaken there. Napoleon also exported the French penal and civil code to much of Western Europe. In Holland, e.g., the French versions even were in active use (alongside the Dutch counterparts the were crafted on their model) until the 1870s.

And don't forget the metric system. Napoleon gave us a sensible and standardized system of measures.

Hum; I didn't know that.
Go Napo! Me likey metric system.

[Segnosaur]

Off the top of my head, perhaps Abraham Lincoln or Napoleon for the 19th? Bill Gates or Osama Bin Laden for the 21st?

I doubt Bill Gates should be considered, either for the 21st or 20th century.

Although Gates is a successful businessman, and MicroSloth products are widely used, Gates himself hasn't really contributed much. He didn't invent the PC (That was IBM, although personal computers existed even before then). Nor was he significant in inventing any signifcant aspect of computer software...
- The concept of the GUI extends back to XEROX PARC (or before), and credit for commercialization of the concept goes to Apple
- Visicalc and Wordperfect both predate Microsoft's versions of those software items
- The concepts of the internet go back to DARPA.

[NoZed Avenger]

Perhaps Edison?

[NoZed Avenger]

Just thought -- Brunel might also be a contender, although more influencial in Great Britain than elsewhere, perhaps.

Still, 19th century transportation would probably have not have looked the same without him.

[StanBearclaw]

I'm going to say big daddy Thomas Jefferson claims the title for BOTH the 18th century and the 19th century.

[EGarrett]

19th Century: either Darwin, Marx, or Bonaparte.
The first two on the list really shook the earth in the 20th century, but I include them because it was obvious in the 19th that their ideas were potentially of enormous import should they gain a large following.That's a very good three to discuss. They also are from three different areas...the military, politics and science.

Darwin's scientific idea was obviously one of the most revolutionary in all of history...but Marx...wow, talk about a popular philosophy. Since Bonaparte was in the early part of the century, he may be slightly behind the two of them.

[MG1962]

That's a very good three to discuss. They also are from three different areas...the military, politics and science.

Darwin's scientific idea was obviously one of the most revolutionary in all of history...but Marx...wow, talk about a popular philosophy. Since Bonaparte was in the early part of the century, he may be slightly behind the two of them.

I agree, then someone throws in Edison....and then you get to the problem. Who influenced more lol. Darwin changed how we thought of oursleves, Edison changed how we live. Which is the more important

Then Pastuer gets mentioned.........how many lives has his research saved. Maybe rather than have one, make a list of the top 10. Because seriously everyone so far mentioned has had a huge contribution to the world we live in

[Doc Daneeka]

I agree, then someone throws in Edison....and then you get to the problem. Who influenced more lol. Darwin changed how we thought of oursleves, Edison changed how we live. Which is the more important

Then Pastuer gets mentioned.........how many lives has his research saved. Maybe rather than have one, make a list of the top 10. Because seriously everyone so far mentioned has had a huge contribution to the world we live in

I still think of Edison as an early 20th century figure. I know, that isn't quite correct, but one could make an argument that it's a valid viewpoint. He'd certainly be in the running though.

[Doc Daneeka]

That's a very good three to discuss. They also are from three different areas...the military, politics and science.

Darwin's scientific idea was obviously one of the most revolutionary in all of history...but Marx...wow, talk about a popular philosophy. Since Bonaparte was in the early part of the century, he may be slightly behind the two of them.

The ghost of Bonaparte looms large over the rest of the 19th century though. Look at the wake he left behind in the various states that later merged to form Italy and Germany. The bizarre spectacle of Russian troops marching through Paris in triumph, and Russia becoming an important player in European affairs thereafter.

Though something of a monster, he wasn't behind the other two...

[Darth Rotor]

Bonaparte for 19th. What he did in the first decade or so was the catalyst for the rest of the century, though plenty of others played important parts.

For the 21st.

It ain't even a tenth over yet. Nobody comes to mind.

DR

[Doc Daneeka]

Bonaparte for 19th. What he did in the first decade or so was the catalyst for the rest of the century, though plenty of others played important parts.

For the 21st.

It ain't even a tenth over yet. Nobody comes to mind.

DR

Really? There's a 'trial of the century' every decade or so. Surely you can hazard a guess on the person of the century:)

[Galileo]

Time Magazine named Einstein the Person of the 20th Century. What about the 19th and 21st Century, so far?

Off the top of my head, perhaps Abraham Lincoln or Napoleon for the 19th? Bill Gates or Osama Bin Laden for the 21st? Of course that's identical to the Einstein/Hitler debate for the 20th century...

21st Tim Duncan

20th Albert Einstein (including promotion of world peace)

19th James Madison (set precedent on Just War Theory during War of 1812)

18th James Madison (father of Constitution, author of Bill-of-Rights, co-author of Federalist Papers)

17th Galileo (father of Modern Science)

16th Martin Luther (started Reformation)

15th Johannes Gutenburg (invented printing press)

14th William of Occam (revolutionary philosophies)

13th Thomas Aquinas (reconciled Aristotle w/ the Bible)

12th Pope Innocent III (most powerful Pope in history)

11th Pope Urban II (gave speech that started the 1st crusade)

10th nothing happened in the 10th century

9th Alfred the Great (founder of English liberty)

8th Charlemagne

7th Mohammed

6th Justinian

5th Augustine of Hippo (most influential writer of middle ages)

4th Constantine the Great (turned the Roman Empire Christian)

3rd Origen of Alexandria (reconciled Plato w/ the Bible & most prolific writer in history)

2nd Antonius Pius (greatest & most just Roman Emperor)

1st Paul of Tarsus (founder of Chirstianity)

1st BC Augustus Caesar (founder of Roman Empire)

2nd BC Gracchi brothers (Tiberius and Gaius, leaders for equal rights)

3rd BC Hannibal (greatest general of ancient world)

4th BC Plato (all works still extant & still in print)

5th BC Socrates

6th BC Thales (founder of natural philosophy)

7th BC Ashurbanipal (founded giant library)

8th BC Tiglath-Pileser III (mighty warlord w/ cool name)

[Sunray Breaker]

Norman Borlag yo!!! Although the majority of his accomplishments we're done in the 20th century, people will continue to benefit from his contributions long into the 21st...

He deserves the "Best Person Ever" award.

[Uzzy]

A left field suggest for Person of the 20th Century. Tim Berners-Lee (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee). Hard to argue that his invention hasn't shaped the end of the 20th Century, and most certainly the 21st Century.

[Jono]

As per 'western' society, Carl Linnaeus for the 18th century.

[Galileo]

Can anyone make an intelligent comment about my list?

[wubiks]

Hello? What about Michael Jackson. Think about it. An entertainer.

[yomero]

Time Magazine named Einstein the Person of the 20th Century. What about the 19th and 21st Century, so far?

Off the top of my head, perhaps Abraham Lincoln or Napoleon for the 19th? Bill Gates or Osama Bin Laden for the 21st? Of course that's identical to the Einstein/Hitler debate for the 20th century...

Why Einstein? If you are going to choose a scientist as the Person of the 20th Century a better choice could be a shared tittle between James Watson and Francis Crick. Their discovery of the structure of DNA seems to me to be of greater importance than the Theory of Relativity. Of course Einstein's work involved a more complex and abstract reasoning than Watson and Crick's. However, W. and C. discovery has resulted in greater good for humanity.

Besides, it is enormously more interesting. It gives us access to the very secret of life.

[kmortis]

Norman Borlag yo!!! Although the majority of his accomplishments we're done in the 20th century, people will continue to benefit from his contributions long into the 21st...

He deserves the "Best Person Ever" award.
I second this.

For the 1800's? I nominate James Clerk Maxwell. With secondary nods to Faraday, Gauss, Ampere, Oesterd, Biot, Savart and Laplace.

Can you tell that I'm an electromagnetics guy?

For the 1700's, hands down, Newton and Leibniz.

[Ladewig]

This notion--that Europe was generally unfamiliar with democracy prior to Napoleon, and that spreading the idea is one of his signal contributions to human history--is not one I am familiar with. Would you be willingn to explain it in greater detail?

Napoleon was one of the first national leaders to put forth the idea that Catholics, Jews, and Protestants should be treated equally by the government.

[Drudgewire]

Time Magazine named Einstein the Person of the 20th Century.

Only because Mick Foley got screwed (http://althistory.wikia.com/wiki/Person_of_the_Year_(Myers_Way)). http://www.lethalwrestling.com/upload/colbert.gif

In 1998, professional wrestler Mick Foley led the online poll to be voted Time Man of the Year (DW edit: Actually "century") however he was removed as a candidate after Time felt he had not done enough to deserve the accolade.

[NoZed Avenger]

Only because Mick Foley got screwed (http://althistory.wikia.com/wiki/Person_of_the_Year_(Myers_Way)). http://www.lethalwrestling.com/upload/colbert.gif

He wouldn't have been disqualified if he hadn't taken the metal chair into the ring and brained Kissinger.

[DC]

Marie Skłodowska Curie

[cbish]

For the 19th century...easy. James Clerk Maxwell.

If it wasn't for him, we'd be living in the....well... in the19th century!!

[leonAzul]

Napoleon was one of the first national leaders to put forth the idea that Catholics, Jews, and Protestants should be treated equally by the government.

As in, they were all equally free to kiss his imperial butt.

How can you consider someone who abolishes a republic and declares himself "Emperor" a champion of democracy?

[kmortis]

I second this.

For the 1800's? I nominate James Clerk Maxwell. With secondary nods to Faraday, Gauss, Ampere, Oesterd, Biot, Savart and Laplace.

Can you tell that I'm an electromagnetics guy?

For the 1700's, hands down, Newton and Leibniz.

For the 19th century...easy. James Clerk Maxwell.

If it wasn't for him, we'd be living in the....well... in the19th century!!
Sweet...a second nom for Maxwell.

[Ladewig]

As in, they were all equally free to kiss his imperial butt.

How can you consider someone who abolishes a republic and declares himself "Emperor" a champion of democracy?

I do not consider him a champion of democracy in the same way I consider the U.S. founding fathers to be, but for Europe in the early 1800's saying that all religions should be treated equally was a very novel idea. There were countries within spitting distance of France where Jews were not even allowed to own land.

[gumboot]

An interesting point to make...

Should the identified "Person" be measured for their influence within the specified time period or for their influence for the entire following period of human history.

In other words, when looking at a "Person of the 19th Century" should you consider people who impacted the 19th Century, of impacted the world after the 19th Century? This would, IMHO have significant impact on your choice. For example Bismark's actions had a profound impact for the world in the 20th Century, far beyond his impact during the 19th Century (though that was still pretty significant).

If we're talking the 19th Century, I would say Napoleon. The Napoleonic Wars, alone, had a profound impact on nations not only throughout Europe, but throughout the entire world. As a personal example, the primary reason behind the UK signing the Treaty of Waitangi and claiming ownership of New Zealand was a fear that the French would try take it for themselves, and that competing sphere of influence derives directly from the Napoleonic Wars.

Napoleon had a profound impact on, not only the way war was waged, but the consequences of warfare - prior to the Napoleonic Wars the political implications of warfare were usually relatively minor, and nations could battle each other on and off for long periods of time without consequence. The Napoleonic Wars made warfare much wider in scope and impact, so that warfare could realistically decide the future existence of a state. Further, Napoleon made warfare more about destroying the enemy army as a fighting force, rather than simply out maneouvering it. The result of these changes are obvious in the context of WWI and WWII.

Of course Napoleon's most important influence was the Napoleonic Code, which has been described by historians as "one of the few documents which have influenced the whole world".

Napoleon's reorganisation of the territories he conquered laid the ground work for the reunification of Germany and the rise of nationalism and the concept of the nation state.

Finally, and this is perhaps looking at it a weird way, Napoleon's defeat toppled France as the world's dominant global power and allowed the UK to take its place, and the impact the UK made on the world during its time as global power was immense. Many have argued that the British Empire essentially made the modern world what it is today, and Napoleon made the British Empire (although not intentionally of course).

[gumboot]

I think calling Napoleon a champion of democracy is probably invalid, but I think I understand what is really meant. Often today we conflate "democracy" with "equality and freedom" but obviously it was not always like that. Napoleon's influence on the rise of democracy might be small, but his influence on the concepts of equality and the rule of law were profound.

Further, while he placed himself as Emperor, he had a big impact on overturning the concept of preferred status due to birth. He promoted a system whereby people were given status based on merit and achievement, not parentage, and this way of thinking certainly had an impact on the emergence of democracy and free society.

[eddyjoke]

It's probably somebody we haven't heard of yet for the 2000s, but up till now, Bill Gates is as good a choice as any. Maybe Bin Laden.

As for 1800s, any of the great scientists are probably good candidates, but Lincoln would win in a popular vote.

[Foolmewunz]

Why is there no love for Chuck Norris, here?


The problem I have is with the concept of a single person somehow rising to the top in any period of as long as 100 years. Well, if you have very few records of the era, then maybe Hammurabi, say,... But can you really give it to Einstein for the 20th? And it seems to be limited to politics and science. If I was to agree with Galileo(*) and give the nod to Martin Luther for the sixteenth, where does that place Wm. Shakespeare, maybe the greatest genius in literature in any language, ever.... ?



(*) Hey, based on infinite monkeys and infinite typewriters, ya know, it could happen. Well, it could!


Oh, and anyone voting for Lincoln for the 19th is a xenophobic American and should get out to the library more often.

[DC]

Why is there no love for Chuck Norris, here?


The problem I have is with the concept of a single person somehow rising to the top in any period of as long as 100 years. Well, if you have very few records of the era, then maybe Hammurabi, say,... But can you really give it to Einstein for the 20th? And it seems to be limited to politics and science. If I was to agree with Galileo(*) and give the nod to Martin Luther for the sixteenth, where does that place Wm. Shakespeare, maybe the greatest genius in literature in any language, ever.... ?



(*) Hey, based on infinite monkeys and infinite typewriters, ya know, it could happen. Well, it could!


Oh, and anyone voting for Lincoln for the 19th is a xenophobic American and should get out to the library more often.

because its not "Who was the "Person of the Century" of all times "

[NoScotsman]

I don't get the Napoleon fetish ... something about a man in tights, I expect.

Nor the talk of Marx ... a man who never worked a day in his life... nor participated in economies large or small... who nonetheless divined the secret workings of political/economic systems while holed up in his London flat. The man was a bit of a nutter ... Influential to be sure, but like Freud, discredited.

I'll take a man like Edison: a man with ideas that actually worked. His greatest invention was the utility company ... a clever scheme by which he extracted a large portion of the world's paychecks for the end of time. What delicious irony: he robbed you blind the more you left the lights on.