Famous People

Christopher Columbus (1451 - 1506)
  • Credited with discovery of "New World" in 1492
Dante (1265 -1321)
  • Italian poet, author of Divine Comedy
Ferdinand and Isabella
  • Isabella (1452 - 1504), Queen of Castile and Leon
  • Ferdinand (1452 - 1516), King of Aragon, Sicily, Naples, and several other places
  • Unified kingdom of Spain and sponsored Columbus's voyage
Galileo (1564 - 1642)
  • Italian Astronomer and Physicist
  • Made improvements to and discoveries with the telescope
Joan of Arc (1412-1431)
  • Iconic leader of French Army during Hundred Years War
  • Ultimately captured by English, burned at the stake
John Smith (1580 - 1631)
  • English Author, Soldier and Explorer
  • Rescued by Pocahontas during an encounter with Native Americans
King Charles I (1600 - 1649)
  • Namesake of Charles River
  • King of England, Scotland and Ireland
Leonardo da Vinci (1542 - 1519)
  • Italian Architect, Painter, Engineer, and Inventor
Martin Luther (1483 - 1546)
  • Holy Roman Empire (Germany)
  • Founder of Protestantism
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473 - 1543)
  • Polish, developed concept of Heliocentric Solar System
Pocahontas (1595 - 1617)
  • Native Virginian, allegedly saved John Smith
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
  • English playwright
  • Produced works such as Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet