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Constantine I (The Great)
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c.274-337
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Greek
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Emperor. He made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.
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1
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|
Cook, James
|
(1728-1779)
|
English
|
Admiral and explorer. He explored the Pacific and Antarctica, and brought along scientists, botanists, and naturalists.
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1
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|
Coolidge, Calvin
|
(1872-1933)
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American
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President. He became a symbol of minimal government although the characterization is disputed. He was also famous for his taciturn and laconic style.
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1
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Cooper, Douglas
|
( )
|
|
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1
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Cooper, Gary
|
(1901-1961)
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American
|
Actor. He became a symbol of sincerity and manly virtue.
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1
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Cooper, James
|
(1789-1851)
|
|
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1
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Copernicus, Nicolas
|
(1473-1543)
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Polish
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Astronomer. He concluded that the earth was not even the center of the solar system, must less the universe, a doctrine which the Catholic Church condemned as heretical.
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1
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|
Coppin, Fanny (Jackson, Marion)
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(1837-1913)
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American
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Teacher. Born a slave, she led the Institute for Colored Youth.
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1
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|
Corday, Charlotte
|
(1768-1793)
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French
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Political figure. Horrified by the excesses of the French Revolution, she assassinated Marat.
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1
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|
Corvo, Baron (Rolfe, Frederick William)
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(1860-1913)
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English
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Author. He became a Roman Catholic but was not allowed to become a priest. His best known novel, Hadrian the Seventh, describes a figure like Rolfe who becomes Pope.
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1
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Coue, Emile
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(1857-1926)
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|
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1
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Coughlin, Charles (Father Coughlin)
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(1891-1979)
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Canadian
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Radio commentator. A Roman Catholic priest, he developed a large radio audience in the 1930's along with a reputation as a radical. Later, he became anti-New Deal and sympathetic to fascism, which led the church to take him off the air.
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1
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|
Cousin, Victor
|
(1792-1867)
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|
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1
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Cousteau, Jacques
|
(1910-1997)
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French
|
Ocean explorer and diver. He invented diving equipment, conducted important research, and through his books and films won many supporters for exploring and preserving the hidden world below the ocean surface.
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1
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|
Coward, Sir Noel
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(1899-1973)
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English
|
Author. A virtuoso in many fields, he wrote plays and lyrics, composed music, sang, and acted. In his plays, songs, and personal life, he was witty, charming, and kind. Over time, he came to exemplify a sparkling, worldly-wise sophistication, sprinkled with a dash of raffish Bohemianism.
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1
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Cranmer, Thomas
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(1489-1556)
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English
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Archbishop of Canterbury and first spiritual head of the Anglican Church. He supported King Henry VIII in his break with Rome. On Henry's death he tried to prevent the accession to the throne of Henry's Catholic daughter Mary, which led to his burning at the stake.
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1
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|
Crazy Horse
|
(c.1842-1877)
|
American Indian
|
Oglala Sioux chief. He defeated and killed Custer at the Little Bighorn.
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1
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Cremer, Sir Randal
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(1838-1908)
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|
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1
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Croesus
|
(?-c.546 BCE)
|
Lydian
|
King. A symbol of wealth, he overreached and fell.
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1
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|
Cromwell, Oliver
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(1599-1658)
|
English
|
Puritan leader. He led the parliamentary forces that overthrew and executed Charles I and then created a theocratic commonwealth which lasted until shortly after his death and which banned many traditional British games, pastimes, and festivals.
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3
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|
Cromwell, Thomas
|
(c.1485-1540)
|
English
|
Minister of state. He supported and assisted Henry VIII in divorcing his wife, breaking from Rome, setting up an Anglican Church, seizing ecclesiastical lands, and expelling the monks, but eventually fell from favor and was executed.
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1
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|
Crosby, Fanny
|
(1820-1915)
|
American
|
Composer of hymns. She was blind, but nevertheless composed many favorite hymns.
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1
|
|
Cudworth, Ralph
|
(1617-1688)
|
English
|
A leader of the Cambridge Platonists, he argued that our sense of right and wrong was innate, not something that society instilled in us as Hobbes thought.
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1
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|
Cumberland, Richard
|
(1631-1718)
|
English
|
An ally of the Cambridge Platonists, he also argued that our sense of right and wrong was innate, not foisted on us by society, that it was rational and reflected natural law, and that we could not really help ourselves by hurting others. In this last point, he laid the groundwork for utilitarianism.
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3
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|
Curley, James
|
(1874-1958)
|
American
|
Corrupt politician. His antics gave the Boston Irish a bad name and he was jailed for bribery.
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1
|
|
Curnonsky
|
(1872-1956)
|
|
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1
|
|
Curzon, George
|
(1859-1925)
|
English
|
Politician and aristocrat. He said (watching the troops bathe) that he had no idea the lower orders had such white skin.
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1
|
|
Cyprian, St.
|
(c.200-58)
|
|
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1
|
|
Cyril of Alexandria
|
(376-444)
|
|
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1
|
|
Cyril of Jerusalem, St
|
(c.315-86)
|
|
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1
|
|
Cyrus II (The Great)
|
(?-529 BC)
|
Persian
|
King. He founded the Persian Empire. When King Croesus attacked him, he defeated him, but magnanimously spared his life and permitted him to live in comfort. As part of his policy of religious tolerance, he also ended the Babylonian captivity of the Jews and allowed them to reestablish their religion in Jerusalem.
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1
|
|
Dalai Lama (Gyatso, Tenzin)
|
(1935- )
|
Chinese
|
Buddhist Lama (religious leader and teacher). After his selection as Dalai Lama during infancy, he became the ruler as well as the spiritual leader of Tibet. The Chinese invasion and annexation of his country led to his escape to India where he formed a government in exile and gradually emerged as one of the chief spiritual figures of the world. Through his books, speeches, talks, and travel, he has taught and he also became a shining example of forgiveness, compassion, unselfishness, and humility.
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3
|
|
Daly, Mary
|
(1928- )
|
American
|
Feminist and thinker. Her book, Beyond God the Father, represented her attempt to separate Christianity from its paternalist roots.
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1
|
|
Damasus I, St
|
(c.304-384)
|
|
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1
|
|
Damien, Father Joseph
|
(1840-1889)
|
Belgian
|
Priest. He worked among lepers on Molokai, in Hawaii, caught the disease but persevered in his mission of mercy as long as he could and then died.
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1
|
|
Damocles
|
(4th-c BCE)
|
Greek
|
Courtier of Dionysius. He learned that power and wealth bring insecurity and fear.
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1
|
|
Damon and Pythias
|
(4th-c BCE)
|
Greeks
|
They became exemplars of loyal friendship.
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1
|
|
Dane, Nathan
|
(1752-1835)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Daniel, Arnaut
|
(late 12th-c)
|
French
|
Troubadour to Richard the Lion-hearted. His songs of chivalry and love were much prized.
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1
|
|
Dante
|
(1265-1321)
|
|
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1
|
|
Danton, Georges
|
(1759-1794)
|
French
|
Revolutionary leader. He eventually tried to rein in the Terror, but was executed.
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1
|
|
Darius I
|
(548-486 BCE)
|
Persian
|
King. He was noted for religious tolerance.
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1
|
|
Darrow, Clarence
|
(1857-1938)
|
American
|
Trial lawyer. A powerful speaker, he defended radical ideas and unpopular clients with zeal. In the famous Scopes case, he ridiculed presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan's belief that every word in the Bible was literally true. His client was convicted of teaching Darwinian ideas of evolution in opposition to Tennessee state law, but Darrow and Scopes were thought to have won the battle for public opinion. In addition to his work in court, Darrow was an interesting writer and radical social thinker.
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2
|
|
Darwin, Charles
|
(1809-82)
|
|
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1
|
|
Daumier, Honore
|
(1808-1879)
|
French
|
Painter and caricaturist. He got in trouble for ridiculing official corruption.
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1
|
|
Daurat or Dorat, Jean
|
(c.1510-1588)
|
|
|
1
|
|
David
|
(?-c.962 BC)
|
|
King of Israel. In his battle with the Jewish giant Goliath, he exemplified youthful daring and courage. In his lust for the beautiful married woman, Bathsheba, he exemplified human weakness.
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2
|
|
David
|
(?-c.962 BC)
|
|
King. In his battle with the Jewish giant Goliath, he exemplified youthful daring and courage. In his lust for the beautiful married woman, Bathsheba, he exemplified human weakness.
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2
|
|
David, Elizabeth
|
(1913-1992)
|
|
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1
|
|
David-Neel, Alexandra
|
(1868-1969)
|
French
|
Student of oriental cultures and languages. She traveled and studied widely, in 1934 arrived in the mysterious mountain land of Tibet, and spent a decade there.
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1
|
|
Davidson, Donald
|
(1917- )
|
|
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1
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|
Davies, Christian (Mother Ross)
|
(1667-1739)
|
Irish
|
Soldier. Searching for her husband in Europe, she pretended to be a man, joined the British army, and fought in the battle of Blenheim.
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1
|
|
Davies, Paul
|
(1946- )
|
English
|
Physicist. He won the Templeton Prize for his efforts to integrate religion and science.
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1
|
|
Davies, Sarah
|
(1830-1921)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Davis, Bette
|
(1908-1989)
|
American
|
Actress. She became a symbol of ambition and passion.
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1
|
|
Davis, Jefferson
|
(1808-1889)
|
American
|
President of the Confederacy. He led the "Lost Cause."
|
1
|
|
Davison, Emily
|
(1872-1913)
|
|
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1
|
|
Dawkins, Richard
|
(1941- )
|
|
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1
|
|
Day, Dorothy
|
(1897-1980)
|
American
|
Writer and social reformer. Founder, Catholic Worker Movement. She worked tirelessly for her vision of what the Catholic Church should be, for the poor and homeless, for others in need, for social justice, peace, and political reform.
|
3
|
|
Dayan, Moshe
|
(1915-1981)
|
Israeli
|
General and politician. He became another symbol of the "tough" man.
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1
|
|
de Beauvoir, Simone
|
(1908-1986)
|
|
|
1
|
|
de Bono, Edward
|
(1933- )
|
|
|
1
|
|
de Gaulle, Charles
|
(1890-1970)
|
|
|
1
|
|
De Havilland, Olivia
|
(1916- )
|
British-American
|
Actress. She became an exemplar of "purity" and "goodness," especially in her portrayal of the Southern lady Melanie Wilkes in the film Gone With the Wind.
|
1
|
|
de Leon, Daniel
|
(1852-1914)
|
|
|
1
|
|
de Man, Paul
|
(1919-1983)
|
Belgian-American
|
Critic. He was a leading exponent of what came to be called deconstructionism, in which a text is "deconstructed" in order to reveal its inner meaning.
|
1
|
|
Dean, James
|
(1931-1955)
|
American
|
Actor. He became a symbol of youthful rebellion.
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1
|
|
Debray, Regis
|
(1941- )
|
French
|
Marxist intellectual. He served as a kind of aide to and theoretician for the romantic Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara.
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1
|
|
Debrett, John
|
(c.1750-1822)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Debs, Eugene
|
(1855-1926)
|
American
|
Political candidate. He tried to create a democratic socialism. Many of his ideas were later adopted by mainstream politicians.
|
1
|
|
Delaunay, Sonia
|
(1885-1979)
|
Ukranian
|
Painter, designer. She contributed to 20th century modernism.
|
1
|
|
Delescluze, Charles
|
(1809-1871)
|
French
|
Author. A determined, political reformer and revolutionary, he was jailed, transported, and eventually died fighting in the Paris Commune uprising.
|
1
|
|
Democritus
|
(c.460-370 Bc)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Democritus
|
(c.460-370 BC)
|
Greek
|
Philosopher. He is especially known for a theory of atoms, an idea that affects how we think about and value our place in the world.
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1
|
|
Demosthenes
|
(c.383-322 BCE)
|
Greek
|
Orator. He was the most famous of the ancient Greek orators and relentlessly opposed Philip II of Macedon. In the end, he had to commit suicide.
|
3
|
|
Demosthenes
|
(c.383-322 BCE)
|
Greek
|
The leading orator of ancient world and foe of Macedonian tyranny.
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1
|
|
Denck, Hans
|
(c.1495-c.1527)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Deng Xiaoping
|
(1904-1997 )
|
Chinese
|
Chinese Communist Party Head. He did not favor the romantic, revolutionary, and utopian Communism of Mao Zedong, which led to his fall from power in 1966. Eight years later, however, he returned and led China onto a path of state-led capitalism.
|
1
|
|
Derrida, Jacques
|
(1930-2004 )
|
French
|
Critic. He launched the style of criticism he called deconstructionism, in which a text is "deconstructed" in order to reveal its true meaning. On the other hand, deconstructionists like Derrida wrote in such an opaque style that it was often hard to follow their argument.
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1
|
|
Descartes, Rene
|
(1596-1650)
|
French
|
Philosopher. He made many contributions to science and especially mathematics, but is best known for his so-called rationalist approach, that is his reliance on logic to think through problems, including problems of valuation.
|
3
|
|
Dewey, John
|
(1859-1952)
|
American
|
Philosopher. He emphasized experience, and thought that the evidence gained from experience was the best source of personal values. He also espoused what came to be called progressive education, in which each student was treated as an individual, conformism was not a goal, and discipline was replaced, as much as possible, with efforts to instill self-motivation and direction.
|
3
|
|
Diaghilev, Sergei
|
(1872-1929)
|
Russian
|
Ballet impresario. He was a legendary exemplar of high culture, of modernism, and of bohemianism.
Founder of Ballets Russes. His dance company burst onto Europe after World War I and had an enormous impact on dance, music, and art. He was a leading modernist, merged Bohemia with high society, and was himself almost as theatrical as his productions.
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2
|
|
Dickens, Charles
|
(1812-1870)
|
|
|
2
|
|
Dickinson, Emily
|
(1830-1886)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Diderot, Denis
|
(1713-1784)
|
|
|
3
|
|
Dietrich, Marlene
|
(1904-1992)
|
German
|
Actress. She became a symbol of female sensuality.
|
1
|
|
Dilthey, Wilhelm
|
(1833-1911)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Ding Ling
|
(1904-1986)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Diogenes of Sinope
|
(c.410-c.320 BCE)
|
|
|
3
|
|
Dionysius the Younger
|
(c.397-? BCE)
|
Greek
|
Tyrant of Syracuse. Trained by Plato to be an ideal ruler, he proved a great disappointment.
|
1
|
|
Disney, Walt
|
(1901-1966)
|
American
|
A talented businessman, but also an artist and film producer, Disney created a new world of fantasy through animation, and came to exemplify the magical imagination of childhood.
|
2
|
|
Disraeli, Benjamin
|
(1804-1881)
|
English
|
Prime minister. Although Jewish, his parents converted to Anglicanism, which made their son's political career possible. Disraeli was something of a dandy in his youth, and wrote popular novels, but he became the leader of conservative "old England," the friend of dukes and earls. He said he married (an older woman) for money but would have remarried her for love.
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2
|
|
Dix, Dorothea
|
(1802-87)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Doe, Samuel
|
(1951-1990)
|
Liberian
|
Soldier and president. He lead a revolution against the Liberian ruling class, people descended from American slaves, and shot many of them in scenes of indescribable carnage on the beach. Later he was himself killed.
|
1
|
|
Dolci, Danilo
|
(1925- )
|
|
|
1
|
|
Dollinger, Johann
|
(1799-1890)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Donatus Magnus
|
(?-c.355)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Donizetti, Gaetano
|
(1797-1848)
|
Italian
|
Composer. He was a master of bel canto melodramas.
|
2
|
|
Donne,John
|
(?1572-1631)
|
|
|
2
|
|
Dostoevsky, Fyodor
|
(1821-1881)
|
|
|
2
|
|
Douglas, Lord Alfred
|
(1870-1945)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Douglas, William
|
(1898-1980)
|
American
|
Judge. He was appointed by Franklin Roosevelt as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, then to the Supreme Court, where he was regarded as a fervent Rooseveltian "liberal." Later he was also known as a defender of civil liberties, of civil rights, and of the environment.
|
1
|
|
Douglas,Norman
|
( )
|
|
|
2
|
|
Douglas-Hamilton, Iain
|
(1944- )
|
English
|
Biologist. He lived in Kenya, studied wild elephants, publicized their slaughter for ivory, and helped promote a ban on the ivory trade.
|
1
|
|