Economist. He served as president of the American Economic Association, wrote best-selling books, and was appointed by President Kennedy to be ambassador to India. But events largely overtook his principal economic thesis, laid out in the 1950's and 1960's, that American businesses had developed into vast monopolies that were invulnerable to competition.
Astronomer. He used a new telescope of his own design to confirm and expand on Copernicus's theory that the earth was a satellite of the sun, not the center of the solar system or universe. This led to conflict with the Roman Catholic Church, a forced recantation, and continuing imprisonment.
Researcher and teacher. He helped the deaf and especially deaf-mutes.
Spiritual and political leader. He grounded the Indian independence movement on the principle of Satyagraha, which incorporated the search for the truth (satya), humility, pacifist or non-violent methods of struggle and resistance, and personal self-sacrifice for ideals greater than ourselves.
Gandhi was very complicated, and his life involves paradoxes, such as the virtual abandonment of his wife and children.
Philosopher. He was an important thinker and logician, and contributed to the Nyaya and Vaisesika schools of Hindu thought.
Film actress. She epitomized beauty, mystery, and reclusiveness.
Revolutionary, military leader. With Cavour, he founded an independent Italy.
Actress, singer. She seemed to embody vulnerability.
He broke with President Franklin Roosevelt whom he considered too radical. He also memorably said that the vice-presidency was not worth a bucket of warm piss.
A keeper of law and order.
Actor, theatre manager, and playwright. Famous as an actor, then theater owner, he came to epitomize the English stage.
Philosopher. He defended the empirical position, requiring close observation and experiment, against the "rationalists" (logicians) and thus helped to develop modern science.
Computer software entrepreneur, the richest person in the world. He started his computer software company on a shoestring and came to exemplify entrepreneurship.