Famous Historical Figures with Surprising Secrets

Famous Historical Figures with Surprising Secrets

Uncover the hidden lives of 10 famous historical figures with surprising secrets that you never learned in school. From hidden talents to shocking truths, these stories unveil another side of history.

To start

When we consider famous historical figures, generally, we remember their accomplishments, victories, or legendary stories. However, within history lies many unexpected secrets that show the human part of these larger-than-life humans. Within history floats unsettling truths behind secret hobbies or potential scandals that can shape not just history, but how we see history.

The following article will look at 10 historical figures with startling secrets that you probably did not learn in school. Not left out are the "fun facts" that add history's nature to be not all dates and events, but as much, people capable of complexity, as anyone alive today.

1. Albert Einstein - The Musician at Heart

We all know Albert Einstein as the genius behind the theory of relativity. But what many people don't know is that Einstein had a real passion for music. He often said that he would have become a musician if he had not been a physicist.

Einstein's violin that he affectionately named Lina, was by his side constantly. Playing the violin was not just a pastime. It was his way to unwind, and it was where Einstein would seek inspiration for his scientific ideas. His surprising secret demonstrates that creativity in science and art often go together.

2. Cleopatra - Not Just a Pretty Face

Historians capture Cleopatra VII, the last in a long line of rulers of Egypt's Ptolemaic dynasty, as a woman of extraordinary beauty because of her legendary romances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. However, her greatest strength was her intelligence and politics.

When we study the historical accounts of Cleopatra, she was recorded as proficient in up to nine languages, including Egyptian, Greek and Latin, which made her one of the most highly educated rulers in history. Her surprising secret was that she used diplomacy and intelligence, not only her

beauty, to defend Egypt's independence for as long as possible.

3. Abraham Lincoln – An Experienced Wrestler

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is best known for his leadership as the country endured the Civil War and for the abolition of slavery. However, his little-known secret is his superior talent in wrestling.

Lincoln was known in his community for being an exceptionally strong wrestler. Before Lincoln was President, he was reputed to be a strong and powerful wrestler and was known to rarely lose a match. Lincoln was famously inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame centuries after he passed. This secret side of Lincoln provides some insight to his perseverance and his determination even outside of politics.

4. Leonardo da Vinci - Secret Scientific Notes

Leonardo da Vinci is often recognized for painting masterpieces such as The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. What many do not realize, and perhaps even his greatest surprise, are his notebooks.

His notebooks, which were all written in mirror script (upside-down handwriting), contained descriptions of inventions, anatomy, flight, and even robots. Many of his designs were hundreds of years way ahead of his day. His secret genius was hid in those pages showing that Leonardo was more than just an artist, he was also a prophetic scientist and engineer.

5. Winston Churchill - A Nobel Prizewinner in Literature

Most people know Winston Churchill as the Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War II, a man known for his speeches, and stern leadership. An interesting, and perhaps surprising fact is that Churchill won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953.

He was an accomplished writer having written dozens of books, including multiple volume histories. His ability to use words effectively was useful during the war, and he even received recognition as a serious writer.

6. Napoleon Bonaparte - Ailurophobia

Napoleon Bonaparte, the French military strategist who created an empire over much of Europe, was feared by many. His surprising secret was that he was afflicted by ailurophobia, or a fear of cats.

Many historians debate whether this was true or a myth, but there is enough evidence to support the idea that he was unsettled by cats. The thought of someone so powerful and historically significant being frightened by such small animals makes him seem more human and relatable.

7. Queen Victoria – A Fashion Trendsetter

Queen Victoria is often remembered for the strict, conservative values of the Victorian period. However, she had an unexpected, but secret influence on fashion.

When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840 she wore a white wedding dress, something that was unconventional at that time. Her decision caused white dresses to become a trend and today, white has become the traditional color for weddings across the globe. To her surprise, Queen Victoria started a tradition that remains to this day.

8. George Washington – A Master of Espionage

The first president of the United States, George Washington, is remembered as the leader of the American Revolution, but his surprising secret was that he set up one of the most effective spy networks of the 18th century.

Washington established the Culper Spy Ring which allowed him to outsmart the British. This part of Washington shows us not only was he a military leader, but he also was good at espionage in the form of intelligence gathering.

9. Nikola Tesla - Obsessive Habits

Nikola Tesla, the inventor who invented alternating current (AC) electricity, had many idiosyncrasies. His surprising secrets included an obsession with the number 3, and would often repeat tasks three times.He also despised pearls and would not speak to any woman wearing pearls. While his quirks may sound a bit strange, these foibles illustrate the rich personality of a man who changed the world of technology through the brilliance of his mind.

10. Marie Antoinette - Not the Let Them Eat Cake quote

To this day, Marie Antonette, the French queen, is blamed as the likely source of the infamous "Let them eat cake" quote during a time of famine in France. Historians openly acknowledge Marie Antonette never actually uttered those words.

The shocking secret is this quote is most likely a fallacy that came decades after her death - likely as a political propaganda piece. While Marie Antonette indeed lived a lavish life, the legend painted her as uncaring - when indeed, nothing in the history we hold suggests that at all. More importantly, however, the truth exposes just how easily history is swayed by rumor.

Conclusion

These historic figures were more than the images we see in the history books. They had passions, fears, sometimes hidden skills, and sometimes myths. Their secrets can be surprising and if anything, remind us that history is never simply events - it is real people with emotions, strengths, and weaknesses.

Discovering those hidden histories provides much richness to our understanding of the past and helps us appreciate that sometimes great leaders, thinkers, and inventors had unexpected sides to their life.