Historical Figures Essay Examples and Topics

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455 samples

Tips for Writing a Historical Figures Essay

If you’re working on a paper about a famous historical figure who inspires you, essay writing should start with thorough research. Conduct a study on this person’s biography with a focus on them and their life. Make sure you not only cover their life but also evaluate it, demonstrating your understanding of the historical figure essay format.

And keep in mind these few tricks below! They will help you achieve better structure and give you more ideas for your inspirational people and historical figures essay.

Tip #1

When writing essays on biographical studies, you should be using many types of sources.

This requirement means that your paper should reference books, autobiographical evidence, and maybe even paintings and voice recordings. Having supporting information on the history of the period that you are studying is also essential.

Tip #2

Sources of a personal nature, such as a person’s letters, memoirs, and diaries, are valuable, and you should use them in your essay. However, you must also be aware that they may be biased, portraying the person writing them in a much better light.

Do not be afraid to be critical of what you read and, if other trusted authors support your concerns, voice them in your essay. An excellent example of a biography essay is one that does not mindlessly praise their subject.

Tip #3

Covering biographical studies topics requires using sources that may give your subject a negative evaluation. Having titles in your bibliography that oppose the character you are writing about makes your essay well rounded and comprehensive.

Taking the many personalities of the female suffrage movement in the USA as a sample topic, you could use books on both sides of the votes for women argument.

Find more ideas for writing better essays on Biographical Studies on our website!

454 Best Essay Examples on Historical Figures

Michael Jackson: His Life and Career

His father was a guitarist and he wanted his children to succeed in the music industry that served as an inspiration to the young Michael.
  • 5
  • Pages: 11
  • Words: 2773

Leonardo Da Vinci

The other great work by Leonardo is the Mona Lisa, which he painted in the 1500s, and it is arguably one of the most famous paintings in the world to date.
  • 3.3
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1355

Napoleon: A Child and Destroyer of the Revolution

The fathers of the revolution wanted to make the people free by destroying the "absolute monarchy" in the country. Napoleon supported the same idea by established new policies to safeguard the needs of the people."He [...]
  • 3.6
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 594

“Women’s Rights Are Human Rights” by Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton's speech about women's rights effectively convinces her audience that women rights are an indispensable part of human rights through the use of logical argument, repetition, historical facts, and emotional stories.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1084

Cleopatra and Her Influence on the Ptolemaic Dynasty

C and he left the will that he allowed Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII, her younger brother, to rule the kingdom and Cleopatra was directed to wed her brother and deputy ruler because of the Egyptians' [...]
  • 2.8
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1456

Khalid Ibn Al Walid

He was a wealthy chief of one of the villages in Makkah and a trader of the Bani Makhzum clan which was among the three noblest and leading clans of the Quraish People.
  • 5
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1551

Moshweshewe: Letter to Sir George Grey

The letter provided for the discussion was written in 1858 by Moshweshewe to Sir George High Commissioner of the Cape Colony to gain British mediation and support to dissolve the territorial contradictions with Boers.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 665

Sonni Ali: The King of the Songhai Empire

Madogo, an influential army boss and the Gao's Tenth si, protected and supervised the growth of Ali and showcased to him how to use the incantation power when he attained an age to be referred [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 952

Martin Luther King Jr. vs. Nelson Mandela

Letter from Birmingham jail was directed to the people and the eight white clergy members in Birmingham who condemned the actions of Martin Luther in public.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 580

Mahatma Gandhi’s Leadership

This report is an analysis of the behaviour and leadership style of Ghandi, the transactional and transformative aspects of his leadership and the way he used the power he had to help India gain Independence.
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 2039

Isaac Newton, Mathematician and Scientist

Through his private studies Newton was able to discover numerous theories the primary ones being calculus, optics, the foundation of the theory of light and color, and the law of gravitation.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1161

The Probable Cause of Marilyn Monroe’s Death

She had many lovers, many admirers, she associated with the rich and powerful, but in the end, she was so emotionally and psychologically troubled that when she died in 1962, with bottles of drugs beside [...]
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1916

Role Model: Nelson Mandela

Through the African National Congress party, Mandela was determined to undergo any form of suffering for the sake of the South Africans blacks who were facing a lot of suffering at the hand of apartheid.
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1652

Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth is credited for various reforms that she advocated and pushed for while she was still active and in various positions she was able to secure in the course of her life.
  • 4.3
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1377

Fidel Castro: The Cult of Personality

Castro is a popular personality whose leadership adds greatly to the popularity of the Communist Party of Cuba in that he has helped maintain the party in power for half a century and has quelled [...]
  • Pages: 9
  • Words: 2367

Pablo Escobar Is a Robin Hood or a Villain

Specifically, the paper focuses on Pablo Escobar as a noble bandit who retaliates against the Colombian and American government through his involvement in the trafficking of cocaine and how he uses his wealth to benefit [...]
  • Pages: 15
  • Words: 3536

Julius Caesar an Iconic Roman

This was highly unexpected, as Caesar, a declared dictator, had the support of all the people of Rome, and his death resulted in administrative imbalances.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1507

Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Legacy

In the background of this pressure Alexander took up his campaign to Persia, conquering the people of the country and then taking their wealth and the surviving soldiers to his empire.
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1883

The Egyptian Pharaoh vs. US President Comparison

The Pharaoh was each temple's high priest in Egypt and was the earthly representative of the Egyptian gods. The President is the head of State and does not meddle in Church/ religious affairs.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 658

Joseph Haydn’s Contract With the Esterhazy Court

Joseph Haydn's contract for work at the Esterhazy Court is a distinctive document that needs to be preserved because it explains the authorities' attitudes to the music and composers in the eighteenth century.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 405

Johannes Junius: Accusation of Witchcraft

The document is about the interrogation of Johannes Junius who was accused of witchcraft during the craze of 1628. He then requested to confront his witnesses and continued to deny his involvement in witchcraft after [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 603

Heroes – Nelson Mandela

Instead, Mandela chose to remain behind the bars for the rest of his life and by putting his feet down in defense of his people's rights, his long struggle would finally grant South Africans their [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 786

Carl Friedrich Gauss: The Greatest Mathematician

According to Jeremy John, Gauss' teachers and parents recommended him to the Duke of Burnswick in 1791, who financially helped him to continue his education locally and further at the University of Gottingen from 1795 [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1262

Friederich Engels: Industrial Manchester, 1844

Instead of the glory and success of industrialization, Engels focused on its dark side and the price the population had to pay."Industrial Manchester" is an excerpt from Engels's book The Condition of the Working Class [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1131

Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson Comparison

The two presidents managed to contribute to the development of the country in different ways. However, both of them managed to contribute greatly to the development of the USA and its empowerment.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 295

The Life and Legacy of John Wesley

Wesley was not like any other minister of the gospel but he was a courageous and spirit-filled minister of the gospel who preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, impacting millions of people.
  • 4
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1769

Angelina Jolie, Her Life and Behavior

Since the two separated when the actress was still a youth and the mother decided to migrate to New York and stay with her, she learnt a lot from her mother about relationships and it [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1513

Who was Pedro Calosa?

This Church was also referred to as the church of poor Filipinos as well as the oppressed. The revolt was known as Tayug Colorum and deplored the feudal system for poor land tenure without success.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 303

Mandela’s Leadership

He used his power to better the lives of the public in South Africa and set an example of selfless leadership.
  • 3.7
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 2108

Ned Kelly as an Iconic Figure

The life of Ned Kelly continuously attracts the attention of Australian historians, anthropologists and even sociologists, because to a large extent, this person has become a part of the national culture.
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2300

Napoleon: Leadership Style

The extremely high level of fragmentation peculiar to Europe at that era and the absence of the single perspective on France and its growing power provided him with the time needed to create a powerful [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 554

Bill Gates: Life and Contributions

To have a clear indication of what the other part of the world needed, the couple toured Africa in 1995, and they resolved to donate part of their wealth to help the poor Africans.
  • 5
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2253

Historical Interview with William Shakespeare

Shakespeare: Well, I assume you have watched the play and if you have not I would request that you do for you to understand the meaning of these words within their context.
  • 3
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1431

The Rise of Hitler to Power

It was this paramilitary formed by Hitler that would cause unrest later to tarnish the name of the communists leading to distrust of communism by the Germans and on the other hand rise of popularity [...]
  • 3.3
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1680

How Hitler Compares to Stalin

Initially the post of General Secretary was not so powerful in the party; however, following the death Vladimir Lenin who had led the communist party from 1917, Stalin strengthened the opposition by eliminating opposition within [...]
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1940

Hitler: A Study in Tyranny by Alan Bullock

The subject of the book under study is the historic personality of Adolf Hitler, the person who managed to change the flow of the European history of the twentieth century, the person who caused the [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1399

Malcolm X and Frederick Douglass’ Comparison

He was challenged in the area of writing and was incapacitated without the skill and ability to write letters to Mr. He was then to be imprisoned, and inside the four walls of the prison, [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1488

Stephen Hawking: A Prominent Scientist

This paper describes the life of Stephen Hawking and his most important works. During his university studies, he was diagnosed with ALS a disease that made him lose the ability to move and speak in [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 435

Napoleon Bonaparte and Its Revolutions

In fact, by the time of his death, napoleon had acquired vast wealth due to his own ability and by the sheer luck of being in the right place at the right time.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 965

Thomas More and King Henry VIII, their Relationship

His fight backs with Rome directed to the disjointing of the Church of England from pontifical influence, the disbanding of the cloisters, and setting up himself as the ultimate leader of the Church of England.
  • 5
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2369

Muhammad Ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi

Bagdad brightened the world at that time with its brilliance, and the intellectual dominance of the Arab civilization influenced the Western Europe to a great extent.
  • 1
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 329

Indira Gandhi: Autocratic Leader of India

She was assassinated in 1984 by her Sikh bodyguard in revenge for her ordering the invasion of the Golden temple, which was a Sikh holy place to flush out separists hiding in the temple.
  • 3.7
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1428

Genghis Khan and the Modern World

The main opponents of the Mongol Empire were the Naiman tribe located in the western part of Mongolia, the Merkits who were found in the northern part of Mongolia, the Tanguts found in the south [...]
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2581

Michael Jackson

Even though MJ was never proved to be a paedophile, the fact that he paid one of his 'victim' to settle the case out of court and that another man accused him of molesting him [...]
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2273

Ho Chi Minh and Deng Xiaoping, Face to Face

Analyzing the peculiarities of the negotiation style which Ho Chi Minh and Deng Xiaoping chose to rule their country, one can possibly draw certain parallels and see the similarities between the two leaders.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 585

Alfred Marshall and His Contribution to Economics

The opening sentence in the Principles of Economics is a classic definition of the subject itself: "Political economy or economics is a study of mankind in the ordinary business of life; it examines that part [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1107

The Life of Harold Cardinal

Specific attention deserves such works as The Unjust Society: The Tragedy of Canada's Indians written in 1969 and The Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian, which is also famous as the White Paper.
  • 2.3
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1118

Julius Caesar’ Desire for Power

Unfortunately with the death of Crassus by 53 BC and Caesar's subsequent rise to power this as a result eclipsed the political standing of Pompey resulting in a distinct shift in the balance of power [...]
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2535

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

Having grown in Al Anan and experienced some of the hardships in the area, Zayed was determined on protecting the environment and the livelihoods of the people.
  • Pages: 15
  • Words: 4077

Socrates: His Life, Philosophy, & Death

The Philosopher, Socrates was a Greek and he was born in the proximities of 470 B. Much of the philosophy and life of Socrates is explained by Plato in his dialogues.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 571

Toussaint Louverture: Leader of the Haitian Revolution

The Haitian Revolution, led by Toussaint Louverture, is the most comprehensive case study of revolutionary change in modern history and is widely seen as a defining moment in the history of the African diaspora.
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 2756

Odysseus Strengths and Weaknesses

He was a legendary king of Ithaca and arguably the hero in the poem called Homer. He was diplomatic and his skills came to the fore when disagreements arose in the war camps.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 568

Napoleon Bonaparte’s Role in the French Revolution

Despite the outstanding development, Napoleon stayed in the position of the second lieutenant for six years; it was not until the beginning of the French Revolution that he was able to advance his career in [...]
  • 5
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1956

Roman History: Caesar Augustus

During Augustus's reign, the Roman Empire conquered Egypt, the land along the southern bank of the Danube, the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as the territory between the Rhine and the Elbe.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 652

Joan of Arc as the National Heroine of France

The two competing groups were the Armagnacs and the Burgundians: the former were loyal to the Dauphin, the future Charles VII, who reclaimed his throne with Joan's help; the latter supported the Duke of Burgundy [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 641

Jane Cunningham Croly: Fighting for Women Rights

The problem of women inequality with men had been considered in the society and Jane Cunningham Croly was one of those who wanted to contribute to the movement, and her journalistic activity was that measure.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1353

The Life and Music of Frederic Chopin

Called "The boldest and the proudest poetic spirit of the age" by his musical contemporary Robert Schumann[1], Chopin embodied the essential ideas of the romantic period with his tragedy of losing his native land and [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1069

Albert Einstein: The Life of a Genius

During the period around the First World War, Einstein was among the individuals that were against the usage of violence in resolution of conflicts.
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 2763

Fatima bint Muhammad, the Daughter of a Prophet

Her position in Islam was reaffirmed by the Prophet who considered Fatima as one of the most significant women in Islam alongside the Pharaoh's wife Asiya, Mary the mother of Jesus, and the Prophet's wife, [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1258

Colin Powell Leadership Characteristics

During Powell's service as the Joint Chief of Staff, he was involved in the decision-making process that saw the US take part in the invasion of Panama, and the Persian Gulf War.
  • 2.8
  • Pages: 12
  • Words: 3275

Diogenes and Alexander

Many people had lived the way he did, mainly the refugees, but he did so by choice, since his teachings emphasized that people should live a natural life, he chose to teach the people by [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 779

Gloria Steinem: Political Activist and Feminist Leader

Thesis: Gloria Steinem's direct, bold, argumentative, and explicit style of conveying her ideas and values is the result of her political activism, feminist leadership, and her grandmother, Pauline Perlmutter Steinem.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 861

Researching of Mark Zuckerberg’s Creativity

The essay presents the life events of Mark Zuckerberg that demonstrate his creativity and success in his career. Later on, Zuckerberg and three of his friends, Divya, Cameron, and Tyler, collaborated to create a social [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1173

Edward Snowden: A Hero or a Traitor

As part of the discourse on Snowden's social responsibility, one of the central themes of the essay is to determine the moral background of the government's actions in collecting personal data.
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1737

Wu Zhao: The First and Only Female Emperor of China

Wu Zhao is not only a compelling historical figure to study because of her gender but also because of the circumstances that surrounded her ascendancy to the throne plus the fact that she was not [...]
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 2824

Nelson Mandela: Biography and Influences

Mandela had one big ambition in life; to make the life of black South Africans oppression- free. With such opportunities, Mandela still decided to make the most practical and life-changing application of his career.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 624

Eli Whitney Life and Influence

On the whole, he demonstrated the importance of the scientific method for the progress of the country. This is one of the reasons why the slave economy of the South was in decline at the [...]
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1680

Isocrates: Antidosis and Panathenaicus

This he does by teaching them the art and creativity of speech for the sole purpose of getting advantage over their peers. He was a proponent of multiculturalism who invited the barbarians and the Greek [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 407

Minamoto No Yoritomo: The First Shogun

According to Weston, the Civil War between the samurai clans of Minamoto and Taira in 1160 led to what the defeat of Minamoto in what was called Heiji rebellion. Japan was under the control of [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1088

The Epic of Sundiata

His role as a leader among the Mandinka people of Mali since the time when he founded the Mali Empire in the year 1230, till his sudden death in 1255 propelled him to the rank [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 769

Founding Fathers of America

He is referred to as the founding father of the nation for the role he played in fighting for independence. S constitution and in 1787, he became the head of the United States of America.
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  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1125

Julius Caesar and Rome

Julius also lost support from the Senate because he was perceived as a leader of the masses rather than the aristocrats. To some extent, Caesar was a statesman because he cared about the needs of [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1288

Self-immolation of Thich Quang Duc and Its Impact

Today, the photograph of Thich Quang Duc's death, The Burning Monk, has become a universal symbol of rebellion and the fight against injustice. His self-immolation was an act of rejection of the system and the [...]
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 325

Elon Mask: Biography and Main Virtues

Elon Musk believes that the more time a person has and the smaller his plan, the weaker progress he will achieve. Musk is admired for the many positive traits he brings to his work.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 887

Historical Figure in Social Work: Jane Addams

She had a great interest in the poor and this was motivated by her mother's generosity in Cedarville. However, being a woman, she was not sure of her role in enhancing the same.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 856

Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American Essayist

In "Power", Emerson emphasizes the significance of vital energy and the sentiment of power as a criterion of validity. In "Domestic Life" Emerson outlines the philosophical concept of a house and his thoughts on hospitality.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1451

Bayard Rustin: Change and Civil Rights Fighter

The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the life and experience of the social justice leader and a nonviolent protest organizer Bayard Rustin and demonstrate how the pivotal moments of his life can illuminate [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 930

Cleopatra – The Queen of Egypt

The queen wanted the assistance of Caesar, and thus she found a way of going to the Regal citadel to speak to Caesar and request for her cause for action.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1137

Karl Marx: A Hero or a Villain?

Therefore, claiming that Marx as a villain who produced the concept of Communism would be a significant overstatement, as well as a fundamental misunderstanding of Marx's theories and intentions.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 574

Cornell McBride Sr.’s Biography

Hence, the essay elaborates on the biography and milestones in Cornell McBride, Sr's career as a Black entrepreneur in the haircare industry.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 580

Ali ibn Abi Talib Biography

This paper describes the Ali ibn Abi Talib, the Fourth Caliph of the Muslims, History of his life, the way he think, his battles, accomplishments and how did he die.
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 282
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