Historical Figures Essay Examples and Topics

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469 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!

468 Best Essay Examples on Historical Figures

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The Journals of Captain Cook” James Cook

The journals reveal "the determination, courage, and skills which enabled Cook to fight with the continuous dangers of uncharted seas and the problems of achieving a relationship with the people whose unexpected guest he became".
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 557

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

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

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

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

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

James Dyson and His Success as an Entrepreneur

The bag that was supposed to act as a catcher for all the dust that the vacuum sucked up kept on getting clogged up with dust making it necessary to stop the vacuum every once [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1119

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Was Christopher Columbus an Imperialist?

The travel narratives of Christopher Columbus were given in the Letter and Journal of Columbus. The Letter by Columbus was addressed to his mentors namely Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, is not just a narrative [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1361

The Life of Christopher Columbus

He was much fascinated with Marco Polo who had managed to travel across Europe to India in reaching the far East, and it was in this context that the idea was born in him to [...]
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1660

The Elusive Jack the Ripper: A Hero or Villain?

Sometimes he is fictionalized in films and literature that people of the present age who have not known the real history behind the fiction believe that Jack the Ripper is just a figment of a [...]
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2259

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

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

Mother Teresa: A Catholic Nun and a Missionary

Her life and work serve as living proof of the ability of love, empathy, and kindness to make the world a better place for everybody. The conditions of Mother Teresa's life and ministry were among [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 705

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.
  • 5
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1125

The Evolution of the American Hero

American culture has numerous characteristics, and the definition of a true hero is one of those aspects that have to be developed both from inside and outside of society; the evolution of the American heroic [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1141

Life of a Music Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

The seventh child, and the second to survive, Mozart was born on January 27, 1756 to a family of gifted practicing musicians: his father, Leopold Mozart served as a violinist and composer in the Kapelle [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1154

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

Jeff Bezos: The Richest Man in Modern History

I have read his biography by Ann Byers and the three online articles about the influence of his business on the world. Later, Bezos joined the team of the Banker's Trust, quickly rising to the [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 823

Genghis Khan: Style of Leadership

By the time of Genghis Khan's death in 1227, Mongol Empire was stretching from the easternmost shores of China to the Caspian Sea.
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 3104

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

Mao Zedong: Oppressor of China

The destiny of the country was about to change after the end of the Chinese Civil War and the establishment of the People's Republic of China by Mao Zedong.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 606

Mao Zedong’s Rise to Power

They give preference to qualitative data that allows the reader to understand the opinions of Mao and his opponents. In my view, David Apter and Tony Saich were able to capture the essence of Mao [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1111

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

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

William Bradford’s personality

In his childhood, Bradford had to endure the loss of several of his close family members. The success he had in the leadership position was largely due to his resolute personality.
  • 5
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 561

Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the influence of Fidel Castro 53 years rule and the impact of the 1959 Cuban revolution to the modern day Cuba Republic.
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1531

Hatshepsut: Egypt’s Female Pharaoh

However, the reign of Hatshepsut, one of the most potent and outstanding Egyptian women, contributes to a better understanding of gender and the role of women in the state.
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1898

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

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

Rafa al-Nasiri: Painter Biography

Due to his creativity and unusual vision, the artist managed to renown the traditional use of Arabic calligraphy and contributed to its increased recognition in the world.
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1953

James E. Burke as a Leader

The first of the lessons that comes overwhelmingly is his commitment to ethics, even in the course of business. Through his responsible handling of the two Tylenol capsule poisoning crises the profitability of the company [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 949

Caesar Augustus – The First Roman Emperor

In 43 BC Augustus went for war together with consuls Hirtius and Pansa against Anthony, he managed to defeat Anthony army, however he lost both of the consuls leaving him in full command of the [...]
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1548

Henry II of England, His Life and Work

Furthermore, there was another nickname that Henry II was known with as "The lion of Justice" this nickname was given to Henry I who was the grandfather of Henry II.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1100

Albert Einstein, His Life and Career

Newton was one of the key pioneers in the transition from astrology to astronomy and he formulated scientific laws that assisted scientists and ordinary people to understand the intricacies of planetary motions and how objects [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1152

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

The Life and Work of André Rieu

The paper discusses the life of violinist called Andre Rieu with interest laid on the effects he had in the world and people, qualities of his life and the difficulties he encountered in his life.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1220

“Long Walk to Freedom” by Nelson Mandela

In the fast developing world, advances and progress move countries and nations forward but at the same time, some things are left behind and become a burden for the people and evolution to better life [...]
  • 5
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 587

Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress

Mandela as well as many other Africans was in favor of the major goals of the organization. 2 The organization was very close to African people as it was formed by Africans and for Africans.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 566

Last Night I dreamed of Peace

She also makes her decision to move to South Vietnam because of her spirited heart of humanity and love and long for an end of the war and the sufferings and pains subjected to the [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1054

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

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

Omar Khayyam: Life and Contributions

Later on, he shifted to Bukhara where he got his accreditation in the field of mathematics as well astronomy based in medieval principles.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 794

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

The Life of Benjamin Franklin

His government duty as a diplomatic official and an ambassador led to the establishment of the American constitution and American flag and currency, which was unique among all the nations.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 567

“My Grandfather’s Son” by Clarence Thomas: A Memoir

Clarence Thomas book, My Grandfather's Son explores his biography in terms of his childhood, life achievements and also his misfortunes in life. The absent of a father figure in their lives contributed to the grandfather [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 918

The Renaissance Era: People and Events

Among the changes realized at the time was the restoration of pope as the head of the church in England. The battle of Agincourt was a war fought between the English and the French in [...]
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 2023
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