FAMOUS REVOLUTIONARIES OF HISTORY

LORD BYRON

George Gordon Byron was an Anglo-Scottish poet who was forced

to leave his country due to mounting debt and relationship

scandals. He never returned to England and eventually ended

up getting involved in the Greek War of Independence

against the Ottoman Empire. Today he is regarded as a

national hero in Greece.

GEORGE WASHINGTON

An American general during the Revolutionary War, George

Washington went on to become president of the new nation.

NELSON MANDELA

A South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, Nelson Mandela

eventually became President of the country and oversaw

efforts to dismantle the system of institutionalized

racism that had dominated for so long.

THOMAS PAINE

Born in Britain, Thomas emigrated to the colonies just in time

for the Revolution. His pamphlet Common Sense was critical

in inspiring the colonists to fight for independence.

John Adams said “Without the pen of the author of 

Common Sense, the sword of Washington would have

been raised in vain.”

FRANCISCO MADERO

Francisco challenged Mexican president Porfirio Diaz for

presidency in 1910 and played an instrumental role in

sparking the Mexican Revolution.

KARL MARX

Many of the revolutionaries and thinkers on this list would

base their philosophies and ideologies on a foundation of

Marxism. Without Karl, the world would be a different

place today, for better or for worse.

MUAMMAR GADDAFI

Although the end of his life was less than enviable, Muammar

began as a Libyan revolutionary who took power in a coup

d’état. A controversial leader, he oversaw sweeping

changes in the nation both politically and economically.

MAO ZEDONG

A Chinese communist revolutionary, his ideas are

collectively known as Marxism-Leninism-Maoism. Some have

considered him an anti-imperialist hero while others have

labelled him a brutal dictator. Either way though, he left his

mark on the 20th century.