IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN HISTORY WHO WERE DRASTICALLY UNDERRATED

GRACE HOPPER

She invented the compiler, coined the term debugging and was

one of the highest ranking females in US military history.

PATRICK VINCENT COLEMAN

Patrick was a train dispatcher in Nova Scotia when two ships

collided in the Halifax Port (1917). One of the ships was carrying

munitions and lit on fire. Patrick stayed at his post to warn

oncoming trains and died in the resulting explosion. His final

message was “Hold up the train. Ammunition ship afire in

harbour making for Pier 6 and will explode. Guess this will be

my last message. Good-bye boys.”

CLAIR CAMERON PATTERSON

He campaigned against lead poisoning and played a lead role

in getting lead banned as a fuel additive.

LARRY TESLER

He basically invented copy/paste.

IGNAZ SEMMELWEIS

A Hungarian physician, he discovered that hand washing in

maternity wards decreased mortality by nearly 90%.

MAURICE HILLEMAN

An American microbiologist, Maurice developed 8 of the

14 vaccine that are currently recommended. Specifically those

for measles, mumps, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, chickenpox,

meningitis, pneumonia and Haemophilus influenza bacteria.

RICK RESCORLA

A retired US military officer who was working security at the

World Trade Centre, he anticipated the attacks and implemented

escape plans. Many people survived because of his plans but

Rick himself died while helping people get out of the buildings.

STANISLAV PETROV

A retired Soviet colonel, Stanislav was the officer on duty when the

Soviet early warning system registered that 7 missiles had been

launched from the US. On that day (September 26, 1983) Stanislav

had full authority to launch an all-out counterstrike. Instead,

he refrained because he believed the system was malfunctioning

(it was). His reasoning was that if the US really was launching a

strike it would most likely be all out, the system was new and

ground radar failed to corroborate the readings.

He singlehandedly prevented a nuclear war.

HARVEY HUBBELL

He invented the electrical socket.