18.Augustus Caesar

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus was born on 23 September, 63 BC. He was the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in AD 14.

                  Born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, he was adopted by his great uncle Gaius Julius Caesar in 44 BC, and between then and 27 BC was officially named Gaius Julius Caesar. In 27 BC the Senate awarded him the honorific Augustus, and thus consequently he was Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus. Because of the various names he bore, it is common to call him Octavius when referring to events between 63 and 44 BC, Octavian (or Octavianus) when referring to events between 44 and 27 BC, and Augustus when referring to events after 27 BC. In Greek sources, Augustus is known as Ὀκτάβιος (Octavius), Καῖσαρ (Caesar), Αὔγουστος (Augustus), or Σεβαστός (Sebastos), depending on context.

                      The young Octavius came into his inheritance after Caesar's assassination in 44 BC. In 43 BC, Octavian joined forces with Mark Antony and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus in a military dictatorship known as the Second Triumvirate. As a triumvir, Octavian ruled Rome and many of its provinces as an autocrat, seizing consular power after the deaths of the consuls Hirtius and Pansa and having himself perpetually re-elected. The triumvirate was eventually torn apart under the competing ambitions of its rulers: Lepidus was driven into exile, and Antony committed suicide following his defeat at the Battle of Actium by the fleet of Octavian commanded by Agrippa in 31 BC.
                   After the demise of the Second Triumvirate, Octavian restored the outward facade of the Roman Republic, with governmental power vested in the Roman Senate, but in practice retained his autocratic power. It took several years to determine the exact framework by which a formally republican state could be led by a sole ruler; the result became known as the Roman Empire. The emperorship was never an office like the Roman dictatorship which Caesar and Sulla had held before him; indeed, he declined it when the Roman populace "entreated him to take on the dictatorship". By law, Augustus held a collection of powers granted to him for life by the Senate, including those of tribune of the plebs and censor. He was consul until 23 BC. His substantive power stemmed from financial success and resources gained in conquest, the building of patronage relationships throughout the Empire, the loyalty of many military soldiers and veterans, the authority of the many honors granted by the Senate, and the respect of the people. Augustus' control over the majority of Rome's legions established an armed threat that could be used against the Senate, allowing him to coerce the Senate's decisions. With his ability to eliminate senatorial opposition by means of arms, the Senate became docile towards his paramount position. His rule through patronage, military power, and accumulation of the offices of the defunct Republic became the model for all later imperial government.
              The rule of Augustus initiated an era of relative peace known as the Pax Romana, or Roman peace. Despite continuous frontier wars, and one year-long civil war over the imperial succession, the Mediterranean world remained at peace for more than two centuries. Augustus expanded the Roman Empire, secured its boundaries with client states, and made peace with Parthia through diplomacy. He reformed the Roman system of taxation, developed networks of roads with an official courier system, established a standing army (and a small navy), established the Praetorian Guard, and created official police and fire-fighting forces for Rome. Much of the city was rebuilt under Augustus; and he wrote a record of his own accomplishments, known as the Res Gestae Divi Augusti, which has survived. Upon his death in 19 August, AD 14, Augustus was declared a god by the Senate, to be worshipped by the Romans. His names Augustus and Caesar were adopted by every subsequent emperor, and the month of Sextilis was officially renamed August in his honour. He was succeeded by his stepson and son-in-law, Tiberius.

If you want to know more about him, read this book :
"AUGUSTUS CAESAR" by David Shotter

17. Shih Huang Ti

Qin Shi Huang (Chinese: 秦始皇; pinyin: Qín Shǐhuáng; Wade-Giles: Ch'in Shih-huang) was born on 259 BCE. His personal name was Ying Zheng (Chinese: 嬴政; pinyin: Yíng Zhèng). He was the king of Chinese State of Qin from 246 BCE to 221 BCE during the Warring States period.                He became the first Emporer of unified China in 221 BCE. He remained Emporer until his death in 210 BCE at the age of 50.                Qin Shi Huang remains a controvercial figure in Chinese history. After unifying China, he and his adviser Li Si passed a series of economic and political reforms. He undertook the gigantic projects, including the first version of "The Great Wall of China", the now famous city-sized mousoleum quarded by a life sized Terracotta Army, and a massive road system, all at the expense of numerous lives. To ensure stability, Qin Shi Huang outlawed and burried many books.                    Despite the tyranny of his autocratic rule, he remains a pivotal figure in Chinese history. He was died on 210 BCE.

16. Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin was an English neutralist.  He was born on 12 February 1809.
                He released and presented evidanvce that all species of life have evolved over time from common ancestors through the process, he called, "Natural Selection". This was accepted by scientists community in his lifetime. From 1930 to 1950, a broad concensus developed that natural selection was the basic mechanism of evolution. In modified form, Darwin's scientific theory is the unifying theory of the life sciences, explaining the diversity of life.
               At Edinberg University, Darwin neglected medical studies and helped to investigate marine invertibrates, then the University of Cambridge encouraged a passion of natural sciences.
                    Darwin also investigated the transmutation of species and conceived his "Theory of natural selection" in 1938. His book "On the Origin of Species" established evolutionary descent with modification as the dominant scientific explanation of diversification in nature.
                    He examined human evolution and sexual selection  in "The Descent of Man, And Selection in Ratio to Sex", followed by "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals". His research on plants was published in a series of books, and in his final book, he examined earthworms, and their effect on soil.
       He was died on 19 April 1882 (aged 73).In recognition of Darwin's pre-eminence, he was only five 19th century non-royal personages to be honoured by a state funeral, and was buried Westminster Abbey, close to John Herschel and Isaac Newton.

15. Moses-Musa (A.S)

Musa (A.S) / (Moses) was born on 1526BC. He is one of the Prophet of Islam. Musa (A.S) is often reffered to as "Kalim Allah" meaning "He who spoke with Allah". The Quran mentions him frequently. Incidents of his life are mentioned in Quran. He is the Prophet to whom the book  "Torah" was revealed.
         According to Christianity, he is considered as a religious leader, lawgiver and Prophet.
          In Judaism, he is considered  the most important Prophet. He is considered a Prophet in Baha'i Faith, Rastafari and many other faiths. Musa (A.S) was died on 1406 BC.
You can get books on him from the following link :
http://store.dar-us-salam.com/

14. Euclid

Euclid was born on 300BC. Very little is known about him. "Euclid" is a Greek word meaning "Good Glory". He is also known as "Euclid of Alexanderia".
                  He was a Greeek  Mathematician and often reffered to as "Father of Geometry". He lived in Alexaderia, Egypt. He was active in Hellenistic Alexanderia during the reign of Ptolemy (323-283 BC).
                   His book "Euclid's Elements" is the most infuencial book in the history of Mathematics. His book was the main textbook of Mathematics (especially Geometry) till early 20th century.
                   In it, principles of "Euclidean Geometry" were deduced from a small set of axioms. Euclid also wrote works on prospective, conic sections, spherical geometry, number theory and rigor.
                   It was due to him that "Geometry" became an important branch of Mathematics.

13. Aristotle

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher. He was born in the Macedonanian town of Stagira in 384 BC. His father, Nicomashus was a phycist who died when Aristotle was young. In 367 BC, when he was seventeen, his uncle sent him to Athens to study at Plato's Academy. There he remained, first as a pupil and then as an asssociate for next twenty Years.
      Alexander was a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the great. He wrote on many subjects including Physics, metaphysics, poetry, theatre, music, logic, politics, government, ethics, Biology and Zoology. Together with Plato and Socrates, Aristotle is one of the most important personality in Western philosophy. He was the first to creat a comprehensive system of Western philosophy, encompassing morality and aesthetics, logic and science, politics and meta physics.

                    He was one of the best personalities the world has ever produced. Some famous quotes of Aristotle are :

1.   A friend is a second self.
2.  All paid jobs absorb and degrade mind.
3.  Dignity consists not in possesing honours , but in the consciousness that we deserve them.
4.  Education is the best provision to our old age.

                   Aristotle had a profond influence on the history of philosophy. He died on 322 BC in Euboea.

If you want to know more about him , see :
LIFE OF ARISTOTLE

12.Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei was an Italian Phycist and astronomer. He was in Pisa on February 15,1564.Galileo's father Vincenzo Galilei, was a well known musician. Vincenzo decided that his son should become a doctor.
           In 1581, Galileo was sent to University of Pisa to study medicine. While a student in University, Galileo discovered that he had talent for Mathematics. He was able to persuade his father to allow him to leave the University and become a tutor in Mathematics. He later became a professor of Mathematics.
In 1609, Galileo heard about the invention of spyglass, a device whish made distant objects appear closer. Galileo used his mathematical knowledge and technical skillls to improve upon the skyglass and build a telescope. Later in the same year, he became the first person to see the Moon through a telescope and made an astronomy discovery. He was that Moon was not smooth but mountainous and pitted-just like the Earth. He subsequently used his newly invented telescope to discover four of the moons circling Jupiter. He also observed Saturn using telescope. He also observed the phases of Venus and sunspots on the Sun.
        Galileo's study strengthen this belief in Copernicus' theory that Earth and all other planets revolve arond the Sun. Most people in Galileo's time believed that Earth was the center of the Universe and Sun and all other planets revolve aroud it. The Catholic Church which was very powerful and influential in Galileo's time, strongly supported the theory of the geocentric, or Earth-Centered Universe. After Galileo began publishing papers about his astronomy discoveries and his beliefs in a heliocentric or sun-centered Universe, he was called to Rome to answer charges against him by the inquisition ( the legal body of the Catholic Church). Early in 1616, Galileo was accused of being heretic, a person who opposed Church techniques. Herecu was a crime for which people were sometimes sentenced to death. Galileo was cleared of charges of heresy, but was told that he should no longer publicly state that Earth moved around the Sun. Galileo was convinced that Earth revolve around the Sun.
           In 1632, he published a book that stated, among other things, that the heliocentric theory of Copernicus was correct. Galileo was once again called before the  Inquisition and this time he was found guilty of heresy. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1633. Because of his poor health, he was allowed to serve his imprisonment under house arrest. Galileo died on Januaury 8, 1642.

11.Louis Pasteur

Louis Pasteur was born on December 27, 1822 in the town of Dole in Eastern France. Pasteur's Parents were peasants, his father was a tanner by trade.
                  He was a French chemist and microbiologist. He is best known for his remarkable breakthroughs in the causes and prevention of diseases. His discoveries reduced mortality from puerperal fever and he cerared the first vaccine for rabies. His experiments supported the germ theory of diseases.
                   He is best known to general public for inventing  the method to stop milk and wine from causing sickness, a method that came to be called Pasteurization.
                  He is regarded as one of the three main founder of microbiology, together with Ferdinand Cohn and Robert Koch. Pasteur also made many discoveries in the field of Chemistry, most notably the molecular basis for the asymmetry of certain crystals.

         Pasteur died on September 28, 1895 in Paris. His body lies beneath Institute Paris in a spectacular vault covered in depictions of his accomplishments in Byzantine mosaics.

10.Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was born on 14 March, 1879 in Ulm, Kingdom of Wurttemburg, German Empire. He was a theoretical phycist. He contributed a lot to improve Physics' laws.
                  His contributions to physics include 'The special and genral theories of relativity, the founding of relavistic cosmology, the first post-Newtonian expansion, explaining the perihelion advance of Mercury, prediction of the deflection of light by gravity and gravitational lensing. He also explained the first fluctuation dissipation theorem which explained the Brownian movement of molecules.
                  He presented the Photon theory' and told us about wave-duality. He also gave the quantum theory of atomic motion in solids and the zero-point energy concept. He also gave semiclassical version of Schrodinger equation. His quantum theory of a monatomic gas predicted Bose-Einstein condensation.
          Albert Einstein is best known for his Therories of special relativity and general relativity. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the Law of the photoelectric effect. Hewas also awarded Copley Medal, Max Plank Medal and the Time Person of the Century.
          Einstein published more than 300 scientific and over 150 non-scientific works. He is often regarded as the Father of Modern Physics.
          He passed his life in many countries i.e Australia, Germany Switzerland and United States. He died on 18th April, 1955 in United States.  

09.Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451.  His father was Domenico Colombo who worked as a wool weaver His mother was Susanna Fontanarossa. He had three brothers, Bartolomeo, Giovanni Pelligrino and Giacomo.
               Europe had established a land route to Asia (China and India) under the Mongol Empire. It was very long. Columbus proposed a smaller route to reach Asia. He calculated the distance based on Marinus of Tyre and judge the circumference of Earth to be approximately 25000 kilometers. Experts, however don't agree with him. Based on calculations of Eratosthenes, the circumference of the Earth was held to be 40,000 kilometers.
                In 1492, the King and Queen of Spain made him "Admiral of the sea" and made him the Viceroy and Governor of the new lands.
                 On 3rd of August, 1492, he started his first voyage. He sailed to Canary islands. He then went to Cuba and Hispaniola. In October, he discovered an island which was named 'San Salvador' . This is the present day Bahamas.
                 His second voyage began on the 24th of september, 1493 and he set sail from Cadiz. First of all, he went to Canary islands and stocked up there. He then visited and named Montserrat, Antigua, Redonda, Nevis, Saint Kitts, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Saint Martin, Saint Croix, and the Virgin Islands. Then he landed at Puerto Rico. He then returned to Spain.
                 On the 30th May, 1498, he undertook his third voyage. He sailed from Sanlucar in Spain. In July, he landed on the island of Trinidad and in August in the Gulf of Paris. After exploring South America, he sailed to Margarita island and then he sailed to Tobago Grenada. Then he returned to Spain.
                  Christopher Columbus died on the 20th of May, 1506. His remains are preserved in the Cathedral of Seville in Spain borne by four statues representing the Kingdoms of Navarre, Castille, Aragon and Leon.

08.Johann Gutenberg

 Johann Gutenberg was a German printer. He was born in 1398 at Mainz. His father was Friele zum Gensfleisch and his mother Elsgen Wyrich, whose birthplace “Gutenberg”, was the name he adopted. The Germans, and most other people, contend that Gutenberg was the inventor of the art of printing with movable types.
                Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 1450's, and the first book to ever be printed was a Latin language Bible, printed in Mainz, Germany. Gutenberg’s Bibles were surprisingly beautiful, as each leaf Gutenberg printed was later colorfully hand-illuminated. Born as “Johann Gensfleisch” (John Gooseflesh), he preferred to be known as “Johann Gutenberg” (John Beautiful Mountain). Ironically, though he had created what many believe to be the most important invention in history.
                     Gutenberg was a victim of unscrupulous business associates who took control of his business and left him in poverty. Nevertheless, the invention of the movable-type printing press meant that Bibles and books could finally be effectively produced in large quantities in a short period of time. This was essential to the success of the Reformation.

To know more about him. Must see :
Life of Johann Gutenberg