Craig, Well, my specialty is ancient and medieval. I can tell you my three favorites, though they don't qualify to your stipulations. Ben Franklin is obvious and amazing. Thomas Jefferson is just behind him as an inventor and even a greater social philosopher. And from the 13th Century, Frederick the Second, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Germany, King of Sicily, King of Jerusalem and Duke of Burgundy. He was so well versed in the sciences that the rest of Christendom referred to him as "Stupor Mundi," the wonder of the world. He also spoke 5 languages fluently, was a patron of the arts, had a huge harem and recovered Jerusalem from the Muslims without raising a sword. But the only thing he invented that has helped us this century is the landing craft, without which there would have been no D-Day, or, at least a very different D-Day.
But I will think on some others and see what I can come up with in the more obscure area. |
