Famous Figures

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Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth name was Michael.

Jan 7, 2025 | historyfacts.com | Famous Figures |Leonardo da Vinci

Some of America’s most famous names weren’t birth names. Bill Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe III, John Wayne was originally Marion Robert Morrison, and Martin Luther King Jr. was Michael King Jr. until he was 5 years old. The change was prompted by his father, Reverend Michael King. In 1934, King Sr. attended the Fifth Baptist World Congress in Berlin. In response to the rise of Nazism, the BWA put out a fierce proclamation condemning all racial discrimination and oppression.
Teddy Roosevelt was the first president to fly in an airplane.

Nov 21, 2024 | historyfacts.com | Famous Figures |Leonardo da Vinci

On October 11, 1910, former President Theodore Roosevelt took to the skies above St. Louis, Missouri, aboard a Wright Company aircraft. This unprecedented event, which took place roughly 19 months after Roosevelt left office, made Roosevelt the first U.S. president to fly in an airplane. The decision to fly was off the cuff: Roosevelt was visiting Missouri to support state Republicans in their election campaign when he was invited to hop aboard the airplane by aviator Arch Hoxsey.
Surprising Hobbies of U.S. Presidents

Oct 3, 2024 | historyfacts.com | Famous Figures |Leonardo da Vinci |Tony Dunnell

Being the president of the United States is no easy task. The day-to-day responsibilities and weighty decisions of the presidency are enough to turn anyone gray, and the role typically draws more criticism than praise. With so much pressure involved, even the most dedicated commander in chief needs some respite from the job. It’s only natural, then, that throughout the history of the White House, the private lives of American presidents have been filled with a wide array of hobbies.
Woodrow Wilson was the only president with a Ph.D.

Sep 25, 2024 | historyfacts.com | Famous Figures |Leonardo da Vinci

Most U.S. presidents have attained some form of higher education, and there are a number of commanders in chief with law degrees, but only one received a Ph.D.: Woodrow Wilson. After beginning his undergraduate career at Davidson College in 1873, Wilson transferred to the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and studied political philosophy and history. He next attended the University of Virginia School of Law, though he withdrew during his second year.
Thomas Edison went camping with a U.S. president.

Sep 18, 2024 | historyfacts.com | Famous Figures |Leonardo da Vinci

In 1915, a group known as the Vagabonds embarked on a series of summer camping trips around the U.S. These wayfaring travelers weren’t just any old campers, but rather some of the most well-known figures in American history: inventor Thomas Edison, industrialist Henry Ford, naturalist John Burroughs, and businessman Harvey Firestone. The idea was conceived in 1914 when Ford and Burroughs traveled down to Florida to tour the Everglades with Edison.
The U.S. Presidents’ Favorite Foods

Sep 18, 2024 | historyfacts.com | Famous Figures |Leonardo da Vinci |Tony Dunnell

Credit: bhofack2/ iStockAbraham Lincoln: ApplesAbe Lincoln was known for his frugal eating habits, often to the dismay and concern of his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Some sources note his fondness for two particular dishes: chicken fricassee with biscuits, and oyster stew. But Lincoln’s favorite food might well have been apples, which, according to his friends, he ate with gusto on a daily basis.
One of the first White House pets was John Adams' dog Satan.

Aug 1, 2024 | historyfacts.com | Famous Figures |Leonardo da Vinci

Although he was the second president of the United States, John Adams was the first to (briefly) live in the presidential residence now known as the White House. That means he and his wife, Abigail, inaugurated such White House traditions as the selection of furnishings, the hosting of official gatherings, and the introduction of presidential pets — one of whom answered to the moniker of Satan.
7 Roman Emperors Everyone Should Know

Jul 24, 2024 | historyfacts.com | Famous Figures |Leonardo da Vinci |Timothy Ott

Although Rome reached the pinnacle of its power and influence during the imperial era, which stretched from approximately 27 BCE to 476 CE, it wasn’t always easy for emperors during this period to run a tight ship.
The Meaning Behind 9 Famous Middle Initials

Jul 18, 2024 | historyfacts.com | Famous Figures |Leonardo da Vinci |Bennett Kleinman

Styling your name to include a middle initial is far less common now than when it first became widely popular in the 19th century. As the U.S. saw a massive population boom, many people began using their middle initial to help distinguish themselves from other people with similar names. Throughout the 19th century and into the 20th century, abbreviating your middle name was popular among everyone from presidents to activists.
Every member of LBJ’s family had the initials LBJ (even the dog).

Jul 10, 2024 | historyfacts.com | Famous Figures |Leonardo da Vinci

If you think the Kardashians’ insistence on giving every member of the family a first name starting with the letter “K” is a bit much, wait until you hear about the 36th president of the United States. One assumes it was a coincidence that Lyndon Baines Johnson and his wife Claudia, better known as Lady Bird, both ended up with the initials LBJ, but it was certainly intentional to have both their daughters and one of their many dogs continue the trend.