The most overrated historical figures

Espresso

The most overrated historical figures

Deb Lotti

Posted: March 27, 2024 | Last updated: March 27, 2024

Sometimes fame is a matter of luck, the result of a single event, myth, or even twist of fate. While some of the following personalities usurped glory that didn’t belong to them, others blackened their reputations with unacceptable words or actions. In short, they haven’t deserved all the praise they’ve gotten.

Wikimedia Commons

The most overrated historical figures

Sometimes fame is a matter of luck, the result of a single event, myth, or even twist of fate. While some of the following personalities usurped glory that didn’t belong to them, others blackened their reputations with unacceptable words or actions. In short, they haven’t deserved all the praise they’ve gotten.

Wikimedia Commons

Christopher Columbus

Genoese explorer Christopher Columbus is celebrated for “discovering” the Americas in 1492, yet these lands had been inhabited long before his arrival. Moreover, Iceland’s Leif Erikson and other European sailors had already reached these shores. Columbus’s arrival, rather, marked the beginning of colonization in the Americas. Given this context, beginning a history of the New World with Christopher Columbus shows a lack of respect for Indigenous peoples

Ewing Galloway / Uig / Shutterstock

Thomas Edison

Shrewd businessman Thomas Edison filed patents on all of the ideas emerging from his research laboratory, even when he didn’t see any immediate use for them. He also left out his collaborators’ names. While Edison is credited with such great inventions as the phonograph and incandescent light bulb, some of his patents remain controversial. Several researchers dispute, for example, the origin of the carbon microphone. What’s more, Edison's misunderstanding of the value of alternating current rather diminishes his contribution to the expansion of electricity.

<p>Considered a hero for his determination during the Second World War and subsequent victory, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Winston-Churchill">British Prime Minister Winston Churchill</a> also made <a href="https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/becoming-a-victorian/">racist remarks</a> about colonized peoples during his career. His comments about Indian, Black, and Chinese people are simply unacceptable.</p>

David Cole/REX/Shutterstock

Winston Churchill

Considered a hero for his determination during the Second World War and subsequent victory, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill also made racist remarks about colonized peoples during his career. His comments about Indian, Black, and Chinese people are simply unacceptable.

Wikipedia

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun and recipient of the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize who dedicated most of her life to the sick and dying in the slums of India. Such fame also gave her the opportunity to spread her very conservative views, especially in regard to contraception and abortion, which she qualified as “murder by the mother herself.”

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John F. Kennedy

Often cited as one of America's favourite leaders, John F. Kennedy lent the presidential office an aura of youth (he was 43 years old at the time of his election). The tragic circumstances of his untimely death, less than three years after arriving in the Oval Office, also made him a memorable figure. These factors, however, affected his overall record of achievements. Kennedy did not, for example, have time to fully deliver on his promises regarding civil rights. His dubious attitude toward women and frequent misbehaviour were also troubling, expecially given the public projection of his picture-perfect marriage.

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Alexandre Dumas (father)

Alexandre Dumas (father), French novelist and author of such masterpieces as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, received writing assistance from several other writers who have yet to enjoy his glorious legacy. Auguste Maquet, for example, was granted, at most, the title of “collaborator” after being forced to give up his copyright.

Wikimedia Commons

Marie-Antoinette

During her husband King Louis XVI’s reign over France, Marie-Antoinette was the victim of slander and campaigns accusing her of scandalous behaviour and treason, but there’s no evidence that she was any better or worse than other queens. In fact, only her death by guillotine sets her apart as one of history’s tragic figures.

Wikimedia Commons

Paul Claudel

According to his biographer, academic, diplomat, and playwright Paul Claudel was the most Catholic of French writers and, indeed, fought against secularization of the state. His compassion fell short, however, when it came to ending the forced internment of his sister, sculptor Camille Claudel, following episodes of delirious paranoia. For 30 years, Claudel made no effort to get her out of an asylum. In fact, some sources report that he was ashamed of her presumed madness.

The Associated Press / Peter Knopp

Lech Walesa

Former Polish president Lech Walesa has long symbolized opposition to communism and even won a Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent resistance to oppression in his country in the 1980s. As head of state from 1990 to 1995, however, he proved authoritarian, conservative, and controversial, the latter due to certain homophobic remarks.

Wikipedia

Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom’s most recent queen, gained icon status during her lifetime, and her death in 2022 was reported around the world. That said, her role as head of the Commonwealth is decried by certain former colonies still struggling to overcome the legacy of British imperialism. In fact, several colonized countries have already left the Commonwealth or are considering a split.

Wikimedia Commons

George Washington

George Washington, the first president of the United States, both inherited slaves and continued to buy them throughout his life. Convinced that their sudden emancipation would be dangerous, he signed the Fugitive Slave Act authorizing the capture of runaway slaves. In fact, other Founding Fathers of the United States shared Washington’s dubious attitude on this issue.

U.S. Secretary of State from 1973 to 1977 and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the Vietnam War, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-Kissinger" rel="noreferrer noopener">Henry Kissinger</a> has been <a href="https://www.salon.com/2015/11/10/henry_kissingers_genocidal_legacy_partner/" rel="noreferrer noopener">accused of</a> supporting dictators, illegal invasions, and massacres. His policies have had devastating effects in Cambodia, Chile, East Timor, and other locations.

Everett / Shutterstock

Henry Kissinger

U.S. Secretary of State from 1973 to 1977 and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the Vietnam War, Henry Kissinger has been accused of supporting dictators, illegal invasions, and massacres. His policies have had devastating effects in Cambodia, Chile, East Timor, and other locations.

CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock

Guy Fawkes

The name Guy Fawkes is linked to the Gunpowder Plot, an attempt to assassinate King James I of England and blow up Parliament in 1605. Every November 5, Fawkes is traditionally burned in effigy during a commemoration of the event. In fact, his face has now become a symbol of protest despite the fact that he hadn’t led the conspiracy and was the first of the conspirators to be caught.

<a href="https://www.biography.com/royalty/mary-queen-of-scots" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mary Stuart</a> became queen of Scotland only a few days after her birth, then queen consort of France. She is remembered for her three successive marriages, her rivalry with cousin Elizabeth I of England, her long imprisonment, and her execution on the latter's orders. In fact, her political achievements were meager after spending most of her reign in France and failing, upon her return, to reconcile with the Protestants who had taken over Scotland.

Wikimedia Commons

Marie Stuart

Mary Stuart became queen of Scotland only a few days after her birth, then queen consort of France. She is remembered for her three successive marriages, her rivalry with cousin Elizabeth I of England, her long imprisonment, and her execution on the latter's orders. In fact, her political achievements were meager after spending most of her reign in France and failing, upon her return, to reconcile with the Protestants who had taken over Scotland.

ZachJBeavers / Wikimedia Commons

Jack Daniel

American distiller Jack Daniel, whose name still graces a famous whisky, was not the only one responsible for creating the beverage. He actually learned his trade from Nathan Nearest Green, a slave who’s just beginning to gain recognition for his role in the successful enterprise.

This pharaoh became famous after the 1922 discovery of his tomb and the treasures it contained. Crowned as a child, <a href="https://www.worldhistory.org/Tutankhamun/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tutankhamun</a> died before the age of 20. While credited with restoring peace to Ancient Egypt after a period of religious unrest, the pharaoh likely relied <a href="https://www.livescience.com/54090-tutankhamun-king-tut.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">heavily on his advisers to assume power</a>.

Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / Wikimedia Commons

Toutankhamon

This pharaoh became famous after the 1922 discovery of his tomb and the treasures it contained. Crowned as a child, Tutankhamun died before the age of 20. While credited with restoring peace to Ancient Egypt after a period of religious unrest, the pharaoh likely relied heavily on his advisers to assume power.

FA Archive / Shutterstock

Henry Ford

American industrialist Henry Ford is famous for manufacturing cars and introducing new organizational methods, including the assembly line. Unfortunately, his anti-Semitic views cropped up in the newspaper he edited, The Dearborn Independent, and his pamphlet, The International Jew. He was also friendly with Germany’s Nazi leaders in the 1930s.

catwalker / Shutterstock

Mark Zuckerberg

The creator of Facebook and one of the richest and most influential men on the planet continues to face major scrutiny. According to Zuckerberg’s unauthorized biography, three of his former classmates claimed to have had the idea before him when he launched the social network. Facebook was subsequently accused of spreading misinformation and not respecting user privacy.

Underwood Archives / UIG / Shutterstock

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks became an icon of the American civil rights movement after refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger in 1955. This event triggered the Montgomery bus boycott under the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. In fact, Rosa Parks was not the first to dare to challenge racial segregation in Alabama's transportation system. Claudette Colvin and Mary Louise Smith preceded her but were deemed unworthy to represent the movement.

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