Rainhill Kase Ha Shotokan Karate Academy

Inspirational People

The following is a list of people who have made a lasting contribution towards creating a better world, or who have inspired others by their achievements, their attitude and values, or who overcame overwhelming obstacles to create an extraordinary life on their own terms.

14th Dalai Lama (1935– )
Leader of Tibetans in exile. He has sought to negotiate with Chinese to respect traditions and culture of Tibetans, and believes in non-violent protest.

Abbe Pierre (1912–2007)
French humanitarian. A Catholic priest who founded the Emmaüs movement, which has the goal of helping poor and homeless people and refugees.

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
President of US during the American civil war. Lincoln made the famous Emancipation Proclamation (1863) declaring “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” This proclamation was followed by the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution (1865) outlawing slavery.

Akbar (1542–1605)
The great Moghul Emperor who went a long way to uniting India under his rule. Although a great warrior, Akbar was also known for his love of culture, music and philosophy. He introduced enlightened laws on religious tolerance in his kingdom and encouraged representatives of different religions to come to his court.

Albert Einstein (1879–1955)
His theories of relativity were a very significant scientific breakthrough. As well as being a genius scientist, Einstein was also a champion of human rights and campaigned for a more peaceful world.

Amelia Earhart (1897 – 1937)
First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1928. Disappeared whilst attempting to be the first female to circumnavigate the world.

Anne Frank (1929–1945)
Anne Frank’s diary is one of the most widely read books in the world. It reveals the thoughts of a young, yet surprisingly mature 13-year-old girl, confined to a secret hiding place during Holocaust in the Second World War to escape the Nazis. “Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.”

Annie Besant (1847–1933)
British campaigner for social justice, an advocate of women’s rights and later member of the Theosophist society. She also actively campaigned for Indian independence.

Audrey Hepburn (1929–1993)
British actress. Influential female actor of the 1950s and 60s. Audrey Hepburn defined feminine glamour and dignity, and was later voted as one of the most beautiful women of the twentieth century. After her acting career ended in the mid 1960s, she devoted the remaining period of her life to humanitarian work with UNICEF.

Aung San Suu Kyi (1945– )
Burmese opposition leader. Awarded Nobel Peace prize for opposition to military rule. Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest for many years due to her opposition.

B.R Ambedkar (1891–1956)
Indian social reformer. Ambedkar was born in the Mahar ‘untouchable’ caste, but became a pioneering political activist and social reformer. He was the principle figure in the drafting of the Indian Constitution, which outlawed ‘untouchability’ and promoted equality.

Benazir Bhutto (1953–2007)
The first female prime minister of a Muslim country. She helped to move Pakistan from a dictatorship to democracy, becoming Prime Minister in 1988. She sought to implement social reforms, in particular helping women and the poor. She was assassinated in 2007.

Benjamin Franklin. (1706–1790)
Great polymath and promoter of American ideals at home and in the US. A practical man of great dynamism and good character.

Betty Friedan (1921-2006)
Leading feminist figure of the 1960s. Her book “The Feminine Mystique” became a best seller and received both lavish praise and intense criticism. Betty Friedan campaigned for an extension of female rights and an end to sexual discrimination.

Betty Williams (1943– )
Together with Mairead Corrigan, Betty Williams campaigned to bring an end to the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. They founded the Community for Peace and were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 (post dated for 1976).

Billie Holiday (1915–1959)
American jazz singer. Given the title “First Lady of the Blues” Billie Holiday was widely considered to be the greatest and most expressive jazz singer of all time. Her voice was moving in its emotional intensity and poignancy. Despite dying at the age of only 44, Billie Holiday helped define the jazz era and her recordings are still widely sold today.

Billie Jean King (1943– )
American tennis player. Billie Jean King was one of the greatest female tennis champions, who also battled for equal pay for women. She won 67 professional titles including 20 titles at Wimbledon.

Boudicca (1st Century CE)
Boudicca was an inspirational leader of the Britons. She led several tribes in revolt against the Roman occupation. Initially successful, her army of 100,000 sacked Colchester and then London. Her army was later defeated.

Buddha (c 563–483BCE)
The Buddha was a young prince who gave up the comforts of palace life to seek the meaning of life by meditating in the wilderness. After gaining realisation, the Buddha spent the remainder of his life travelling around India teaching a middle path of meditation and inner peace.

Catherine de Medici (1519–1589)
Born in Florence, Italy, Catherine was married to the King of France at the age of 14. She was involved in interminable political machinations seeking to increase the power of her favoured sons. This led to the disastrous St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.

Catherine the Great (1729–1796)
One of the greatest political leaders of the Eighteenth Century. Catherine the Great was said to have played an important role in improving the welfare of Russian serfs. She placed great emphasis on the arts and helped to cement Russia as one of the dominant countries in Europe.

Charles Darwin (1809–1882)
Darwin published his Origin of Species detailing a belief in evolution at a time when such a decision was very controversial.

Chiune Sugihara (1900 – 1986)
Japanese diplomat who served as Vice-Consul to Lithuania during the Second World War. He helped several thousand Jews to escape from Lithuania by personally writing exit visas – despite the fact he was disobeying orders from Tokyo not to do so. It is estimated, because of Sugihara’s actions, 6,000 Jews were able to escape from Lithuania and avoid the holocaust.

Cleopatra (69 BCE–30 BCE)
The last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt. Cleopatra sought to defend Egypt from the expanding Roman Empire. In doing so she formed relationships with two of Rome’s most powerful leaders, Marc Anthony and Julius Caesar.

Coco Chanel (1883–1971)
French fashion designer. One of the most innovative fashion designers, Coco Chanel was instrumental in defining feminine style and dress during the 20th Century. Her ideas were revolutionary; in particular she often took traditionally male clothes and redesigned them for the benefit of women.

Dalai Lama (1938– )
The fourteenth Dalai Lama has been awarded the Nobel Prize for his non-violent resistance to Chinese rule. The Dalai Lama teaches a path of tolerance and compassion.

David Livingstone ( 1813 – 1872)
Livingstone was a Victorian missionary who explored the continent of Africa when it was largely unknown. He was also active in the anti-slave movement within Africa, which made him unpopular with local slave traders.

Desmond Tutu (1931–)
Nobel Peace Prize winner. Campaigner against apartheid and instrumental in promoting human rights and justice. Tutu helped to heal the wounds of apartheid in South Africa.

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997)
British Royal princess who was noted for her humanitarian charity work. Despite her troubled marriage to Prince Charles, she was popular for her natural sympathy with the poor and disenfranchised.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 – 1945)
German Lutheran Pastor who was consistently outspoken in his criticism of Nazism in Germany. Preferring to stay in the country of his birth, he was eventually arrested and executed in Flossian concentration camp.

Dorothy Hodgkin (1910–1994)
British chemist. Hodgkin was awarded the Nobel prize for her work on critical discoveries of the structure of both penicillin and later insulin. These discoveries led to significant improvements in health care. An outstanding chemist, Dorothy also devoted a large section of her life to the peace movement and promoting nuclear disarmament.

Edith Cavell (1865 – 1915)
Nurse in Belgium during World War One. Arrested and executed for helping Allied servicemen escape back to England. Shortly before her execution, said ‘Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.’

Edward Jenner (1749–1823)
Led pioneering work on the development of an inoculation against the deadly smallpox. Opened up the way to more immunisation treatments, arguably saving the lives of millions of people around the world.

Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122–1204)
The first Queen of France. Two of her sons Richard and John went on to become Kings of England. Educated, beautiful and highly articulate, Eleanor influenced the politics of western Europe through her alliances and influence over her sons.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962)
Wife and political aide of American president F. D. Roosevelt. In her own right Eleanor made a significant contribution to the field of human rights, a topic she campaigned upon throughout her life. As head of UN human rights commission she helped to draft the 1948 UN declaration of human rights.

Elizabeth Blackwell ( 1821–1910)
Born in Britain, Blackwell was the first woman to receive a medical degree in America and the first woman to be on the UK medical register. Blackwell helped to break down social barriers, enabling women to be accepted as doctors.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902)
Elizabeth Stanton was a social activist and leading figure in the early women’s rights movement. She was a key figure in helping create the early women’s suffrage movements in the US. She was the principal author of ‘Declaration of Sentiments’ which was distributed at the first women’s rights convention in 1848.

Elizabeth Fry (1780–1845)
Prison reform campaigner. Fry was instrumental in raising awareness of the poor conditions in British prisons and campaigning for more humane conditions.

Elizabeth I (1533–1603)
Queen of England during a time of great economic and social change, she saw England cemented as a Protestant country. During her reign, she witnessed the defeat of the Spanish Armada leaving Britain to later become one of the world’s dominant superpowers.

Emil Zatopek (1922–2000)
Greatest long distance runner, winning three gold medals at the 1954 Olympics. He was a principled supporter of Czech democracy, being sent to work in mines for his opposition to the Communist government.

Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)
One of the most popular female poets who wrote unique, uplifting poems which captured the imagination of many people.

Emily Murphy (1868-1933)
Emily Murphy was the first women magistrate in the British Empire. In 1927 she joined forces with four other Canadian women who sought to challenge an old Canadian law that said, “women should not be counted as persons” This paved the way for women to enter Parliament and gain greater equality.

Emily Pankhurst (1858–1928)
Suffragette who led campaigns of civil disobedience against the male dominated political system, which denied women the vote. Pankhurst was sent to jail on several occasions for her activities.

Eric Liddell (1902–1945)
Eric Liddell won Olympic gold in the 400m in the 1924 Paris Olympics. He is also famed for turning down the opportunity to compete in the 100m because the heats were on a Sunday. Eric was an accomplished sportsman also representing Scotland at rugby union.

Eva Peron (1919–1952)
The second wife of Argentine President Juan Perón (1895–1974) and the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death in 1952, Eva Peron was widely loved by the ordinary people of Argentina. She campaigned tirelessly for both the poor and for the extension of women’s rights.

Florence Nightingale (1820–1910)
British nurse. By serving in the Crimean war, Florence Nightingale was instrumental in changing the role and perception of the nursing profession. Her dedicated service won widespread admiration and led to a significant improvement in the treatment of wounded soldiers.

Frederick Douglass (1818–1895)
Douglass was a former slave who became committed to working for the emancipation of all slaves and ending the injustice of slavery and racism in America. He gave many stirring speeches criticising injustice and raising the hope for a nation where all people were treated equally regardless of race, sex or religion.

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
Galileo was willing to challenge the orthodoxy of the church through his own scientific discoveries. This commitment to truth and science came despite personal threats to his well-being.

George Orwell (1903–1950)
George Orwell was a democratic socialist who fought in the Spanish civil war on the side of the republicans. He gave up his privileged education to spend time with the unemployed of the Great Depression. His greatest contribution was warning about the dangers of totalitarian regimes, whatever the ideology may be behind them.

Germaine Greer (1939– )
Australian feminist icon of the 1960s and 1970s, Germaine Greer enjoys raising contentious issues. In particular her book “The Female Eunuch” was a defining manifesto for the feminist movement, which proved influential in the 1960s.

Giuseppe Garibaldi (1805-1872)
National hero of Italy. Garibaldi led a volunteer army in the Italian wars of Independence. He played a key role in uniting Italy and ending foreign rule. He also fought in Latin America and became known as ‘The Hero of Two Worlds’.

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896)
A lifelong anti-slavery campaigner. Her novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a bestseller and helped to popularise the anti-slavery campaign. Abraham Lincoln later remarked that her books were a major factor behind the American civil war.

Harriet Tubman (1822–1913)
A former slave who escaped and then returned to lead other slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad. She became a well-known speaker on the experiences of slavery and an advocate for the rights of African Americans and black women.

Helen Keller (1880–1968)
American social activist. At the age of 19 months, Helen became deaf and blind. Overcoming the frustration of losing both sight and hearing she campaigned tirelessly on behalf of deaf and blind people.

Helena Rubinstein (1870–1965)
American businesswoman. Rubinstein formed one of the world’s first cosmetic companies. Her business enterprise proved immensely successful and, later in life, she used her enormous wealth to support charitable enterprises in the field of education, art and health.

Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179)
Mystic, author and composer. Hildegard of Bingen lived a withdrawn life, spending most of her time behind convent walls. However, her writings, poetry and music were revelatory for the time period. She was consulted by popes, kings and influential people of the time. Her writings and music have influenced people to this day.

Indira Gandhi (1917–1984)
First female prime minister of India. She was in power from between 1966–77 and 1980–84. Accused of authoritarian tendencies she only narrowly avoided a military coup by agreeing to hold an election at the end of the “emergency period” of 1977. She was assassinated in 1984 by her Sikh bodyguards, in response to her storming of the Golden Temple.

J R R Tolkien ( 1892–1973)
Writer and creator of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Tolkien was a modest professor at Oxford University, but found time to create a whole mythical world.

J K Rowling (1965– )
This British author conceived the idea of Harry Potter during a train ride in 1990. By the time she finished writing it seven years later, her book had been rejected by 12 publishers, her mother had died, she was divorced and lived in near poverty. What is so remarkably inspiring about Rowling's’ story is that despite living in near poverty and despite being rejected 12 times, she persisted with her dream to tell the world a story about the magical life of Harry Potter. She is now a billionaire, the first author to become one. Her original story is now a household name, with a volume of sales was so high, it has been credited with leading a revival of reading by children. There are blockbuster movies, theme parks and even a wildly popular fan-based podcast called MuggleCast. In her most painful moments living just above poverty, Rowling might not have been able to see the empire she’d soon create. But she did see her story and it moved her to create an even better one.

Jane Austen (1775–1817)
One of the most famous female authors of all time, Jane Austen wrote several novels, which remain highly popular today. These include Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Northanger Abbey. Jane Austen wrote at a time when female writers were not encouraged, helping pave the way for future writers.

Jesse Owens (1913–1980)
Jesse Owens’ four gold medals at Hitler’s 1936 Olympics in Berlin was one of the great moments of sport, which helped to puncture the Nazi ideology of Aryan supremacy. Jesse Owens was a modest hero who remained a great ambassador for Sport.

Jessica Cox (1983 -)
Born without arms due to a rare birth defect, that has not stopped her from living her life to the fullest. In fact, she has experienced and achieved more than most people do in a lifetime. She can drive a car, fly a plane and play piano - all with her feet. She travels around the world as a motivational speaker, using her own life as an example of what one can achieve if one wants it enough.

Jesus Christ (0 – 33 AD)
Jesus stuck to the truth of his message, despite the consequences. On many occasions, he had the opportunity to escape or change his message. But, he felt the right thing to do was to suffer outer humiliation and pain in order to leave a legacy of spiritual truth.

Joan of Arc (1412–1431)
The patron saint of France, Joan of Arc inspired a French revolt against the occupation of the English. An unlikely hero, at the age of just 17, the diminutive Joan successfully led the French to victory at Orleans. Her later trial and martyrdom only heightened her mystique.

John Howard (1726–1790)
An 18th-century philanthropist and social reformer, Howard was dedicated to prison reform and public health improvements.

Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003)
American actress. An iconic figure of twentieth Century film, Katharine Hepburn won four Oscars and received over twelve Oscar nominations. Her lifestyle was unconventional for the time and through her acting and life, she helped redefine traditional views of women’s roles in society.

Lech Walesa (1943 -)
Leader of Polish Solidarity Movement, he became the first non-Communist President in 1990 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983.

Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910)
Influential Russian author, whose great epics include War and Peace. His philosophy of non-violence and a return to rural simplicity inspired other politicians such as Gandhi.

Leonard Cheshire (1917 - 1992)
A British pilot in the RAF during World War Two, Cheshire made over 103 missions during six years of war. After war, he founded a hospice that grew into the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, and he became known for his work in conflict resolution.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)
One of the greatest minds in human history. In many areas he was a couple of centuries ahead of scientific discovery. He helped make great advances in anatomy, astronomy, physics, science and in other fields as well. Amidst all this, he found time to paint the most iconic picture in history – The Mona Lisa.

Liz Murray (1980 -)
An American inspirational speaker who is notable for having been accepted by Harvard University despite being homeless in her high school years.

Madonna (1958 – )
American pop star. Madonna is the most successful female musician of all time. She has sold in excess of 250 million records. She has also starred in films, such as Desperately Seeking Susan and Evita.

Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948)
Gandhi was the principle figurehead of the Indian independence movement. Taught a philosophy of non-violence and peaceful protest.

Malala Yousafzai (1997– )
Pakistani schoolgirl who defied threats of the Taliban to campaign for the right to education for girls. She survived being shot in the head by the Taliban and has become a global advocate for human rights, women’s rights and the right to education. She has sought to emphasise the peaceful nature of Islam and the respect Islam has for education.

Margaret Fuller (1810–1850)
An American women’s rights advocate. Her book Women in the Nineteenth Century (1845) was influential in changing perceptions about men and women, and was one of the most important early feminist works. She argued for equality and women being more self-dependent and less dependent on men.

Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013)
The first female Prime minister of Great Britain, she governed for over 10 years, putting emphasis on individual responsibility and a belief in free markets.

Marie Curie (1867–1934)
Polish/French scientist. Curie was the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize and the first person to win the Nobel Prize for two separate categories. Her first award was for research into radioactivity (Physics, 1903). Her second Nobel prize was for Chemistry in 1911. A few years later she also helped develop the first X-ray machines.

Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962)
American actress who became one of the most iconic film legends. Her films were moderately successful, but her lasting fame came through her photogenic good looks and aura of glamour and sophistication.

Martin Luther King (1929–1968)
Non-violent civil rights leader. Inspired American civil rights movement to achieve greater equality. Helped to organise the 1963 March on Washington, where he gave famous ‘I have a dream’ speech. “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’

Martin Niemöller (1892 – 1984)
Lutheran pastor and anti-nazi theologian. A founder of the Confessional church which sought to reject the Nazification of churches. He opposed the idea of Aryan supremacy. For his opposition to Nazi ideology, he was imprisoned in concentration camps until the end of the war.

Mary Magdalene (4 BCE–40BCE)
Accounts from the Gospels and other sources suggest Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus’ most devoted followers. Mary Magdalene stood near Jesus at his crucifixion and was the first to see his resurrection.

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797)
English author, Wollstonecraft wrote the most significant book in the early feminist movement. Her pamphlet “A Vindication of the Rights of Women” laid down a moral and practical basis for extending human and political rights to women. She was a pioneer in the struggle for female suffrage.

Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941 )
A Polish Franciscan priest. During the Polish occupation, he was arrested twice by the Nazis but continued to offer shelter to Jews and Polish refugees. In 1941, he was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp, where he volunteered to take the place of a man condemned to death, showing great courage, faith and dignity.

Mikhail Gorbachev (1931– )
Leader of Soviet Union. Gorbachev oversaw the transition from Communism to democracy in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and allowed the Berlin Wall to come down. Gorbachev also instigated Glasnost, seeking to end restrictions on free speech and promote religious freedom.

Millicent Fawcett (1846–1929)
A leading suffragist and campaigner for equal rights for women. She led Britain’s biggest suffrage organisation, the non-violent (NUWSS) and played a key role in gaining women the vote. She also helped found Newnham College, Cambridge.

Mirabai (1498–1565)
Indian mystic and poet. Mirabai was born into a privileged Hindu family, but she forsook the expectations of a princess and spent her time as a mystic and devotee of Sri Krishna. She helped revitalise the tradition of bhakti (devotional) yoga in India.

Moses
After escaping from his slavery in Egypt, led his people out of Egypt and across the Red Sea.

Mother Teresa (1910–1997)
Albanian nun and charity worker. Devoting her life to the service of the poor and dispossessed Mother Teresa became a global icon for selfless service to others. Through her Missionary of Charities organisation, she personally cared for thousands of sick and dying people in Calcutta. She was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1979.

Mozart (1756–1791)
Music genius who composed a range of breathtaking music from piano concertos to his immortal Requiem.

Muhammad Ali (1942–2016)
Champion boxer and great character. Ali refused to fight in the Vietnam war and became a champion of civil rights and African interests. When asked how he would like to be remembered, Ali said: “As a man who tried to unite all humankind through faith and love.”

Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)
Anti-apartheid leader. Mandela spent over twenty years in jail for his opposition to the racist apartheid system which excluded blacks from many areas of society. He was elected the first President of democratic South Africa in 1994. “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.”

Nick Vujicic (1982 -)
An Australian Christian evangelist and motivational speaker born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of arms and legs

Odette Sansom
British secret service agent during World War Two. She was captured, tortured and sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp, but she survived the war.

Olaudah Equiano (1745 – 1797)
The first black African slave to write about his experience as a slave. His book ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano‘ played a pivotal role in turning public opinion in Britain against slavery.

Oprah Winfrey (1954– )
Influential talk show host. Oprah Winfrey has become a role model for African American women.

Peter Diamandis (1961 -)
Engineer, physician, best selling author and entrepreneur best known for founding the XPrize foundation and Singular University.

Pope Francis (1936– )
The first Jesuit pope and the first pope from the Americas, he has sought to reform the Vatican and the Catholic church. Pope Francis has stressed the importance of humility, modesty and concern for the poor. He is seen as a reforming Pope, trying to bring back the tradition of emphasis on the Gospels.

Pope John Paul II (1920–2005)
Lived through two totalitarian regimes, eventually becoming a priest and then the first Polish pope. He was a charismatic spiritual leader who retained great faith in moral and spiritual values.

Queen Elizabeth II (1926– )
Since ascending to the British throne in 1952, Elizabeth has become the longest serving British monarch. She has witnessed rapid social and economic change and has been a unifying influence for Britain and the Commonwealth.

Queen Victoria (1819–1901)
British Queen. Presiding over one of the largest empires ever seen, Queen Victoria was the head of state from 1837 – 1901. Queen Victoria sought to gain an influence in British politics whilst remaining aloof from party politics. She came to symbolise a whole era of Victorian values.

Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941)
Poet, writer, humanitarian, Tagore was the first Indian to be awarded Nobel Prize for Literature.

Richard Branson (1950 -)
A business magnate, investor and philanthropist. Branson expressed his desire to become an entrepreneur at a young age. At sixteen, his first business venture was a magazine called Student. In 1970, he set up a mail-order record business. In 1972, he opened a chain of record stores, Virgin Records, later known as Virgin Megastores. Branson's Virgin brand grew rapidly during the 1980s, as he set up Virgin Atlantic airline and expanded the Virgin Records music label.

Rosa Luxemburg (1870–1919)
Polish/German Marxist revolutionary, Rosa Luxemburg sought to bring social reform to Germany. She wrote fiercely against German imperialism and for international socialism. In 1919, she was murdered after a failed attempt to bring about a Communist revolution in Germany.

Rosa Parks (1913–2005)
Civil Rights activist. She started the Montgomery bus boycott (1955) through her refusal to give up her seat to a white person. She became a prominent spokesperson and figurehead for the American civil rights movement.

Sappho (circa 570 BCE)
One of the first known female writers. Much of her poetry has been lost but her immense reputation has remained. Plato referred to Sappho as one of the great 10 poets.

Sergey Mikhaylovich Brin (1973 -)
A a Russian American computer scientist, internet entrepreneur, and philanthropist who together with Larry Page, he co-founded Google. Brin is the President of Google's parent company Alphabet Inc.

Shirin Ebadi (1947– )
Iranian judge and lawyer. She fought for the right for women to pursue a legal career in Iran. She has also defended opposition dissidents who have fallen foul of the Iranian judicial system.

Simone de Beauvoir (1908–1986)
French existentialist philosopher. Simone de Beauvoir developed a close personal and intellectual relationship with Jean-Paul Satre. Her book “The Second Sex” depicted the traditions of sexism that dominated society and history. It was a defining book for the feminist movement.

Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727)
One of the greatest scientists of all time. Isaac Newton led the foundation of modern physics with his development of theories on gravity and mechanics.

Socrates (469 BC–399 BC)
Greek philosopher. Socrates was willing to die for his beliefs. Arrested for his philosophic teachings, Socrates was willing to accept death rather than change his opinions and beliefs. It is said he calmly accepted his fate.

Sojourner Truth (1797 – 1883)
African-American abolitionist and women’s rights campaigner. In 1851, gave a famous extemporaneous speech “Ain’t I a woman?” which explained in plain language how women were equal to men.

Sophie Scholl (1921-1943)
German student who took part in the White Rose Resistance group who opposed Hitler and the Nazi Party. She was arrested in 1943 for distributing anti-war leaflets and was executed.

Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007)
An Indian spiritual teacher who combined the best of Eastern and Western cultures. He founded the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, a world-wide run to promote peace and greater understanding.

Sri Krishna (c. 3000 BCE)
Sri Krishna was a great Spiritual Teacher who gave the immortal discourses in the Bhagavad Gita, teaching a practical yoga for all.

St Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)
Spanish mystic, poet and Carmelite reformer. St Teresa of Avila lived through the Spanish inquisition but avoided being placed on trial despite her mystical revelations. She helped to reform the tradition of Catholicism and steer the religion away from fanaticism.

St Therese de Lisieux (1873–1897)
A Carmelite nun, who died aged 24, unknown to the world. Yet after her death her simple writings had a profound effect, becoming one of the best selling spiritual writings. Her approach was a simple approach of doing the smallest acts with love.

Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)
American Campaigner against slavery and for the promotion of women’s and workers rights. She began campaigning within the temperance movement and this convinced her of the necessity for women to have the vote. She toured the US giving countless speeches on the subjects of human rights.

Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902 )
A direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, Vivekananda helped spread Sri Ramakrishna’s message and mission to the West.

Tegla Loroupe (1973– )
Kenyan athlete. Loroupe held the women’s marathon world record and won many prestigious marathons. Since retiring from running, she has devoted herself to various initiatives promoting peace, education and women’s rights. In her native Kenya, her Peace Race and Peace Foundation have been widely praised for helping to end tribal conflict.

Thomas Clarkson (1760–1846)
English abolitionist and leading campaigner against the slave trade.

Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
3rd President of USA. Principal author of the Declaration of Independence.

Tom Paine (1737–1809)
English-American writer and political activist. He wrote influential pamphlets arguing for independence for the US, and the end of slavery. He was a key figure of the enlightenment and age of reason, supporting the revolutionary principles of US and France.

Wangari Maathai (1940–2011 )
Kenyan-born environmentalist, pro-democracy activist and women’s rights campaigner. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to prevent conflict through protection of scarce resources.

William Blake (1757–1827)
Mystical poet and artist. William Blake wrote poems of great depth and power, celebrating both the joys of spirit and nature, and also fiercely criticising the injustice of the times.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Shakespeare remains the king of English literature. His plays and poetry captured the richness and diversity of human existence in the most powerful and poetic way.

William Tyndale (1494 – 1536)
Translated the Bible into English, which at the time was forbidden. For his controversial views and belief everyone should be able to read the Bible in their native tongue, he was later arrested and executed.

William Wilberforce (1759 – 1833)
A leader of the campaign against slavery in Britain. He lived to see the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act 1933, which was passed after overcoming opposition from interested parties.

Winston Churchill (1874–1965)
In the worst moments of 1940, the Nazi war machine looked invincible as it swept through Europe. Churchill inspired the free nations to keep alive the fight against the tyranny of Hitler’s Germany.

Witold Pilecki (1901 – 1948)
During WW2 Pilecki joined the underground Polish resistance. In 1943, he volunteered to smuggle himself into Auschwitz concentration camp so he could report on the holocaust to the allies. He then escaped Auschwitz and took part in the Warsaw uprising of 1944. In 1948, he was executed by the Stalinist secret police for retaining loyalty to the non-Communist Polish government.

Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
Woodrow Wilson had a vision for a League of Nations a forum where nations could come together to solve disputes. The League of Nations struggled to make an impact before the Second World War, but his vision was important in the development of the United Nations.