22 Celebrated Historical Figures Who Did Terrible Things
There are many people throughout history who have been acknowledged for their leadership, accomplishments, or contributions to society.
Unfortunately, not everything they did was “good.” From exploitation and enslavement to unethical animal experiments and human mass killings—these historical figures hid some dark secrets.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson is celebrated today as a founding father and author of the Declaration of Independence. But not many people realize that his legacy is stained—by his ownerships of slaves.
In fact, he even had a long-term relationship with Sally Hemings—an enslaved woman.
Rembrandt Peale, Wikimedia Commons
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi is known for his philosophy of nonviolent resistance, but his personal life has been scrutinized after allegations arose about his mistreatment of women—which included his teenage nieces whom he slept with to “test his celibacy.”
Elliott & Fry, Wikimedia Commons
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa has earned the title of Saint for her charitable work with the poor. But she has also been criticized for her strict opposition to contraception and abortion, along with the substandard conditions in her hospices.
John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill is celebrated for his leadership during WWII—yet his imperialist policies resulted in the deaths of millions during famines in British-ruled India and Bengal.
Bettmann Archive, Wikimedia Commons
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering the Americas. But what many people don’t know is that his expeditions also led to the exploitation, enslavement, and mass killings of Indigenous peoples.
Historical Society of Old Yarmouth, Picryl
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso was a pioneering artist of the 20th century. And while many people held him on a pedestal, his personal life was plagued with numerous affairs and the mistreatment of women—including his partners and his muses.
Walt Disney
Walt Disney has been a longtime favorite for his contributions to animations and entertainment that continue to live on years after his passing.
But his antisemitic views and cooperation with the House Un-American Activities Committee during the Red Scare tarnish his legacy.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Henry Ford
Henry Ford is known as the innovator of the assembly line, and founder of Ford Motor Company. But he, too, has antisemitic views—and he published them in his newspaper, The Dearborn Independent.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
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John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy has been described as charismatic and idealized. But a dark shadow fell over his presidency when he was allegedly involved in numerous extramarital affairs, and became known as a womanizer.
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon is renowned for his many accomplishments, namely opening relations with China. But his involvement in the Watergate scandal—and the subsequent cover-up—ultimately led to his resignation, ruining his reputation.
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison is often credited with the invention of the light bulb—but not many know about his dark and ruthless business tactics.
Edison apparently electrocuted animals in order to discredit alternating current.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin—known for his theory of evolution—apparently had a darker side, too. His writings often contained racially charged language and prejudiced beliefs of his time.
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson is best known for his role in expanding American territory. However, his methods in doing so were genocidal. Specifically, his involvement in the Trail of Tears—the forced removal of Indigenous families from their land—that led to countless deaths and horrific mistreatment of thousands of Indigenous peoples.
Mathew Benjamin Brady, Wikimedia Commons
Sigmund Freud
Freud is known as the Father of Psychoanalysis. His theories though, have been criticized for their misogyny and lack of evidence—especially his views on women and sexuality.
Max Halberstadt, Wikimedia Commons
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs is known for being the co-founder of Apple Inc. But apparently his authoritarian leadership style has not been well received. As well, he is notorious for his exploitation of labor in overseas factories.
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell goes down in history as the inventor of the telephone—but few know the dark side to his character.
Bell advocated for eugenics—the practice of improving the human species by selectively mating people with specifically desirable hereditary traits. And he also made efforts to suppress sign language among deaf people.
Harris & Ewing, Wikimedia Commons
Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger won a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the Vietnam War, but few know of his involvement in controversial foreign policies—like the bombing of Cambodia.
National Archives and Records Administration, Wikimedia Commons
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein, whom many consider the smartest man in the world, is renowned for his theory of relativity. Sadly, his dark personal life has come to light, tarnishing his legacy.
Einstein apparently mistreated his first wife, Mileva Maric, and terribly neglected his family.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan is recognized as the founder of the Mongol Empire—but sadly, his military conquests led to the deaths of millions, along with the destruction of countless cities. His legacy has taken a dark turn.
National Palace Museum, Wikimedia Commons
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte is known as a “military genius and reformer.” But unfortunately, his quest for power caused the deaths of thousands of soldiers and civilians.
Andrea Appiani, Wikimedia Commons
Alberto Fujimori
Alberto Fujimori, former President of Peru, is credited with defeating the Shining Path insurgency. However, his authoritarian regime involved various human rights issues, corruption, and electoral fraud.
European Union, 2024, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
J. Edgar Hoover
For nearly five decades, J. Edgar Hoover was the director of the FBI, where he unfortunately abused his power. With the use of illegal surveillance, Hoover is responsible for countless acts of harassment and blackmail.
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