Biographies Story Briefs

We may know about a famous person's accomplishments, but what do we know about THEM? What is the human-interest story in THEIR lives? This biography collection features the stories behind the lives of some famous (and not-so-famous) individuals.

Russia rose as a mighty power following the Middle Ages, but after Ivan IV (also known as Ivan Grozny - "Ivan the Terrible") died, the country was thr...

In this clip, from "Gettysburg," General Longstreet instructs Colonel Alexander and General Pettigrew on the details for an attack which has since bee...

When Florence Bascom taught geology at Bryn Mawr, she was part of the first women's college in America to offer a PhD program for female students. It ...

When Florence Bascom (1862-1945) attended Johns Hopkins University, to pursue a doctorate in geology, she had to sit behind a screen so male students ...

Before he became a pope, Giuseppe Sarto had a great deal of experience living among his parishoners. As Pope Pius X, he strongly opposed the outbreak ...

Get to know the current pope of the Catholic Church: "Cool Pope" Francis

When Pope Gregory VII was born, circa 1025, his family lived near Sovana (which was then part of the Papal States).

Henry Morgan was born in Wales but is most-known for his escapades as a buccaneer.

Beethoven premiered his 9th Symphony on May 7, 1824 in Vienna. Deafness prohibited him from conducting, but Beethoven was on stage for the first time ...

Photographic image of Ida Saxton McKinley who married William McKinley on January 25, 1871at the First Presbyterian Church in Canton, Ohio.

Dr. Jonas Salk and his team developed a polio vaccine at a time when children were dying of the illness. Declared safe and effective, in 1955, the vac...

By 1886, according to contemporary articles, William Ewart Gladstone (then Great Britains Prime Minister) believed Ireland needed to be independent.

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