Famous People Story Briefs

People who change the world may, or may not, be famous in their own lifetimes. Often it takes years for others to understand forward-thinking contributions. This collection introduces you to some of the world's most-famous people

Mary Queen of Scots was tried for her part in the Babington plot to kill Queen Elizabeth. The evidence against her included the forged note.

Banastre Tarleton (1754-1833), from Liverpool, was a daring British commander who won several battles in the South during the American Revolution. He ...

Details of the battle of Pelelieu

French and British troops battled over Egypt.

Horatio Nelson is Britain's national hero, but what he did at Trafalgar made him a legend.

What are the factors leading to Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo on the 18th of June, 1815? Learn about the peace that Europe won in the fields of Waterl...

It was in the spa town of Teplitz (known today as Bad Teplice in the Czech Republic) that Beethoven began composing his famous Seventh Symphony. While...

During his performing heyday, Beethoven was known as more than a brilliant pianist. His ability to improvise was legendary, and he often competed wit...

Beethoven's autopsy strongly suggest that liver failure secondary to alcoholic cirrhosis, associated with terminal spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, ...

Escaping the turmoil in his own house, Beethoven found peace at the home of friends - Eleonore and Stephan von Breuning - whose mother (Helene) unders...

This facsimile drawing of Beethoven, during his last hours, was made by Joseph Teltscher.

Just before Christmas, in 1808, Beethoven introduces his amazing new concerto. Many years later, a Beethoven-playing pianist endures a tragedy in Amer...

Show tooltips