Thomas Edward Lawrence, known popularly as Lawrence of Arabia, was a British intelligence officer during the Arab Revolt of WWI. Lawrence would contribute many valuable intelligence reports leading to his promotion to Major and would go on to re-enlist in the RAF under a pseudonym.

Marco Polo’s father returned to Venice from travels in Asia when Marco was 15, and would return with Marco, beginning a 17 year journey through the Asian continent. When the Polos returned to Venice, Marco was arrested and his cellmate wrote his successful biography.

Pocahontas was born in Virginia around 1596 and was given her name which translates to “playful one” or “ill-behaved child.” Although legend has it that Pocahontas was in love with John Smith, it was John Rolfe with whom she actually married and bore a child.

Martin Luther King Jr was raised by a family of pastors and educated in theology before becoming a leading civil rights activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and martyr for racial activism.

Alexander the Great was born into royalty in Macedonia, educated by Aristotle, and would ascend to the Macedonian throne after his father was assassinated, building one of the largest empires of his time.

Caligula was a Roman emperor who was the victim of an unknown illness that resulted in erratic, impulsive and sadistic behavior. Caligula’s excesses and draining of the treasury would result in a conspiracy among senators to assassinate the mentally ill emperor.

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in 1820 and became an underground railroad conductor when her brothers were destined to be sold away from the family. Tubman would go on to lead no less than 70 slaves to freedom, work with the Union Army, and become a landowner.