Most multi-talented historical figure?

Question

Who is a great person from history that was talented in many completly separate areas? How did he/she use their different talents?

I can only think of Leonardo da Vinci, the inventor and artist.

Answer 1

Benjamin Franklin was a printer, author, inventor, and statesman. His best known inventions were bifocals and the franklin stove. His best known civic improvements were fire departments and public libraries. He secured French support for the American revolution and brokered the peace treaty that ended the revolution.

He outdid Davinci but only because the American social environment and improvements in technology allowed him to do so. If all things had been equal, it would have made an interesting match.

Answer 2

Da Vinci, no question. Maybe Ben Franklin would give him a run for his money, but... nah...

How about a similar question, but asking about who the most talented or intelligent person is that has absolutely squandered their gift? I would vote for Marilyn vos Savant, who has the world's highest known I.Q. And all she does with it is answer stupid brain-teasers in a Parade magazine column once a week. What a waste! Imagine what she could accomplish if she was an astronomer, or a physicist, or a philosopher.

Answer 3

My vote would probably go slightly in favor of Benjamin Franklin over Thomas Jefferson, but only slightly. Both, however, score much higher than Da Vinci.

While Da Vinci dabbled in a lot of areas, he rarely followed up on anything. No evidence exists that he ever actually built any of the magnificent contraptions in his notebooks, or that he even attempted any of them.

Franklin, however, followed up on every interest he ever had. He wanted to learn about electricity, and ended up inventing the lightning rod. He wanted to improve the efficiency of wood heating and wound up inventing a new kind of wood-burning stove. He thought Philadelphia needed better infrastructure, so he personally oversaw the creation of a police department, fire department, street maintenance, etc. And so on.

Jefferson was an avid lover of music, so he invented a music stand that could accomodate four musicians. He was an ardent believer in religious freedom so he wrote and then ram-rodded an amendment to the Virginia Constitution that guaranteed such freedom. He believed that Virginia needed an institution of higher learning so he oversaw the founding of the University of Virginia, and designed its first buildings. And so on.

Answer 4

Howard Hughes was a multi talented man, he flew airplanes, he invented many things, including the brazeer for Jane Russell the famous actress who had huge jugs and she needed to have them held up. He made motion pictures, he found and developed the talents of others, like engineers, and film actors, etc., he built airplanes etc. Then there was Thomas Jefferson a writer, a farmer, a scientist, a president, etc., Houdini the great escape artist and magician. Paul Newman an excellent actor, race car driver, makes his own spaghetti sauce and salsa, salad dressing, etc. Cary Grant, or Archibald Leech, an actor, but a great business man, he built the business into great success called Fabrege. Joan Crawford, an excellent actress but a shrewd business woman she took Pepsi Cola and made it a household word, after they almost lost the company she built it back up. But Clint Eastwood is special he acts yes but he writes, directs and produces his films and for others, he rides horses, and really is a marksman, and he also was mayor of monterey, California. Happy New Year

Answer 5

I immediately thought Leonardo Da Vinci,

Hmm...

Answer 6

Benjamin Franklin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Franklin

Answer 7

Thomas Jefferson was very multi-talented. He was an inventor and a very fine architect. He was also an astute theologian and musician.

Answer 8

I once heard that Otto Von Bismarck could juggle, yodel and invade France at the same time!

Answer 9

da vinci is a good one so is thomas edison and benjamin franklin

Answer 10

Add my vote for Ben Franklin. Just read anything about him and you will not believe how many things he was into.