13 Historical Figures Who Really Were Born in the Wrong Generation
![13 Historical Figures Who Really Were Born in the Wrong Generation](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/8/4/902684_320x180.jpg)
Ah, the great minds of yesteryear! From the brilliant minds of Thomas Paine and Ada Lovelace to the pioneering spirit of Mary Anning and Mary Shelley, it’s easy to see why they are celebrated and remembered as true pioneers. But, of course, they are not the only ones who have made a lasting impact.
In this list, we celebrate the achievements of some of the most remarkable people who have ever lived - people who have pushed the boundaries of what was possible, even when the odds were stacked against them. Whether it was Mary Edwards Walker fighting for women’s rights, Al-Hasan Ibn al-Haytham revolutionizing optics and light research, or Benjamin Banneker succeeding in science despite adversity, these people can serve as an inspiration to us all.
So, let us take a moment to remember and celebrate these incredible people who have gone above and beyond to make the world a better place. They have truly gone down in history as some of the greatest visionaries of all time.
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Turing to the future.
![ALAN TURING came up with the idea of a universal Turing machine, which was like a blueprint for a computer, and helped create the first electronic computer-all in the 1940s. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/3/2/902032.jpg)
Timeless classic: 'Frankenstein.'
![MARY SHELLEY wrote a book at 19 that has become a classic - Frankenstein. Written in the 19th century, it was science fiction exploring themes of scientific progress, human dignity, and justice. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/3/0/902030.jpg)
Thomas Paine: Revolutionary thinker, ahead of his time.
![THOMAS PAINE had some pretty forward-thinking ideas. In his pamphlet Agrarian Justice from the late 1700s, he proposed a social welfare system, a universal minimum income, and a tax on wealth and estates - ideas pretty radical even now. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/3/1/902031.jpg)
Pioneering computer programmer.
![ADA LOVELACE wrote about Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine, a computer he had designed, and showed that it could do complicated calculations by following a set of instructions (essentially, a program) in the early 1800s. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/4/902024.jpg)
1776: A future of skyscrapers ignited by Sophie Germain’s math.
![you for again property de demondur marra I'un transplain , et First / be nombus naturals paid depuid per que catter paperities 2. Y - 4) y A Born in 1776, SOPHIE GERMAIN was awarded a prize by the French Academy of Sciences for her paper on the patterns of vibration. Her work was crucial for applied mathematics, and is still used today in the construction of skyscrapers. 7 A too Л CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/3/4/902034.jpg)
A true pioneer for women’s rights.
![Born in 1832, MARY EDWARDS WALKER was a trailblazer for women's rights. She was the first woman to get the Medal of Honor, and she fought for women's clothing reform, health, temperance, and equal rights regardless of gender. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/3/3/902033.jpg)
"Father of Optics" revolutionized vision and light research.
![Born in 965, AL-HASAN IBN AL-HAYTHAM made major discoveries about vision, optics and light, and is considered the Father of Modern Optics. His approach to research, which involved testing theories with experiments, was similar to the scientific method used today. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/6/902026.jpg)
From Johannes Hevelius’ Selenographia/Public domain
Ahead of her time: Ida Pfeiffer, globetrotting pioneer.
![IDA PFEIFFER was born in 1797 and, at 45, she set off on a solo journey to Istanbul, Palestine, Italy, and many other places, becoming the first woman to travel the world alone. During that one and other travels, she collected seeds, plants, and specimens. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/8/902028.jpg)
Franz Hanfstaengl/Wiki Commons,
Everett Collection/Shutterstock
Groundbreaking achievement for African women.
![WANGARI MAATHAI was the first African woman in East and Central Africa to get a doctorate, which was a big step forward for women in those areas to get higher education. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/7/902027.jpg)
Achievement despite adversity: Benjamin Banneker.
![CRACKED BENJAMIN BANNEKER was a free African American who achieved great things in science and math at the turn of the 19th century, despite having only basic schooling. Не was even invited to join the survey team mapping out the new capital, Washington, D.C.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/1/902021.jpg)
A true pioneer: Hertha Ayrton.
![Born in 1854, HERTHA AYRTON was the first woman to present a paper to the Institution of Electrical Engineers, to be elected a member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, and to be awarded the prestigious Hughes Medal by the Royal Society. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/5/902025.jpg)
"Unstoppable" Mary Anning.
![CRACKED MARY ANNING was a trailblazer in the field of fossil hunting and paleontology in the 1800s. Despite not having much schooling and facing prejudice from the scientific world, she made amazing discoveries that changed how we look at prehistoric life.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/9/902029.jpg)
Immigrant champion of equality and diversity.
![ALEXANDER HAMILTON was a champion of racial equality and created an advanced financial system for the U.S., which were revolutionary ideas for his time. Apparently there's even a musical or something about it. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/3/902023.jpg)