Time provides perspective. Many beloved figures from history we celebrate today were hated, or at best ignored, when they were living.
These important historical figures weren’t appreciated in their own time.
Vincent van Gogh
One of the most famous painters in history was ridiculed and institutionalized when he was alive. Van Gogh had a mental illness, and his contemporaries didn’t appreciate his genius.
His brother’s wife promoted him when he passed as a way to survive, and her efforts catapulted him into stardom.
Edgar Allen Poe
America’s most famous poet died alone and miserable, likely suffering from Rabies. Though people did read and appreciate his work during his life, he wasn’t well-liked.
Abraham Lincoln
Today, we celebrate the 16th president as the man who led us through our nation’s most catastrophic events. He kept us together when everything was breaking at the seams.
Everyone hated him at the time. The South clearly wanted to succeed, and even many in the North didn’t think the war was worth the effort.
Emily Dickenson
Misogyny likely played a role in Dickenson’s struggles. Though today she’s found in nearly every English textbook in America, she struggled to gain acclaim as a poet during her lifespan.
Alan Turing
Turing had a great mind, but his sexuality often overshadowed his accomplishments. The man helped usher us into the information age, but his contemporaries couldn’t relinquish their hatred for someone different.
Ignaz Semmelweis
Semmelweis isn’t a household name, but everyone sees his work all around them. He promoted handwashing to prevent the spread of illness but was ridiculed for his lofty ideas.
Turns out he was right. We all benefited from his work.
Isaac Newton
Newton helped usher in the Age of Enlightenment. He showed us how the world works and gave us tools to calculate the laws of motion for ourselves. Today, he’s celebrated as one of the most influential scientists in history.
Unfortunately, Newton’s off-putting personality made him unlikable in his own time. People couldn’t stand his insufferable attitude.
Socrates
The Greeks hated Socrates so much that they sentenced him to death. Today, he’s renowned as one of the greatest philosophers ever to have lived.
Galileo
Galileo’s ideas were at odds with the most powerful institution of his day: the Catholic Church. He was persecuted for daring to prove some of the Church’s teachings about the solar system wrong.
Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla had a fantastic mind and a kind heart. He wanted to make electricity free for everyone. Unfortunately, his capitalistic rival, Thomas Edison, had other plans. Tesla was ridiculed, while Edison catapulted to fame.
Today, we better understand Tesla’s massive contributions to society.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Though we celebrate the iconic civil rights leader today, people at the time hated him. White folks resisted equal rights and often claimed he didn’t “protest correctly.”
Unfortunately, we still see the same resistance to change today.
Sinéad O’Connor
Sinéad O’Connor was subjected to intensive ridicule after standing against the Catholic Church. She spoke out before the sexual abuse scandal came to light, and everyone turned their back on her.
She was right, but the damage to her career and reputation was done.
Charles Darwin
People despise those who challenge their worldviews, and Darwin’s work was a doozy. Darwin’s theory of evolution turned biblical creation on its head.
Although most recognize his theory as accurate, many still hate him and his ideas.