History often presents us with polished portraits of famous figures, casting them as either heroes or villains. However, reality is usually more complex than that. People often harbor contradictions, surprising motivations, or overlooked flaws. That is why in this article, we explore the untold sides of historical figures we thought we knew.
Nowadays, Michelangelo is remembered as one of the most talented artists in history, but like most artists, he also struggled to make ends meet when he first started.
His situation was so bad that in his twenties he attempted art fraud. He passed off a sculpture as an ancient Roman artifact to increase its value.
However, when the fraud was discovered, instead of being punished, he gained recognition for his skill and was hired by the person he tried to rip off: Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de Medici
For many years people believed that Mrs. O’Leary’s cow caused the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 by knocking over a lantern. However, this turned out to be false.
While her barn was the fire’s starting point, there is no evidence her cow was involved. This story likely arose from anti-immigrant and anti-Irish sentiment at the time.
A journalist even later admitted to fabricating the cow tale for sensationalism. In reality, the exact cause of the fire remains unknown until today.
Contrary to what many believe, George Washington Carver did not invent peanut butter. Although he is usually credited for doing so.
Carver was in fact a brilliant agricultural scientist who promoted the cultivation of peanuts and discovered numerous uses for them, including recipes and industrial products.
However, peanut butter had been developed before Carver’s time, with early versions created by Native Americans. Many patents for peanut butter production were issued to others in the late 1800s.
Although many believe that Vincent Van Gogh struggled financially throughout his career, the truth is he was supported by his brother, Theo van Gogh, throughout much of his life.
Although Vincent struggled to sell his artwork and was mostly unsuccessful commercially, Theo provided him with regular financial assistance.
Theo’s financial help allowed him to continue painting and focus on his craft. However, it is a fact that Vicent was a very tortured individual and struggled emotionally most of his life.
It might seem surprising but Isaac Newton, renowned for his scientific achievements, spent a significant part of his life studying alchemy and the occult.
He believed these practices could reveal hidden truths about the natural world, including the potential for immortality. Crazy, right?
Newton sought the philosopher’s stone, a mythical substance thought to turn metals into gold and grant eternal life. His alchemical work remained largely private during his lifetime.
Shockingly, the George Washington cherry tree tale, popularized by biographer Mason Locke Weems in the early 19th century is actually fake.
The tale claimed that young Washington confessed to chopping down a cherry tree because he “could not tell a lie.” But this was not true.
This story was invented to illustrate Washington’s honesty and virtue, but no historical evidence supports it. Modern-day historians regard it as a fictional anecdote.
Despite what the popular myth states, George Washington’s dentures were not made of wood, but were actually crafted from a mix of materials.
These materials included human teeth, animal bones, and ivory. His dental problems led him to have several sets of dentures throughout his life.
Some of the human teeth used in his dentures were bought from enslaved people, reflecting the darker realities of his time. The dentures caused him discomfort and affected his appearance.
Pocahontas’s story is very different from that of Disney movies. She was the daughter of Chief Powhatan and became known for her interaction with English settlers.
She was particularly close with John Smith, whom she met when she was just 11 years old. It is believed that she may have saved him from execution, though the story is debated.
In 1613, she was captured by the English, married an English settler, and later converted to Christianity. In 1616, she traveled to England and died of illness a year later at just 21 years old.
I might sound crazy, but Leo Fender, the legendary inventor of the Fender guitar, did not know how to play the guitar.
Fender was an electrical engineer with a passion for fixing radios and amplifiers, and he used his technical knowledge to create innovative instruments that musicians loved.
Despite not knowing how to play one, he revolutionized the music industry by designing some of the most iconic electric guitars, including the Fender Telecaster.
Yes, it’s true. Marie Antoinette never said, “Let them eat cake.” The phrase, originally “Let them eat brioche” (Qu’ils mangent de la brioche), was falsely attributed to her.
This statement was likely propaganda used to portray her as out of touch with the struggles of the French people, particularly during times of widespread poverty and hunger.
The phrase first appeared in Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Confessions, written years before Marie Antoinette became queen, and was likely assigned to her later to fuel resentment against her.
A common misconception about Saint Patrick is that he is celebrated for driving snakes out of Ireland. However, this story is symbolic rather than literal.
There were likely never any snakes in post-glacial Ireland, so the “snakes” represent paganism and other non-Christian beliefs that Patrick is said to have helped “drive out” by spreading Christianity.
Nowadays, the holiday has also become heavily associated with Irish culture, but its original meaning was religious, honoring Patrick’s role in Christianizing Ireland.
Despite of their love for all things aviation, the Wright Brothers’ numerous lawsuits likely hindered the early development of aviation altogether.
After their first successful flight, the Wrights were highly protective of their inventions and filed numerous patents and legal claims against other aviation pioneers, including Glenn Curtiss.
These lawsuits, aimed at securing exclusive rights to key aviation technologies, created legal battles that discouraged innovation and collaboration in the field.
Most of us are familiar with Joan of Arc, a peasant girl who became a French national hero during the Hundred Years’ War and was eventually burned at the stake.
She was commonly believed to be for witchcraft. However, one key charge was simply wearing men’s clothing. In her time, this act was considered a crime punishable by death.
Joan was given a chance to repent but was later caught again in men’s attire, sealing her fate. Her story reflects how harsh laws were centuries ago.
The belief that Napoleon Bonaparte was short is a misconception. He was actually around 5’7″ (1.7 meters), which was above average height for a man in France during his time.
The myth likely arose due to confusion between French and English measurements, as well as British propaganda portraying him as small and inferior.
Additionally, Napoleon was often surrounded by taller soldiers in his Imperial Guard, which probably made him seem shorter by comparison. Funny, right?
Although Mother Teresa was mostly renowned for her charitable work with the poor, she faced criticism for the poor conditions in her Missionaries of Charity homes.
Reports emerged that her facilities lacked proper medical care, hygiene, and pain relief, with critics accusing her of glorifying poverty and suffering rather than alleviating it.
She was also opposed to modern medical interventions, emphasizing spiritual care over physical treatment, which was quite controversial, even during her time.
Known for her singing, modeling, and acting, Marilyn Monroe remains the ultimate blonde bombshell. Her curvy figure redefined beauty standards that are recreated even today.
However, the secret to her signature glow on screen might surprise you: it was facial hair! A thin layer caused by a hormone cream she used to lighten her skin.
Apparently, the hair reflected studio lights beautifully. Embracing this unexpected effect, Monroe refused to wax or shave it off, making it part of her unique charm.
Despite being often associated with atheism due to his theory of evolution, Charles Darwin was not an atheist. He struggled with his faith throughout his life.
It was the death of his daughter that deepened his doubts. However, Darwin never fully rejected the existence of God and identified as agnostic in his later years.
Manu of his personal letters show that while he distanced himself from traditional Christian beliefs, he remained uncertain about the divine.
Despite his prestigious reputation as the father of psychoanalysis, not many people know that Sigmund Freud was addicted to cocaine for much of his life.
In the 19th century, cocaine was not yet understood to be harmful, and Freud initially used and promoted it as a treatment for various conditions, including depression and chronic pain.
He continued to use the drug personally, and his drug usage became problematic. Many critics later questioned the impact it may have had on his work and theories.
When we think of Churchill, we often remember his heroic leadership during World War II, with his inspiring speeches and determination.
However, like many leaders, Churchill had a controversial side. Historians argue that his inaction during a period of wartime inflation contributed to the Bengal Famine.
Rising food prices and a cut-off of India’s rice supply led to a famine in Bengal in 1943. As a result, over three million people died from malnutrition or disease.
Not many people know that the famous 1940s bombshell Rita Hayworth was actually born Margarita Carmen Cansino. She underwent a significant ethnic makeover in Hollywood to fit the industry’s standards.
To achieve a more “Anglo” appearance, her hairline was painfully raised, her hair dyed red, and her Spanish surname was changed to Hayworth. Her skin was also bleached.
This makeover reflected the dangerous pressures for Latina and non-white actors to assimilate into a more “acceptable” image, erasing their ethnic identity. This reinforced harmful stereotypes.
Nikola Tesla was a pioneering inventor known for developing alternating current (AC) electrical systems and numerous other innovations, holding over 300 patents.
However, he had another side to him, one far less grounded in science. During his adolescent years, after witnessing his brother’s death, he claimed to have visions.
In addition, during his later years, he’d spend his time feeding and, according to him, communicating with pigeons in New York City. Strange, right?
Often remembered for her beauty, Cleopatra was actually far more than just a pretty face. She was highly intelligent and fluent in several languages.
She was a shrewd political strategist. In fact, her leadership skills and diplomatic prowess helped her navigate the complex political landscape of the Roman Empire.
Though often portrayed romantically, Cleopatra’s true strength lay in her intellect and ability to rule effectively. Her legacy as a powerful female leader endures beyond her physical appearance.
Although most of us would probably think of Mozart as someone with sophisticated humor, the truth is that he was known for having a scatological sense of humor.
This aspect of his personality is evident in some of his personal letters, particularly those to family members, where he made playful and sometimes crude jokes about such topics.
Though this may seem surprising given his reputation as a musical genius, scatological humor was not uncommon in his time; maybe it had something to do with people’s diet.
It might be shocking to learn this, but Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Geisel, reportedly didn’t like children much, despite writing beloved children’s books.
He often described himself as uncomfortable around kids and preferred solitude and the company of adults. He even chose not to have children of his own with his wife.
Ironically, his stories resonated deeply with young readers, but his motivation for writing them was more about creativity and humor rather than a love for children.
Eleanor Roosevelt, the longest-serving First Lady in U.S. history, achieved much during her time in the White House, including advocating for the U.S. to join the United Nations.
She also became the first chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights. However, many believed her marriage to President Franklin Roosevelt was more political than romantic.
Apparently, she formed close friendships with openly lesbian women, leading to speculation about her own sexuality. Still, opinions on the matter remain divided.
These days, almost everyone owns an Apple product, be it an iPhone, MacBook, or AirPods. The company is one of the world’s biggest corporations, largely thanks to Steve Jobs.
However, the late tech mogul had a darker side to him. In her memoir Small Fry, Lisa Brennan-Jobs describes her father, Steve Jobs, as incredibly cruel. He even denied being her father.
Jobs initially resisted paying child support. When the courts ordered him to pay, he made sure the legal process was completed before Apple went public, making his net worth appear much lower.
Often romanticized in The Greatest Showman, P.T. Barnum, had a much darker side that is frequently overlooked. He was notorious for exploiting and abusing people.
He often used individuals with physical differences or disabilities for profit in his circus. Apparently, he kept them in cages, treating them as sideshow attractions.
He also conducted cruel experiments on animals and living beings to entertain audiences. Despite his wealth and fame, his legacy is far more troubling than the film suggests.
While credited as the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale was initially opposed to the professionalization of nursing and believed it should remain more of a vocation.
For a long time, Nightingale thought nursing was a calling rather than a formal profession. She feared that professionalizing nursing might compromise the selfless nature of the work.
However, her views evolved over time, and she later supported efforts to establish formal nursing education and standards, recognizing the need for properly trained nurses to improve healthcare.
Andy Warhol’s iconic art was largely created in his famed studio, the Factory, where he employed other artists to assist in producing his work and starred in his films.
However, many of these artists were exploited, working long hours for little pay and receiving no recognition for their contributions. Warhol, meanwhile, took full credit for the creations.
When asked about the unfair treatment, Warhol apparently responded that he compensated his collaborators by giving them fame, rather than financial or artistic acknowledgment.
Thomas Edison is mostly remembered as a prolific inventor, but a side of him that is usually less discussed is how obsessed he was with patents.
He held over 1,000 patents. His reputation as a patent mogul comes from his aggressive pursuit of patents and his ability to commercialize inventions.
Edison built a large team of inventors and researchers and was known for improving upon other people’s ideas. This behavior led to criticism that he took credit for others’ work.
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