Top 10 Smartest People of All Time

Throughout history, there have been individuals whose intellect and contributions to various fields have left an indelible mark on the world. Here, we present a list of the top 10 smartest people of all time, along with their country of origin and their respective professions.

These brilliant minds have reshaped our understanding of the universe, pushed the boundaries of human knowledge, and inspired generations to come.

Smartest People of All Time

1. Albert Einstein

Country: Germany

Profession: Theoretical Physicist

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, Germany. He showed an early interest in mathematics and physics. He attended the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich.

Einstein’s theory of special relativity, published in his 1905 paper, revolutionized our understanding of space and time. It introduced the concept that the laws of physics are the same for all observers moving at a constant velocity.

Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect, which demonstrated the particle-like nature of light and laid the groundwork for quantum mechanics.

Einstein’s equation E=mc², which relates energy and mass, played a pivotal role in the development of nuclear physics. It provided the theoretical basis for understanding the immense energy released in nuclear reactions.

Albert Einstein died on April 18, 1955, in Princeton, New Jersey. His legacy as one of the most brilliant and influential scientists in history is widely recognized, and his name is synonymous with genius and groundbreaking contributions to physics.

2. Leonardo da Vinci

Country: Italy

Profession: Polymath (Painter, Scientist, Inventor)

Leonardo was born in Vinci, Italy. He received formal training as an apprentice to the artist Andrea del Verrocchio, where he developed his skills in painting, sculpture, and other artistic disciplines.

Leonardo is best known for his iconic paintings, including the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper.” His artistry was characterized by his exceptional attention to detail, realism, and the use of innovative techniques such as sfumato (blurring of outlines).

Leonardo was a visionary engineer and inventor, conceptualizing designs for flying machines, tanks, bridges, and other innovative devices. His designs often showcased his creativity and futuristic thinking.

Leonardo’s “Vitruvian Man” drawing, based on the writings of the Roman architect Vitruvius, explored the mathematical relationships of human proportions and the concept of the ideal human form within geometric shapes.

Leonardo da Vinci passed away on May 2, 1519, in Amboise, France. His legacy continues to inspire artists, scientists, and thinkers to this day. He is considered one of the most brilliant minds in history.

3. Isaac Newton

Country: England

Profession: Mathematician, Physicist

Isaac Newton was born on January 4, 1643, in Woolsthorpe, England. He attended the University of Cambridge, where he studied mathematics, physics, and philosophy.

Newton’s most famous work is his three laws of motion, which form the basis of classical mechanics. These laws describe the relationship between the motion of an object and the forces acting on it.

In his book “Opticks,” Newton explored the behavior of light and its interactions with prisms and surfaces. He demonstrated that white light is composed of a spectrum of colors and laid the groundwork for the understanding of color theory.

Newton’s most famous work, often referred to as the “Principia,” was published in 1687. This monumental work outlined his laws of motion and law of universal gravitation, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding the physical world.

Isaac Newton passed away on March 31, 1727, in London, England. His legacy continues to shape our understanding of physics, mathematics, and the natural world. His ideas are integral to the fields of classical mechanics, calculus, and optics.

Newton’s laws of motion and law of universal gravitation provided accurate predictions for centuries, but they were refined by Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity in the early 20th century. Einstein’s theory expanded Newton’s understanding of gravity and space-time.

4. Nikola Tesla

Country: Serbia (Ethnicity), Austrian Empire

Profession: Inventor, Electrical Engineer

Nikola Tesla was born on July 10, 1856, in Smiljan, which is now part of Croatia. He attended technical schools in Croatia and Austria and later studied engineering at the Technical University of Graz.

One of Tesla’s most significant contributions was the development and promotion of the alternating current (AC) electrical system. He believed AC was superior to direct current (DC) for transmitting electricity over long distances. This innovation laid the foundation for modern power distribution.

Tesla’s promotion of AC electricity led to the “War of Currents” with Thomas Edison, who championed DC electricity. The battle over which system would dominate the electrical industry ultimately ended with AC prevailing as the more practical and efficient choice.

Nikola Tesla passed away on January 7, 1943, in New York City. In the years following his death, Tesla’s contributions to science and technology gained greater recognition.

He is now widely celebrated for his visionary ideas and inventions that paved the way for many modern technologies, including electricity generation, wireless communication, and more.

5. Marie Curie

Country: Poland/France

Profession: Physicist, Chemist

Marie Curie was the youngest of five children. Despite facing gender-based limitations, she pursued education in Poland and later moved to Paris to continue her studies at the University of Paris (Sorbonne).

Curie’s most significant contributions were her research on radioactivity. She discovered two new elements, polonium and radium, and coined the term “radioactivity” to describe the phenomenon of certain materials emitting radiation.

Marie Curie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in 1903 when she, along with her husband Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel, received the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on radioactivity.

She later won a second Nobel Prize, this time in Chemistry, in 1911 for her discovery of radium and polonium and her investigations into the properties of radioactive substances.

Curie was a dedicated educator and mentor. She became the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne and later established the Radium Institute in Paris, where she conducted research and trained future scientists.

Marie Curie passed away on July 4, 1934, from complications related to prolonged exposure to radiation. Her contributions to science have had a lasting impact on fields such as physics, chemistry, medicine, and radiology.

6. William Shakespeare

Country: England

Profession: Playwright, Poet

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, in April 1564. He came from a middle-class family and received a basic education.

Shakespeare moved to London in the late 1580s and became involved in the theater scene. He worked as an actor and playwright, initially with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (later known as the King’s Men).

Shakespeare wrote a total of 37 plays, including tragedies (e.g., “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” “Othello”), comedies (e.g., “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Twelfth Night”), and histories (e.g., “Henry IV,” “Richard III”). His plays explored a wide range of themes, emotions, and human experiences.

In addition to his plays, Shakespeare wrote a collection of 154 sonnets and several long narrative poems, such as “Venus and Adonis” and “The Rape of Lucrece.”

William Shakespeare passed away on April 23, 1616, in Stratford-upon-Avon. He is buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. His legacy is celebrated each year on April 23, known as Shakespeare’s Birthday or Shakespeare Day.

7. Alan Turing

Country: England

Profession: Mathematician, Computer Scientist

Alan Mathison Turing was born on June 23, 1912, in London, England. He showed an early aptitude for mathematics and displayed an interest in the foundations of logic and computation.

Turing is best known for his conceptualization of the “Turing machine,” a theoretical construct that laid the groundwork for the concept of a general-purpose computer. The Turing machine provided a formal model for computation and became a cornerstone of computer science theory.

During World War II, Turing worked at Bletchley Park, a British codebreaking center. He played a pivotal role in breaking the German Enigma code, which significantly contributed to the Allies’ ability to decrypt and understand German military communications.

Alan Turing tragically passed away on June 7, 1954, at the age of 41. His death was ruled a suicide by cyanide poisoning.

8. Archimedes

Country: Greece

Profession: Mathematician, Physicist, Engineer

Archimedes was born in the ancient Greek city of Syracuse, on the island of Sicily. He was likely educated in Alexandria, one of the most important centers of learning in the ancient world.

Archimedes is famous for discovering the principle of buoyancy, often referred to as Archimedes’ principle. He realized that the buoyant force on an object submerged in a fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. This principle forms the basis for understanding flotation and the behavior of objects in fluids.

Archimedes made significant contributions to geometry, including calculating the value of π (pi) more accurately than ever before. He also devised methods for calculating the areas and volumes of various geometric shapes, such as circles, spheres, and cylinders.

Archimedes’ life coincided with the Second Punic War, during which he played a role in the defense of Syracuse against Roman forces. According to historical accounts, he was killed during the capture of Syracuse by a Roman soldier, despite his request not to disturb his work. His death marked the loss of a brilliant mind.

9. Galileo Galilei

Country: Italy

Profession: Astronomer, Physicist

Galileo was born in Pisa, Italy. He studied medicine at the University of Pisa but later turned his attention to mathematics and natural philosophy.

Galileo’s most famous contributions came from his observations using a telescope, which he constructed in 1609. He discovered celestial bodies such as the four largest moons of Jupiter (now known as the Galilean moons), the phases of Venus, sunspots, and the mountains on the Moon.

These observations provided empirical evidence against the geocentric model of the universe and supported the heliocentric model proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus.

In 1632, Galileo published a book presenting arguments for the heliocentric model and criticizing the geocentric view. The book was written in the form of a dialogue between three characters.

Galileo Galilei passed away on January 8, 1642. His contributions to astronomy, physics, and the scientific method have left an enduring legacy. He is often referred to as the “father of modern observational astronomy.”

10. Stephen Hawking

Country: England

Profession: Theoretical Physicist, Cosmologist

Stephen William Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England. He showed an early interest in mathematics and physics.

In 1963, while studying at the University of Cambridge, Hawking was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease. Despite the prognosis of a limited lifespan, he defied the odds and continued his work for decades.

Hawking is perhaps best known for his discovery of “Hawking radiation.” In 1974, he proposed that black holes are not entirely black but emit radiation due to quantum effects near the event horizon. This groundbreaking insight has far-reaching implications for our understanding of black holes and the nature of the universe.

Stephen Hawking passed away on March 14, 2018, in Cambridge, England. His contributions to cosmology, black hole physics, and the popularization of science continue to have a profound impact on our understanding of the universe.

These remarkable Smartest People individuals, hailing from different countries and diverse fields, have left an indelible legacy through their unparalleled intellect and groundbreaking contributions.

Their works continue to inspire and shape the world, reminding us of the limitless potential of the human mind.