# The 100 Most Influential People - Try the Third **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 14, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080 "2010-04-14T16:58:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/81 "2010-04-17T08:43:41Z")
Inventors. William Morton Leaders. Mikhail Gorbachev Philosophy. Francis Bacon Religion. Zoroaster Science. Gregor Mendel Reasons: Wouldn’t anesthesia have been developed without Morton? For that matter, Morton’s claim was controversial and, anyway, aren’t there several medical innovations more important than anesthesiology? Mightn’t the USSR have collapsed anyway without Gorbachev? Zoroaster may be semi-mythical (or conflated). Mendel’s discovery was important, but was ignored, and finally rediscovered independently 34 years _after_ Mendel’s paper. By the way, Hart shows “Edward de Vere” not “William Shakespeare.” Perhaps **JohnT** can confirm that “William Shakespeare” here refers to the author of Hamlet and The Sonnets, whatever his true name. (“Homer” poses a different problem. The author of _Iliad_ and _Odyssey_ would be influential whatever his true name, but _were they written by the same person?_) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/82 "2010-04-17T18:02:25Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > By the way, Hart shows “Edward de Vere” not “William Shakespeare.” Perhaps **JohnT** can confirm that “William Shakespeare” here refers to the author of Hamlet and The Sonnets, whatever his true name. (“Homer” poses a different problem. The author of _Iliad_ and _Odyssey_ would be influential whatever his true name, but _were they written by the same person?_) Yes, one can take “William Shakespeare” to mean the author of Hamlet, etc. Whether one might think it’s Eddie de Vere or whomever, all possibilities as to the true author should be considered under “William Shakespeare”. Personally, I think the author of “William Shakespeare’s” work is… William Shakespeare. It’s odd that it’s up for debate… aren’t there any rough drafts or anything? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/83 "2010-04-17T19:04:48Z")
Round 2: Inventions. Ts’ai Lun Leader. Menes Philosophy. Johann Sebastian Bach Religion. Mani Science. William Harvey ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/84 "2010-04-17T20:44:15Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Personally, I think the author of “William Shakespeare’s” work is… William Shakespeare. It’s odd that it’s up for debate… aren’t there any rough drafts or anything? “Rough drafts”? 😕 The only specima of Shakespeare’s handwriting are six signatures on legal documents, all dated _after_ his alleged play-writing. (The authorship question is interesting but I’m afraid further discussion would need to be in BBQ Pit.) ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/85 "2010-04-17T23:26:32Z")
Invention and Exploration. Ts’ai Lun Leader. Menes Philosophy and Arts. Homer Religion. Moses Science. Gregor Mendel Notes: Gregor Mendel: His ideas were ignored until three biologists rediscovered the basics of heredity at the turn of the last century and found out that Mendel had preceded them. So about the only change if Mendel never existed is that we’d be arguing about which of those three later scientists should get the credit for genetics. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/86 "2010-04-18T21:54:05Z")
About 7 more hours til the end of round 2… ---
**Author:** ![willthekittensurvive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@willthekittensurvive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willthekittensurvive)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/87 "2010-04-19T13:18:06Z")
Inventor. Orville and Wilbur Wright Leader. Menes Philosophy. Johann Sebastian Bach Religion. Moses Science. Enrico Fermi 1lots of people were trying to make a flying machine the Wrights just won the race 2what did the egyptions ever do for me? 3 nice tunes but thats all 4 myth 5 lots of people working on the bomb, if not him someone else would of ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/88 "2010-04-19T21:14:28Z")
All right, those voted off the island for round two include: _Category, name, # of votes received_ I, Vasco De Gama, 5 L, Menes, 6 P, Thomas Malthus, 4 R, Mani, 11 S, William Harvey, 4 **Willthekittensurvive?** , I included your votes though technically you were late with round 2. Round 3 list: **Inventors** Alexander Fleming, Scientist, Invented Penicillin Alexander Graham Bell, Scientist, Invented Telephone Antony van Leeuwenhoek, Scientist, Inventor of Microscope Christopher Columbus, Explorer, Discoverer of America Edward Jenner, Scientist, Developed Vaccination for Smallpox Francisco Pizarro, Spanish Adventurer, Conquered Inca Empire Gugilemo Marconi, Scientist, Invented Radio Henry Ford, American Industrialist, Developed Mass Production Techniques Hernando Cortes, Spanish Adventurer, Conquered Aztec Empire James Watt, British Scientist, Invented Steam Engine Johann Gutenberg, Scientist, Inventor of Printing Press Joseph Lister, Scientist, Developed Antiseptic Methods Louis Dagurre, Scientist, Invented Photography Nikolaus August Otto, Scientist, Developed Internal Combustion Engine Orville and Wilbur Wright, Scientists, Inventor of Airplane Thomas Edison, American Scientist, 1,000+ inventions Ts’ai Lun, Scientist, Inventor of Paper William TG Morton, Scientist, Invented Anaesthesia **Leaders** Adolf Hitler, German Dictator, Started World War II Alexander the Great, Macedonian Ruler, Formed Macedonian Empire Augustus Caesar, Roman Princep, Founded Roman Empire Charlemagne, Frankish Monarch, Founder of Holy Roman Empire Cyrus the Great, Persian Emperor, Founded Persian Emperor Genghis Khan, Mongol Ruler, Founded Mongol Empire George Washington, American Statesman and General, Fought For Independence of United States Josef Stalin, Dictator of USSR, Expanded Communism Julius Caesar, Roman General, Ended Roman Civil Wars Lenin, Russian Leader, Founded Communism in Russia Mao Zedong, Chinese Dictator, Established Communism in China Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet Leader, Liberalized and Helped Break Up USSR Napoleon Bonaparte, French Emperor, Waged Napoleonic Wars Peter the Great, Russian Emperor, Modernized Russia Queen Elizabeth I, Queen of England, Made England a Naval Power Queen Isabella I, Queen of Spain, Sponsored Columbus’ Expeditions Shi Huang Di, Chinese Emperor, United China Simon Bolivar, Latin American General and Statesman, Waged Wars of Independence Sui Wen Ti, Chinese Emperor, Reunited China William the Conquerer, Norman Duke and English King, Led In Norman Conquest of England **Philosophy** Adam Smith, Economist, Advocated Capitalism Aristotle, Greek Philosopher Confucius, Chinese Philosopher, Founder of Confucianism Francis Bacon, Philosopher, Developed Scientific Method Homer, Greek Poet, Writer of Epics Jean-Jacques Rosseau, French Philosopher and Writer Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer John Locke, British Philosopher, Developed Democratic Ideas Karl Marx, Economist, Founder of Communism Lao Tzu, Chinese Philosopher, Founded Taoism Ludwig von Beethoven, Composer Michelangelo, Artist, Sculptor Nicoli Machiavelli, Political Theorist Plato, Greek Philosopher, Developed Platonism Rene Descrates, French Philosopher Thomas Jefferson, American Statesman, Wrote Declaration of Independence, Louisiana Purchase Voltaire, French Philosopher William Shakespeare, English Playwright **Religion** ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, Muslim Caliph, Expanded the Caliphate Asoka, Indian Emperor, Spread Buddhism Buddha, Founder of Buddhism Constantine the Great, Roman Emperor, Tolerated and Promoted Christianity in Rome Jesus Christ, Founder of Christianity John Calvin, Christian Theologian, Developed Calvinism Justinian I, Byzantine Emperor, Recovered Much of Roman Empire Martin Luther, Theologian, Started Protestantism and Reformation Mohammed, Founder of Islam Moses, Jewish Prophet Oliver Cromwell, British Ruler Pope Urban II, Pope of Roman Catholic Church, Called For Crusades St Augustine, Christian Theologian St Paul, Christian Missionary and Apostle Zoroaster, Founder of Zorasterianism **Science** ## Albert Einstein, Scientist, Physicist, Theory of Relativity Antonine Laurent Lavoisier, French Scientist, Advanced Chemistry Charles Darwin, British Scientist, Theory of Evolution Enrico Fermi, Scientist, Developed Atomic Bomb Ernest Rutherford, Scientist, Developed Subatomic Physics Euclid, Greek Mathematician Galileo Galilei, Scientist, Advocated Heliocentricity Gregor Mendel, Priest and Scientist, Advanced Genetics Isaac Newton, British Scientist, Theory of Universal Gravitation and Motion James Clerk Marxwell, Scientist, Electromagnetism Johannes Kepler, Scientist, Developed Theories of Planetary Motion John Dalton, Scientist, Atomic Theory Leonhard Euler, Mathematician Louis Pasteur, Scientist, Pasteurization, Germ Theory of Disease Max Planck, Scientist, Developed Therodynamics Michael Faraday, British Scientist, Discovered Electromagnetism Nicolas Copernicus, Scientist, Theory of Heliocentricity Werner Heisenberg, Scientist, Developed Quantum Physics William Conrad Roentgen, Scientist, Discovered X-Rays, principles of radioactivity Lastly, a word from your obedient host here… YOU PEOPLE KEEP COMING PERILOUSLY CLOSE TO VOTING OFF JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH! STOP IT OR I WILL FORCE YOU TO LISTEN TO MY DAUGHTER’S COLLECTION OF “THE WORLD’S WORST BOY BANDS: ALBUM CUTS, VOL. 4”! Thank you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/89 "2010-04-19T21:27:56Z")
Btw, round 3 starts now and lasts until Wednesday night. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/90 "2010-04-19T21:30:51Z")
Inventor. Pizarro Leader. Simon Bolivar Philosophy. Johann Sebastian Bach Religion. Oliver Cromwell Science. Johannes Kepler (sorry). ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/91 "2010-04-19T21:42:11Z")
Inventor. Francisco Pizarro Leader. Shi Huang Di Philosophy. Rene Descartes Religion. Oliver Cromwell Science. James Clerk Maxwell Cromwell is the only change from the last round – let’s see if I go back to my early herd mentality or remain an outlier this time. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/92 "2010-04-19T21:44:33Z")
Inventors. Orville and Wilbur Wright Leaders. Shi Huang Di Philosophy. Johann Sebastian Bach Religion. Oliver Cromwell Science. Werner Heisenberg \*Wright Brothers: the airplane was being invented simultaneously by other people - Shi Huang Di must not have had a very lasting influence on Chinese unification, if Sui Wen Ti had to RE-unite China later - I had to go with Bach, Beethoven or Michelangelo and I’d argue (weakly) that the latter two were more influential in their respective fields than Bach. - It seems to me that Cromwell’s influence outside of his own country is minor (compared to those he is up against) - Heisenberg’s influence is just too short-lived and without enough practical implications at this point in history ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/93 "2010-04-19T22:00:04Z")
Here’s some of what’s in store for **Skammer** and **Amarone** : _Are You Down_, by **NKOTB** _I’m Coming Down_ by a Bobby Brown-less **New Edition** As a bonus, I’m going to include **two** (2!) tracks from Corey Haim’s only album, _You Give Me Everything_. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/94 "2010-04-19T22:27:53Z")
Inventor. Pizarro Leader. Peter the Great Philosophy. Voltaire Religion. Justinian Science. Gregor Mendel 42fish convinced me on Mendel. My only triumph last turn was in Philosophy; with Malthus gone, there’s no one 100% wrong left; I’ll go with Voltaire as somewhat in Rousseau’s shadow (and Jefferson’s and Locke’s, to a lesser degree). ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/95 "2010-04-19T23:03:21Z")
Inventions. Christopher Columbus Leader. Charlemagne Philosophy. Lao Tzu Religion. Oliver Cromwell Science. Gregor Mendel Sorry Christopher, you weren’t first there. You took the cash for something you didn’t actually find. There’s no way I’m giving any sop to those cartographially-challenged back seat drivers who make driving so unpleasant. Charlemagne, just another evangelical thug at a time the world was awash with them. If it wasn’t for Roland wouldn’t even have had decent PR. Tzu, I apologise. Yes, musicians probably should get flicked before thinkers, but even a holistic like yourself could find no justification for a Boy Band revival Oli, mate, nice job as a regicide but was about religion or dynasty when you made Richard an hereditary Regent? Mendel. Your theory was good, very good. It’s just a bit lucky it was right because the way you and your gardener forged the results was inexcusable. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/96 "2010-04-20T00:43:42Z")
It appears I can reuse most of my picks for the last round. Inventions. Orville and Wilbur Wright Leader. Isabella Philosophy and Arts. Rene Descrates Religion. Zoraster Science. Werner Heisenberg ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/97 "2010-04-20T01:54:54Z")
It appears I can use ALL of my picks for the last round! Invention. Francisco Pizarro Leader. Alexander the Great Philosophy. Ludwig von Beethoven Religion. Oliver Cromwell Science. Galileo Galilei ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/98 "2010-04-20T07:59:32Z")
Inventors. Orville and Wilbur Wright Leader. Simon Bolivar Philosophy. Lao Tzu Religion. Oliver Cromwell Science. Gregor Mendel ---
**Author:** ![ColdPhoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@ColdPhoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdPhoenix)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/99 "2010-04-20T08:09:54Z")
Inventions. Francisco Pizarro Leader. Simon Bolivar Philosophy and Arts. Johann Sebastian Bach Religion. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab Science. Antonine Laurent Lavoisier ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080/100 "2010-04-20T11:17:45Z")
Inventors. Christopher Columbus Leaders. Mikhail Gorbachev Philosophy. Voltaire Religion. Oliver Cromwell Science. William Conrad Roentgen > [@](#): > > YOU PEOPLE KEEP COMING PERILOUSLY CLOSE TO VOTING OFF JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH! STOP IT OR I WILL FORCE YOU TO LISTEN TO MY DAUGHTER’S COLLECTION OF “THE WORLD’S WORST BOY BANDS: ALBUM CUTS, VOL. 4”! Hee hee… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-100-most-influential-people-try-the-third/536080.md?page=6)