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This Swiss-French philosopher born in 1712, wrote 'Social Contract', and 'Emile' among other works. He was said to have influenced Kant, Goethe, Robespierre and the French Revolutionists.

Jean Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau was one of the great figures of the French Enlightenment. The novel 'Emile' expounds on his theory that education involves drawing out what is already in the child rather than imparting knowledge.

The movie about this famous composer of 'The Marriage of Figaro' and 'Don Giovanni,' won an Academy Award for Best Picture in 1984.

Mozart. By age 13, Mozart had written operettas, sonatas, symphonies and concertos. After a brilliant career, he died in 1791 at only 35 years of age.

In 1804, this American naval officer was the leader of a daring raid into Tripoli Harbor to burn the captured U.S. frigate 'Philadelphia.' In the War of 1812, he led the capture of the British ship 'Macedonian.'

Stephen Decatur. Decatur was mortally wounded in a duel with James Barron and died in 1820.

This Italian composer is known for having composed the opera 'William Tell,' and the comic opera 'The Barber of Seville.'

Rossini. Rossini's parents were both musicians, and he began his career in childhood as a singer.

Born in 1706, this famous American went to Philadephia as a printer and is known for 'Poor Richard's Almanack'. He also helped establish an academy that became the University of Pennsylvania and served from 1753-74 as the deputy postmaster general of the colonies.

Benjamin Franklin. After a lifetime of numerous accomplishments, one of Franklin's last great public services was his attendance at the Federal Constitutional Convention in 1787.

Prior to becoming President, this man was a leading Jeffersonian and drew up the Virginia resolutions which protested the Alien and Sedition Acts. The War of 1812 was one of the chief events of this President's Administration.

James Madison. The unpopular war of 1812 was sometimes referred to as 'Mr. Madison's War.'

This Shoshone woman, born in 1784, helped guide the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Sacajawea. Sometimes known as 'Bird Woman,' she proved extremely useful to Lewis and Clark as a guide and interpreter.

This religious visionary born in 1736 became the American founder of the Shakers.

Ann Lee. The first Shaker settlement in America was founded at Watervliet, New York in 1776.

This American railroad magnate founded a university in Nashville, Tennessee.

Cornelius Vanderbilt. By 1867, Vanderbilt had gained control of the New York Central RR and by 1873 had connected Chicago with NY City by rail.

This Scottish economist wrote 'An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations', published in 1776.

Adam Smith. Although some of his theories may not have been proved accurate by the experience of the Industrial Revolution, his influence on later economists was great.

This Austrian composer, who wrote over 100 symphonies, served for 29 years as the musical director to the princes Esterhazy.

Haydn. Haydn also composed over 80 string quartets and over 50 sonatas.

In 1775, this American led the Green Mountain Boys at the capture of Fort Ticonderoga.

Ethan Allen. Ethan Allen promoted independence and statehood for Vermont. Interestly, Benedict Arnold was also a leader of the Green Mountain Boys!

This Swedish botanist born in 1707 is considered the originator of modern scientific classification of plants and animals.

Carolus Linnaeus. Linnaeus wrote more than 180 works including 'Systema Naturae' and 'Genera Plantarum.'

This woman born c. 1797 who became a freed slave, traveled throughout the North preaching emancipation and women's rights.

Sojourner Truth. Sojourner Truth spoke very eloquently despite not being able to read and write.

This English scientist laid the foundations of classical field theory, later developed by James Clerk Maxwell. He also developed the first dynamo.

Michael Faraday. Faraday's Law states that the number of moles of substance produced at an electrode during electroloysis is directly proportional to the number of moles of electrons transferred at that electrode.