The Top 10 Most Influential Leaders Of All Time

Influential World leaders impact is felt long after their gone

Leadership can be defined in many ways and requires many different skills. The ability to organize groups of people, as well as influence them, is a trait many of the greatest leaders possess. At varying times, intimidation and dominance have been equally as effective as charisma and diplomacy. This list of influential leaders encompasses a variety of personalities.

George Washington, 1732 – 1799

Born in the British colony of Virginia, Washington would rise from his beginnings as a wealthy planter, to become the leader of the American Revolution’s Continental Army. Known for his military prowess, he was instrumental in America’s defeat of the British. He would later be named the first President of the United States, serving two terms. http://www.flickr.com/photos/historyrewound/4116908055/

Abraham Lincoln, 1809 – 1865

He was the 16th president of the United States and one of only four Presidents in the U.S. to have been assassinated. He is most known for presiding over the country during its tumultuous Civil War and for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which would come to fruition in the form of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, freeing all American slaves and outlawing the practice. http://www.flickr.com/photos/chainedreactions/2393882882/

Nelson Mandela, 1918 - Present

As President to the country of South Africa in the mid-1990’s, he helped turn the world spotlight on the civil injustices that occurred under the system of Apartheid. Both a non-violent and “proactive” political& social activist, Mandela overcame a life prison term to become a beacon of hope for his people and inspiration to the world.
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Mahatma Ghandi, 1869 – 1948

He was a non-violent Civil Rights leader for India’s liberation from Britain. His message of peace spread worldwide and continued even after his untimely assassination. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Gandhi_smiling_R.jpg

Joseph Stalin, 1878 – 1953

He was the primary force behind the formation of the Soviet Union, which served as a dominant world power, counter to the United States, for almost half of the 20th century. Stalin ruled by will, force and cult of personality, influencing the lives of millions.http://images.google.com/imgres?q=stalin&hl=en&biw=533&bih=615&tbs=sur:fmc&tbm=isch&tbnid=FVf2eb2PDrpRGM:&imgrefurl=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CroppedStalin1943.jpg&docid=08uOaeEKRVEvM&imgurl=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/CroppedStalin1943.jpg&w=410&h=500&ei=0uMUaabLuLcyQGy3IGACQ&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:2,s:0,i:161&iact=rc&dur=634&page=1&tbnh=220&tbnw=174&start=0&ndsp=10&tx=90&ty=93


Napoleon, 1769 – 1821

He is most known for his role in the Napoleonic Wars, in which France engaged in dispute with its foes. Corsican by birth, he seized the Emperor-ship of France in a Coup and consequently went on to expand the Empire. His reach stretched across all of Europe, to the Middle East and the New World.
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Adolf Hitler 1889 – 1945

Was the Fuhrer of Germany during World War II and managed to convince almost an entire country that it should rule the world. His hate-fueled iconic speeches stirred millions and his military ambitions made nations tremble. His perception amongst the world’s surviving Jewish community remains significant.http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=533&bih=492&tbm=isch&tbnid=jbvyXGWlMRsqWM:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler&docid=3OUjskIOK6GX-M&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-S33882,_Adolf_Hitler_retouched.jpg/230px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-S33882,_Adolf_Hitler_retouched.jpg&w=230&h=364&ei=QeQ-UeO6EuiUywGz04CYAQ&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:2,s:0,i:151&iact=rc&dur=822&page=1&tbnh=170&tbnw=109&start=0&ndsp=9&tx=34&ty=75

Martin Luther King Jr., 1929 – 1968

Martin Luther King Jr was an influential American Civil Rights leader before his assassination. While not solely responsible for the movement, he is regarded as the most visible spokesman of the movement that would change American race relations and lay the seeds for the Chicano movement, as well as the Same-Sex rights movement.http://www.sonoma.edu/reslife/images/martin-luther-king-jr2.jpg

Karl Marx, 1818 – 1883

Karl Marx was a philosopher whose ideas became the foundation of political thought known as Marxism, Communism and Socialism.http://images.google.com/imgres?q=karl+marx&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=643&tbs=sur:fmc&tbm=isch&tbnid=zX_IZevVajqF9M:&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Karl_Marx.jpg&docid=-YkyjmO0GLmxCM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Karl_Marx.jpg/937px-Karl_Marx.jpg&w=937&h=1024&ei=nuQ-UavRJ8nEyQHqvoGwCQ&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:0,s:0,i:155&iact=rc&dur=462&page=1&tbnh=188&tbnw=198&start=0&ndsp=9&tx=78&ty=113

Henry VIII (Henry the 8th) 1491 – 1547

Henry VIII is most known for his six marriages, considered scandalous at the time scandalous, but is also heavily responsible for the rise of Protestantism and the break from the roman catholic church.http://images.google.com/imgres?q=henry+VIII&hl=en&biw=667&bih=615&tbs=sur:fmc&tbm=isch&tbnid=REcfxzgAm3n5-M:&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_VIII_(3)_by_Hans_Holbein_the_Younger.jpg&docid=1kGt03CPWyNRPM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Henry_VIII_(3)_by_Hans_Holbein_the_Younger.jpg&w=1236&h=1500&ei=veQ-UcX6DuTLyQGouoBw&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:9,s:0,i:182&iact=rc&dur=782&page=1&tbnh=177&tbnw=140&start=0&ndsp=12&tx=54&ty=115

Influence comes in many different forms but there is no denying that each of these figures has significantly impacted the world.

Abi writes for a number of businesses including DLPROG the Leadership Development Program based in Australia. To learn more about their work, read their articles about Human Agency visit http://www.dlprog.org.