The measured elder and his headstrong protégé brought out the best in one another in the crucial early days of American independence.

On that tragic day in 1884, the future president wrote in his diary, "The light has gone out of my life."

When the former slave stood up to speak at an 1851 convention, her speech had no name — but now it’s known by a rallying refrain that she may not have even uttered.

Unable to devote his full attention to storytelling, the inventor saw his half-hearted attempt at authorship come and go with the brief newspaper run of 'In the Deep of Time.'

After receiving a letter from an 11-year-old girl suggesting he lengthen his whiskers, Lincoln became the first president to have a full beard.

After she couldn't find a solution for her own hair loss, the self-made millionaire took matters into her own hands.

While three members of the Nation of Islam were arrested for his 1965 murder, more than 50 years later, mystery still surrounds who really killed the civil rights activist.

The Founding Father and Continental Army commander shared some of his greatest wisdom through his words in letters and speeches.

From sharing the travails of discrimination to providing a sanctuary at home, Rachel Robinson proved to be an invaluable presence as the athlete helped integrate the national pastime.

After suffering a traumatic childhood, the St. Louis native conquered the worlds of theater, television, movies, books and poetry.

By refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus to a white passenger in 1955, the department store seamstress launched a major movement on the road to equality.

The first African American Supreme Court justice was not afraid to speak his mind.

These people survived persecution by Nazi Germany and emerged to tell their tales to the world.

The African American scientist is known as the "Peanut Man," but did he actually create the popular spread?

The activist was much more than a woman who once refused to cede her seat on a segregated bus, as she spent decades fighting for civil rights.

The civil rights icon met his end on April 4, 1968, while seeking victory for the Memphis' struggling sanitation workers.

After staying up until 4 a.m. to craft a speech he hoped would have the same impact as the Gettysburg Address, MLK Jr. went off-script for his most iconic words.

For centuries, generations of royals have endured many ups and downs with their children.

As Benedict's successor, Francis' liberal and minimalistic beliefs are a stark contrast from Benedict's more traditional practices.

The pontiff cited advanced age as the reason behind his shocking move in February 2013, though his decision may have been aided by the difficulties of bringing the Church into the 21st century.

The writer didn't have to look far to pen the now-classic American novel.

The Italian dictator described "The Cardinal's Mistress" as “a novel for seamstresses and scandal.”

The on-the-job devotion of the man who discovered a bomb at the 1996 Olympic Games also triggered the investigation that made him the FBI's chief suspect and upended his life.

The writer helped the former president develop his best-selling memoirs before Grant's 1885 death.