Francisco Franco led a successful military rebellion to overthrow Spain's democratic republic in the Spanish Civil War (1936—39), subsequently establishing an often brutal dictatorship that defined the country for decades.

Russian author Leo Tolstoy wrote the acclaimed novels 'War and Peace,' 'Anna Karenina' and 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich,' and ranks among the world's top writers.

The daughter of famous suffragette Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriot Stanton Blatch continued her mother's work in the women's rights movement.

Filmmaker Robert Altman is best known for his highly individualistic films and use of simultaneous layers of dialogue.