Dave Thomas is best known for founding the Wendy's hamburger restaurant chain. He became the company's TV spokesman in 1989.

• Television Personality, Chef
  (1932–2002)

Thomas Jefferson was a draftsman of the Declaration of Independence and the third U.S. president (1801-09). He was also responsible for the Louisiana Purchase.

• U.S. Governor, Government Official, U.S. President, U.S. Vice President, Diplomat
  (1743–1826)

Inventor Thomas Edison created such great innovations as the electric light bulb and the phonograph. A savvy businessman, he held more than 1,000 patents for his inventions.

• Inventor
  (1847–1931)

Thomas Paine was an English American writer and pamphleteer whose "Common Sense" and other writings influenced the American Revolution, and helped pave the way for the Declaration of Independence.

• Journalist, Inventor
  (1737–1809)

Thomas Nast is known as the "Father of the American Cartoon," having created satirical art during the 19th century that critiqued slavery and crime.

• Illustrator, Journalist
  (1840–1902)

Thomas Merton was a Trappist monk who was a revered pacifist and author, with works like 'The Seven Storey Mountain' and 'Thoughts in Solitude.'

• Monk, Journalist
  (1915–1968)

Clarence Thomas is the second African-American justice to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. He was controversially appointed in 1991 and leans conservative.

• Supreme Court Justice, Judge, Lawyer
  (1948–)

Writer Dylan Thomas is best known for the poem "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" and the play Under Milk Wood. He's also known for his heavy drinking, which led to his untimely death.

• Poet
  (1914–1953)

Thomas Andrews was the principal architect for the infamous RMS Titanic. He died in the sinking, on April 15, 1912.

• Engineer, Architect
  (1873–1912)

Thomas More is known for his 1516 book Utopia and for his untimely death in 1535, after refusing to acknowledge King Henry VIII as head of the Church of England. He was canonized by the Catholic Church as a saint in 1935.

• Journalist, Lawyer, Philosopher, Saint
  (1478–1535)

German novelist, short-story and essay writer Thomas Mann won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1929. One of his best-known novels is Death in Venice.

• Author
  (1875–1955)

Italian Dominican theologian St. Thomas Aquinas was one of the most influential medieval thinkers of Scholasticism and the father of the Thomistic school of theology.

• Saint, Theologian, Philosopher, Priest
  (c. 1225–1274)

Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher in the 17th century, was best known for his book Leviathan (1651) and his political views on society.

• Academic, Political Scientist, Philosopher, Journalist, Historian
  (1588–1679)

Thomas Moore was an Irish poet, satirist, composer, singer and close friend of Lord Byron.

• Singer, Journalist, Songwriter, Poet
  (1779–1852)

Thomas Hart Benton was an esteemed 20th century painter and muralist renowned for works like “America Today” and “Persephone.”

• Painter
  (1889–1975)

In 1996, Thomas Watt Hamilton attacked a classroom at the Dunblane Primary School in Scotland.

• Mass Murderer
  (1952–1996)

American actor Philip Michael Thomas played the role of Detective Ricardo Tubbs on the hit 1980s television series Miami Vice.

• Television Actor
  (1949–)

African-American professional boxer and promoter Thomas "Hitman" Hearns won eight world titles in six weight classes, and is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

• Boxer
  (1958–)

British television, stage and film actor Tom Hiddleston brought the Marvel comic book villain Loki to life on the silver screen in 'Thor' and 'The Avengers.'

• Actor
  (1981–)

Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas became one of the first known active gay athletes when he publicly acknowledged his sexuality in 2009.

• Athlete
  (1974–)

Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas is best known as a former member of the all-female R&B/pop trio TLC.

• Reality Television Star, Dancer, Music Producer, Singer
  (1971–)

Sarah Thomas is football's most accomplished female referee and may become the first woman to work as a regular referee in the National Football League.

• (1973–)

Thomas Bangalter is part of Daft Punk, the Grammy-winning electronica/dance duo responsible for hits like "Around the World," "One More Time" and "Get Lucky."

• (1975–)