English historian and politician renowned for his monumental work, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

German naturalist, ethnologist, travel writer, journalist, and revolutionary who accompanied James Cook's second voyage and founded modern scientific travel literature

French philosopher, mathematician, and political scientist who championed Enlightenment ideals like free markets, public education, and equal rights for all

French journalist, moralistic author, and philosopher celebrated for his sharp epigrams and aphorisms

French lawyer and politician who rose to prominence as a leading orator of the Cordeliers Club and became Minister of Justice, playing a central role in the French Revolution as the first president of the Committee of Public Safety

French nobleman and chemist who was central to the 18th-century chemical revolution, establishing the law of conservation of mass and modern chemical nomenclature

French revolutionary, political philosopher, and leader during the French Revolution

French revolutionary lawyer and politician who championed voting rights, self-defense, and the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade, becoming one of the most influential figures of the French Revolution

French poet known for his emotive style and as a precursor to the Romantic movement, whose life ended tragically during the French Revolution

Ukrainian philosopher, writer, composer, and poet known for his Socratic way of life and significant influence on thought