José Martí (1853-1895) WHO S/HE WAS: José Martí was a Cuban poet, essayist and journalist who became a symbol for Cuba’s bid for independence against Spain in the 19th century. Born in Havana to Spanish parents, his short life was dedicated to the promotion of liberty, political independence for Cuba and an intellectual independence for
Alfred T. Mahan (1840-1914) WHO S/HE WAS: Alfred Thayer Mahan, a renowned naval historian and strategist, shaped the course of modern naval warfare. His influential writings, including “The Influence of Sea Power Upon History,” had a profound impact on navies around the world. WHAT S/HE SAID: Organized force alone enables the quiet and the weak
William McKinley (1843-1901) WHO S/HE WAS: William McKinley was the twenty-fifth President of the United States, and the last veteran of the American Civil War to be elected. By the 1880s, McKinley was a nationally known Republican leader; his signature issue was high tariffs on imports as a formula for prosperity, as typified by his
Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) WHO S/HE WAS: Grover Cleveland was both the twenty-second and twenty-fourth President of the United States. Cleveland is the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms (1885–1889 and 1893–1897) and thus is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents. WHAT S/HE SAID: The ship of democracy,
John L. Stevens (1820-1895) WHO S/HE WAS: Ambassador John Leavitt Stevens was a United States ambassador to Paraguay, Uruguay, Sweden, Norway and Hawaii during the second half of the nineteenth century. WHAT S/HE SAID: The Hawaiian pear is now fully ripe, and this is the golden hour for the United States to pluck it. WHY
Queen Liliuokalani (1838-1917) WHO S/HE WAS: Queen Liliuokalani was the last monarch and only queen regnant of the Kingdom of Hawaii. She assumed the monarchy after the death of her brother, King David Kalakaua, in 1891. WHAT S/HE SAID: Hawaii for Hawaiians WHY S/HE MATTERED: Queen Lilíuokalani was the sitting monarch at the time of
Eduard de Stoeckl (1804-1892) WHO S/HE WAS: Eduard de Stoeckl was a Russian diplomat best known today for having negotiated the American purchase of Alaska on behalf of the Russian government. He occasionally used the bogus title of Baron. WHY S/HE MATTERED: On March 30, 1867, the United States reached an agreement to purchase Alaska
William H. Seward (1801-1872) WHO S/HE WAS: William H. Seward was a statesman and politician who served as Secretary of State under Presidents Lincoln and Johnson. His tenure saw the acquisition of Alaska from Russia and diplomatic efforts to prevent European intervention during the American Civil War. WHAT S/HE SAID: Arguing that California be admitted
Matthew Calbraith Perry (1794-1858) WHO HE WAS: Matthew Calbraith Perry was a Commodore in the United States Navy who played a pivotal role in opening Japan to the outside world. His negotiation skills and naval presence led to the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854, ending Japan’s isolationist policies. WHAT HE SAID: Reflecting
Jane Addams (1860-1935) WHO S/HE WAS: Jane Addams devoted her life to social and political reform and to the betterment of the economic condition of the masses. She worked for women’s rights, to help the poor and to stop the use of children as industrial laborers. She founded Hull House in Chicago, a center which
