Originally by Mel JudsonList RulesAmerican leaders only. Note: "Most important" or "most influential" does not equal "best."
List of the most important leaders in U.S. history. Love 'em or hate 'em, these leaders shaped American history from its founding through today. Men and women who have truly defined America through their work and leadership, even if it did not mean serving political office, are ranked here on this master list of leaders. Pioneers who changed the landscape, from the Civil Rights Movement, to Women's Suffrage, to the atom bomb, appear on this list of American leaders who changed the world.
The most important American presidents are ranked here, like Harry S. Truman and George Washington to name a few, along with First Ladies like Eleanor Roosevelt. Industry leaders like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller cannot be overlooked, nor can leaders who were not in the U.S. government itself, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Susan B. Anthony.
Leadership takes many forms throughout American history, and famous American leaders pervade all of history, but this list gives props to those who were the most influential. Vote up the most important U.S. leaders below, or if the United States is too small for you, make sure to peruse this list of The Most Important Leaders in World History.1
5,810952George Washington
Dec. at 67 (1732-1799)Birthplace: Popes Creek, Colony of Virginia, British America
George Washington was the first President of the United States, the Commander-in-Chief of the... more2
4,326824Benjamin Franklin
Dec. at 84 (1706-1790)Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 [O.S. January 6, 1705] – April 17, 1790) was an American... more3
4,1261,159Thomas Jefferson
Dec. at 83 (1743-1826)Birthplace: Shadwell, Colony of Virginia, British America
Thomas Jefferson was an American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of... more4
5,3531,548Abraham Lincoln
Dec. at 56 (1809-1865)Birthplace: Kentucky, Hodgenville, United States of America, United States, with Territories
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American statesman and lawyer who... more5
3,358765Theodore Roosevelt
Dec. at 61 (1858-1919)Birthplace: New York City, Manhattan, Area code 917, Contiguous United States, New York
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ROH-zə-velt; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) was an American... more6
2,770828Alexander Hamilton
Dec. at 47 (1757-1804)Birthplace: Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757 – July 12, 1804) was an American statesman,... more7
2,725876John Adams
Dec. at 91 (1735-1826)Birthplace: Braintree, Massachusetts Bay, British America
John Adams Jr. (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, attorney,... more8
3,4881,436Franklin D. Roosevelt
Dec. at 63 (1882-1945)Birthplace: New York City, Hyde Park, New York, USA
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (, ; January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945), often referred to by... more9
2,531872Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dec. at 79 (1890-1969)Birthplace: Denison, Texas, USA
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower ( EYE-zən-how-ər; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an... more10
4,4501,853Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dec. at 39 (1929-1968)Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and... more11
2,246789George S. Patton
Dec. at 60 (1885-1945)Birthplace: San Gabriel, California
(November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945)George Smith Patton Jr. (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945) was a General of the United... more12
891226Nikola Tesla
Dec. at 87 (1856-1943)Birthplace: Smiljan, Croatia
Nikola Tesla was a Serbian American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer,... more13
1,498616Samuel Adams
Dec. at 81 (1722-1803)Birthplace: Eastern United States, Boston, Area code 617, New England, United States of America
Samuel Adams (September 27 [O.S. September 16] 1722 – October 2, 1803) was an American... more14
1,861637The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, were two American brothers, inventors, and aviation... more15
2,6331,295James Madison
Dec. at 85 (1751-1836)Birthplace: Port Conway, Colony of Virginia, British America
James Madison Jr. (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, lawyer,... more16
1,489600Alexander Graham Bell
Dec. at 75 (1847-1922)Birthplace: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Alexander Graham Bell ('Graham' pronounced ) (March 3, 1847 – August 2, 1922) was a ... more17
1,981889Ulysses S. Grant
Dec. at 63 (1822-1885)Birthplace: Point Pleasant, Ohio, United States of America
Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant; April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was an American... more18
1,992985John Hancock
Dec. at 56 (1737-1793)Birthplace: Braintree, Massachusetts, USA
John Hancock (January 23, 1737 [O.S. January 12, 1736] – October 8, 1793) was an American... more19
3,4321,567Ronald Reagan
Dec. at 93 (1911-2004)Birthplace: Tampico, Illinois, USA
Ronald Wilson Reagan (; February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician who served... more20
1,153480Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey; c. February 1818 – February 20,... more21
1,449520Jonas Salk
Dec. at 81 (1914-1995)Birthplace: New York City, New York
Jonas Edward Salk (; October 28, 1914 – June 23, 1995) was an American medical researcher and... more22
972427Meriwether Lewis
Dec. at 35 (1774-1809)Birthplace: Ivy, Virginia, United States of America
Meriwether Lewis (August 18, 1774 – October 11, 1809) was an American explorer, soldier,... more23
1,878972Thomas Edison
Dec. at 84 (1847-1931)Birthplace: Milan, Ohio, United States of America
Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and... more24
1,048496Daniel Boone
Dec. at 86 (1734-1820)Birthplace: Daniel Boone Homestead, Birdsboro, Pennsylvania
Daniel Boone (November 2, 1734 [O.S. October 22] – September 26, 1820) was an American... more25
3,1921,776John F. Kennedy
Dec. at 46 (1917-1963)Birthplace: Brookline, Massachusetts, USA
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by initials JFK... more
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