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5 Minute Biographies

Biographies to read or listen to in about 5 minutes

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12:00

Andrew Carnegie

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/10/27

Andrew Carnegie’s life reads like the blueprint of the American dream. Rising from a Scottish weaver’s cottage to become one of the wealthiest men in history, he embodied both the triumphs and contradictions of industrial capitalism. His name became synonymous with steel, philanthropy, and the idea that wealth carried moral responsibility. From Dunfermline to the …The post Andrew Carnegie appeared first on 5 Minute Biographies.

12:01

Quincy Jones

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/10/20

Across more than seven decades of musical innovation, Quincy Jones has shaped the sound of the modern world. Composer, arranger, trumpeter, producer, and cultural ambassador, he bridged genres and generations with effortless fluency. From the smoky jazz clubs of post-war America to the global stage of pop music, Jones’s influence has been so extensive that …The post Quincy Jones appeared first on 5 Minute Biographies.

11:13

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/10/13

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stands among the most influential literary figures of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Best known as the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Doyle’s contributions to literature, popular culture, and even science and spiritualism reveal a complex and fascinating man. His works have enthralled generations, while his life story offers a … The post Sir Arthur Conan Doyle appeared first on 5 Minute Biographies.

9:38

Boudica

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/10/06

Boudica, the queen of the Iceni tribe, remains one of Britain’s most iconic historical figures, a symbol of resistance, independence, and courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Her rebellion against the Roman Empire in AD 60–61 shook the foundations of Roman Britain and left a legacy that has endured for centuries. Although her uprising …The post Boudica appeared first on 5 Minute Biographies.

8:49

Josephine Baker

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/09/08

Josephine Baker was more than a glittering star of the stage. She was a cultural icon, a freedom fighter, a mother to many, and a defiant voice against oppression. Born into poverty in the United States, she rose to fame in France, where her dazzling performances and bold personality captivated audiences. But beyond the feathers …The post Josephine Baker appeared first on 5 Minute Biographies.

9:47

Stephen Hawking

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/09/01

Stephen Hawking was one of the most recognisable scientists in the world, not just for his groundbreaking work in cosmology and theoretical physics, but for his remarkable ability to bring the mysteries of the universe into the living rooms of ordinary people. His life was a story of exceptional intellect, scientific discovery, personal resilience, and … The post Stephen Hawking appeared first on 5 Minute Biographies.

9:23

Carl Jung

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/07/28

Carl Gustav Jung was born on 26 July 1875 in Kesswil, Switzerland. He became one of the most influential figures in psychology, renowned for his work in analytical psychology and his development of concepts such as the collective unconscious, archetypes, and psychological individuation. His contributions shaped modern psychology and influenced various fields, including philosophy, anthropology, …The post Carl Jung appeared first on 5 Minute Biographies.

9:05

James Joyce

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/07/14

James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was born on 2 February 1882 in Rathgar, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. He became one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century, renowned for his modernist approach to literature and his groundbreaking use of stream-of-consciousness narration. His works, including “Ulysses,” “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young …The post James Joyce appeared first on 5 Minute Biographies.

8:34

Leon Trotsky

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/06/30

Leon Trotsky was born Lev Davidovich Bronstein on 7 November 1879 in Yanovka, Kherson Governorate, Russian Empire, now part of Ukraine. He became one of the most significant figures in the Russian Revolution and the early Soviet Union, known for his role as a Marxist revolutionary, political theorist, and leader of the Red Army. His …The post Leon Trotsky appeared first on 5 Minute Biographies.

8:38

Salvador Dali

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/06/16

Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech was born on 11 May 1904 in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain. He would become one of the most recognisable and eccentric artists of the 20th century, renowned for his surrealist works that defied convention and explored the depths of the unconscious mind. His mastery of technique, combined with his …The post Salvador Dali appeared first on 5 Minute Biographies.

8:04

Katherine Johnson

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/06/09

Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson was born on 26 August 1918 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, United States. She became a pioneering mathematician whose work at NASA was instrumental in advancing the United States space programme. Her extraordinary skills in calculations and her determination to break racial and gender barriers made her one of the …The post Katherine Johnson appeared first on 5 Minute Biographies.

9:14

Genghis Khan

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/06/02

Genghis Khan was born as Temujin in 1162 near the Onon River in what is now Mongolia. He would go on to become one of the most formidable and influential conquerors in history, founding the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire the world has ever seen. His life was marked by struggle, ambition, …The post Genghis Khan appeared first on 5 Minute Biographies.

7:43

Natalie Wood

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/03/31

Natalie Wood was born Natalia Nikolaevna Zakharenko on 20 July 1938 in San Francisco, California, United States. She became one of Hollywood’s most beloved actresses, earning acclaim for her performances in classic films that spanned from childhood stardom to mature, dramatic roles. Her life was one of both remarkable success and profound tragedy, culminating in …

8:34

Lucille Ball

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/03/17

Lucille Désirée Ball was born on 6 August 1911 in Jamestown, New York, United States. She became one of the most iconic and influential figures in American entertainment, earning acclaim as an actress, comedian, and producer. With her signature red hair, impeccable comedic timing, and groundbreaking contributions to television, she left an enduring legacy that …

7:45

John Denver

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/03/10

Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., known to the world as John Denver, was born on 31 December 1943 in Roswell, New Mexico, United States. A celebrated singer-songwriter, musician, and actor, he became one of the most beloved figures in American music, known for his folk and country-infused sound that captured the beauty of nature and the …

8:44

Mata Hari

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/03/03

Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, better known to the world as Mata Hari, was born on 7 August 1876 in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. She would go on to become one of history’s most infamous figures, a woman whose name became synonymous with seduction, espionage, and mystery. Her life was a complex tapestry of reinvention, glamour, and ultimately, tragedy.Margaretha …

8:31

Gregory Peck

5 Minute Biographies ·

2025/02/03

Gregory Peck, born Eldred Gregory Peck on 5 April 1916 in La Jolla, California, was one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors, known for his dignified presence, commanding voice, and a career spanning over five decades. With an iconic filmography that included roles in some of cinema’s most acclaimed productions, Peck became a symbol of integrity, …

8:37

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

5 Minute Biographies ·

2024/11/25

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the most influential and celebrated composers in Western music history, was born on 27 January 1756 in Salzburg, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire (present-day Austria). He was the youngest of seven children born to Leopold Mozart and Anna Maria Pertl, though only Wolfgang and his sister …

8:15

Queen Victoria

5 Minute Biographies ·

2024/11/18

Queen Victoria, one of the most enduring and influential monarchs in British history, was born Alexandrina Victoria on 24 May 1819 at Kensington Palace in London, England. The only daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, she was part of the extended royal family that linked most of …

8:05

James Earl Jones

5 Minute Biographies ·

2024/11/04

James Earl Jones was one of the most celebrated actors of his generation. Known for his rich, resonant voice and commanding presence, he left an indelible mark on both stage and screen. Over a more than seven decades-long career, he became a cultural icon, lending his voice to some of the most recognisable characters in …

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