Originally, I created one list, but there were too many people on it, so I broke it into two or three separate posts. I haven’t decided yet how many there will be, but look for 10 History Crushes: Military & World Leaders Edition! tomorrow. I limited it to people who are no longer alive so no one gets their feelings hurt.
A lot of what I’m attracted to in a person is intelligence and ability (and a little bit of crazy). The people on this list are both intelligent and able (and sometimes crazy).
10. Max Planck
Who is he?
Ever heard of the Planck Constant? He’s that Planck. Ol’ Max here was a German theoretical physicist who originated quantum theory, which won him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918. Super heavy duty smarts.
Why is he on the list?
Because he’s crazy and smart and I have a weakness for both. I wonder what happened to him between his coiffed monocle days and the bed head look. No matter, he’s still pretty hot. Personally, I almost prefer the second picture. Those eyes are a swoonable.
9. Edwin Hubble
Who is he?
Ever seen a picture of space? It’s most likely because of this man. He played a crucial role in establishing the field of extra-galactic astronomy and is generally regarded as one of the most important observational cosmologists of the 20th century. Hubble determined that there are other galaxies in the Universe beyond the Milky Way and that the universe is expanding at a constant rate. He has his own law and his own space telescope. Color me jealous.
Why is he on the list?
I couldn’t find a picture of him as a young’un, but I still think he’s pretty hot in this picture. We’ll just have to use our imaginations. Plus, that pipe is pretty sweet.
8. Werner Heisenberg
Who is he?
Nobel laureate, physicist, all around smart cat. Werner was a German theoretical physicist and one of the key creators of quantum mechanics in 1925. You might know him better for the Heisenberg uncertainty principle or the name that Walter White used in Breaking Bad. Heisenberg was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1932. He also made important contributions to the theories of the hydrodynamics of turbulent flows, the atomic nucleus, ferromagnetism, cosmic rays, and subatomic particles.
Why is he on the list?
I feel mildly bad about including him on the list since there is controversy surrounding his contributions to the German side in WWII, but we’ll let bygones be bygones.
7. Melvil Dewey
Who is he?
Melvil was the inventor of the Dewey Decimal System and hot librarian. He patented his library system in 1876. In 1877, he founded and became editor of The Library Journal, which became an influential factor in the development of libraries in America. He was also one of the founders of the American Library Association.
Why is he on the list?
HOT LIBRARIAN! Does that man look like a librarian to you?! How about if he’s wearing glasses?
Nope. He still doesn’t look like a librarian, but he’s hot!
6. Percy Julian
Who is he?
Unfortunate name aside, Percy was a research chemist and a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants. His work laid the foundation for the drug industry’s production of cortisone, corticosteroids, and birth control pills.
Why is he on the list?
He’s a chemist! Chemistry is cool. Plus, he’s got exceptional eyes and the makings of a fine beard.
5. Pierre Curie
Who is he?
Pierre was a French physicist, and pioneer in magnetism, crystallography, piezoelectricity, and radioactivity. In 1903 he received the Nobel Prize in Physics (along with his wife, Marie Salomea Skłodowska-Curie, and Henri Becquerel) “in recognition of the extraordinary services they have rendered by their joint researches on the radiation phenomena discovered by Professor Henri Becquerel.”
Why is he on the list?
Pierre has a magnificent beard. And his glamor shot pose above is a little racy. Aww, give us a smile, Pierre.
That’s better.
4. James B. Collip
Who is he?
He was part of the Canadian team that isolated insulin. In January 1922, after a 14-year old test subject suffered a severe allergic reaction to an injection of insulin, Collip prepared a pancreatic extract pure enough for the subject to recover and to use in clinical trials. Successful trials were soon completed and the future of insulin was assured. Collip shared the patent for insulin with two other doctors, which they sold to the University of Toronto for one dollar.
Why is he on the list?
He wasn’t too savvy at business, selling the patent for only a dollar, but what a nice guy. We forgive you, James, because you’re hot.
3. Sir Isaac Newton
Who is he?
Please, tell me you know who Newton is. Isaac was an English physicist and mathematician who is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time, and a key figure in the scientific revolution. Not only smart, but a revolutionary. Take that.
Why is he on the list?
Isaac only sneaks in at number 3 since we can’t be sure what he actually looked like, but I’ve always been smitten with this portrait.
2. Charles Lindbergh
Who is he?
Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, and explorer from my own hometown of Detroit, Michigan. He was the first to successfully fly a solo non-stop flight from New York to Paris. 3,600 (5,800 km) never-flown-before miles by himself. It was a suicidal mission, because he did it in this:
That doesn’t look like it would fly across my backyard, let alone across the Atlantic Ocean. You may be thinking Lindbergh doesn’t belong on this list because, big deal, he flew a plane. But you are wrong and let me prove it.
After he flew solo across the world, a relative of Lindbergh’s suffered heart trouble. Doctors couldn’t operate without stopping the heart, which would kill him. Charlie decided this was a solvable problem. He talked to Alexis Carrel, a Nobel Prize winner for his work in organ transplants and suturing blood vessels, and the two of them built a damn heart pump. The perfusion pump is still in use today. Yep, Charlie was an inventor and a good one at that. Mmmm science.
Sadly, he was also a Nazi sympathizer, which is why I almost didn’t put him on this list. But since, we’re objectifying men based on looks (what fun!), here he is.
Why is he on the list?
Charlie had swagger in abundance. Look at that smirk! Plus, he was more than a little crazy and super smart.
1. Nikola Tesla
Who is he?
Ah, Nikola. He was probably the greatest inventor to ever live right up there with Leonardo Da Vinci. During his lifetime, Tesla invented fluorescent lighting, the Tesla induction motor, the Tesla coil, the modern radio, and developed the alternating current (AC) electrical supply system that included a motor and transformer, and 3-phase electricity that we still use today. Basically, he invented electricity.
Why is he on the list?
What’s inside that head is mesmerizing. Plus, Tesla had swagger. It’s just too bad he didn’t have a lick of business sense. Someone needs to go back in time and get Tesla a reliable business manager so that he gets the credit he is due. Plus, he never married. He’s single, ladies.
Fish Of Gold 