The term hacker may have gained notoriety in recent decades, but
the act of hacking, or using clever and unconventional methods to
achieve a goal, has been practiced for centuries. Here are ten
historical figures prior to the 19th century who would be
considered good hackers by today's standards.
1. Archimedes (287 BC - 212 BC)
Archimedes, the ancient Greek mathematician, engineer, and
inventor, is famous for his contribution to the field of
mathematics and physics. He was also known for his clever tactics
during the Siege of Syracuse in 214 BC. Archimedes used mirrors and
lenses to focus sunlight on the Roman ships, setting them on
fire.
2. Julius Caesar (100 BC - 44 BC)
Julius Caesar, the Roman statesman and military leader, is known
for his brilliant tactics on the battlefield. He also used
cryptography to send secret messages to his allies, using a code in
which each letter was replaced with the letter three places down
the alphabet.
3. Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519)
Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian polymath who excelled in
multiple fields, including painting, sculpture, engineering, and
science. He also had a keen interest in cryptography, creating a
code in which letters were replaced with symbols and shapes.
4. Mary Queen of Scots (1542 - 1587)
Mary Queen of Scots, the Scottish monarch, was known for her
clever escape attempts from captivity. In one instance, she dressed
up as a servant and escaped from a castle in which she was being
held captive.
5. Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642)
Galileo Galilei, the Italian astronomer and physicist, is known
for his contributions to the field of science. He was also a
skilled telescope maker, designing and building his own telescopes
to observe the stars.
6. Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)
Benjamin Franklin was an American statesman, scientist, and
inventor. He is known for his contributions to the fields of
electricity and physics. Franklin was also a skilled printer and
used his knowledge of printing to disseminate his ideas and
beliefs.
7. Jeanne de Clisson (1300s - 1359)
Jeanne de Clisson, a French pirate, was known for her ruthless
attacks on French ships during the Hundred Years' War. She would
paint her ships black and red to symbolize her hatred for the
French monarchy.
8. Matsuo Basho (1644 - 1694)
Matsuo Basho was a Japanese poet who is considered one of the
greatest poets of the Edo period. He is known for his haiku, a form
of poetry that is characterized by its brevity and simplicity.
9. Ada Lovelace (1815 - 1852)
Ada Lovelace was an English mathematician and writer who is
considered to be the world's first computer programmer. She wrote
the first algorithm for Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine, a
mechanical computer that wa...