they say that legends never die but these historical figures passed away not
these historical figures passed away not
these historical figures passed away not knowing their work would live forever
knowing their work would live forever
knowing their work would live forever welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten people who became famous after they died
people who became famous after they died
people who became famous after they died before we begin we publish new videos
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every day so be sure to subscribe for more great
so be sure to subscribe for more great
so be sure to subscribe for more great content for this list we’re looking at
content for this list we’re looking at
content for this list we’re looking at individuals throughout history who died
individuals throughout history who died
individuals throughout history who died in relative obscurity but whose works
in relative obscurity but whose works
in relative obscurity but whose works accomplishments or fiefs went on to earn
accomplishments or fiefs went on to earn
accomplishments or fiefs went on to earn them significant fame after their deaths
them significant fame after their deaths
them significant fame after their deaths we’re not considering anyone who only
we’re not considering anyone who only
we’re not considering anyone who only became famous as a result of their
became famous as a result of their
became famous as a result of their demise like victims of high-profile
demise like victims of high-profile
demise like victims of high-profile murders or sensational deaths
murders or sensational deaths
murders or sensational deaths also some measure of success during
also some measure of success during
also some measure of success during their lifetime is acceptable as long as
their lifetime is acceptable as long as
their lifetime is acceptable as long as their popularity after death clearly and
their popularity after death clearly and
their popularity after death clearly and substantially eclipses any name
substantially eclipses any name
substantially eclipses any name recognition they had in their lifetime
recognition they had in their lifetime
recognition they had in their lifetime number 10 Herman Melville long before
number 10 Herman Melville long before
number 10 Herman Melville long before Bear Grylls turned the idea of man vs.
Bear Grylls turned the idea of man vs.
Bear Grylls turned the idea of man vs. wild into a freak show that involves
wild into a freak show that involves
wild into a freak show that involves sleeping inside camels this 19th century
sleeping inside camels this 19th century
sleeping inside camels this 19th century American writer was exploring man’s
American writer was exploring man’s
American writer was exploring man’s attempt to best nature in his novel
attempt to best nature in his novel
attempt to best nature in his novel moby-dick I live and breathe
moby-dick I live and breathe
moby-dick I live and breathe he’s mars herman melville briefly
he’s mars herman melville briefly
he’s mars herman melville briefly flirted with success as a writer after
flirted with success as a writer after
flirted with success as a writer after publishing his first book kaity a highly
publishing his first book kaity a highly
publishing his first book kaity a highly dramatized account of his time living
dramatized account of his time living
dramatized account of his time living among the Polynesians
among the Polynesians
among the Polynesians but his subsequently published books
but his subsequently published books
but his subsequently published books including moby dick were increasingly
including moby dick were increasingly
including moby dick were increasingly less well received resulting in
less well received resulting in
less well received resulting in financial failure his shift into poetry
financial failure his shift into poetry
financial failure his shift into poetry proved equally disastrous by 1876 none
proved equally disastrous by 1876 none
proved equally disastrous by 1876 none of his books remained in print and he
of his books remained in print and he
of his books remained in print and he died in 1891 as little more than a
died in 1891 as little more than a
died in 1891 as little more than a footnote in American literature Herman
footnote in American literature Herman
footnote in American literature Herman Melville wrote Moby Dick he was so poor
Melville wrote Moby Dick he was so poor
Melville wrote Moby Dick he was so poor and forgotten by the time he died that
and forgotten by the time he died that
and forgotten by the time he died that in his obituary they called him Henry
in his obituary they called him Henry
in his obituary they called him Henry Melville in the early 1900’s however his
Melville in the early 1900’s however his
Melville in the early 1900’s however his work resurfaced two retrospective
work resurfaced two retrospective
work resurfaced two retrospective acclaim earning him a spot among
acclaim earning him a spot among
acclaim earning him a spot among America’s great authors it will be a
America’s great authors it will be a
America’s great authors it will be a work of fiction mr. Nickerson number 9
work of fiction mr. Nickerson number 9
work of fiction mr. Nickerson number 9 Gregor Mendel science and religion are
Gregor Mendel science and religion are
Gregor Mendel science and religion are often portrayed as being in direct
often portrayed as being in direct
often portrayed as being in direct conflict with each other but for proof
conflict with each other but for proof
conflict with each other but for proof of potential harmony between the two one
of potential harmony between the two one
of potential harmony between the two one need look no further than Gregor Mendel
need look no further than Gregor Mendel
need look no further than Gregor Mendel this 19th century European scientist and
this 19th century European scientist and
this 19th century European scientist and friar studied plants and animals and
friar studied plants and animals and
friar studied plants and animals and through crossbreeding established early
through crossbreeding established early
through crossbreeding established early concepts of heredity Mendel is now
concepts of heredity Mendel is now
concepts of heredity Mendel is now considered to be the father of modern
considered to be the father of modern
considered to be the father of modern genetics his work was largely dismissed
genetics his work was largely dismissed
genetics his work was largely dismissed by the scientific community in his own
by the scientific community in his own
by the scientific community in his own time however as it did not fit with
time however as it did not fit with
time however as it did not fit with current models but by the early 1900’s a
current models but by the early 1900’s a
current models but by the early 1900’s a number of researchers revisited or
number of researchers revisited or
number of researchers revisited or rediscovered his works and Mendel’s laws
rediscovered his works and Mendel’s laws
rediscovered his works and Mendel’s laws went on to lay the foundation for what
went on to lay the foundation for what
went on to lay the foundation for what we now know as genetics number 8 Oscar
we now know as genetics number 8 Oscar
we now know as genetics number 8 Oscar Wilde similar to Melville Oscar Wilde
Wilde similar to Melville Oscar Wilde
Wilde similar to Melville Oscar Wilde experienced some success and recognition
experienced some success and recognition
experienced some success and recognition during his lifetime in the 1890s after
during his lifetime in the 1890s after
during his lifetime in the 1890s after years spent as a journalist editor and
years spent as a journalist editor and
years spent as a journalist editor and author of essays short stories poetry
author of essays short stories poetry
author of essays short stories poetry and fiction he wrote a number of
and fiction he wrote a number of
and fiction he wrote a number of successful plays including The
successful plays including The
successful plays including The Importance of Being Earnest an instant
Importance of Being Earnest an instant
Importance of Being Earnest an instant hit I realized for the first time in my
hit I realized for the first time in my
hit I realized for the first time in my life of vital importance being honest
life of vital importance being honest
life of vital importance being honest despite his late career success legal
despite his late career success legal
despite his late career success legal battles over his homosexuality resulted
battles over his homosexuality resulted
battles over his homosexuality resulted in him serving a two-year prison
in him serving a two-year prison
in him serving a two-year prison sentence after which he spent his final
sentence after which he spent his final
sentence after which he spent his final years as a penniless exile in France
years as a penniless exile in France
years as a penniless exile in France much of his work went unappreciated upon
much of his work went unappreciated upon
much of his work went unappreciated upon initial publishing most notably the
initial publishing most notably the
initial publishing most notably the picture
picture
picture of Dorian Gray which was dismissed as
of Dorian Gray which was dismissed as
of Dorian Gray which was dismissed as immoral homoeroticism but his collected
immoral homoeroticism but his collected
immoral homoeroticism but his collected works life story and poetically tragic
works life story and poetically tragic
works life story and poetically tragic deaths earned him significantly greater
deaths earned him significantly greater
deaths earned him significantly greater fame posthumously a Fame that grew
fame posthumously a Fame that grew
fame posthumously a Fame that grew exponentially in later decades
exponentially in later decades
exponentially in later decades patriotism is a venture of the bishops
patriotism is a venture of the bishops
patriotism is a venture of the bishops according to us a wild number 7 HP
according to us a wild number 7 HP
according to us a wild number 7 HP Lovecraft aside from Stephen King there
Lovecraft aside from Stephen King there
Lovecraft aside from Stephen King there is likely no bigger name in horror than
is likely no bigger name in horror than
is likely no bigger name in horror than Lovecraft but in his lifetime the
Lovecraft but in his lifetime the
Lovecraft but in his lifetime the reclusive self-conscious author never
reclusive self-conscious author never
reclusive self-conscious author never earned so much as a modest living from
earned so much as a modest living from
earned so much as a modest living from his written work which were relegated to
his written work which were relegated to
his written work which were relegated to the pages of pulp magazine his work was
the pages of pulp magazine his work was
the pages of pulp magazine his work was recognized within small circles of
recognized within small circles of
recognized within small circles of writers however and over the years an
writers however and over the years an
writers however and over the years an appreciation of his writing by other
appreciation of his writing by other
appreciation of his writing by other authors in the genre went on to
authors in the genre went on to
authors in the genre went on to establish him as a father figure in
establish him as a father figure in
establish him as a father figure in horror culture his influence has grown
horror culture his influence has grown
horror culture his influence has grown so great since his death that
so great since his death that
so great since his death that Lovecraftian horror is a sub-genre of
Lovecraftian horror is a sub-genre of
Lovecraftian horror is a sub-genre of it’s very own
it’s very own
it’s very own things much older than Earth are gazing
things much older than Earth are gazing
things much older than Earth are gazing upon us with indifference his creations
upon us with indifference his creations
upon us with indifference his creations and mythos such as Cthulhu have worked
and mythos such as Cthulhu have worked
and mythos such as Cthulhu have worked their way into the very fabric of pop
their way into the very fabric of pop
their way into the very fabric of pop culture and are now seen in anime film
culture and are now seen in anime film
culture and are now seen in anime film television tabletop games music and
television tabletop games music and
television tabletop games music and video games
video games
video games the rise of Cthulhu from another
the rise of Cthulhu from another
the rise of Cthulhu from another dimension brings about 3,000 years of
dimension brings about 3,000 years of
dimension brings about 3,000 years of Darkness table number 6 Edgar Allan Poe
Darkness table number 6 Edgar Allan Poe
Darkness table number 6 Edgar Allan Poe unappreciated though he was Lovecraft
unappreciated though he was Lovecraft
unappreciated though he was Lovecraft often cited Poe as one of his major
often cited Poe as one of his major
often cited Poe as one of his major influences hoes work is particularly
influences hoes work is particularly
influences hoes work is particularly notable for being at once terrifying and
notable for being at once terrifying and
notable for being at once terrifying and get undeniably beautiful a rare quality
get undeniably beautiful a rare quality
get undeniably beautiful a rare quality in contemporary horror he spent most of
in contemporary horror he spent most of
in contemporary horror he spent most of his adult life in relative poverty
his adult life in relative poverty
his adult life in relative poverty supplementing his income by writing for
supplementing his income by writing for
supplementing his income by writing for journals and periodicals this work
journals and periodicals this work
journals and periodicals this work earned him a reputation as a respected
earned him a reputation as a respected
earned him a reputation as a respected literary critic but these circles were
literary critic but these circles were
literary critic but these circles were small his only truly successful work in
small his only truly successful work in
small his only truly successful work in his own lifetime was the Raven and my
his own lifetime was the Raven and my
his own lifetime was the Raven and my soul from out that shadow that lies
soul from out that shadow that lies
soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
floating on the floor
floating on the floor shall be lifted posthumously his poetry
shall be lifted posthumously his poetry
shall be lifted posthumously his poetry and short fiction work was translated
and short fiction work was translated
and short fiction work was translated into French where it became quite
into French where it became quite
into French where it became quite popular before spreading across the
popular before spreading across the
popular before spreading across the globe
globe
globe additionally Poe is also credited with
additionally Poe is also credited with
additionally Poe is also credited with having invented the detective fiction
having invented the detective fiction
having invented the detective fiction genre without ever naming it number 5
genre without ever naming it number 5
genre without ever naming it number 5 Galileo Galilei the Inquisition what a
Galileo Galilei the Inquisition what a
Galileo Galilei the Inquisition what a time to be alive
time to be alive
time to be alive is of Spanish Inquisition Galileo is a
is of Spanish Inquisition Galileo is a
is of Spanish Inquisition Galileo is a household name nowadays but in his own
household name nowadays but in his own
household name nowadays but in his own lifetime he was repeatedly subjected to
lifetime he was repeatedly subjected to
lifetime he was repeatedly subjected to censorship and forced to recant his
censorship and forced to recant his
censorship and forced to recant his scientific statements spending the
scientific statements spending the
scientific statements spending the better part of his final decade under
better part of his final decade under
better part of his final decade under house arrest but Alejo laid out his
house arrest but Alejo laid out his
house arrest but Alejo laid out his theories about the earth revolved in
theories about the earth revolved in
theories about the earth revolved in wrong with him
wrong with him
wrong with him gregor mendel might have been the father
gregor mendel might have been the father
gregor mendel might have been the father of modern genetics but galileo has been
of modern genetics but galileo has been
of modern genetics but galileo has been called the father of science by the
called the father of science by the
called the father of science by the likes of Stephen Hawking
likes of Stephen Hawking
likes of Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein yes science his
and Albert Einstein yes science his
and Albert Einstein yes science his contributions to the fields of astronomy
contributions to the fields of astronomy
contributions to the fields of astronomy engineering and physics were
engineering and physics were
engineering and physics were immeasurable sadly during his own
immeasurable sadly during his own
immeasurable sadly during his own lifetime the church suppressed much of
lifetime the church suppressed much of
lifetime the church suppressed much of his work deeming it heresy in the years
his work deeming it heresy in the years
his work deeming it heresy in the years after his death however his band works
after his death however his band works
after his death however his band works were steadily released allowing the full
were steadily released allowing the full
were steadily released allowing the full impact of his discoveries to be felt by
impact of his discoveries to be felt by
impact of his discoveries to be felt by the scientific world number four Emily
the scientific world number four Emily
the scientific world number four Emily Dickinson although a few of Emily
Dickinson although a few of Emily
Dickinson although a few of Emily Dickinson’s poems were published during
Dickinson’s poems were published during
Dickinson’s poems were published during her lifetime they were heavily edited
her lifetime they were heavily edited
her lifetime they were heavily edited and in some cases were even published
and in some cases were even published
and in some cases were even published anonymously she was a prolific writer
anonymously she was a prolific writer
anonymously she was a prolific writer until her death at the age of 55 but
until her death at the age of 55 but
until her death at the age of 55 but kept the majority of her writings to
kept the majority of her writings to
kept the majority of her writings to herself I hear Robbins a great way off
herself I hear Robbins a great way off
herself I hear Robbins a great way off and waggons great way off after her
and waggons great way off after her
and waggons great way off after her death her sister Lavinia discovered some
death her sister Lavinia discovered some
death her sister Lavinia discovered some 18-hundred poems and made it her
18-hundred poems and made it her
18-hundred poems and made it her personal mission to see them published a
personal mission to see them published a
personal mission to see them published a number of factors prevented this goal
number of factors prevented this goal
number of factors prevented this goal from being fully realized in the ensuing
from being fully realized in the ensuing
from being fully realized in the ensuing decades but from 1890 to 1945 various
decades but from 1890 to 1945 various
decades but from 1890 to 1945 various edited volumes of her poetry were
edited volumes of her poetry were
edited volumes of her poetry were released capturing the attention of
released capturing the attention of
released capturing the attention of critics in 1955 her completed works were
critics in 1955 her completed works were
critics in 1955 her completed works were finally published since her death Emily
finally published since her death Emily
finally published since her death Emily Dickinson has been recognized as one of
Dickinson has been recognized as one of
Dickinson has been recognized as one of the most important poets in American
the most important poets in American
the most important poets in American history
history
history green eyes she was sometimes Emily
green eyes she was sometimes Emily
green eyes she was sometimes Emily Dickinson
Dickinson
Dickinson number three Johann Sebastian Bach
number three Johann Sebastian Bach
number three Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Bach was certainly relatively
Johann Bach was certainly relatively
Johann Bach was certainly relatively well known in his own time but not as a
well known in his own time but not as a
well known in his own time but not as a composer Fox was a highly and widely
composer Fox was a highly and widely
composer Fox was a highly and widely respected professional organ player he
respected professional organ player he
respected professional organ player he didn’t keep his compositions of secret
didn’t keep his compositions of secret
didn’t keep his compositions of secret they were simply considered too complex
they were simply considered too complex
they were simply considered too complex and too challenging for listeners of the
and too challenging for listeners of the
and too challenging for listeners of the musical arts interest in his music was
musical arts interest in his music was
musical arts interest in his music was limited to peers or contemporary equally
limited to peers or contemporary equally
limited to peers or contemporary equally focused on pushing the boundaries of
focused on pushing the boundaries of
focused on pushing the boundaries of musical experimentation eventually
musical experimentation eventually
musical experimentation eventually however the world caught up to him the
however the world caught up to him the
however the world caught up to him the early 19th century saw Bach rise in
early 19th century saw Bach rise in
early 19th century saw Bach rise in prominence as a composer and with an
prominence as a composer and with an
prominence as a composer and with an 1829 performance of a sacred oratorio
1829 performance of a sacred oratorio
1829 performance of a sacred oratorio st. Matthew Passion he quickly grew into
st. Matthew Passion he quickly grew into
st. Matthew Passion he quickly grew into his current status as one of the
his current status as one of the
his current status as one of the greatest composers in history
greatest composers in history
greatest composers in history [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number two Vincent van Gogh in his
number two Vincent van Gogh in his
number two Vincent van Gogh in his lifetime Vincent van Gogh was a prolific
lifetime Vincent van Gogh was a prolific
lifetime Vincent van Gogh was a prolific painter creating around 2100 works in
painter creating around 2100 works in
painter creating around 2100 works in just over 10 years but he only succeeded
just over 10 years but he only succeeded
just over 10 years but he only succeeded and selling a single painting in his own
and selling a single painting in his own
and selling a single painting in his own lifetime considered to be insane and a
lifetime considered to be insane and a
lifetime considered to be insane and a failure of an artist partly because of
failure of an artist partly because of
failure of an artist partly because of that whole ear thing he took his own
that whole ear thing he took his own
that whole ear thing he took his own life at the age of 37
life at the age of 37
life at the age of 37 it was truly post death in addition to a
it was truly post death in addition to a
it was truly post death in addition to a substantial contributions to modern art
substantial contributions to modern art
substantial contributions to modern art as we know it his dramatic life and
as we know it his dramatic life and
as we know it his dramatic life and death have helped shape the romanticized
death have helped shape the romanticized
death have helped shape the romanticized depiction of the tortured artist and the
depiction of the tortured artist and the
depiction of the tortured artist and the notion that one should suffer for their
notion that one should suffer for their
notion that one should suffer for their art before we unveil our number one pick
art before we unveil our number one pick
art before we unveil our number one pick here are some honorable mentions
here are some honorable mentions
here are some honorable mentions well walden is antithetical to despite
well walden is antithetical to despite
well walden is antithetical to despite everything we think in the world now you
everything we think in the world now you
everything we think in the world now you know Franz Kafka’s stories do indeed
know Franz Kafka’s stories do indeed
know Franz Kafka’s stories do indeed deal with many mundane and absurd
deal with many mundane and absurd
deal with many mundane and absurd aspects of modern bureaucracy are the
aspects of modern bureaucracy are the
aspects of modern bureaucracy are the creations of Stieg Larsson a Swedish
creations of Stieg Larsson a Swedish
creations of Stieg Larsson a Swedish journalist and first-time novelist who
journalist and first-time novelist who
journalist and first-time novelist who didn’t live to see the phenomenon his
didn’t live to see the phenomenon his
didn’t live to see the phenomenon his books would become number one and Frank
books would become number one and Frank
books would become number one and Frank even on this list and Frank is truly
even on this list and Frank is truly
even on this list and Frank is truly unique she died at the tender age of 15
unique she died at the tender age of 15
unique she died at the tender age of 15 in a German concentration camp and yet
in a German concentration camp and yet
in a German concentration camp and yet her writing a simple diary has gone on
her writing a simple diary has gone on
her writing a simple diary has gone on to become one of the most famous
to become one of the most famous
to become one of the most famous publications ever written between 1942
publications ever written between 1942
publications ever written between 1942 and 1944
and 1944
and 1944 it chronicles an time in hiding with her
it chronicles an time in hiding with her
it chronicles an time in hiding with her family before their capture and
family before their capture and
family before their capture and transportation to Auschwitz in her diary
transportation to Auschwitz in her diary
transportation to Auschwitz in her diary which was recovered by her father the
which was recovered by her father the
which was recovered by her father the only surviving member of her family
only surviving member of her family
only surviving member of her family after World War two
after World War two
after World War two she wrote about her dreams of becoming a
she wrote about her dreams of becoming a
she wrote about her dreams of becoming a journalist although atrocious acts of
journalist although atrocious acts of
journalist although atrocious acts of genocide kept her from realizing that
genocide kept her from realizing that
genocide kept her from realizing that dream the one piece of writing she did
dream the one piece of writing she did
dream the one piece of writing she did pen in her short life has made her one
pen in her short life has made her one
pen in her short life has made her one of the most famous nonfiction writers in
of the most famous nonfiction writers in
of the most famous nonfiction writers in history do you agree with our picks
history do you agree with our picks
history do you agree with our picks check out these other great clips from
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