Public opinion reflects new stance
Considered one of the greatest American presidents in history, Lincoln was also an inventor. He developed a device for lifting boats over shoals and other obstacles in rivers, which earned him a patent.
In 1902, Einstein started working as a technical expert for a patent office in Bern, Switzerland. An undemanding job, it ended up being good for him, as he could focus on his scientific pursuits as well.
Best known today as the inventor of the Polaroid Camera and film, Land started out working in a lab studying light polarization. The lab would later become the Polaroid Corporation.
Sources: (Interesting Engineering) (Big Think)
Galton was a highly prolific polymath who is said to have had an IQ of around 200. Having made many contributions to geography and genetics, he also invented finger identification as a means to identify criminal suspects.
Not only was Benjamin Franklin a prolific inventor, but he also had several day jobs. Apart from being one of the Founding Fathers of the US, he also served as the Postmaster of Philadelphia.
Widely recognized as one of the greatest mathematicians and physicists of all time, Isaac Newton was once forced by his mother to become a farmer. Luckily, he left that world and went on to develop the field of science.
Watt was an instrument maker who became one of the world's most important inventors. The Scottish inventor improved the Newcomen steam engine and produced the first modern steam engine.
Stephenson was an English miner who changed travel forever. He single-handedly established the world's first public inter-city railway line and built the first railroad locomotive.
While working as a carpenter and watchmaker, Harrison invented one of the most important devices for ships, the marine chronometer. The device enabled ship navigators to accurately know their longitude.
Gutenberg was a goldsmith who changed the world forever after he invented the printing press. The groundbreaking machine allowed for the mass printing of books, which made them cheaper and more accessible for the masses.
John Deere is the man that gave the world the tractor. But before inventing the agricultural machinery, Deere worked as a blacksmith.
The first woman to win a Nobel Prize, for her work on radioactivity, Marie Curie was mainly self-taught. With limited funds and education, she worked early on as a governess, taking care of a family in a village north of Warsaw, Poland.
One of the greatest minds of the Renaissance, da Vinci worked for almost 17 years in the service of Duke Ludovico Sforza in Milan. He worked there as a military engineer, creating many machines and devices.
Known for being the oldest person to be nominated by a political party to run for President of the United States, Cooper as actually a very important inventor as well. He designed and built the very first American steam locomotive, the Tom Thumb.
Blinded by an early age, Louis Braille was actually a teacher, who invented a reading and writing system for the visually impaired. His system remains virtually unchanged to this day, and is known worldwide simply as braille.
Fulton was an apprentice at a Philadelphia jeweler, where he started painting miniature portraits on ivory for lockets and rings. He went on to invent the first commercially successful steamboat, putting his miniature paintings on the shelf.
Rudolf Diesel was a German-French thermal engineer who invented the diesel internal combustion engine. He was also a linguist and a social theorist.
Samuel Morse was an American artist whose notable work included portraits of John Adams, James Monroe, and French aristocrat Marquis de Lafayette. But on top of that, he also invented the single-wire telegraph system and co-invented the now famous Morse code.
Talbot was a British pioneer of photography, who invented the first negative from which several prints could be derived. He also worked as a linguist and archaeologist, while serving Parliament.
From selling candy, vegetables, and newspapers, Edison was a self-made man who used his earnings on a chemistry set.
Credited as the founder of Western philosophy, the Greek philosopher was also a sculptor. Some even say he made a famous sculpture of three goddesses, called The Three Graces, which stood at the entrance to the Acropolis.
Starting out as a wigmaker, Arkwright became a textile industrialist and inventor of the spinning frame. His organizational skills earned him the title "father of the modern industrial factory system."
The third US president was also another Founding Father who worked as an inventor. Some of his notable inventions were the Jefferson plow, a macaroni-making machine, a wheel cipher, and the great clock.
Kirkpatrick Macmillan was a Scottish blacksmith who is credited with inventing the modern pedal bicycle.
He went on to develop many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures.
Additionally, he was the Ambassador to France and the President of Pennsylvania. Plus, he invented bifocal glasses and the Franklin Stove, to name a few inventions.
Also known as Ts'ai Lun, he's widely credited as the inventor of paper and the modern papermaking process. But on the side, he worked as a political administrator during the Eastern Han dynasty in modern-day China.
Some of the world's most prominent historical figures weren’t able to work on their craft and subjects all the time. Largely due to mundane factors of everyday life, many had to work a full-time job next to their true calling. And, oftentimes, these jobs weren't even close to their main pursuits. From Albert Einstein working as a patent clerk, to Leonardo da Vinci making war machines, these famous figures came a long way, creating incredible legacies thanks to their hard work.
Want to know more? Then check out the following gallery to discover the most surprising side jobs of famous figures.
The unexpected side jobs of famous historical figures
Interestingly, some of these side jobs are their most recognized achievements
LIFESTYLE Curiosities
Some of the world's most prominent historical figures weren’t able to work on their craft and subjects all the time. Largely due to mundane factors of everyday life, many had to work a full-time job next to their true calling. And, oftentimes, these jobs weren't even close to their main pursuits. From Albert Einstein working as a patent clerk, to Leonardo da Vinci making war machines, these famous figures came a long way, creating incredible legacies thanks to their hard work.
Want to know more? Then check out the following gallery to discover the most surprising side jobs of famous figures.