Important elements in Jewish culture
Shortly after his first birthday, the American child prodigy could memorize and recite books, as well as add sums. Smith entered Randolph-Macon college at age 10, where he majored in mathematics. Gregory Smith has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times.
Sources: (History) (Mental Floss) (Historyplex)
See also: The curse of remembering everything
The British thinker, philosopher, and politician mastered Greek by the age of three. By the age of 10, John Stuart Mill had read all the major Greek philosophers' works, as well as the Roman philosophers, which he read in Latin.
The ice hockey star was just six years old when he started playing against boys aged 10. By age 10 himself, Gretzky had scored 378 goals and added 139 assists in one season alone.
The actress was 11 years old when she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'The Piano' (1993).
The famous Spanish painter's first words were "piz, piz" which is short for lapis, the Spanish word for "pencil." Picasso painted 'Le petit picador jaune' when was eight years old.
South Korea's Kim Ung-Yong could hold a conversation when he was just six months old, and read four languages by the age of four. Kim Ung-Yong's IQ was estimated to be over 210. Today, he's an accomplished civil engineer.
Pascal became known for Pascal's theorem, which he developed when he was 16. Not to mention that he was the inventor of the mechanical calculator.
When we talk about child prodigies, Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart often comes to mind. Perhaps it's because he began playing the harpsichord when he was three and was playing a full music piece before turning five!
The French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher was just nine when he wrote a treatise on vibrating bodies.
By age five, Mozart was writing his compositions, and at six years old he went on tour with his father and sister, performing for audiences.
"Mr. Pocket Billiards" became a juvenile champion at the age of 11 and went on to win more World Straight Pool Championships than anyone else—15.
Willie Mosconi caught the world's attention at the age of six, when he played an exhibition match against the reigning world billiards champion, Ralph Greenleaf.
Polgar defeated her first grandmaster, Vlatko Kovacevic, when she was 15, becoming the youngest chess grandmaster in history (at the time).
Judit Polgar was born in 1976 in Hungary. She stated entering chess tournaments by the age of six.
Steveland Judkins Morris was born blind and into poverty, but went on to become a successful music artist. Little Stevie Wonder signed his first record deal at age 11, and was 12 when his debut album was released.
He then earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1963 as the "Youngest Solo Artist at No. 1."
Born in India in 1887, Srinivasa Ramanujan never received formal training in mathematics. But at age 16 he read an English textbook on advanced mathematics, and the rest is history.
John von Neumann went on to work on the Manhattan Project during World War II and became a prominent figure in mathematics, physics, and computing.
She learned to read at the age of three, and went on to become an important literary figure who wrote a number of poems, plays, and philosophical works.
Born in Hungary in 1903, John von Neumann was able to memorize pages from the telephone book when he was a young child. By the age of eight, Neumann had mastered calculus.
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz was born circa 1648 or 1651 (depending on the source) in New Spain (present-day Mexico).
Aelita Andre started painting before turning one. At four years old, the young painter had her work exhibited at a New York City gallery.
German-born musician Clara Schumann started composing piano pieces at the age of 10. Schumann played her first concert in 1830, at the age of 11.
The young American nuclear physicist designed an innovative nuclear reactor when he was 14. Taylor Wilson then designed a compact radiation detector to be used at airport security.
The French poet published his first work in 1870, at the age of 15. Rimbaud's famous work, 'The Drunken Boat,' considered to be a masterpiece of French Symbolism, was published when he was just 16.
Australian-born Terence Tao, aka the "Mozart of Math," was an expert in arithmetic by the age of two. Tao started studying university-level math at the age of nine, and by the age of 20 he had a PhD in Math from Princeton.
The famous golf prodigy stared training with his father when he was just two. At age eight, Woods won his first Junior World Golf Championship, and the rest is history.
At age 15, Bobby Fischer became the youngest Chess Grandmaster in history (at that time). The American chess prodigy went on to become the 11th World Chess Champion.
The American child star started her film career at the age of three. Shirley Temple was awarded the first ever Academy Juvenile Award when she was six.
The Indian child prodigy wrote his first poem when he was eight. Rabindranath Tagore was the first Asian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, this in 1913.
Jean-Francois Champollion was a talented linguist from a young age. The French philologist and orientalist became known as the decipherer of Egyptian hieroglyphs and for his work in Egyptology.
Child prodigies are usually gifted with extraordinary talents that allow them to perform at a much higher lever than that expected for their age. While rare, throughout history there have been numerous examples of children who achieved extraordinary things that most adults can only dream of.
In this gallery, we bring you some of these exceptional children who were born with amazing gifts. Click on and get to know them!
History's most extraordinary child prodigies
From scientists to musicians
LIFESTYLE Genius
Child prodigies are usually gifted with extraordinary talents that allow them to perform at a much higher lever than that expected for their age. While rare, throughout history there have been numerous examples of children who achieved extraordinary things that most adults can only dream of.
In this gallery, we bring you some of these exceptional children who were born with amazing gifts. Click on and get to know them!