Charlie Chaplin - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."

"A day without laughter
 is a day wasted." - Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin was born in Walworth, London on 16th August 1889. His parents were Hannah Harriet Pedlingham and Charles Chaplin. They were both music performers and later separated to seek their careers. Chaplin stayed with his mother, who lost her career. Chaplin spent most of his life in and out of charity homes and workhouses, between his mother's insanity bouts. His mother was later committed to Cane Hill Asylum in May 1903.

At age 8, Chaplin started his acting career by touring with the Eight Lancashire Lads. At 18 he toured with Fred Karno's Vaudeville Troupe, and joined them on their US tour in 1910.

He travelled to California in December 1913 and signed with Keystone Studios' Comedy Director, Mack Sennett. While at Keystone, Chaplin appeared in and directed 35 films. In November 1914, he left Keystone and signed on at Essanay, where he made 15 films. In 1916, he signed with Mutual and made 12 films. In June 1917, Chaplin signed with First National Studios, after this he built Chaplin Studios. And in 1919, he and other actors formed the UA (United Artists). 

In 1921, Chaplin was decorated by the French government for his work as a filmmaker, and appointed as Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1952. In 1972, he was honoured with an Academy Award. In 1975, he was created Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year's Honours List.

Chaplin as Hitler
in The Great Dictator (1940)

Although, with great success comes great scandal and controversy. During the First World War, he had his loyalty to England questioned. As he never applied for US citizenship. Many British called Chaplin a coward and a slacker. This all sparked suspicions with the FBI, who believed he was using a Communist propaganda into his films. In Chaplin's film The Great Dictator, in 1940, where he played a humous Adolf Hitler, this film stirred up further suspicions and dislike towards him.

Chaplin was later shunned for his support for aiding the Russian struggle against the Nazis during the Second World War. The US government questioned his morals and political views, and suspected him of having Communist ties. When Chaplin and his family travelled to London for the premier of Limelight (1952), he was denied re-entry to the US. He decided to settle in Switzerland. Where he died of natural causes on 25th December 1977 at his home. Although, in 1978 his corpse was stolen from his grave and not recovered for 3 months, he was re-buried in a concrete vault.

Alexander the Great "There is nothing impossible to him who tries."

Alexander the Great
(356-145 BCE)

Alexander was born in Pella, the Capital of Macedonia in July 356 BCE. His parents were Philip II of Macedon and Olympias. He was educated by the Philosopher Aristotle. 

His father was assassinated in 336 BCE and Alexander became Alexander III of Macedon. After Alexander dealt with the problems in Macedon and reasserted Macedonian power within Hellas (Greece). He set out to conquer the Persian Empire. 

Against the odds, he led his army to victories across Persian territories of Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt, without any defeat. In 331 BCE, the young Alexander was able to achieve being King of Macedonia, leader of Hellenes (Greeks), overlord of Asia Minor and Pharaoh of Egypt became 'Great King' of Persia at the age of 25.

There is nothing impossible
to him who tries.
- Alexander

Within the next 8 years, Alexander led his army a further 11,000 miles, discovering over 70 cities and creating an empire over 3 continents, which were linked by a international network of trade and commerce. All this was united under the Hellenes language and culture, while adapted within individual customs in order to rule millions.

However, Alexander died of a fever in Babylon on June 323 BCE. His death sparked a huge power struggle. Macedonia had a bloody civil war with those who wished for control of the Empire. Hellas rebelled against Macedonia and expelled them from Hellas. The Macedonian Empire was eventually split into main kingdoms and with the rise of Rome ended the Macedonian kingdom when both Macedonia and Hellas were conquered in 167/145 BCE.

Leonidas I and the 300 Spartans

King Leonidas I
(530-480 BCE)

Leonidas I was the son of the Spartan King Anaxandrides. He became king after the death of his older half-brother Cleomenes I in 490 BCE.

As a male Leonidas, went through mental and physical training. From childhood every Spartan boy goes through their horrible education system, the Agoge, in preparation to become a warrior for Sparta. Once in the Spartan forces they would become a Hoplite, a soldier armed with a round shield, spear and a iron short sword. The Hoplites form in a battle a phalanx, rows of hoplites stood directly next to each other making a wall of shields and spears. During a frontal attack, this wall provided significant protection to the warriors behind it. Although if the formation broke or the enemy attacked from the sides or the rear then the formation became useless. 

Ancient Hellas (Greece) was made up of several hundred City-States. Although most were divided they banded together to defend Hellas from a foreign invader, Persia. In 490 BCE the Persian King Darius I instigated an attempted a invasion, but a combined Hellenes (Greeks) force pushed back the Persian army at the Battle of Marathon. 

In 480 BCE, one of Darius' sons, Xerxes I, attempted an invasion of Hellas. Under Xerxes, the Persian army moved through the Hellas eastern coast, with the Persian navy moving parallel to the shore. To reach the lower half of Hellas the Persian's had to go through the coastal pass of Thermopylae.

Battle of Thermopylae 480 BCE

In the late summer of 480, Leonidas led 300 Spartans and 6,700 Hellenes forces in attempted to stop the Persians through the narrow pass. For two days the Hellenes defended the attacks of the numerous enemy. Although the Persians found a route over the mountains to the west, enabling them to surround the Hellenes forces. Most of the Hellenes forces fled rather then see certain death. Only an army of Spartans, Thespians and Thebans remained and all of them were slaughtered. The Persians found and beheaded Leonidas' corpse, insulting him by denying funerary rights.

After the Battle of Thermopylae, the Athenian navy defeated the Persians at the Battle of Salamis, sending the Persians back home. It took forty years before Sparta retrieved Leonidas' remains to bury him as well as having a shrine built in his honour.   

Mohandas Gandhi - "We shall either free India or die in the attempt..."

Lego Gandhi,
the lawyer, 1893.
(1869-1948)

On 2nd October 1869 in North West India, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in the State of Porbandar. His father worked in government as the Chief Minister of Porbandar. His mother was a strong Hindu, vegetarian. At the age of 13, Gandhi married Kasturba in 1883. 

In 1888, Gandhi was given a chance to study law at the Inner Temple in London. He moved to London and he became acquainted with Western clothing. He later joined a vegetarian movement and at the Theosophical Society helped him with traditional Hindu principals - Vegetarianism, no alcohol and sexual abstinence.

In 1893 Gandhi returned to India to practise as a lawyer but after he lost his first case, he was thrown out of office. Humiliated, Gandhi accepted a post in South Africa. When travelling across the country in a first class train carriage, he was removed because of his race. Appalled at his treatment of the Indians. So he started up a Indian Congress in Natal to fight racism using non-violent civil protests. He then took a vow of celibacy and began wearing the traditional white Indian dhoti robe.

In 1914, he lead 2,221 people from the working Indian classes on a march from Natal to Transvaal in an act of public disobedience against a £3 taxon people of Indian descent. Gandhi was arrested and sentenced to 9 months imprisonment but the strike spread and the British were forced to drop the tax and release Gandhi. 

Later in 1915, Gandhi returned to India. He was shocked at the overcrowding and poverty he encountered. Gandhi called for a day of protest against the Rowlatt Act which allowed the imprisonment of anyone who was suspected of terrorism. Thousands gathered in several cities but the protesters turned violent. In Amritsar, the military fired upon 20,000 protesters. About 400 where killed and 1,300 were wounded. After the massacre, Gandhi started to campaign for Indian Independence. 

"I wear the national dress 

because it is the most natural 

and the most becoming 

for an Indian." - Gandhi

In 1921, Gandhi became the leader of the Indian National Congress and campaigns for political independence from Britain. In response the British arrested Gandhi for sedition and he was imprisoned for 2 years.

In 1930, the British planned a conference in London to discuss India's future. They refused to allow any Indian presents in the talks to put their own opinions across. In retaliation to this, Gandhi started a campaign against Britain's Salt Laws, which outlawed Indians from collecting or selling salt and forced to pay heavily taxed British salt. He lead thousands on a 'March to the Sea' where the protesters boiled the Sea water to make illegal salt. Gandhi was arrested and the protest escalated, thousands refused to pay their taxes and rent. The British gave in and Gandhi was released and was allowed to go to London for the conference.

In 1931, Gandhi travelled to London for the Round Table Conference as a representative of the Indian National Congress. However, the British weren't ready to grant India Independence. They believed that Gandhi didn't have the whole of India's interests at heart. Despite the loss, Gandhi was allowed an audience with King George V and he visited mill workers at Lancashire. After his failure at the conference, Gandhi stepped down as leader of the Indian National Congress. 

"We shall either free India
or die in the attempt" - Gandhi

In 1942, Winston Churchill called on India for support in the war against Germany. Gandhi disliked the idea of sending Indian aid to the British, while India was subjugated by them. Gandhi planned a non-violent protest demanding the British to 'Quit India'. In response, Gandhi and his wife was imprisoned. A string of violent protests for Gandhi's release erupted across India. He was released in 1944 but his wife died months before.

In 1947, Britain began negotiations for the independence of India. The Mountbatten Plan outlined the formation of the two new independent states of India and Pakistan, divided along the religious region divide. Gandhi's vision of a united India and religion was destroyed. The state partition started mass killings and the migration of millions. Gandhi leafed Delhi and travelled to Calcutta in hope of settling the violence.

In 1948, Gandhi returned to Delhi to protect Muslims who stayed in India. However, on his way to prayer at Birla House he was shot dead by a Hindu extremist.

Shakespeare - "To be, or not to be"

Lego Shakespeare 
1564-1616

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 at Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire. His father was John Shakespeare, a glove maker and wool merchant and his mother was Mary Arden. He was most likely educated at the local King Edward VI Grammar School in Stratford. He married at the age of 18 to Anne Hathaway in 1582.

The years between 1585 and 1592 are known as the 'Lost Years' as it is not known what Shakespeare achieved in the period. We find him in London and became an actor. He also became one of the managing partners of the Lord Chamberlain's Company. The company acquired interests in only two theatres in Southwark area of London near the south bank of the Thames, The Globe and The Blackfriars.

In 1593 and 1594 Shakespeare wrote his first poems, 'Venus and Adonis' and 'Rape of Lucrece'. Both published by Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton and his patron. According to the records he wrote his first play in 1594. Making about two plays a year until 1611. His earliest plays were mainly historical and comedies, such as 'Henry VI' and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Then later on he moved onto tragedies, such as 'Romeo and Juliet'.

In 1596 John, Shakespeare's father was granted to have a coat of arms. In 1597, Shakespeare bought a larger house in New Place, Stratford. By the last years of the Elizabeth I's reign he was called upon to perform several of his plays before the Queen and court.

William Rowley 

you got the lines all wrong.

 It's "Alas poor Yorick,

 I knew him".

In 1602, Shakespeare's success enabled him to move upmarket in Silver Street, London. While he was living here he wrote some of his greatest tragedies, such as 'Hamlet' and 'Macbeth'.

After his long career, he spent the last five years of his life in the family home in New Place, Stratford. He died on 23rd April 1616 at the age of 52 and buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. He bequeathed his property to the male heirs of his eldest daughter, Susanna and his 'second best bed' to his wife.

The first collected edition of his works was published in 1623 and was known as the 'First Folio'.