30 Biographical Blunders That Are Considered Fact Today

History is full of myths and bizarre inaccuracies. Some of them can be so persistent they become facts over time. And many things we think we know with certainty about the most well-known historical figures, from Napoleon to Blackbeard, are actually just stubborn myths we still believe.

Napoleon was short

Myth: One of the most famous military leaders in history, Napoleon Bonaparte, was unusually short.

Reality: Napoleon was actually about 5'7", which was around the average height for men during his time.

Marie Antoinette said "Let them eat cake"

Myth: The infamous quote "Let them eat cake" is attributed to the French Queen Marie Antoinette.

Reality: There is no evidence that she ever actually said this phrase, which is often used to portray her as being insensitive to the plight of the poor.

Albert Einstein failed mathematics in school

Myth: The brilliant physicist Albert Einstein struggled with mathematics and even failed the subject in school.

Reality: Einstein excelled in math from a young age and was always an exceptional student in the subject.

George Washington had wooden teeth

Myth: The first President of the United States, George Washington, had wooden dentures.

Reality: While Washington did wear dentures, they were made from ivory, gold, and other materials, but not wood.

Cleopatra was Egyptian

Myth: Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian queen, was of Egyptian descent.

Reality: She was actually of Macedonian Greek descent, part of the Ptolemaic dynasty that ruled Egypt after the conquests of Alexander the Great.

Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey as the U.S. national bird

Myth: Benjamin Franklin proposed that the turkey should be the national bird of the United States.

Reality: This comes from a private letter where Franklin was joking about the turkey's courage compared to the bald eagle, but he did not seriously propose it as the national bird.

Thomas Edison invented the light bulb

Myth: The iconic inventor Thomas Edison is credited with inventing the light bulb.

Reality: While Edison improved upon existing designs and made them commercially viable, he did not invent the light bulb itself.

Marco Polo introduced pasta to Italy from China

Myth: The famous explorer Marco Polo introduced pasta to Italy after his travels to China.

Reality: Pasta was already present in Italy by the time Polo would have returned from his journeys, so he did not introduce it to the country.

Vincent van Gogh sliced off his entire ear

Myth: The troubled artist Vincent van Gogh famously sliced off his entire ear in a fit of madness.

Reality: He only cut off a small portion of his earlobe, not his entire ear.

Henry VIII had six wives because he was a misogynist

Myth: King Henry VIII of England had six wives because he was a notorious misogynist who disrespected women.

Reality: His multiple marriages were driven more by political and succession issues than any personal hatred or disrespect for women.

Saladin was a merciless conqueror

Myth: Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt and Syria, was a merciless conqueror during the Crusades.

Reality: He was actually known for his chivalry and mercy, even towards his enemies during the Crusades.

Isaac Newton discovered gravity when an apple fell on his head

Myth: The famous story claims that Isaac Newton discovered the laws of gravity when an apple fell on his head.

Reality: The apple story is a myth; Newton's theories on gravity were based on years of research and observations, not a single incident with a falling apple.

Robert the Bruce was a relentless patriot for Scotland from the start

Myth: Robert the Bruce, the famous Scottish king, was a relentless patriot fighting for Scottish independence from the beginning.

Reality: He initially supported Edward I of England before his famous rebellion against English rule in Scotland.

Queen Victoria was always solemn and humorless

Myth: Queen Victoria, the long-reigning British monarch, was always solemn and humorless in her demeanor.

Reality: While she projected a serious public image, Victoria enjoyed a robust sense of humor in private with her family and friends.

Lady Godiva rode naked to lower taxes

Myth: The legend of Lady Godiva claims that she rode naked on a horse through the streets to force her husband to lower taxes.

Reality: This legend likely stems from later romanticized versions of a real protest, but the naked ride itself is likely fictional.

Pocahontas and John Smith had a romantic relationship

Myth: The Native American princess Pocahontas and the English colonist John Smith had a romantic relationship.

Reality: Pocahontas was a child when they met, and their relationship was not romantic in nature.

Magellan circumnavigated the globe

Myth: The famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigated the globe, completing the first voyage around the world.

Reality: While Magellan initiated the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe, he was killed in the Philippines, and his crew completed the journey without him.

Amelia Earhart disappeared without a trace

Myth: Amelia Earhart's plane went missing without any clues or evidence left behind.

Reality: Debris and evidence have been found that may point to her crash site, indicating that her plane likely crashed during her attempted around-the-world flight.

Harry Houdini died performing a water escape

Myth: The legendary escape artist Harry Houdini died while performing a dangerous water escape stunt.

Reality: Houdini died of peritonitis secondary to a ruptured appendix, not from a failed escape attempt.

King John signed the Magna Carta willingly

Myth: King John of England voluntarily signed the Magna Carta, a historic document limiting the monarch's power.

Reality: He was forced into it by his barons, who rebelled against his tyrannical rule.

Leonardo da Vinci was primarily an artist

Myth: Leonardo da Vinci is best known and celebrated for his artistic genius and masterpieces like the Mona Lisa.

Reality: In addition to being a renowned artist, he was also a brilliant scientist, engineer, and inventor.

The Buddha was obese

Myth: The Buddha is often depicted as an overweight or obese figure.

Reality: These depictions actually represent Budai, a Chinese monk revered for his happiness and generosity, not the historical Buddha himself.

Blackbeard was a bloodthirsty pirate

Myth: Blackbeard, the infamous pirate, was a merciless and bloodthirsty criminal who terrorized the seas.

Reality: While he cultivated a fearsome reputation, his brutality was mostly for show to intimidate enemies and avoid unnecessary violence.

Jeanne d'Arc was burned at the stake as a witch

Myth: Joan of Arc, the French national heroine, was executed for practicing witchcraft.

Reality: She was put to death for heresy, not witchcraft, after being tried and convicted by an ecclesiastical court.

Elizabeth I was known as the Virgin Queen because she was chaste

Myth: Queen Elizabeth I of England was called the "Virgin Queen" because she remained unmarried and chaste throughout her life.

Reality: This was likely political propaganda to emphasize her independence and prevent claims to the throne through marriage.

Attila the Hun was a barbaric and merciless leader

Myth: Attila the Hun was a ruthless and barbaric leader who showed no mercy to his enemies.

Reality: While he was a formidable military leader, he was also a pragmatic ruler who negotiated peace when it suited his interests.

The Wright brothers were the first to fly a powered aircraft

Myth: Wilbur and Orville Wright were the first to successfully fly a powered aircraft.

Reality: They were the first to design and fly a powered aircraft with full control, but others like Gustave Whitehead might have flown earlier, though documentation is lacking.

Henry Ford invented the automobile and the assembly line

Myth: Henry Ford is credited with inventing both the automobile and the assembly line production method.

Reality: The automobile was invented by Karl Benz, and assembly lines were already in use before Ford improved and popularized them.

James Watt invented the steam engine

Myth: James Watt is widely regarded as the inventor of the steam engine.

Reality: Watt improved the efficiency of the existing Newcomen steam engine; he did not invent the steam engine itself.

Charlie Chaplin lost a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest

Myth: In a humorous anecdote, Charlie Chaplin supposedly lost a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest.

Reality: This oft-repeated story is likely apocryphal; no concrete evidence supports it actually happening.

King Tutankhamun was a significant pharaoh

Myth: King Tutankhamun was one of the most important and powerful pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

Reality: He is famous today due to the discovery of his intact tomb, but he was a relatively minor ruler in ancient Egyptian history.