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Only 28 men are recognized as Renaissance Men or Universal Geniuses in history. The first 14 was already presented on my article entitled “World’s Most Famous Renaissance Men or Universal Men”. Here are the 14 other recognized “Renaissance Men”. Two women are recognized as Universal Geniuses.

1.) Maria Gaetana Agnesi (1718–1799)

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Maria Gaetana Agnesi is one of the only two women recognized as Renaissance man, or should I say Renaissance woman, in the world. This great female polymath from Italy was a popular female university professor, a brilliant linguist, geometer, theology, logician, algebraist, mathematician and philosopher. Agnesi wrote a book discussing differential and integral calculus. She spoke French and Italian at age 5 and during childhood learned to speak Greek, Hebrew, Spanish, German and Latin. At age nine, she was already delivering educated talks and lectures including a famous logical claim for the right of women to a full and equal education with men. Pope Benedict XIV appointed Agnesi as Mathematics chairman of Bologna University.

2.) Imhotep (2650–2600 BC)

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Imhotep was the earliest man to be recognized as a Renaissance man. This Egyptian polymath served as Vizir to Pharaoh Djoser of the Third Dynasty. He also served as high priest of the sun god Ra at Heliopolis. Because of his exceptional talents and intelligence, he was one of very few mortals to be depicted as part of a pharaoh’s statue. Imhotep was also one of only a few commoners ever to be accorded divine status after death.

Imhotep is considered to be the first engineer, architect and physician in history. Titles he held include Chancellor of the King of Egypt, Doctor, First in line after the King of Upper Egypt, Administrator of the Great Palace, Hereditary nobleman, High Priest of Heliopolis, Builder, Chief Carpenter, Chief Sculptor and Maker of Vases in Chief.

3.) Gottfried Leibniz (1646–1716)

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Gottfried Leibniz made important contributions in physics, logic, mathematics, history, librarianship, philosophy and theology. He also created mechanical clocks and mining machinery.

4.) Robert Hooke (1635–1703)

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Robert Hooke was a natural philosopher, architect and experimental scientist. This English Renaissance man was also a curator, geometry professor and surveyor. He is well remembered for his ‘law of elasticity’ and for founding the science of microscopy. He also invented the pocket watch balance spring, developed the world's first set of building controls and designed many structures and buildings

5.) Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832)

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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German poet, novelist, playwright, natural philosopher, diplomat and civil servant. Two of his greatest contributions were Magnum Opus and Faust.

6.) Thomas Young (1773 – 1829)

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Thomas Young, an English polymath, made significant contributions in various fields such as; vision, light, solid mechanics, energy, physiology, Egyptology, musical harmony and language.

7.) Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 BCE–43 BCE)

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Marcus Tullius Cicero is the only Roman considered as a ‘universal genius’. Cicero was a statesman, lawyer, lawyer, linguist, humanist, republican, political theorist, prose stylist, letterist, translator, constitutionalist, philosopher, politician and philosopher.

8.) Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov (1711–1765)

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Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov, a universal genius, was a Russian polymath, scientist and writer. He made great contributions in science, education and literature. His broad knowledge falls in art, history, natural science, chemistry, physics, philology and mineralogy. It was Lomonosov who discovered planet Venus’ atmosphere. In addition, he was also a poet who created the basis of the modern Russian literary language.

9.) Abbas Ibn Firnas (810–887)

Abbas Ibn Firnas or Armen Firman is a Renaissance man who lived more than 1,000 years ago. This polymath from Andalucia was an aviator, chemist, engineer, humanitarian, inventor, musician and poet. He was also a physician and was the first to make glass from stones.

10.) Trotula of Salerno (11th – 12th CE)

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Trotula of Salerno, a universal genius, who lived between 11th and 12th century CE, is from Salerno, Italy. She is one of the only two women recognized as Renaissance man in the world. She was Chair of Medicine in Salerno Medical School and was responsible for alleviating women’s suffering in illness and the specific medical needs of women. This Renaissance man was a physician, obstetrician, gynecologist, medical teacher, writer, health planner and experimenter. She was also responsible for major advances in female medicine, public health, pharmacology and medical teaching methods, as well as generally in science. She promoted and experimented with opiates to numb pain during childbirth.

11.) Alhazen (965–1039)

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Alhazen, a brilliant polymath, was scientist, physicist, mathematician, inventor, engineer, astronomer, anatomist, psychologist, physician, theologian and ophthalmologist from Iraq, formerly known as Mesopotamia.

12.) Rhazes (865–925)

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Rhazes, a universal genius, was an alchemist, chemist, philosopher, physician and scholar from Persia now known as Iran. Rhazes is often regarded as ‘the greatest and most original of all the Muslim physicians’. He is also one of the most prolific Muslim authors.

13.) Abu Rayhan al-Biruni (973–1048)

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Al-Biruni, a Renaissance man from Persia, was a scientist, physicist, astronomer, astrologer, anthropologist, geographer, geodesist, geologist, historian, encyclopedist, theologian, teacher, scholar, physician, pharmacist and traveler. This amazing polymath who made significant contributions in mathematics, geography and geology, natural history, calendars and astronomy is regarded as Uzbekistan’s greatest universal man.

14.) Avicenna (980–1037)

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Avicenna was an aromatherapist, astronomer, chemist, jurist, metaphysician, pharmacologist, physician, physicist, scientist, theologian and a Universalist from Persia. Avicenna, a universal genius, was a polymath, a soldier and a statesman.

See also

Jose Rizal: The Last Renaissance Man to Walk on Earth

Amazing Facts About Jose Rizal: The Philippine National Hero

World’s Most Famous Renaissance Men or Universal Geniuses