"Haile Selassie" (1892 – 1975) Emperor of Ethiopia 1930 – 1974

Haile Selassie was an Ethiopian emperor and leader who served from 1930 to 1974. He was born Tafari Makonnen on July 23, 1892, in the town of Ejersa Goro, Ethiopia. He was the son of a local chief and member of the ruling Solomonic dynasty.

Selassie was educated and trained by private tutors and was an avid reader. In his twenties, he served in the Ethiopian military and rose to the rank of lieutenant-general. He was a close advisor to Emperor Menelik II and was appointed regent for Menelik's grandson, Lij Yasu, in 1916. In 1930, Selassie was crowned emperor of Ethiopia, taking the name Haile Selassie, which means “Might of the Trinity.” He implemented sweeping reforms in the country, including the abolition of slavery, the establishment of a national bank, and modernizing the nation's economy. He was instrumental in establishing the Organization of African Unity, a precursor to the African Union. Selassie maintained strong relations with the West and was a vocal opponent of colonialism in Africa. He was respected globally and is considered a hero in Ethiopia and elsewhere. In 1935, his rule was challenged by the Italian invasion of Ethiopia. Selassie led the Ethiopian resistance, rallying support from the League of Nations. After Italy was defeated, Selassie returned to Ethiopia in 1941 and began a period of internal reforms. In 1974, Ethiopia was rocked by a popular uprising and Selassie was overthrown. He was placed under house arrest and died of natural causes in 1975. His body was buried in a secret location, which was only revealed in 2000. Selassie's legacy is complex. He was praised for the reforms he implemented and his resistance to colonialism. He was also criticized for his authoritarian rule and his failure to modernize Ethiopia further. Nevertheless, he is remembered as a powerful leader and symbol of African independence.

"Henry Ford" (1863 – 1947) US Industrialist

Henry Ford was born on July 30, 1863, in Dearborn, Michigan, the son of an Irish immigrant who had made his fortune in the farming and lumber industries. Ford's father, William, had a strong influence on his son, encouraging him to pursue his dreams of becoming an inventor. As a young man, Ford was fascinated with machines and tinkering with them, and he was determined to create an efficient and affordable automobile.

At the age of sixteen, Ford left school to work as an apprentice machinist in Detroit. He continued to work on his own inventions, but it wasn't until he became the chief engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company in 1891 that he was able to develop a prototype for the first mass-produced automobile. Ford's Model T was a revolutionary invention that changed the way people traveled and conducted business. Ford was also a pioneer in the field of mass production. He wanted to create a system that allowed for the production of cars at a much faster rate and for a lower cost. To do this, he developed the assembly line and standardized parts. This allowed for a single worker to operate a single machine, which drastically reduced the amount of time it took to assemble a vehicle. Ford's innovations revolutionized the automobile industry and allowed for the production of cars that were more affordable and accessible to the average person. His dedication to providing a quality product at an affordable price made Ford one of the most successful businessmen of the 20th century. Ford's success was not without its share of controversy. He was a vocal critic of labor unions and was known for his anti-semitic views. Despite this, Ford's legacy is one of innovation and progress. He was a pioneer in the automotive industry and helped shape the modern world. Through his inventions and business acumen, Henry Ford helped make the automobile an integral part of our lives.