Alternate Biographies of the Well Known

The CSA had a black President, I could see an orginizationn against the softer CSA being formed sometime aorund slavery being anulled.
 
Let's see... What if England keeps her overseas empire despite all this?

Admiral Horatio Nelson II (1899-1940)
Youngest person ever to gain flag rank at 31. Admiral Nelson lost an eye and his arm at the Battle of Jutland during the Great War. A leading advocate of naval air power at the time. Killed in action during the Japanese War when a crippled Japanese fighter smashes onto the bridge of his flagship, HMS Ark Royal, during the nine hundred day long battle for Singapore.

Commander Mitsuo Fuchida (1902-1976)
Commander of the air attack force that struck Singapore Naval Base on the morning of 7th December 1940 and crippled much of the English Eastern Fleet. The attack was billed by Neville Chamberlain, the British PM, as a 'day that would live in infamy'

Lieutenant General Arthur 'Stonewall' Percival (1887-1970)
Percival gained the nickname 'Stonewall' during the lengthly siege of Singapore. The series of fixed defences thar criss crossed Malaya which was his brainchild helped hold off Japanese forces for a total of nine hundred days since the start of the Japanese War, long enough for England to send aid. One time Governor General of The Straits Settlement (1945-1959) and later President of the Straits Confederacy, comprising of Singapore, Johore, Malacca and Penang.
 
Francisco Franco Bahamonde-Spanish general, distinguished himself in service in the Rif, as commander of the Spanish Legion. Was granted the rank of general after the battle of El-Annual, where his preparations ensured a retreat could be effected.

Briefly stripped of rank by his criticism of the way the campaign was being conducted (lack of preparation, not enough diplomacy, lack of effort in winning the hearts and minds of the populace).

Reinstated after the coup of Miguel Primo de Rivera and the creation of the Second Spanish Republic, a presidentialist dictatorship in which however, personal liberties were largely respected.

The traditionalist character of the regime however, had anarchist uprisings as a response in Asturias and Andalusia. This was the moment the Portuguese Republic, led by General Gomes da Costa had been waiting for. In 1929 Portugal invaded Galicia and Extremadura, with the intention of liberating Olivenza and the historically Lusophone territories in Galicia.

The war ended officially in 1934 with the occupation and outright annexion of mainland Portugal into Spain. Rebel forces still occupied Goa and Daman-Diu and claimed to be the seat of Portugal in exile until 1942 when they were annexed into British India.

As military governor of mainland Portugal from the new capital of Santiago de Compostela, Franco was responsible for the minorization of Portuguese in both Galicia and Portugal, first by imposing the Galician standard in all government communications and education and then by gradual introduction of lists of proscribed words and their replacements.

The dark beginnings of the "Fabla Nuva" was the inspiration for Orwell's "Newspeak".

While it became compulsory for all jobs in the public sector, most propaganda of the language came from positive reinforcement. The massive success of the "Iberia Society" which was launched to promote both Spanish and "Portuñol" -as it is still known- with its free language, history and science magazine, as well as the popular radio contests with big prizes, and the translation projects.

Was exiled to Macao after the counter-coup of 1950 which restored the Monarchy under King John III of the Spains. He famously bankrupted the biggest casino in Macao within 48 hours of arriving, and used the winnings to open a casino of his own, turning into the undisputed master of the gambling scene in weeks.

He was known there as Dou Sing "Saint of Gamblers" both for his unbelievable luck at the gambling tables as well as his charity with the poor.

Franco set up the foundation which bears his name, which has so far opened and run 537 orphanages, 55 free hospitals and 3 free universities (Sol del Este in Macao, Virgen del Ferrol in Spain and Mbini in Equatorial Guinea).

It is in Mbini where he died of malaria in 1957, after travelling there to open the Catholic Guinea University -now Francisco Franco University-. He had been pardoned by the government a second time a month before.

He is buried in a small cemetery in El Ferrol.

While reviled by Portuguese independence supporters, through the creation of the "Iberia Society" he managed to teach the Portuguese of the prescribed lists to a whole generation of Spanish who would thus become functionally multilingual: Portuñol in Television and the schools, Spanish at home and Portuguese as the language of rebellion and censored books and songs. By 1951, 90% of the Spanish speaking population was fluent in Portuñol and 70% in Portuguese. Figures in Portugal were lower: 74% Portuñol, 50% Spanish.

A similar approach was therefore kept by the Federal Kingdom of the Spains as policy and expanded. Thus after the second Manresa Council in 1955 the Aragonese League (with Aragonese being integrated into the Catalan-Valencian-Balear standard) was added to the Portuguese and Spanish Leagues, and in 1963 Basque and Arabic societies were first privately funded and then integrated into the Iberia Society in 1975.

The Iberia Society stated aim is the creation of an Iberian language that is understood and spoken as a second language by at least 95% of the population by 2015, as well as maintaining and enriching all the other languages of the Spains.

OOC:So there you have it: Federal Kingdom of the Spains, a constitutional monarchy under King Juan Carlos (since 1993) including Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Cabo Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome e Principe, Guinea-Bissau and Macao. Angola and Mozambique got their independence by plebiscite in 1972. An oil exporting country since 1977... and who hasn't won a Soccer World Cup yet.
 
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Gordon Sumner: President of South Africa. Best known for his landmark domestic reform program dubbed "The Reconciliation" which has been credited with the expansion of franchise within the republic's black minority population and the incorporation of Lesotho and Swaziland into the union.

A decorated veteran of the Angolese and Frontier Wars with Rhodesia and Mozambique, served a Foreign Secretary under DeClerq credited with brokering the Kinshasa Treaty and Philadelphia Accords that ended the latter after nearly twenty years of continuous warfare and established the Zambezi River as South Africa's northeastern border.

Well known for his often times poetic, almost lyrical oratory.
 
Gerard Depardieu - French actor best known for the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the American TV series Star Trek - Phase 2 which aired from 1991-98.
 
(OOC: I looked through the thread and tried to come up with ideas of famous people that haven't been done. Let me know if I used one that's been done already.)

George Wallace - President of the Confederate States of America from Alabama as an independent, 1967 - 1973. Senator from Alabama from 1958 to 1966 (resigned when running for president.)

John C. Fremont - President of the United States of America from 1857 to 1865. President Fremont was blamed for the Confederate victory in the War for Southern Independence.

Hannibal Hamlin - Vice President of the United States under President Fremont's Administration. Ran as a Republican for president in 1864, as a Republican, to succeed President Fremont, but was defeated in a landslide by Representative James Buchanan.

James Buchanan - Democratic President of the United States 1865 - 1868. Elected as senator from Pennsylvania in 1834 and left office in 1845. Democratic nominee for president, 1856, but defeated narrowly by John C. Fremont. Elected representative from Pennsylvania's 9th Congressional District in 1858. Re-elected in 1860 and 1862, while Buchanan famously ran for Representative and Senator in 1862. Buchanan was defeated for Senator, but won re-election as Representative. Democratic nominee for president in 1864, defeated Vice President Hannibal Hamlin in a landslide. Died in office on June 10, 1868, by a heart-attack in front of a crowd while addressing them. Vice President Andrew Johnson took office.

Andrew Johnson - President of the United States 1868 - 1877. Vice President under James Buchanan 1865 - 1868. Took office when President Buchanan died. Was elected president in 1868, in Buchanan's place, and won re-election in a landslide in 1872.
 
My idea: Ramon Magsaysay

If Ramon Magsaysay, then-incumbent President of the Republic of the Philippines, survived the C-47 plane crash on March 17, 1957, he would continue his economic reforms and may elect for a second term in the '57 general elections. The Korean and Vietnam wars may end sooner, and the Philippines would be a member of the OECD by the mid-1990s. The date of his death would be determined by Monching's physical condition. (he could have passed away by the year 2000)
 
Gordon Brown: Architect of New Labour, Prime Minister from 1997-2014
Tony Blair: Guitarist and lead singer of middling post-punk band Ugly Rumours
 
Joe Montana

Joe Montana: Basketball Player

1. Point Guard at N.C. State: 1974-78. Him and David Thompson lead the Wolfpack to a repeat National Championship in 1975 over UCLA in his freshman year. Led the ACC in assists all four years he was at Raleigh, and was All-ACC first team at PG his senior year. A guy named Bill Cowher, who was a LB there, encouraged him to play football, since he was recruited for that position in high school as well, and since Cowher remembered him because both grew up around Pittsburgh, but he declined to focus on basketball.

2. NBA Career: Despite stellar college career, he wasn't very highly regarded, but the Hawks, who get to see the ACC talent since it is close to their backyard, take a flyer on Montana in the second round of the 1978 draft. He works his way into the starting lineup by 1980-81, and becomes a leader on the team. Eventually, the Hawks get more talent, like Dominique Wilkins, Kevin Willis, and Doc Rivers, and Joe helps lead them to the Finals in 1987 and the NBA championship in 1988. He retires in 1993 as one of the best assist men in NBA History.
 
Ho Chi Minh:

Inventor of the transistor radio and mega-tycoon who transformed Indochina's economy into a high-tech wonderland.


Billy Graham:

Film and TV star in the 1950s and 1960s. Popular in both the USA and CSA. Elected Governor of North Carolina (CSA) in 1966 and facilitated desegregation. Assassinated by Ku Klux Klan in 1969. Charlotte later named "Graham" in his honor.


Sean Penn:

Conservative talk radio personality in the US. Known as "El Sean-o."


Mao Tse-Tung:

Noted Buddhist spiritual leader and author of "Mao's Little Buddhist Book: A Guide to Inner Peace."


Spiro Agnew:

Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Province of North America. Known for his sanctity, clean language and humility.


Karol Woltiywa (sp?):

Communist guerilla leader against Czarist forces in Poland. Known for his militant atheism and hatred of the Catholic Church.
 

Xen

Banned
(OOC: I looked through the thread and tried to come up with ideas of famous people that haven't been done. Let me know if I used one that's been done already.)

George Wallace - President of the Confederate States of America from Alabama as an independent, 1967 - 1973. Senator from Alabama from 1958 to 1966 (resigned when running for president.)

John C. Fremont - President of the United States of America from 1857 to 1865. President Fremont was blamed for the Confederate victory in the War for Southern Independence.

Hannibal Hamlin - Vice President of the United States under President Fremont's Administration. Ran as a Republican for president in 1864, as a Republican, to succeed President Fremont, but was defeated in a landslide by Representative James Buchanan.

James Buchanan - Democratic President of the United States 1865 - 1868. Elected as senator from Pennsylvania in 1834 and left office in 1845. Democratic nominee for president, 1856, but defeated narrowly by John C. Fremont. Elected representative from Pennsylvania's 9th Congressional District in 1858. Re-elected in 1860 and 1862, while Buchanan famously ran for Representative and Senator in 1862. Buchanan was defeated for Senator, but won re-election as Representative. Democratic nominee for president in 1864, defeated Vice President Hannibal Hamlin in a landslide. Died in office on June 10, 1868, by a heart-attack in front of a crowd while addressing them. Vice President Andrew Johnson took office.

Andrew Johnson - President of the United States 1868 - 1877. Vice President under James Buchanan 1865 - 1868. Took office when President Buchanan died. Was elected president in 1868, in Buchanan's place, and won re-election in a landslide in 1872.


Fremont has been done, in post #5 the biggest diference between the two is he was a one term shot at Chief of State (1861-1865).
 
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