People who might have had an impact on the world if they had lived

DSS

So who are some people who died at a young(ish) age who might have had an impact on the world had they lived?

I'm talking people like Abe Lincoln, JFK, RFK, Hugh Gaitskell, JFK Jr., Kurt Cobain... People who died before their time, but had they lived, would have made a serious impact on the world.

For example, if RFK had lived, he might have become President of the United States, in 1968 or later. As RogueBeaver would tell us, that would have a HUGE impact on the world.

If Hugh Gaitskell had lived just two more years, he could have become Prime Minister of the UK, and at an important time at that (the '60s could have been very different with another British PM).

That sort of thing. Oh, and bonus points for relatively little-known people who are never really talked about.
 

RySenkari

Samantha Smith. Brilliant little girl who got to go to the Soviet Union and speak with Yuri Andropov, died in a plane crash after filming a segment for a television show.

She'd probably be either a Congresswoman or ambassador today (possibly even Secretary of State) and might've become president in 2012, 2016, or 2020.
 

Sift Green

Quentin Roosevelt maybe?

The people who knew him often said he had all of his fathers positive qualities, with very few of his fathers faults.

If his airplane hadn't been shot down in WWI who knows what he would have gone on to accomplish.
 

Alien and Sedition Bat

Richard Farina (1937-66), author of Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me. He died in a motorcycle accident just two days after this novel, his first, was published. Might have become a major American writer.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-62) could have achieved great things as a publicist for the Union cause, and have become the Tom Paine of the Civil War. He also could have played an important role in defending the gains for blacks in the South during and after Reconstruction. Contrary to the popular view of Thoreau as inspiring Gandhi, Thoreau was no pacifist--he supported John Brown's armed struggle against slavery without equivocation.
 

Peelitebkearns

RySenkari said:
Samantha Smith. Brilliant little girl who got to go to the Soviet Union and speak with Yuri Andropov, died in a plane crash after filming a segment for a television show.

She'd probably be either a Congresswoman or ambassador today (possibly even Secretary of State) and might've become president in 2012, 2016, or 2020.
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I've only recently heard of Samantha Smith (came across her when having a look at events from the year 1983, the year she went to the Soviet Union). I did a bit more research and briefly considered writing a TL based on her surviving, but whether anyone would be interested in reading it is another matter.

Here's my list of people:
Music: Ian Curtis,
Eliot Smith (perhaps),
Tupac/BIG,
Matthew Jay (he's pretty much forgotten today, but he had the potential to fit in with the Acoustic revival that took place a couple of years after his death).

Politics: Frans Ferdinand (for a start it would have avoided World War I as we know it),
someone mentioned Quentin Roosevelt, I'm adding Teddy (I know he was a former president and accomplished a lot anyway, but he would have been the GOP Nominee in 1920, radically changing the face of the 'roaring 20's'),
Ian Mccloud (was Edward Heath's chancillor briefly, before his untimely death, come 1975 he could have been another contender in the conservative party leadership that Maggie Thatcher won IOTL),
John Smith (would have been British PM in 1997 had he lived).

Comedy: Bill Hicks,
Linda Smith,
Kenny Everet (all 3 were legends who could have done a lot more and enspired future comedians).

Radio: John Peel (clearly had a good few years left in him and despite his health, was enjoying the music of the time),
Kevin Greening (presented an eclectic range of shows, would have been interesting to have seen what hee did next),
Roger Scott (was before my time, but from what I hear was an interesting guy).

There are probably lots of others I haven't considered, but that's a few to be going on.
 

mattep74

Around 50-60 of the people that died in the Norwayshooting could have had an impact on the future since they were in the main parties youth program and those that are involved in those programs, atleast in Sweden, tend to be high ranking party officials.
 

historybuff

Whoever it was that wanted to create a Samantha Smith lives TL, I'd read it.
As for people that would've made a big impact if they'd lived.

Elvis. He was only 42 when he died. He could've had a lot more hit songs if he'd lived longer.
 

The Knight

John Kipling, the son of English poet Rudyard Kipling. He was only eighteen when he was killed in ww1. To young to know what kind of potential he had in him. Any of the soldiers who died young in battle before they were heard of and could have had an impact.
 

Hyperbolus

John Kennedy Toole (c. 1937-70), prof. at Columbia, wrote Confederacy of Dunces and Neon Bible. Might well have produced additional notable works, become prolific, etc.
 

The Ubbergeek

Some more years, maybe Gerry Boulet, like Elvis (he died also in his fourties if I remmeber well) could have done alot more...
 

Abgrund

Salvatore Allende.

Che Guevarra.

Carl von Klauswitz.

Thomas Jackson.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

Alan Turing.

Vladimir Lenin.

Leon Trotsky.

Fredrick III of Prussia.
 

tallwingedgoat

There's the Soviet scientist who invented Light Emitting Devices but died during the Siege of Leningrad.

Another Soviet inventor had developed a range of recoilless weapons but Stalin had him killed during the Great Purge. Soviet Anti-tank capability would've been greatly improved had he lived. All he needed was hollow charge warheads to go with his weapons.

Pakistan's founder Jinnah may have made the country a better place had he lived longer.
 

The Ubbergeek

A few musicians and actors died young(er) than expected, from the guy who played La Bamba to Rock Hudson... it could change pop culture.
 

asnys

Senator Brien McMahon. Died of cancer in 1952. He wanted to be president, and might even have made it, which would have had a huge impact on the Cold War. He was probably the best educated congress critter of his day on atomic energy issues, and wanted serious arms control long before it was cool. He also wanted an atomic-armed military - guy could be nuanced, or maybe just amorphous.
 

RySenkari

I'd love to read a Samantha Smith TL. We started a POD for her in the Rabbit Stew TL but a full Samantha Smith TL would be an awesome read.
 
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