Famous & Infamous Historic Figures Portrayed in Star Trek

When writer-creator Gene Roddenberry crafted his sci-fi television show Star Trek in 1966, he wanted to explore many social, scientific, political and historic issues. With 79 episodes produced for the original series, 178 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and hundreds more with Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise, the Star Trek universe deftly explores amazing moments in Earth's history. What better way to speculate and play around intellectually with historic figures then to showcase some of history's most fascinating figures, while having them interact with Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock or sentient android Data.

The mind bending speculative vehicle of science fiction allows humanity to experience such edifying educational and stimulating simulations. What follows are some of the most fun, memorable and thoroughly fascinating Star Trek episodes which have showcased some of the greatest people in our own history, and even a few from alien history.

Abraham Lincoln - "The Savage Curtain" - Star Trek: Original Series

When the starship Enterprise visits Excalbia, an apparently lifeless world, the crew soon encounters several famous figures out of Earth and Vulcan history. From Earth, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) is delighted to meet his hero President Abraham Lincoln. This legendary leader of The United States of American, assassinated in 1865, was perhaps most famous for enacting the Emancipation Proclamation (1862), which freed the slaves during the Civil War. In acknowledgment of this great historic fact which liberated African slaves, Lincoln and black communications officer Lt. Uhura have this exchange.

President Lincoln to Lt. Uhura, "What a charming Negress.... Oh, forgive me, my dear. I know in my time some use that term as a description of property." Uhura isn't fazed, she replies, "But why should I object to that term, sir? In our century, we've learned not to fear words."

Genghis Khan - "The Savage Curtain" - Star Trek: Original Series

As the weird living rock aliens called Excalbians stage a fight against good and evil, the Enterprise crew also meets the infamous Mongol leader Genghis Khan. Khan, born in 1206, united nomadic Northeast tribes to create the largest contiguous empire in Earth's history. Here the aliens pit Khan and other 'evil ones' of history against Kirk, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Abraham Lincoln. Spock also gets to meet one of his own planet's historic figures, the Vulcan Surak(Barry Atwater) - whom the Vulcan race considers the father of logic.

Mark Twain - "Time's Arrow" - Star Trek: The Next Generation

Witty satirist and master American storyteller Mark Twain, pen name of Samuel Clemens guested on Star Trek: The Next Generation alongside Patrick Stewartand Whoopi Goldberg. The actor who played the legendary author, Jerry Hardin can be seen in several other Trek outings, including TNG's 'When The Bough Breaks' and Voyagers 'Emanations'. Like a true chameleon, Hardin transforms himself into Mark Twain to such a degree, it feels as if one is watching a filmed documentary with Mr. Clemens channeling his literary alter ego Mark Twain.

Albert Einstein - "The Nth Degree" & "Descent" - Star Trek: The Next Generation

Physicist Albert Einstein arguably remains Earth's most brilliant person ever and certainly is the most famous scientist of all. His scientific impact is so keenly felt, especially in the physics warping arena of Star Trek, that he was treated to two guest spots in Star Trek.

Both appearances came courtesy of mind blowing technology called the Holodeck. This is merely a humongous room - mostly taking up a full deck on the vastly spacious starship - wherein cutting edge holographic optical technology is employed to convince one into believing they're anywhere in the universe, interacting with nearly anyone in reality or in the dream world for that matter. In "The Nth Degree" the usually timid Lt. Barclay (Dwight Schultz) gets zapped with a space probe which not only increases his intelligence, but confidence level as well. He becomes so brainy, he uses the holodeck to argue with Einstein over quantum physics. Then in "Descent", Data is having a friendly game of poker with Sir Issac Newton, Stephen Hawking and Einstein. In both episodes the German born Einstein is played by the Irish actor Jim Norton.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Savage_Curtain