Herbert Hoover

Born in West Branch, Iowa, in 1874, he was orphaned young and went on to study at Stanford University, where he trained as a mining engineer. His work took him around the world, and he built a reputation as a skilled organizer as well as a successful businessman.

He became internationally known during and after World War I for directing large-scale humanitarian relief, especially food assistance for civilians in Europe. That record of public service helped carry him into national politics: he served as U.S. secretary of commerce before becoming president in 1929.

His presidency is most often remembered for the early years of the Great Depression, which began soon after he took office and deeply shaped his legacy. Even after leaving the White House, he remained active in public life for decades, taking on government reform work and continuing to write and speak until his death in 1964.