Many of these cases set new precedents for the legal system
English actress Jane Seymour rose to fame after starring as Solitaire, the Bond girl in 1973's 'Live and Let Die,' alongside Roger Moore. Seymour went on to become an awards show regular and even landed a spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but the name "Jane Seymour" was already famous centuries before the actress was born.
Jane Seymour was the third of King Henry VII's infamous six wives, and thus crowned Queen of England for about a year before her untimely death. Queen Jane died several weeks after giving birth to the future King Edward VI, following post-natal complications.
John Ford is considered one of the best and most prolific film directors of the 20th century, and is responsible for timeless classics such as 'Stagecoach' (1939) and 'The Searchers' (1956).
But long before John Ford was king of the camera, a John Ford from 16th-century England was king of the pen. The English Ford wrote numerous plays for the stage, tackling subjects such as morality, duty, and romance.
A few hundred years later, another Ben Johnson also suffered some misfortune, albeit misfortune that he brought on himself. Johnson, a Canadian sprinter, was once the fastest man in the world, breaking records and winning a gold medal during the 1988 Olympics. Unfortunately, his victory was short lived; Johnson tested positive for performance enhancing drugs three days after his big dash, and was consequently stripped of his medals.
An ocean away from Sir Drake's homeland, and four centuries later, Frances Drake was becoming one of Hollywood's biggest stars. She is best remembered for her role in the 1935 film production of 'Les Misérables.'
Sir Francis Drake was a famed explorer during the Age of Exploration, and remains in history textbooks to this day thanks to his circumnavigation of the globe, only the third in history.
Another founding father of the '70s, albeit the 1970s, was none other than Parliament Funkadelic leader and funk pioneer George Clinton. Although there is no "Declaration of Funk" to speak of, Clinton is widely regarded as one of the founders of funk, along with James Brown and Sly Stone.
Known as the Father of the American Navy, John Paul Jones was the valuable ship commander during the American War of Independence. Embracing the life of a sailor from age 13, Jones couldn't be tied down for long, and soon left the US to join the navy of the Russian Empire.
George Clinton became the first governor of New York just one year after helping delegate the Declaration of Independence. The Founding Father went on to fight in the Revolutionary War, and even served as the infant United States' fourth vice president.
Another bad boy by the name of John Paul Jones was born in Kent, England, in 1946. This Jones chose the bass guitar over the ship's wheel, and founded the classic rock band Led Zeppelin instead of a navy.
For most people who know the name, Robert E. Lee evokes images of the American Civil War, the Confederate States that fought to preserve the institution of slavery, and the general who led the Confederate Army until its surrender in 1865.
Later on in the 20th century, a less powerful but just as divisive Jaye P. Morgan burst on the scene. Morgan was first a singer, and later flourished in the television industry. She was most famous for being a regular judge panelist on the absurd and risqué game show 'The Gong Show,' which aired during the 1970s and '80s.
Financier and Gilded Age king of Wall Street J.P. Morgan was one of the most powerful and controversial figures in industrial North America. One of the so-called "robber barons" of the Gilded Age, Morgan ran a ruthless campaign of monopolization and was responsible for massive corporate conglomerates like General Electric, Western Unit, and, of course, the J.P. Morgan bank empire.
Twice in the past 500 years, a Francis Bacon has changed the way we look at the world. The first was the 16th-century English philosopher who developed the scientific method and is commonly known as the Father of Empiricism.
The second (so far) was the Irish-born British abstract expressionist painter who almost single-handedly revolutionized modern art.
American musician and sing-songwriter Paul Simon churned out hit after hit during the '60s. '70s, and '80s, as both one half of the group Simon & Garfunkel and as a solo artist.
Countless children all over the world have Frederic Thompson, born 1873, to thank for their thrilling amusement park memories. Thompson was a pioneering inventor in the business of theme park rides, and helped make Coney Island the epicenter of entertainment that it's known as.
Addams the activist, meet Adams the actress. This Jane Adams won awards of her own, including a Tony Award. She's also been nominated for a Golden Globe and an Emmy, the later for her role on HBO Max's 'Hacks.'
Sources: (Travalanche) (Cassava Films)
While Simon the singer was finding success and stardom, Paul Simon the politician could have been doing better. Although he served a total of 20 years in both houses of Congress, Simon couldn't seem to move beyond Capitol building. Simon failed to be elected as governor of his home state of Illinois in 1972, and was once again disappointed after failing to perform in the 1988 Presidential Democratic Primary.
Social activist and co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Jane Addams led a busy and hugely influential life during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Addams eventually became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Just 20 years after that Thompson died, another Fred Thompson burst into the world destined to make an impression—first as an attorney, then as a lobbyist, and eventually as an actor and politician. His biggest acting role actually came near the end of his tenure as a senator for Tennessee from 1994 to 2003. In 2002, he landed the role of recurring character D.A. Arthur Branch in the 'Law & Order' franchise.
But there once was another Anne Hathaway deeply embroiled in the entertainment business, some 400 years before the modern Hathaway was born. This Hathaway (pictured, right of William Shakespeare) was Shakespeare's wife, who stayed by his side until his death, although very little is known about her life.
Apparently not, especially if you're in showbiz. Known by the public as Albert Brooks and lauded for his performances in movies like 'Drive' (2011) and 1987's 'Broadcast News,' Brooks was actually born Albert Lawrence Einstein.
Michael Collins, it turns out, is a popular name for those destined to make history. The Irish revolutionary Michael Collins was one of five Irish delegates who signed and helped develop the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921, granting relative autonomy to Ireland for the first time in over 700 years. Collins was, at different stages, the Director of Intelligence for the Irish Republican Army, the first de-facto prime minister of the Free State of Ireland, and commander-in-chief of Ireland's National Army.
Anne Hathaway is one of her generations biggest stars of the screen, giving consistently excellent performances in films like 'The Devil Wears Prada' (2006) and 'Les Misérables' (2012), the latter for which she was awarded the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
Another Michael Collins made history just about 50 years after the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. This Collins, an American astronaut, was an integral member of the Apollo 11 lunar mission. While moonwalkers Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were down on the surface, Collins expertly flew the Command Module Columbia in orbit until his crewmembers were ready to return.
This Albert Einstein needs no introduction. The most famous genius in the world was responsible for developing the theory of relativity, among a myriad of other important scientific advancements. Surely anyone born with the same name would wear their name tag with pride, no?
Ben Jonson, also an English playwright from the early 16th century, would have been the greatest writer of his generation if he didn't have the misfortune of being alive at the same time as William Shakespeare. Even still, Jonson made an everlasting impact on the art of comedy.
In the next century, there was another Robert E. Lee involved with an American war effort, but from a less militaristic, more entertainment-oriented angle. This Robert E. Lee was a playwright, songwriter, and writer of radio programs who crafted the most popular entertainment programs on Armed Forces Radio, which broadcast overseas to troops fighting in World War II. After the war, Lee focused on writing politically poignant plays and musicals full of social commentary, such as 1960's 'Inherit the Wind' (pictured).
Realistically, there are only so many names out there, so it's only a matter of time until duplicates start popping up. Nothing shocking there. What is really uncanny, however, is when two people, sometimes centuries apart, make indelible marks on the world under the same exact name. It certainly throws casual historians through a loop when they seem to read that Catwoman from 'The Dark Knight Rises' (2012) was also the wife of Shakespeare...
How many of these famous name-sharers do you recognize? Click on to find out.
Famous figures throughout history with the same names
Exceptional in life, but not in name
CELEBRITY Personas
Realistically, there are only so many names out there, so it's only a matter of time until duplicates start popping up. Nothing shocking there. What is really uncanny, however, is when two people, sometimes centuries apart, make indelible marks on the world under the same exact name. It certainly throws casual historians through a loop when they seem to read that Catwoman from 'The Dark Knight Rises' (2012) was also the wife of Shakespeare...
How many of these famous name-sharers do you recognize? Click on to find out.