History hero

Arthur Ashe in action at Wimbledon, where he won the men's singles title in 1975. (Photo by Ed Lacey / Popperfoto / Getty Images)

My history hero Tracy Austin chooses Arthur Ashe

A portrait of Fridtjof Nansen, taken after his daring expedition across Greenland. (Image by Alamy)

My history hero Paul Rose chooses Fridtjof Nansen

Wilfred Thesiger in Oman, c1946.

My history hero: Frank Gardner chooses Wilfred Thesiger

A c1830 portrait of the scandalous but sublimely talented Lorenzo da Ponte. (Photo by Alamy)

My history hero: Katie Derham chooses Lorenzo Da Ponte

British Artist Ivon Hitchens. (Image by Bridgeman)

My history hero: Chris Packham chooses Ivon Hitchens

The Endurance, the ship of Ernest Shackleton

My history hero: Ernest Shackleton (d1922)

Herbert Hasler, one of the Cockelshell heroes, seen here at work on his sloop at the Don Fuller boatyard, Bosham, Sussex. 1st March 1966. (Image by Getty)

Second World War

My history hero: Paddy Ashdown chooses ‘Blondie’ Hasler

The

My history hero: Walt Disney (1901-66)

Politician and novelist Benjamin Disraeli was twice prime minister, and extended suffrage by introducing the 1867 Reform Act. (Photo by Jabez Hughes/Getty Images)

The Library My history hero: Jacob Rees-Mogg chooses Benjamin Disraeli

Composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor visited the US on several occasions, where he was held in such high regard that he was dubbed the 'African Mahler'. (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

My history hero: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Singer Paul Robeson rehearses at a piano in 1958. He had a unifying outlook, observing that

My history hero: Paul Robeson (1898–1976)

William Beveridge was determined to fight the five

My history hero: William Beverage (1879–1963)

Jazz trumpeter and composer Miles Davis, shown here in 1969, was central to the story of jazz. (Photo by Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images)

My history hero: Miles Davis (1926–91)

Elizabeth I, shown in a portrait commemorating victory over the Armada

The Library My history hero: Elizabeth I (1533-1603)

Welsh Labour politician Aneurin Bevan making a speech on the freedom of the press at a meeting of the National Council of Civil Liberties at Central Hall, Westminster, London, in 1942. (Photo by Kurt Hutton/Picture Post/Getty Images)

My history hero: Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan (1897–1960)