HyperHistory's criteria for a selection :
    Who contributed most to distinguish the 20th century from past centuries?

    Who exemplified the essence of this century best?

    Who will still be remembered one hundred years from now?

In order to separate fashionable fame from truly enduring influence we need some distance in time and it seems prudent to exclude persons still alive.

If we contemplate what distinguishes the 20th century from past centuries we will recognize that the person nominated here contributed most to that transition.

That person also transcends the nationalistic, geographical, and contemporary spectrum and is perhaps the one personality who was truly a world citizen: instantly recognizable to everybody with a basic education.

A nomination by HyperHistory as

Person of the Century

We are pleased that TIME MAGAZINE has chosen our own nomination as Person of the Century.