It can get a little lonely for us single people on Valentine’s Day, and it may be a little hard to keep the bitterness in check when you see those happy couples walking down the hall, yet being single is nothing to be ashamed of. There were several amazing people in history who were eternally single, so remember these names the next time your parents or friends start asking about your relationship status.
1./2. Wilbur/Orville Wright
These famous men were said to be as close as twins, despite their four-year age difference, and they were also close with their sister Katharine, who became the woman of their house upon their mother’s lost battle with tuberculosis. Apparently, the three siblings made a pact in youth never to get married, but to always stay together; despite this, Katharine eventually broke the pact for a dear friend of hers, after Wilbur died, leaving Orville the last man standing in their notable trio. The Wright brothers, however, never broke this supposed pact, and they both died single, after completing great projects and revolutionizing airplane travel.
For further information: http://www.wright-brothers.org; https://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/wright-brothers/online/
3./4. Anne/Emily Bronte
These historic ladies, like the Wright brothers, were very close both among themselves and with another of their siblings, Charlotte. All three sisters wrote using male pen names to get their many works published in their male dominated world, calling themselves Acton (Anne), Ellis (Emily) and Currer (Charlotte) Bell. Though Charlotte was the only of them to dive in to marriage, these girls experienced great success independently, and several of their works –Anne’s “The Tennant of Wildfell Hall”, Emily’s “Wuthering Heights”, Charlotte’s “Jane Eyre” and etc.—have become beloved classics that are a staple of English classes and personal reading lists alike.
For further information: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/bronte_sisters.shtml; https://www.bronte.org.uk/the-brontes-and-haworth/novels
5. Nikola Tesla
This often under-appreciated brainiac invented/bettered many things in his lifetime, including, but not limited to, sustainable electric power, radar, radio and an earthquake machine. Though Tesla was often overshadowed by his fellow inventor Thomas Edison, the man still contributed a lot to our world. The sources don’t entirely agree on the reason for his celibacy, but there are theories out there that he was asexual, too busy for a relationship or too much of a perfectionist to ever fall in love; regardless of his reasoning, this inventive man helped get us into the technological age.
For further information: http://www.biography.com/people/nikola-tesla-9504443#synopsis; http://www.activistpost.com/2012/01/10-inventions-of-nikola-tesla-that.html
6. Queen Elizabeth I
This final ruler of the Tudor dynasty was a strong, independent woman that did not need a man to make her feel complete. During Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, England prospered in both arts and economy and was able to maintain a stability that it had not seen since before the War of the Roses. She also eased the tensions between the different sects in her country, which, in itself, was a great feat. There are different theories for Elizabeth’s lack of marriage, including a fear of childbirth, a desire to maintain her autonomy over herself and the country and a skeptical outlook towards the benefits of being married; regardless of her reasoning, this woman has an impressive track record and a great deal of respect among historians.
For further information: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/historical-notes-why-did-elizabeth-i-never-marry-1163767.html; http://100leaders.org/elizabeth-i
7. President James Buchanan
This lifelong bachelor was active in politics, serving as a Minister to Russia and Great Britain, Secretary of State, and Congressman (five terms in the House of representatives and a decade in the Senate), before becoming the 15th President of the United States of America, from 1857 to 1861. Unfortunately for this seasoned politician, he is considered one of the worst presidents in U.S. history, due to his inactivity in times of need, and died alone, after a broken off engagement with the daughter of a wealthy iron mogul. Fortunately, his niece, Harriet Lane, stepped into the role of First Lady when needed, and everything worked out. Sort of. At least, he had his previous accomplishments to sooth the burn.
For further information: http://www.biography.com/people/james-buchanan-9230228#final-years; https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/jamesbuchanan
8. Susan B. Anthony
This famed woman experienced a great deal of success in her male-dominated world, holding the jobs of publisher, editor, journalist, civil rights activist and women’s rights activist before her death in 1906. Anthony was quite the outspoken lady, especially when it pertained to independence and women’s issues, even going so far as to say, “I never felt I could give up my life of freedom to become a man’s housekeeper.  When I was young, if a girl married poor, she became a housekeeper and a drudge (servant). If she married wealthy, she became a pet and a doll.”
For further information: http://www.biography.com/people/susan-b-anthony-194905; https://www.babble.com/relationships/what-susan-b-anthony-really-thought-about-marriage/
9. Hans Christian Anderson
This famous man was the author of many beloved childhood tales, including “The Little Mermaid”, “The Ugly Duckling”, “The Snow Queen”, “The Princess and the Pea” and “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, and he also penned short stories, plays, travelogues, autobiographies and poetry. Though his work had mixed reviews during his lifetime, Anderson’s works have gained success and acclaim over the years, and many have even been adapted into film versions or incorporated into the Japanese theme park based off of his works. Despite Anderson’s many great accomplishments, he had much less luck in dating and was the object of unrequited love in many scenarios, involving both men and women. I’m sure many of us can relate to the unrequited part, but at least, it didn’t impede his proactivity.
For further information: http://www.biography.com/people/hans-christian-andersen-9184146#writing-career; https://traveldreamscapes.wordpress.com/2014/11/14/japan-funabashi-hans-christian-andersen-theme-park/
10. Jane Austen
This beloved literary gal, who still has success in the modern world, wrote classics, such as “Pride and Prejudice”, “Sense and Sensibility”, “Emma”, “Persuasion”, “Mansfield Park” and “Northanger Abbey”, all of which feature romantic elements in some form or another. Despite the romantic inclination in her works, Austen herself was not one for soul mates. She did have three men pining over, at different points in time, but she didn’t give so much of her attention to any of them. Poor Thomas Langlois Lefroy, Dr. Samuel Blackwell and Harris Bigg-Wither didn’t stand much of a chance.
For further information: http://www.jasna.org/info/austen-reading.html; http://knowledgenuts.com/2014/03/02/jane-austen-never-married-and-died-alone