My Name is King Nabopolassar: Founder of the Neo-Babylonian Empire I was born in a time when Babylon, once the jewel of Mesopotamia, bowed beneath the heavy yoke of Assyria. Their kings ruled with iron, their armies marched with cruelty, and their scribes recorded our humiliation. I served first as a governor under their empire, but my heart was never theirs. The gods of Babylon whispered in the winds that the time of our chains was ending. When the Assyrian king grew weak an

My Name is John Witherspoon: Minister, Educator, and Signer of the Declaration of Independence I was born on February 5, 1723, in the parish of Yester, East Lothian, Scotland. My father, Reverend James Witherspoon, was a devout minister of the Church of Scotland, and from him, I inherited both faith and discipline. My mother, Anne Walker, was known for her strength of character and keen intellect. From an early age, I was steeped in scripture, logic, and moral philosophy. My

My Name is King Ashur-dan II: The Reclaimer of Assyria’s Borders When I ascended the throne of Assyria around the year 934 BC, my kingdom was a shadow of its former greatness. The lands that once bowed to Assur’s might had fallen away, trade routes were broken, and cities lay in disrepair. The memory of our ancestors’ empire lingered like the last embers of a dying fire, and it was upon me to rekindle that flame. I was not born into luxury, but into duty—to restore the streng

My Name is Dr. Benjamin Rush: Physician, Patriot, and Reformer I was born on January 4, 1746, in the small farming community of Byberry, just outside Philadelphia. My father died when I was young, leaving my mother to guide my education and faith. She sent me to live with my uncle, Reverend Samuel Finley, a respected educator who later became president of the College of New Jersey—now Princeton. It was under his influence that I learned the importance of reason guided by mora

My Name is King Shulgi of Ur: The Scholar-King of Sumer I was born in the great city of Ur, the jewel of Sumer, son of King Ur-Nammu, founder of the Third Dynasty of Ur. From the day I first walked the marble floors of the royal court, I was taught that kingship was not simply a crown—it was duty, wisdom, and devotion to the gods. My father was a man of justice and order, but I aspired to be more than a ruler of men. I sought to be a ruler of minds, a restorer of knowledge, a

My Name is Colonel John Glover: Commander of the Marblehead Mariners I was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, in 1732, a rugged seaport where the sea was both our friend and our teacher. From a young age, I learned to read the tides, the wind, and the language of the ocean. My family were fishermen and traders, and I became a ship’s captain before the colonies even dreamed of independence. The Atlantic was my classroom, and the deck of a schooner was my home. The skills I gai

My Name is Shamshi-Adad I: King of Upper Mesopotamia I was born in a time when the great cities of Mesopotamia were fractured, each fighting for dominance, each claiming divine favor. The city of Assur, my home, was little more than a small trading hub clinging to its independence between larger powers. Yet from my youth, I believed Assur could be more. I studied the art of warfare, diplomacy, and administration. I watched how kingdoms rose and fell, and I knew that unity was

My Name is George Washington: Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army I was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, among the rolling fields and winding rivers of the Tidewater region. My youth was shaped by the land, by hard work, and by the lessons of duty and perseverance. My father, Augustine, passed when I was young, and much of what I learned came through experience rather than formal schooling. As a boy, I worked as a surveyor, mapping the untam

My Name is Marduk-apla-iddina I: King of Babylon I was born into a kingdom weary and wounded. The great Kassite dynasty that had ruled Babylon for centuries was fading, its strength drained by foreign wars and internal decay. The gods seemed distant, their temples neglected, their favor uncertain. My father served as a noble under the last of the Kassite kings, and from him I learned early that power was not eternal—it must be earned, defended, and restored. When the throne f

My Name is General Artemas Ward: Commander of the Colonial Militia I was born on November 26, 1727, in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, the son of a farmer and legislator. My childhood was one of hard work, faith, and study. My father, Nahum Ward, was a respected man in our community, and from him I learned that leadership begins with service. As a boy, I helped tend the fields and livestock, but my mind was always drawn to books and matters of order and justice. When the opportuni