Here at CuriousMatrix.com, we really enjoy exploring topics related to intelligence and exceptionally smart minds.
We’ve discussed the Smartest Person Alive, the Top 10 Smartest People in the World, and the Top 10 People with the Highest IQ in History.
With this article, we would like to conclude the IQ series of articles by finding the smartest person who ever lived.
Throughout history, there have been many individuals who have been recognized for their exceptional intelligence. Some of these individuals made significant contributions to society and some were “just” exceptionally smart.
But who is the smartest person who ever lived?
To answer this question first we need to agree on how to measure this smartness.
Defining and Measuring Intelligence
Historical Context
In ancient Greece, intelligence was thought to be related to one’s ability to reason and think logically. During the Renaissance, intelligence was associated with knowledge and education.
In the 20th century, intelligence was defined by Intelligence Quotient (IQ) tests which measure cognitive abilities such as memory, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning.
Interesting fact: The Flynn Effect refers to the observed trend of rising IQ scores over time, suggesting that the average IQ has increased from generation to generation.
Okay, so now that we’ve defined how to measure smartness, it is time to finally answer the question: Who is the smartest person who ever lived?
Meet William James Sidis!
William James Sidis – The Smartest Person Ever
Biography
William James Sidis was born on April 1, 1898, in New York City to Boris Sidis and Sarah Mandelbaum Sidis. Boris was a renowned psychologist, and Sarah was a physician. William was their first child, and they raised him in a stimulating environment that fostered his intellectual development.
William was a child prodigy and demonstrated remarkable abilities from a young age. He learned to read by the age of two and was fluent in several languages by the age of five. He was admitted to Harvard University at the age of 11 and graduated with a degree in mathematics at the age of 16.
IQ
William James Sidis’s IQ has been estimated to be between 250 and 300, making him the smartest person who ever lived. Of course, that is if we corelate high IQ with smartness.
For comparison, Albert Einstein’s IQ was around 160, so that would make William James Sidis’s IQ almost double. Now, William didn’t have nearly as big an impact on society as Einstein. Nonetheless, if we’re talking about IQ as a measure of the capacity to learn many different things fast, then William is surely at the top of the list of the smartest people ever.
Achievements
William James Sidis was also a writer and a polymath who made significant contributions to several fields. He wrote several books, including “The Animate and the Inanimate,” which explored the origins of life, and “The Tribes and the States,” which explored history of United States.
He also developed a new method for squaring numbers and worked on a machine that could perform complex calculations.
Controversies
Despite his many achievements, William James Sidis’s life was not without controversy. He was often the subject of media scrutiny, and his parents were criticized for their parenting style. Some people questioned whether William’s intelligence was a result of his upbringing or whether it was inborn.
Later in life, William became reclusive and withdrew from public life. He struggled with mental health issues and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He passed away on July 17, 1944, at the age of 46.
So obviously, William was an exceptional level of genius.
Therefore, let’s conclude with the Top 10 interesting facts about him.
Top 10 Interesting Facts About William James Sidis
- Early Reading Ability: Sidis began reading at a very early age, reportedly starting to read the New York Times at 18 months old.
- Mathematical Prodigy: In addition to his linguistic abilities, Sidis demonstrated exceptional mathematical prowess. He developed new and advanced theories in mathematics and was considered a child prodigy in the field.
- Autodidact and Self-learner: Sidis was largely an autodidact, meaning he was largely self-taught. His parents played a crucial role in his early education, but as he grew older, he pursued a wide range of subjects independently, delving into advanced topics in mathematics, science, and literature on his own.
- Multilingual Abilities: Sidis had an extraordinary aptitude for languages. He was reported to be fluent in over 30 languages and dialects, including some obscure ones.
- Legal Troubles: Despite his intellectual abilities, Sidis faced legal troubles later in life. In 1919, he was arrested for participating in a socialist May Day parade in Boston, and he faced charges related to his activism against World War I. The arrest and subsequent legal proceedings marked a challenging period in his life.
- Early Interest in Astronomy: Sidis developed a fascination with astronomy from a young age. He studied the subject extensively and, by the age of 11, was already lecturing on astronomy at the Boston School of Astrology.
- Vendergood Language: Sidis created his own language called “Vendergood,” which he claimed was a universal language. However, it didn’t gain widespread acceptance.
- Work History: Despite his intellectual capabilities, Sidis had a varied work history. He worked in various jobs, including as a clerk, a bookkeeper, and a general laborer. He often preferred jobs that allowed him time to pursue his intellectual interests independently.
- Interest in Calendar Reform: Sidis had an interest in calendar reform and proposed his own version of a new calendar system called the “Sidisian Calendar.” This calendar aimed to simplify the organization of days and months, but it did not gain widespread acceptance.
- Educational Advocacy: William James Sidis advocated for advanced education. In 1919, at the age of 21, he wrote an article proposing reforms in education, emphasizing individual freedom and creativity.
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