5. Emperor Hirohito reigned over Japan for six decades, but still found time to make a name for himself as an expert marine biologist.
Hirohito was just of just 20, Hirohito took over from his ailing father as the Emperor of Japan. It was a position he would occupy for more than six decades. His long, still controversial reign, only came to an end with his death in 1989. Under Hirohito, Japan went from a great power to a humiliated, defeated nation at the end of the Second World War, and then back to an economic powerhouse as well. While the degree of influence the Emperor had over his country’s governments over the 60 years continues to be the source of much debate, no historian can deny that Hirohito was a learned man – as his keen interest in, and talent for, marine biology attests.
Hirohito’s love of biology began when he was just a young boy. And, thanks to his wealth and social status, not to mention his keen intellect, he was able to pursue this interest with vigor. While Emperor, he had a private research laboratory installed in the royal palace. From here, he carried out pioneering research on hydrozoans. Hirohito published a number of articles in respected scientific journals, identifying and naming several new species. All were published under his own name. The Emperor even penned several books on marine biology, establishing himself as a leading figure in his specialist field.