Thomas Jefferson, he grew cannabis, brewed his own beer, and was a true patriot.

Enrico Fermi = he invented the 20th Century! (atomic power; photoelectric cell, diode, transistor = computers and telecommunications, television) granted a lot of other folk were involved with each of these, but his inventions were breakthrough in many fields, and he thought long and hard about the moral consequences of his choices...

Patton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_S._Patton

Franklin D. Roosevelt = the thing he did during hes presidency and had a great moral compass.

OMG WEIRD!!! I was reading the Wiki entry of Marie-Antoinette just last night!!

Louis XlV. because he wanted to be loved for who he was and not just because he was the king.

St. Andrew because he's the patron saint of Scotland (or anyone Scottish, I'm very patriotic)

Poor Marie she was misquoted so much and treated so badly by history.

Its hard to say who I respect the most from history when we can never really trust what we're told. I would have liked to meet DeSade and Machiavelli and find out who they really were.

I must say admire Theodore D. Roosevelt the only American president I have the most respect for and the father of modern wildlife conservation.

The guy that brought the hemlock to Socrates.

a) it's unlikely that Socrates would be as well-known, if he hadn't been put to death for his views (martyrdom has its privileges)
b) he has to be someone's favorite. Might as well be mine.

I do spur of the moment wikipedia way too much. I think Julia Morgan was pretty kick ass, though I don't know if I'd go with 'favorite' or anything like that.

Malcolm X, "By Any Means Necessary!!!!"

Benjamin Franklin.

Qin Shi Huang the first emperor of China. I have a bizarre affection for the true tyrants of history . I mean the guy solved an argument with the intellectuals of his empire by burying them ... in a big hole ... ALIVE.