A classic example of a genius unappreciated is Gregor Mendel. His work was rejected in his lifetime, but rediscovered three decades later. (Mendel is also somewhat lucky that peas are diploid, like most mammals are.)

There are many cases where there were several people who invented parts of a process, and only the last one who put it all together gets the credit.

The most common case is someone whose brilliance is not recognized posthumously either. Einstein gets onto T-shirts. Robert Goddard not as much.

Galileo, for starters.

Also, Tesla? I'm surprised the internet hive mind hasn't descended on this yet.

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