Politicians and Leaders:
* Abraham Lincoln: The 16th President of the United States. Sadly, he was assassinated on April 15th, 1865.
* Andrew Johnson: Lincoln's Vice President, who became the 17th President after Lincoln's assassination.
* Jefferson Davis: President of the Confederate States of America, captured by Union forces in May 1865.
* Ulysses S. Grant: Union General and later the 18th President of the United States.
* Robert E. Lee: Confederate General, surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9th, 1865.
Writers and Artists:
* Mark Twain: Published "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" in 1865, marking the start of his literary career.
* Lewis Carroll: Published "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" in 1865.
* Frederick Law Olmsted: Landscape architect who designed Central Park in New York City.
Scientists and Inventors:
* Louis Pasteur: French chemist and microbiologist who made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of bacteriology.
* Gregor Mendel: Austrian monk who conducted groundbreaking experiments on pea plants, laying the foundation for modern genetics.
Other Notable Figures:
* Clara Barton: Founded the American Red Cross in 1881, but she began her work in 1865 helping wounded soldiers.
* Susan B. Anthony: Leading figure in the women's suffrage movement.
* Frederick Douglass: Leading abolitionist and orator.
* John Wilkes Booth: The actor who assassinated President Lincoln.
* Harriet Tubman: A conductor on the Underground Railroad and a spy for the Union Army.
This is just a small selection of the many individuals who were famous in 1865. It is important to remember that this year was marked by both significant events and the contributions of many individuals in various fields.