Seven Expelled That Excelled

Seven famous celebrities that were expelled from school but somehow manage to excel in their chosen field of endeavors.

It is a fact that education is a prime tool one has to gain in order to attain success. However, some individuals achieved success, fame and popularity in their chosen field of endeavors purely by sheer perseverance, will and a little bit of luck. Read on to know seven of these distinguish personalities.

7. Cary Grant

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Cary Grant (January 18, 1904 – November 29, 1986) born Archibald Alexander Leach, was a popular stage and film actor during the 30’s. Having starred in 72 films, Cary Grant captured the hearts of many by his charismatic and handsome look. But did you know that for his girls’ toilet escapade, he was kicked out from Fairfield Grammar School.

6. Mary Leakey

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Mary Leakey (February 6, 1913 – December 9, 1996) was a celebrated British archaeologist, known for her contributions to ancient African history. Mary and her husband was credited for discovering the first fossilized skull of an ape as well as some ancient hominine’s tools. But did you know that Mary Leakey’s school days was not as colorful as her achievements in the field of archaeology! She was twice expelled from a convent school, yes you read it right… first when she declined to recite poetry and the second one, for unruly behavior (causing an explosion inside a laboratory).

5. John Lennon

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John Winston Lennon (October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980) was a talented singer and composer who attained worldwide popularity as the founding member of the “Beatles”, a popular pop group during the 60s. But did you know that Lennon has a miserable school life! He was expelled from kindergarten for being naughty and was again expelled at Dovedale Primary School for misbehavior. Thanks for a guitar, her mother bought him, the rest is history.

4. Jacques Cousteau

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Jacques Cousteau (11 June 1910 – 25 June 1997) “Captain Cousteau” as he was commonly known, showed his interest on ocean exploration even as a young boy. Jacques Cousteau indeed devoted much of his life to ocean exploration – done thousands of underwater photography, dozens of books and more than a hundred documentaries. But did you know that in school, he was and a real trouble maker! Why? because he find formal schooling boring. For the record, he smashed 17 of his school’s windows!

3. Maya Angelou

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Maya Angelou or Marguerite Ann Johnson gained international recognition for her autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, her first 17 years of life as the focal point. Here, Maya told how at a tender age (8 years old) she was exposed to racism and her ordeal as a rape victim. For some years, Maya was unable to speak thus she was kicked out from school. Despite these bitter experiences and early setbacks in her life, Maya did not lose hope but strived hard to gain respect and recognition. To date, Dr. Maya Angelou had received over 30 honorary degrees.

2. Salvador Dalí

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Salvador Dalí (May 11, 1904-January 23, 1989) was a celebrated 20th century Spanish artist well known for his his 1931 “The Persistence of Memory”. An intelligent student but known for his insubordination, Dali was expelled from Madrid’s San Fernando Academy of Fine Arts for refusing to take his final exams. Dali’s reason.. he taught he was “more qualified than his lecturers”.

1. Albert Einstein

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Albert Einstein deemed as one of the greatest scientists that ever lived was a 1921 Nobel prize winner for his work about the “Theory of relativity”. But did you know that he was a slow learner! He spoke his first words “The milk was too hot” at the age of three and took another six years to speak normally. At school, young Einstein having difficulty adjusting to the then prevailing education system, and his disliked for boring memorization received low grades. To make matter worst, he was expelled from school for his unruly behaviors.