Talk of the top ten happiest countries in the world and Sweden definitely takes one of the top spots. And why not, for it has one of the most satisfied people on earth. Be it health, security, trust, wealth or education, Sweden consistently ranks in the top levels in all measures. While the transparency and efficiency of the government has to be thanked for the same, much of it has been made possible due to the nationals who through their exemplary deeds have helped the country stand where it is today. While men and women have equivalently contributed to Swedish history and legacy, this section predominantly deals with prominent Swedish men and their works.

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Birthdate: October 3, 1981

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Malmo, Sweden

Swedish professional footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović currently plays as a striker for Serie A club A.C. Milan. Widely regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation, he is one of the most decorated active footballers in the world.  He is Sweden's all-time leading goalscorer. He is a brash person and has been involved in several violent incidents with teammates.

Birthdate: June 6, 1956

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Regarded as one of the best tennis players from Sweden, Björn Borg won 11 Grand Slam singles titles during his playing career. He started off as a teenage sensation and helped popularize tennis during the 1970s. The 2017 film Borg vs McEnroe was inspired by his rivalry against John McEnroe.

Birthdate: May 23, 1707

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Linnés Råshults Stiftelse, Älmhult Municipality, Sweden

Died: January 10, 1778

Swedish botanist and lecturer Carl Linnaeus, who established the concept of binomial nomenclature, or the system of naming organisms, is also known as the father of modern taxonomy. His system of classification is known as Linnaean taxonomy. He was the first to include humans and apes under the header Anthropomorpha.

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Alfred Nobel

(Swedish Chemist, Engineer, and Inventor Who Invented Dynamite)

Birthdate: October 21, 1833

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: December 10, 1896

Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist, engineer, and inventor. A prolific inventor, he held 355 different patents. Most popular as the inventor of dynamite, he was concerned with how he would be remembered after his death and bequeathed his fortune to the Nobel Prize institution. A wide traveler, he was proficient in several languages.

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Avicii

(Swedish DJ & Remixer Known for His Single 'Levels')

Birthdate: September 8, 1989

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: April 20, 2018

Avicii was a Swedish international DJ, remixer, musician and songwriter. He attained fame with his single, Levels, in 2011. His debut studio album, True, released in 2013 received positive reviews. His second studio album, Stories, was released in 2015. He suffered from mental health issues and died by suicide at age 28. His third album, Tim, was released posthumously in 2019.

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Ingmar Bergman

(One of the Most Talented and Influential Filmmakers of All Time)

Birthdate: July 14, 1918

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Uppsala, Uppland, Sweden

Died: July 30, 2007

Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish filmmaker and screenwriter. Widely regarded as one of the most influential and accomplished filmmakers of all time, Ingmar Bergman continues to serve as an inspiration for filmmakers like Woody Allen. His work has also influenced other prominent directors like Martin Scorsese, Thomas Vinterberg, and Richard Ayoade.

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Max Martin

(Music Producer and Songwriter Known for His Hit Singles ‘As Long as You Love Me,’ ‘Baby One More Time’)

Birthdate: February 26, 1971

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Record producer and songwriter Karl Martin Sandberg, better known as Max Martin, has created many 90s’ masterpieces such as Baby One More Time by Britney Spears and I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys. He is also an 11-time winner of the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year award.

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Björn Ulvaeus

(Composer, Pop Singer and a Member of the Musical Group 'Abba')

Birthdate: April 25, 1945

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Gothenburg, Sweden

Singer and songwriter Björn Ulvaeus is perhaps best known as a member of the ABBA, one of the most successful musical groups of all time. Equally famous as a co-composer and co-producer of several films and musicals, he is currently serving as the President of CISAC, trying to ensure that creators are fairly compensated and properly credited for their works.

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Alexander Skarsgård

(Swedish Actor Known for His Role as 'Eric Northman' in the TV Series 'True Blood')

Birthdate: August 25, 1976

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Alexander Skarsgård is a Swedish actor best known for his portarayal of Perry Wright in the American drama television series Big Little Lies, which earned him a Golden Globe Award, Primetime Emmy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Critics' Choice Television Award. Alexander Skarsgård has also played important roles in popular films like Zoolander and Godzilla vs. Kong.

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Bill Skarsgard

(Best Known for His Role as 'Pennywise the Dancing Clown' in the 'It' Films)

Birthdate: August 9, 1990

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Vällingby, Stockholm, Sweden

Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård is best known for portraying Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the supernatural horror film It. Even though he has acted in a few comedy films, he prefers roles in horror films. The son of actor Stellan Skarsgård, he was introduced to acting at a young age and decided to follow in his father’s footsteps.

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PewDiePie

(Swedish YouTube Star Known for His 'Let's Play' Videos)

Birthdate: October 24, 1989

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Gothenburg, Sweden

PewDiePie is the ubiquitous pseudonym for ‘Let’s Play’ pioneer and Youtube superstar, Felix Kjellberg. The controversial Swede, named in the Time magazine'slist of the 100 most influential people in the world, became the first solo Youtuber to reach 100 million subscribers soon after his much-publicized tussle for top honours in terms of Youtube subscriptions against Indian corporate rival T-Series.

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Dolph Lundgren

(Starred in Rocky IV as The Imposing Soviet Boxer 'Ivan Drago')

Birthdate: November 3, 1957

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Spånga, Sweden

Swedish actor, Dolph Lundgre,n is mainly known as an action hero. He gained recognition with the 1985 Hollywood film Rocky IV and then went on to do many action and thriller movies like Joshua Tree, Showdown in Little Tokyo, Bridge of Dragons, Universal Soldier, Diamond Dogs and The Expendables. He has also directed several films like Missionary Man and Icarus.

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Birthdate: June 13, 1951

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Gothenburg, Sweden

One of the most decorated and popular Swedish actors of all time, Stellan Skarsgård has made quite an impact in Hollywood. Skarsgård is also known for his interesting take on religion. A non-religious artist, he condemns the Bible and the Quran as violent. In 2009, he joined other non-religious personalities in writing an article explaining the importance of secularity.

Birthplace: Sweden

Björn Ironside was a legendary king of Sweden and Norse Viking chief. He is believed to have been the first leader of the Munsö dynasty, which thrived during the Viking Age. It is also believed that the descendants of Ironside ruled over the Swedes for years. In the historical drama TV series Vikings, Ironside is being portrayed by Alexander Ludwig.

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Birthdate: November 25, 1979

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Joel Kinnaman is an actor who holds Swedish and American citizenships. He has played important roles in popular films like RoboCop and Suicide Squad. He has also been a household name in the United States for many years with portrayals of prominent roles in TV series like House of Cards.

Birthdate: August 27, 1953

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Kumla, Sweden

Actor, musician, and theater director Peter Stormare is best known as John Abruzzi from Prison Break. He has also appeared in films such as Minority Report, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and Fargo. He is also a skilled voice actor who has appeared in video games such as Destiny.

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Markus Persson

(Swedish Video Game Programmer and Designer Known for Creating the Sandbox Video Game ‘Minecraft’)

Birthdate: June 1, 1979

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Swedish game designer Markus Persson, also known by his pseudonym, Notch, created the sandbox video game Minecraft, which Microsoft later bought for $2.5 billion. He also founded the video game company Mojang. He was dragged into controversy for his “tweets” on feminism, race, and the LGBT community.

Birthdate: April 10, 1929

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Lund, Sweden

Died: March 8, 2020

Max von Sydow was a Swedish actor and director. In an illustrious career spanning seven decades, Max contributed immensely to American and European cinema, theatre, and television. He appeared in 11 of Ingmar Bergman's films, including The Seventh Seal, which houses the iconic scene where Max's character challenges the personification of Death to a game of chess.

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Birthdate: July 29, 1905

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Jönköping, Sweden

Died: September 18, 1961

Dag Hammarskjöld was a Swedish diplomat and economist. In 1953, Hammarskjöld became the youngest person to be appointed as the Secretary-General of the United Nations. He died in airplane crash in 1961. Dag Hammarskjöld became the first person to be honored with a Nobel Peace Prize posthumously.

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Benny Andersson

(Swedish Musician)

Birthdate: December 16, 1946

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Vasastan, Stockholm, Sweden

Born into a family of accordion players, Benny Andersson grew up to become a member of the iconic Swedish band ABBA, known for legendary chartbusting tracks such as Dancing Queen and Mamma Mia. Even after ABBA disbanded, he continued working on projects such as the musical Chess.

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Birthdate: December 9, 1594

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: November 6, 1632

Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden reigned as the King of Sweden from 30 October 1611 until his death on 6 November 1632, at the age of 37. He is credited with transforming Sweden into a great European power. Considered one of the greatest modern military commanders, Gustavus Adolphus turned Sweden into one of Europe's primary military forces during the Thirty Years' War.

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Henrik Larsson

(Swedish Footballer Who Played as a Striker)

Birthdate: September 20, 1971

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Helsingborg, Sweden

Henrik Larsson is a Swedish former football player who played as a striker for the Sweden national team from 1993 to 2009. He helped his national team win the bronze medal at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Henrik Larsson also played for popular clubs like Celtic, Barcelona, and Feyenoord. He is a member of the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.

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Michael Nyqvist

(Best Known for His Role as ‘Kurt Hendricks’ in the Film ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’)

Birthdate: November 8, 1960

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: June 27, 2017

Swedish actor Michael Nyqvist is best remembered as Daniel Daréus from the Academy Award for Foreign Language Film-nominated movie As It Is in Heaven. He also played significant roles in the series Beck and Millennium, and the film Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. He died of lung cancer at 56.

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Tobias Forge

(Musician)

Birthdate: March 3, 1981

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Linköping, Sweden

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Dejan Kulusevski

(Swedish Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Winger or Midfielder)

Birthdate: April 25, 2000

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

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Yung Lean

(Rapper, Songwriter, Fashion designer, Record Producer)

Birthdate: July 18, 1996

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Stockholm

Swedish rapper Yung Lean is best known for his track Ginseng Strip 2002 and for albums such as Unknown Memory. His music is known as sad rap, emo rap, and soundcloud rap, and he also performs with the band Död Mark. He has struggled with bipolar disorder and drug issues.

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Yngwie Malmsteen

(World-Renowned Guitarist from Stockholm, Known for His Neoclassical Playing Style in Heavy Metal in the 1980s)

Birthdate: June 30, 1963

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

A Swedish electric guitarist/ neo-classical metal artist, Yngwie Johann Malmsteen rose to popularity in the 1980s and has, since then, released over 22 studio albums in his four decades of career till now. His solo debut album Rising Force, which won a nomination at the 1986 Grammy Awards, is regarded a significant release in the shred and neoclassical metal genres.

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Gustaf Skarsgard

(Film actor)

Birthdate: November 12, 1980

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Gustaf Skarsgard is a Swedish actor best known for his association with the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm where he has performed in many of Shakespeare’s, Söderberg’s and Chekhov's works. The son of popular actor Stellan Skarsgård, Gustaf has also played important roles in popular films like Evil, The Way Back, and Kon-Tiki.

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Jwan Yosef

(Swedish Painter and Artist Who is Specializes in Plastic Arts)

Birthdate: September 6, 1984

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Al-Hasakah, Syria

Jwan Yosef is a Swedish artist and painter who specializes in plastic arts. Over the course of his career, Yosef has participated in a number of group exhibitions and art fairs. He is also credited with founding The Bomb Factory Art Foundation in North London.

Birthdate: March 30, 1926

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Pjätteryd, Sweden

Died: January 27, 2018

In 2004, Swedish business tycoon and IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad stunned everyone to beat Bill Gates in the race for world’s wealthiest person. He showed his entrepreneurial streak as a kid when he made profits from selling matches. He founded IKEAwith a cash reward he got from his father.

Birthdate: January 19, 1966

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Västervik, Sweden

Swedish former tennis player Stefan Edberg was once the world No. 1 professional tennis player (in both singles and doubles). He won six Grand Slam singles titles and three Grand Slam men's doubles titles, besides the Masters Grand Prix. Following his retirement from professional tennis, he began playing competitive squash and became an elite player in Sweden. 

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Victor Lindelöf

(Swedish Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Defender)

Birthdate: July 17, 1994

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Västerås, Sweden

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

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Alexander Isak

(Swedish Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Forward)

Birthdate: September 21, 1999

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Solna, Sweden

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

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Daniel Ek

(Co-Founder and CEO of Music Streaming Service 'Spotify')

Birthdate: February 21, 1983

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Daniel Ek is a Swedish technologist and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Spotify. He is the current CEO of the popular music streaming service. In 2017, he was named by Billboard magazine as the most powerful person in the music industry. 

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Stieg Larsson

(Swedish Writer and Activist Best Known for His Millennium Trilogy of Crime Novels)

Birthdate: August 15, 1954

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Skelleftehamn, Sweden

Died: November 9, 2004

Stieg Larsson was a Swedish writer and journalist. He is best remembered for his Millennium trilogy of novels, which were adapted as three films in Sweden. After his sudden death, due to a heart attack, Stieg Larsson was posthumously honored with several awards, such as the Glass Key award, Galaxy British Book Award, and Anthony Award.

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Henrik Lundqvist

(Retired Swedish Ice-Hockey Goaltender Who Played for the 'New York Rangers')

Birthdate: March 2, 1982

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Åre, Sweden

Retired Swedish ice-hockey goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, also known as The King and King Henrik, spent his entire career playing with the NHL team New York Rangers. A 3-time Olympian, he also won a gold and a silver at the games. He is renowned for his unique butterfly style of goaltending.

Birthdate: April 30, 1946

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Solna, Sweden

Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden has been serving as the king of Sweden since the demise of his grandfather King Gustaf VI Adolf in 1973. He is currently the longest-reigning monarch in the history of Sweden. Apart from being passionate about the environment, agriculture, technology, and trade, the king is also fond of automobiles and owns many Porsche 911s.

Birthdate: August 22, 1964

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Växjö, Sweden

Mats Wilander is a former tennis player who won seven Grand Slam singles titles from 1982 to 1988. A former world No. 1, Wilander is one of six men to have emerged victorious in Grand Slam singles tournaments on hard courts, grass courts, and clay courts. In 2002, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. 

Birthdate: January 25, 1971

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ethiopian Swedish chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson currently works as the head chef of Red Rooster in Harlem, New York. Fascinated by his grandmother’s cooking, he studied at the Culinary Institute in Göteborg to learn the nuances of food preparation. In the ensuing years, he gained recognition as a world-class chef. He is also an award-winning cookbook author.

Birthdate: August 4, 1912

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Lidingö, Sweden

Died: January 17, 1945

Swedish architect Raoul Wallenberg went down in history as a savior for Jews during the Nazi regime. He not only issued provisional Swedish passports, or Schutzpass, to protect Jews, but also set up safe houses for them. He disappeared amid mysterious circumstances. Many believe he died in a Soviet prison.

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Olof Palme

(Prime Minister of Sweden from 1969 to 1976 and 1982 to 1986)

Birthdate: January 30, 1927

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Östermalm, Stockholm, Sweden

Died: February 27, 1986

Former prime minister of Sweden, Olof Palme led the Swedish Social Democratic Workers’ Party and rose to be one of Sweden’s most internationally renowned politicians. A prominent lawyer, he started his political career as PM Tage Erlander’s personal secretary. He had also held the ministries of education and communications.

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Christina, Queen of Sweden

(Queen)

Birthdate: December 18, 1626

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Tre Kronor

Died: April 19, 1689

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Armand Duplantis

(Swedish-American Pole Vaulter)

Birthdate: November 10, 1999

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Lafayette, Louisiana, United States

Armand Duplantis is a Swedish pole vaulter. He currently holds the world indoor record with a height of 6.18 meters. When he was 15 years old, Duplantis won a gold medal at the 2015 World Youth Championships. He then went on to win a gold medal at the 2018 European Championships and a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships.

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Peter Forsberg

(One of the Greatest Players in the History of Ice Hockey)

Birthdate: July 20, 1973

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden

Peter Forsberg is a Swedish former ice hockey player. Forsberg is considered one of the greatest players in the history of ice hockey. He is best known for winning a gold medal at the 1994 and 2006 Winter Olympics. Peter Forsberg was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Birthdate: June 27, 1682

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: December 11, 1718

Charles XII ruled Sweden as an absolute monarch for 18 years during the Great Northern War. He took over the throne at 15. Although appreciated for his effective legal and tax reforms, he is known to have led Sweden to immense destruction by participating in the 1707-1709 campaign against Russia.

Birthdate: October 25, 1995

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Sweden

Swedish actor Valter Skarsgård, son of iconic actor Stellan Skarsgard, is known for films such as Portkod 1321 and Black Lake. Fans loved him as Jon in the Arn movie franchise and TV series. He also live-streams video games such as Rainbow Six: Siege and Rocket League on Twitch.

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RedOne

(Number One Producer on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2009 and Songwriter)

Birthdate: April 9, 1972

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Tetouan, Morocco

RedOne is a Moroccan-Swedish record producer, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He is credited with founding his own record label, RedOne Records. Over the years, he has collaborated with popular personalities like Lady Gaga, Akon, Nicki Minaj, Michael Jackson, and Jennifer Lopez among many other high-profile artists. He has several prestigious awards under his belt, including three Grammy Awards.

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Mikael Persbrandt

(Actor)

Birthdate: September 25, 1963

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Jakobsberg, Sweden

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

Birthdate: May 31, 1990

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Landsbro, Sweden

Erik Karlsson is a Swedish ice hockey player who currently plays for the San Jose Sharks of the NHL. An important member of the Sweden men's national team, Karlsson was part of the team that won the silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics. He also helped his national team win the bronze medal at the 2010 IIHF World Championship.

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Swedenborg

(Swedish Christian Scientist, Philosopher and Theologian Best Known for His Book ‘Heaven and Hell’)

Birthdate: January 29, 1688

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: March 29, 1772

Emanuel Swedenborg was a Swedish pluralistic-Christian philosopher, mystic, theologian, and scientist. Swedenborg started hogging the limelight after writing a book on the afterlife titled Heaven and Hell, which released in 1758. A prolific scientist and inventor, Swedenborg experienced spiritual awakening after which he started working on reforming Christianity. He even claimed that he could converse with angels and demons.

Amongst them, Alfred Nobel, the initiator of Nobel Prize awards and the inventor of dynamite deserve a first mention. Some other names that have made Swedish history and legacy proud are Nathan Soderblom, Isaac Hirsche Grunewald, Carl Milles, Saint Bridget, Gustaf Dalen, Ruben Rausing, Carl XVI Gustaf, Carl Michael Bellman, Evert Taube, Olof Palme, Arvid Carlsson, Tomas Transtromer and so on. Go through this section to find details about the life and works of famous Swedish men.