My GrandFather was a son of a willage blacksmith, he retired as an Artillery colonel.
Some examples from the US come to mind...
1. Seveth child of a carpenter from Milan Ohio, Tom became a founding member of the modern world.
2. Adopted son, Steve dropped out of college after one semester, backpacked around India in search of spiritual enlightenment, attended some summer lectures with his buddy, Steve, worked for Atari, 2 Steves then started work in their garage and became icons of capitalism.
3. Born on the frontier, mother died when he was 9, father remarried and he was raised with a sister and three step siblings. Attended school less than a year. Became a lawyer, a postmaster, a surveyor, member of the state legistature, a member of the US House of Representatives, and 16th President of the USA.
4. born in Hannibal, Missouri as an only child. Bill later moved with his family to Chicago, where he attended school up until the eighth grade. He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War I, serving as a radio operator. He had no formal education past the eighth grade other than the courses which he took in the Navy. In the 20's he developed the first practical car radio. Invented the 8-track music tape cartridge in 1964, and in 1963, flew his creation; the icon of busness jets.
