Who is the most famous vegetarian in history?

November 26, 2025 •

3 min read

Long before plant-based diets became mainstream, many of history's most brilliant minds chose a meat-free lifestyle. The question of who is the most famous vegetarian in history is complex, with several influential figures from different eras and cultures deserving consideration.

Quick Summary

This article examines the most influential vegetarian historical figures, including Mahatma Gandhi, Pythagoras, and Leonardo da Vinci, exploring the motivations behind their meat-free diets.

Key Points

Mahatma Gandhi: His vegetarianism was an extension of his non-violent philosophy, making his moral stance globally known.
Pythagoras: Considered the "father of vegetarianism" in the West, his diet was based on spiritual beliefs in reincarnation.
Leonardo da Vinci: The Renaissance genius documented his ethical opposition to eating meat in his journals.
Diverse Motivations: Historical vegetarians were driven by a range of reasons, including spiritual purity, ethical compassion, and non-violent principles.
Wider Impact: The legacies of these figures prove that vegetarianism is a historical concept, not a modern trend, and has influenced social and moral thought for centuries.

Determining the single most famous vegetarian in history is a challenging task, as fame is subjective and varies across cultures and time periods. However, several figures consistently appear in discussions about influential historical vegetarians, with Mahatma Gandhi and Pythagoras often leading the conversation due to their global recognition and strong philosophical ties to the practice. While Gandhi's fame is tied to his political activism and non-violent resistance, Pythagoras's legacy is foundational to the Western history of vegetarianism itself.

Mahatma Gandhi: The Moral Case for Vegetarianism

For many, Mahatma Gandhi stands out as the prime candidate for the most famous vegetarian. His commitment to a meat-free diet was deeply intertwined with his philosophy of ahimsa, or non-violence. While he was born into a vegetarian Gujarati family, he explored and later embraced vegetarianism by choice after his studies in London.

Influence: Gandhi's reading of Henry Salt's A Plea for Vegetarianism solidified his moral and ethical reasons for the diet while he studied in England.
Moral Imperative: Gandhi believed in extending compassion to all living creatures, famously stating that a nation's moral progress could be judged by its treatment of animals.
Public Platform: Gandhi's public life made his vegetarianism a globally discussed topic.

Pythagoras: The Father of Western Vegetarianism

Before the term "vegetarianism" was coined, those abstaining from meat were known as Pythagoreans. This ancient Greek figure championed a meat-free diet in the Western world, rooted in his spiritual beliefs in the transmigration of souls, or reincarnation. He believed killing and eating animals was a moral transgression.

Beliefs: Pythagoras taught that kindness to animals was essential for spiritual clarity.
Impact: His philosophical ideas influenced generations of thinkers and cemented his role in vegetarian thought.

Leonardo da Vinci: The Renaissance Polymath

Leonardo da Vinci is another prominent candidate. Evidence suggests he followed a meat-free diet for ethical reasons.

Ethical Convictions: Da Vinci wrote about his views on animal cruelty, expressing disgust at the practice of raising animals for slaughter.
Compassion: Contemporaries noted his aversion to meat and compassion for animals.
Quote: A quote attributed to him reflects his advanced thinking on animal rights.

The Verdict: Fame and Influence Compared

Comparing Gandhi, Pythagoras, and da Vinci, we see distinct impacts. Pythagoras provided the philosophical origin in the West, while Gandhi's public life connected vegetarianism to 20th-century political and moral discourse globally. Da Vinci's fame is primarily from his genius, with his vegetarianism being a notable, though less central, aspect.


Aspect	Mahatma Gandhi	Pythagoras	Leonardo da Vinci
Era	19th-20th Century	6th Century B.C.	15th-16th Century
Primary Fame	Political Activist, Leader	Mathematician, Philosopher	Artist, Inventor, Polymath
Reason for Diet	Ethical, Moral, Health	Spiritual (Reincarnation)	Ethical, Compassion
Global Recognition	Very High	Moderate (specific context)	Very High
Dietary Impact	High (through public advocacy)	High (as a historical foundation)	Moderate (less central to his legacy)
Legacy Connection	Directly linked to his non-violence philosophy	Gave the diet its original Western name	A notable, but secondary, part of his story

Considering global recognition and the direct link between their life's work and their diet, Mahatma Gandhi is arguably the most famous vegetarian in history. His advocacy brought vegetarianism into global consciousness. Learn more about Gandhi's journey with vegetarianism.

Other Notable Historical Vegetarians

George Bernard Shaw: A passionate vegetarian for 70 years, known for witty quotes like, "Animals are my friends...and I don't eat my friends".
Leo Tolstoy: Became vegetarian after visiting a slaughterhouse, detailing his reasons in "The First Step".
Albert Einstein: Became vegetarian late in life, stating its potential benefits for human health and Earth's survival.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Plant-Based Living

While the "most famous" title is debatable, figures like Gandhi, Pythagoras, and da Vinci show that vegetarianism has historical roots in powerful beliefs. Their diverse motivations highlight that abstaining from meat is a thoughtful stance that has resonated with influential people throughout history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Vegetarianism can be traced back to ancient civilizations, with early proponents found in the Indian subcontinent and ancient Greece. The philosophical and religious traditions of these regions often emphasized non-violence and purity, which led to the adoption of meat-free diets.

For centuries, before the term "vegetarian" was coined in the 19th century, people who did not eat meat were known as Pythagoreans, after the Greek philosopher Pythagoras. His advocacy for a meat-free diet, rooted in his beliefs about reincarnation and spiritual harmony, made the name synonymous with the lifestyle.

While raised in a vegetarian family, Gandhi solidified his commitment to the diet during his studies in London after reading Henry Salt's A Plea for Vegetarianism. He adopted it not just by custom but by conscious choice, linking it directly to his moral and non-violent principles.

Numerous historical accounts and Leonardo da Vinci's own writings suggest he was a vegetarian, potentially even vegan. He expressed profound disgust for animal cruelty and is reported to have bought caged birds just to set them free.

No, Albert Einstein adopted a vegetarian diet later in his life, reportedly for health reasons and a growing moral conviction. While he wasn't a lifelong adherent, his support for the diet is often cited.

Yes, Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy wrote extensively about his moral reasons for becoming a vegetarian, most notably in his essay, "The First Step." He was moved to embrace the diet after witnessing a slaughterhouse.

Beyond avoiding meat, Pythagoras famously banned fava beans for complex spiritual reasons. He believed they contained the souls of the dead due to their shape, which aligned with his philosophy of the transmigration of souls.