10. Thomas Plunkett: Napoleonic Era Marksman
Thomas Plunkett, a rifleman in the British Army, etched his name in history during the Peninsular War with a legendary long-distance shot that felled a French general. Armed with a Baker rifle, Plunkett’s feat demonstrated the emerging power of sharpshooters to alter the course of battle from afar. His actions showcased the strategic potential of precision marksmanship in an age dominated by massed musket fire, paving the way for the specialized role of snipers in future conflicts.
