Michael Collins — Profile, Rankings & Fame Trend

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

He orbited the Moon alone thirty times while Armstrong and Aldrin walked its surface — the third man on Apollo 11, out of contact with Earth for forty-eight minutes every pass, holding the only ride home.

Biography

About

Born in Rome in 1930 to a military family, Collins followed father, brother, uncle, and cousin into service, graduating West Point in 1952 and flying F-86 Sabres in France. Accepted into test pilot school at Edwards in 1960, he joined NASA's third astronaut class in 1963. His first spaceflight came on Gemini 10 in 1966 with John Young — two rendezvous, two spacewalks, the first person to EVA more than once. Three years later he flew the Apollo 11 command module Columbia, becoming one of twenty-four to reach the Moon but never touching it. He left NASA in 1970 for the State Department, then dir…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Michael Collins

Michael Collins

said1968

There is no British Government anymore in Ireland. It is gone. It is no longer the enemy.

— A Path to Freedom (1968 [2010]), p. 14

Michael Collins

said1968

The Treaty is already vindicating itself. The English Die-hards said to Mr. Lloyd George and his Cabinet: "You have surrendered".

— A Path to Freedom (1968 [2010]), p. 23

Michael Collins

said1968

Our army, if it exists for honorable purposes only, will draw to it honorable men. It will call to it the best men of our race- men of skill and culture.

— A Path to Freedom (1968 [2010]), p. 64

Michael Collins

said1968

We are a small nation. Our military strength in proportion to the mighty armaments of modern nations can never be considerable.

— A Path to Freedom (1968 [2010]), p. 64

Michael Collins

said19 Dec 1921

Now as one of the signatories of the document I naturally recommend its acceptance. I do not recommend it for more than it is. Equally I do not recommend it for less than it is.

— Regarding the Anglo-Irish Treaty during a parliamentary debate (Dáil Éireann - Volume T - 19 December, 1921 (DEBATE ON TREATY))

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