Daniel Wallace

Daniel Wallace was a name shared by several notable individuals active in politics, academia, literature, medicine, sports, and entertainment across the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries. Among the earliest was Daniel Wallace (1801–1859), a U.S. Congressman from South Carolina who served in the mid-nineteenth century. Born in 1801, he emerged as a political figure during a period of intense national debate over states’ rights, slavery, and the preservation of the Union. As a Congressman from South Carolina, he participated in the legislative life of the United States during the antebellum era, contributing to the representation of his state’s interests in the federal government. Wallace’s congressional service placed him among the Southern political class whose careers were intertwined with the mounting sectional tensions that would eventually culminate in the Civil War. He remained active in public life until his death in 1859.

In the field of biblical studies, Daniel B. Wallace (born 1952) became a prominent American scholar and professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. Born in 1952, he pursued advanced theological and linguistic training that prepared him for a career specializing in New Testament Greek and textual criticism. At Dallas Theological Seminary, he rose to prominence as a professor of New Testament Studies, teaching generations of students in areas such as Greek grammar, exegesis, and the history and transmission of the New Testament text. Wallace became widely known in academic and evangelical circles for his work on Greek grammar and for his involvement in the study and cataloging of New Testament manuscripts, helping to shape contemporary understanding of the textual foundations of the Christian Scriptures.

Another notable bearer of the name, Daniel Wallace (author) (born 1959), is an American novelist best known for his work “Big Fish.” Born in 1959, he developed an interest in storytelling and literature that led him to a career as a writer. His novel “Big Fish,” a blend of Southern folklore, magical realism, and family narrative, gained broad recognition and was later adapted into a feature film and a stage musical, bringing his work to an international audience. Through his fiction and related literary activities, he became associated with imaginative, character-driven narratives that explore themes of memory, myth, and the relationship between parents and children.

Daniel J. Wallace (born 1949) distinguished himself in medicine as an American rheumatologist, professor, and author. Born in 1949, he trained as a physician and specialized in rheumatology, focusing on autoimmune and connective tissue diseases such as lupus. Over the course of his career, he held academic appointments and contributed to clinical research, medical education, and patient care. As a professor and author, Daniel J. Wallace wrote extensively on rheumatologic conditions for both professional and general audiences, helping to advance understanding of complex autoimmune diseases and to improve their diagnosis and management.

The name Danny Wallace was also borne by figures in sports and entertainment. Danny Wallace (footballer) (born 1964) is an English former international footballer who came to prominence in the 1980s. Born in 1964, he played professional football in England and earned selection to the national team, representing his country at the international level. Known for his pace and attacking play, he contributed significantly to his clubs and to the England side during his active years before retiring from professional competition. His career placed him among the notable English footballers of his era.

Danny Wallace (humorist) (born 1976) became known as an author, humorist, and television presenter. Born in 1976, he developed a career in writing and broadcasting that combined comedic narrative with documentary-style exploration of unusual personal projects and social experiments. He authored books such as “Join Me” and “Yes Man,” in which he recounted his experiences undertaking unconventional challenges and forming spontaneous communities. These works, along with his television and radio appearances, established him as a recognizable figure in contemporary British popular culture, blending humor with reflections on human behavior and social connection.

In Irish politics, Dan Wallace (politician) (1942–2025) served as an Irish politician during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Born in 1942, he entered public life in Ireland and built a career representing his constituents through elected office. Over the course of his political tenure, he participated in the governance of the state during periods of economic and social change, contributing to legislative debates and public policy. His service continued into the new century, and he remained a figure in Irish political life until his death in 2025.

The name Dan Wallace was also associated with competitive swimming through Dan Wallace (swimmer) (born 1993), a Scottish swimmer. Born in 1993, he rose through the ranks of national and international swimming, representing Scotland and, where applicable, Great Britain in major competitions. Specializing in middle-distance and medley events, he competed at elite levels, including international championships and multi-sport events, and contributed to Scotland’s and Britain’s presence in world swimming. His achievements placed him among the notable Scottish swimmers of his generation.

Finally, Daniel Wallace was the plaintiff in Wallace v. International Business Machines Corp. et al., a 2006 lawsuit filed against the GNU General Public License. In this case, he challenged the legality and competitive implications of the GNU General Public License, a widely used free software license that governs the distribution and modification of many open-source software projects. By bringing suit against International Business Machines Corporation and others, he sought judicial review of the license’s compatibility with antitrust and other legal principles. Although the lawsuit did not succeed in overturning the GNU General Public License, it became a notable episode in the legal history of free and open-source software, illustrating ongoing debates over intellectual property, competition, and software licensing.