I think you're reaching. Obviously every inventor or discoverer affects the course of history in every country that uses that invention or discovery. We could p

I think you're reaching. Obviously every inventor or discoverer affects the course of history in every country that uses that invention or discovery. We could put Marconi on as "critical to American history" because we never might not have the war without the radio. Or put Martin Luther on, because without him a bunch of protestants wouldn't have crossed over on the Mayflower. Or Mendel because without the understanding of genetics, our GMO companies wouldn't be making billions. The only mention in the United States in Marie Curie's Wikipedia article is a brief tour she did of the US in her later years to raise money.