I disagree with the implied-worldview behind that: Such progress is fundamentally incremental and stochastic, rather than hinging on "Great Men" (or women).

For a great many discoveries or inventions or ideas, digging a little further into the history shows the famous-people often aren't the first to say/try something, but the ones who attempted it again at a more favorable time or place, were more powerful or influential, or just plain got lucky.