Here's just a few ideas for some famous people to try to investigate:
Atahualpa--famous Inca leader killed by Spanish Conquistadors
Eugenio de Santa Cruz y Espejo (Eugenio Espejo)--intellectual and political figure of the late 18th century
Antonio Jose de Sucre--general during the fight for independence from the Spanish
Gabriel Garcia Moreno, Juan Leon Mera--they were part of the formation of the republic after independence most of the 1800's...Moreno was president several times
Eloy Alfaro--general for the liberals at the turn of the 19th century who also became president varias times...he's a "costeno" where the liberal parties originated
Abdala Bucaram--probably the most talked-about and scandalous president of recent times...he was voted out by the congress basically due to insanity then he flew off with a bunch of the country's money and now lives exhiled in Panama...some people actually want him back and say that he will come back to be president again someday.
And don't forget LORENA BOBBIT...yes, she's Ecuadorian...and Christina Aguilera is 1/2 Ecuadorian
Good luck...I hope I'm not too late!
Angela