January 21

Born in 1801 on Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania), Batman became a pioneering businessman and member of the Port Phillip Association. In 1835, he negotiated a controversial treaty with local Aboriginal elders, claiming land on behalf of the British Crown. His party crossed the Bass Strait and laid the groundwork for what would become the city of Melbourne. Batman engaged in livestock trade and mercantile ventures, shaping early colonial society. Despite disputes over land rights and his later financial difficulties, his role in establishing Melbourne remains a key chapter in Australian history.

Born in 1813 in Savannah, Georgia, Frémont graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and joined the Corps of Topographical Engineers. He led multiple expeditions mapping the American West, earning fame for his reports and maps that encouraged westward expansion. Frémont’s military service during the Mexican-American War and brief governance of California solidified his national profile. As the first Republican presidential candidate in 1856, he campaigned on an anti-slavery platform, gaining significant support. Later in life, he served as the territorial governor of Arizona and continued advocating for development before his death in 1890.

Umberto Nobile was an Italian aeronautical engineer and polar explorer renowned for designing the semi-rigid airships Norge and Italia. In 1926, he led the first verified flight over the North Pole aboard the Norge, making history in Arctic exploration. His work combined technical innovation with daring adventure, advancing the understanding of polar regions. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, Nobile’s expeditions contributed valuable scientific observations and navigational data. He later documented his experiences in memoirs that inspired future generations of explorers.

Valentin Filatyev was born in 1930 and served as an Air Force pilot before joining the Soviet space program in 1960. He was one of the original twenty cosmonauts chosen during the height of the Space Race between the USSR and the USA. Although Filatyev never flew a mission due to disciplinary issues, his selection underscored Soviet ambition in human spaceflight. He continued his career as a test pilot and instructor, contributing to aerospace research and training future cosmonauts. Filatyev's story reflects both the prestige and rigours faced by early space explorers. He died in 1990, leaving a lesser-known but fascinating legacy in Soviet space history.