January 22

Sir Walter Raleigh was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I and a leading figure at the Elizabethan court. He sponsored voyages to North America, including attempts to establish the Roanoke Colony, and helped ignite English interest in the New World. An accomplished writer, he authored works such as 'The History of the World'. Raleigh is credited with introducing tobacco and potatoes to England, influencing culinary and social habits. After Elizabeth’s death, he fell from favor under James I and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. He was released to lead an ill-fated expedition against Spanish holdings in Panama. Accused of violating peace treaties, he was executed in 1618. His life embodied the spirit of Elizabethan exploration and court intrigue.

William Kidd began his career as a privateer commissioned to hunt French and pirate ships in the late 17th century. Commanding the vessel Adventure Galley, he pursued maritime outlaws but became entangled in legal controversies over spoils. Returning to London in 1699, Kidd faced accusations of piracy and murder amidst murky political rivalries. His trial drew public attention to the blurred lines between privateering and piracy. Kidd was convicted and executed at Execution Dock in 1701, and his burial site near the River Thames added to his enduring legend. Rumors of buried treasure sparked centuries of treasure hunts and folklore. Today, Captain Kidd’s story exemplifies the precarious life of seafarers in the Golden Age of Piracy.

Philip Carteret was an 18th-century English naval officer and explorer who served under Captain Samuel Wallis and George Anson. In 1766, he commanded HMS Swallow on a voyage of circumnavigation, discovering and mapping several Pacific islands including Pitcairn Island and parts of New Caledonia. His precise charts and detailed journals provided valuable information for future navigators. Despite challenging conditions, Carteret recorded numerous observations of island cultures and natural history. His work contributed to Britain’s naval expansion and the scientific knowledge of the Pacific region.

Thomas David Jones graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and served as an F-15 pilot before joining NASA in 1990. He flew on three Space Shuttle missions, logging over 700 hours in space while conducting scientific experiments and Earth observations. Jones operated advanced radar imaging equipment to study our planet's surface and environment. After leaving NASA, he applied his aerospace expertise in private industry and education initiatives. His contributions to space exploration have helped advance our understanding of both Earth and the cosmos.