January 27

Philippe Macquer authored several influential works, including the "Annales romaines" and the "Dictionnaire historique portatif." His clear, systematic approach made complex historical events accessible to a broad readership. Macquer’s publications were widely read and often reprinted, contributing to the spread of Enlightenment ideas. He collaborated with contemporaries to compile comprehensive reference books that covered politics, culture, and biographies. His scholarship helped shape modern historiography by emphasizing accuracy and clarity in historical writing.

John James Audubon embarked on extensive expeditions across the United States to document bird species in their natural habitats. His monumental work, "The Birds of America," featured life-size, hand-colored engravings of over 700 species and remains a landmark in both art and science. Audubon’s blend of artistic skill and scientific observation set new standards for wildlife illustration. He also founded the first Audubon Society to promote bird conservation. His passion for ornithology and art created a lasting legacy in natural history.

Born in 1802, János Bolyai was the son of military mathematician Farkas Bolyai. He independently developed a consistent geometry where Euclid's parallel postulate does not hold. His groundbreaking work, published as an Appendix to his father's book in 1832, shocked the mathematical world. Though his ideas were initially overlooked, they later revolutionized mathematical thought and influenced Einstein's theory of relativity. Bolyai's daring challenge to centuries-old assumptions cements his place among history’s greatest geometers.

Adam Sedgwick was born in 1785 in Dent, England, and became a professor of geology at the University of Cambridge. He laid the foundations of modern geological classification by introducing the Cambrian and Devonian systems. As an ordained Anglican priest, he balanced clerical duties with pioneering scientific research. Sedgwick famously served as one of Charles Darwin’s doctoral advisors, though he later disagreed with Darwin’s theory of evolution. His extensive field studies across Wales and England established him as a father of stratigraphy whose influence endures in geology today.

Ernst Sars was born in 1835 in Norway and became a professor of history at the University of Oslo. He authored foundational texts on Norwegian history, including detailed studies of the country’s medieval era. Sars combined rigorous scholarship with a national romantic perspective, fostering Norwegian cultural identity. His lectures and writings influenced both academic circles and the broader public’s view of Norway’s past. Sars remained an active intellectual until his death in 1917, leaving a lasting legacy in Scandinavian historiography.

Bernard Friedberg was born in 1876 and dedicated his life to the study and cataloguing of Hebrew printed works and manuscripts. His meticulous bibliographies, published in multiple volumes, have become essential references for scholars of Jewish history and literature. Fleeing the rise of Nazism, he emigrated to Switzerland and later to the United States, where he continued his research. Friedberg's scholarship illuminated the development of Hebrew printing from the early modern period onward. His tireless work helped preserve cultural heritage and laid the foundation for modern bibliographical studies in Jewish studies. He passed away in 1961, leaving a lasting legacy in academic circles.

Born in Vienna in 1894, Marietta Blau was one of the first women to habilitate in physics at the University of Vienna. She developed photographic emulsion methods that allowed researchers to track and analyze subatomic particles, leading to the discovery of mesons. Forced to flee Austria in 1938 due to her Jewish heritage, she continued her research at institutions in the United States and Canada. Blau's foundational work laid the groundwork for modern high-energy physics experiments and inspired future generations of scientists. She was honored posthumously with the Austrian Decoration of Honor.

Born in 1909 in Częstochowa, Henryk Jabłoński studied history at the University of Warsaw and became a respected academic. During World War II, he joined the Polish resistance and later rose through the ranks of the Polish United Workers’ Party. In 1972, he was appointed Chairman of the Council of State, acting as head of state of the People’s Republic of Poland until 1985. Jabłoński presided over a period of social and economic challenges under communist rule, navigating both domestic unrest and Soviet relations. After his tenure, he returned to scholarly work, publishing research on Polish history and politics. He passed away in 2003, remembered for his dual legacy as a historian and political figure.

Howard Zinn (1922–2010) was an American historian, playwright, and activist whose work reshaped the understanding of American history by focusing on marginalized voices. A World War II bombardier, he later became a professor at Spelman College in Atlanta during the civil rights movement, integrating his classroom and activism. His seminal book A People's History of the United States challenged conventional narratives and sold millions of copies worldwide. Zinn's commitment to social justice led him to participate in numerous protests against war and inequality. He continued writing and lecturing until his death, inspiring activists and scholars to consider history from the grassroots up.

Stanley Karnow (1925–2013) was an American journalist and historian whose reporting and writing brought the Vietnam War into American living rooms. As a correspondent for Time and The Washington Post, he covered Asia for three decades, earning a reputation for insightful analysis. His 1983 book Vietnam: A History won the Pulitzer Prize and became the basis for a PBS documentary series. Karnow's balanced approach highlighted both military strategy and the human cost of conflict. After retiring, he continued lecturing and writing, leaving a lasting impact on war journalism and historical scholarship.

Charles Hard Townes was born in 1915 and became a leading figure in quantum electronics. In the early 1950s, he invented the maser, a microwave amplification device that preceded the laser. His groundbreaking research earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1964, shared with Nikolay Basov and Aleksandr Prokhorov. Townes held academic positions at Columbia University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Southern California. He also contributed to studies in astrophysics and infrared astronomy throughout his career. Townes died on January 27, 2015, leaving a legacy of innovation in photonics and physics.

Born in New York in 1926, Arthur H. Rosenfeld earned his Ph.D. in physics and joined Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 1955. He led groundbreaking studies on building energy use that established the 'Rosenfeld effect', demonstrating that energy efficiency policy could reduce power consumption. A key advisor to U.S. presidents, he helped develop national appliance standards and the efficient lighting technologies. He co-founded the California Energy Commission’s energy efficiency program, transforming global energy policy. Awarded the 2007 National Medal of Technology and 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom. Rosenfeld’s work saved billions in energy costs and remains the foundation of modern energy conservation.