January 28

Thomas Bodley, born in 1545, served as an English diplomat under Elizabeth I, undertaking missions to Geneva and Paris. A passionate scholar, he amassed a significant collection of books and manuscripts. In 1602, Bodley endowed the University of Oxford with funds and his collection to establish a new library. His foundation led to the opening of the Bodleian Library, which has become one of the world’s most important research libraries. Bodley’s vision for open access to knowledge shaped the future of academic scholarship. He died in 1613, leaving a lasting intellectual legacy.

Richard Allestree was born in 1619 and educated at Christ Church, Oxford. A royalist chaplain during the English Civil War, he remained loyal to the monarchy and later served Charles II. Allestree became President of Trinity College, Oxford, where he influenced generations of students. He authored devotional works such as 'The Government of the Tongue' and 'Meditations,' reflecting his Anglican convictions. As a participant in the Savoy Conference, he helped shape post-Restoration church settlements. He died in 1681, remembered as a significant figure in the history of Anglican theology.

Johannes Hevelius was born in Danzig in 1611 into a wealthy merchant family. He built and equipped an observatory on the rooftop of his house, making detailed observations of the Moon and stars. His publication 'Selenographia' included some of the first accurate maps of the lunar surface. Hevelius also compiled star catalogues and observed comets, contributing significantly to early modern astronomy. Beyond science, he served as a city councillor and burgomaster of Danzig, blending civic duty with scientific inquiry. He died in 1687, and his observatory was later destroyed by fire, but his published works endured.

Ferdinand Verbiest was born in 1623 in Flanders and joined the Society of Jesus. Sent to China in 1659, he impressed Emperor Kangxi with his knowledge of astronomy and instrumentation. Verbiest reformed the Chinese calendar and constructed precise astronomical instruments, including an improved sextant and celestial globe. He authored the 'Tabulae Sinicae,' integrating European astronomical methods into Chinese science. His work strengthened Sino-European scholarly exchange and earned him high imperial favor. He died in 1688 in Beijing, leaving a legacy of cross-cultural scientific collaboration.

Born in Bergen in 1684, Holberg moved to Copenhagen to study at the University of Copenhagen. He wrote extensively on history and philosophy, combining scholarly rigor with a sharp wit. His comedies such as Jeppe of the Hill and The Political Tinker remain part of Scandinavian theater repertoire. He also authored one of the first comprehensive histories of Denmark and Norway. Holberg’s writings laid the foundation for the Enlightenment in Scandinavia and influenced generations of writers and scholars.

Born in Paris in 1697, d'Anville showed an early talent for geography and map-making. He meticulously compiled and cross-referenced travel accounts, historical records, and astronomical observations. Appointed royal geographer in 1746, he produced a vast atlas that corrected numerous errors in existing maps. His work influenced explorers, academics, and colonial administrators across Europe. D'Anville’s commitment to precision and detail set a new standard for cartography in the 18th century.

Émile Clapeyron was born in Paris in 1799 and studied at the École Polytechnique. He collaborated with Sadi Carnot and helped develop the mathematical framework of thermodynamics. In 1834, he published the famous Clapeyron equation, which relates pressure, volume, and temperature in an ideal gas. Clapeyron later became a professor of mechanics and taught at several prestigious institutions. His work on elasticity, hydraulics, and heat engines laid important groundwork for modern engineering and physical sciences.

Gustave de Molinari was born in Liège and studied political economy at the University of Liège. A leading figure in the liberal school of economic thought, he published essays advocating minimal government intervention and free trade. In 1849, he argued for the private production of security services, a concept that anticipated modern theories of privatization and anarcho-capitalism. De Molinari contributed to major economic journals and was influential in European intellectual circles. His bold critiques of state intervention left a lasting impact on classical liberalism before his death in 1912.

Born in 1872 in Guelph, Ontario, John McCrae studied medicine at the University of Toronto. He served as a lieutenant colonel in the Canadian Army Medical Corps during WWI. It was after treating casualties at Ypres that he wrote the enduring poem 'In Flanders Fields'. His evocative verses captured the sacrifice of soldiers amidst fields of poppies. McCrae continued to serve as a field surgeon until his death from pneumonia in January 1918. His legacy endures through the poem that inspired remembrance traditions around the world.

Born in 1883, Nikolai Luzin was a leading figure in early 20th-century Russian mathematics. He founded the Luzin school and mentored a generation of mathematicians in descriptive set theory. His research on analytic and projective sets laid the groundwork for modern mathematical analysis. In 1936, he faced political persecution during the "Luzin affair" but continued his academic work thereafter. Luzin’s publications and teachings shaped Soviet mathematics for decades.

Donald Woods Winnicott (1896-1971) revolutionized the understanding of childhood emotional growth with concepts such as the "good enough" mother and the transitional object. Trained as a paediatrician and psychoanalyst, he worked extensively with children and their families, emphasizing the importance of the early environment in mental health. His clinical insights bridged the gap between paediatrics and psychology, influencing generations of therapists. Winnicott introduced key ideas on holding environments and the true self vs. false self. He published numerous papers and books that remain foundational in child psychoanalysis. His compassionate, clinical approach made him a beloved and influential figure in both medicine and psychoanalytic communities.

Born in 1911, Klaus Fuchs made significant contributions to the development of nuclear weapons as part of the British Tube Alloys and U.S. Manhattan Project teams. He passed classified information to Soviet intelligence from 1942 until his arrest in 1950, impacting the balance of power during the early Cold War. After serving nine years in prison in the UK, he emigrated to East Germany, where he resumed his scientific career and held prestigious positions in the Academy of Sciences. His espionage accelerated the Soviet atomic bomb program, shaping the nuclear arms race. His dual legacy as a talented scientist and controversial spy continues to fascinate historians of science and espionage.