February 19

Erasmus Reinhold was a prominent 16th-century German astronomer and mathematician. He produced the Prutenic Tables, which improved planetary positions based on Copernican theory. As a professor at the University of Wittenberg, he taught notable students including Philipp Melanchthon. Reinhold's work helped disseminate new astronomical ideas during the Renaissance. He contributed to calendar reform discussions and promoted mathematical education. Reinhold died in 1553, leaving a legacy as a pioneer of observational astronomy.

Born in 1549, Henry Savile distinguished himself as a classical scholar and patron of mathematical studies at Oxford. He served as Warden of Merton College, where he advanced the teaching of Greek and the sciences. Savile produced influential Latin translations of Euclid's 'Elements' and the medical writings of Galen, shaping scholarly discourse. Simultaneously, he represented Yorkshire in Parliament under Queen Elizabeth I, balancing academic and political duties. His efforts helped bridge Renaissance humanism with emerging scientific inquiry. He died in 1622, remembered for his lasting contributions to both scholarship and public service.

Born in London in 1592, Charles Chauncy emigrated to New England as part of the Puritan migration. He became the third president of Harvard College, serving from 1654 until his death, and emphasized moral discipline alongside academic rigor. Chauncy was a prolific author of sermons and pamphlets defending Puritan beliefs and critiquing dissenting sects such as the Quakers. His leadership helped establish Harvard as the intellectual center of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. A committed academic, he integrated classical studies with theological instruction. He died in 1672, honored as a foundational figure in colonial higher education.

Jean-Charles de Borda was born in 1733 in Dax, France, and entered the navy as an officer, where he conducted experiments on fluid mechanics and nautical navigation. He invented the repeating circle and other precision instruments that improved astronomical and geodetic measurements. Borda developed the Borda count method for aggregating preferences in elections, influencing both political science and decision theory. His work on hydrodynamics informed naval architecture and engineering. Elected to the French Academy of Sciences, he bridged practical naval duties with theoretical research. He died in 1799, leaving a lasting impact on mathematics, physics, and naval exploration.

Karl Weierstrass was born in 1815 in Germany and is celebrated for his rigorous approach to mathematical analysis. He formalized the epsilon-delta definition of limits and provided foundational proofs for the theory of functions and power series. The Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem and Weierstrass function are among his key contributions to real analysis. He held professorships at the universities of Königsberg and Berlin, mentoring a generation of mathematicians. His work established the standards of precision and proof that underpin modern mathematics. Weierstrass died in Berlin in 1897, leaving a profound legacy in the field of analysis.

Ernst Mach was born in Brno in 1838 and studied physics at the University of Vienna. He conducted pioneering research on shock waves and supersonic motion, leading to the concept of the Mach number. Mach was also a philosopher of science who emphasized the importance of empirical verification and perceptual experience. His work influenced the development of phenomenology and Gestalt psychology. Mach held academic positions across Europe, including in Prague and Munich, where he taught both physics and the history of science. He died in Munich in 1916, and his interdisciplinary legacy endures in both physics and philosophy.

Born in Greece in 1883, Georgios Papanikolaou moved to the United States to pursue medical research and became a naturalized citizen. He dedicated his career to studying cellular changes and cancer detection, co-developing what would become known as the Pap smear test. First presented in 1928, his method allowed for early detection of pre-cancerous and cancerous cells in the female reproductive system. Papanikolaou’s work drastically reduced cervical cancer mortality rates and became a standard screening procedure worldwide. Despite initial skepticism from the medical community, he persisted in his research through decades of clinical study. Papanikolaou’s legacy endures in modern oncology and public health, where the Pap smear remains a critical tool in women’s healthcare.

André Frédéric Cournand (1895-1988) was a physician and physiologist who transformed cardiovascular medicine through the development of cardiac catheterization techniques. After earning his medical degree in Bordeaux, he moved to the United States and joined Columbia University and Bellevue Hospital. Collaborating with Werner Forssmann and Dickinson W. Richards, he received the 1956 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Their work allowed for direct measurement of heart and lung function, revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of cardiopulmonary diseases. Cournand published extensively and trained generations of researchers and clinicians. His breakthroughs laid the foundation for modern interventional cardiology and continue to impact patient care worldwide.

Leo Rosten (1908-1997) was a versatile writer and scholar whose work celebrated and satirized Jewish life and culture. Born in Poland and raised in the United States, he published humorous essays and stories in The New Yorker. His best-selling 1968 book 'The Joys of Yiddish' introduced readers to the colorful vocabulary and wit of the Yiddish language. Rosten also wrote the novel 'Captain Newman, M.D.,' which was adapted into a 1963 film starring Gregory Peck. A professor at Connecticut College and UCLA, he lectured on literature and screenwriting. Fluent in multiple languages, Rosten's warm humor and scholarly insight earned him loyal readers and academic respect.

Armen Albert Alchian (1914–2013) was an influential American economist who helped establish the foundations of the new institutional economics. He served as a professor at UCLA for over half a century, mentoring generations of economists. Alchian’s research on property rights, uncertainty, and transaction costs transformed the understanding of market behavior. Alongside Harold Demsetz, he advanced theories explaining the role of firms and governments in resource allocation. He also studied firm behavior, risk sharing, and the economic analysis of law. Alchian’s clear writing style and engaging teaching earned him respect among scholars and students alike. Awarded the National Medal of Science and elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Alchian’s legacy endures across economic disciplines.

Robert Coleman Richardson was a pioneering figure in low-temperature physics. He conducted groundbreaking experiments at Cornell University that cooled helium-3 to near absolute zero, revealing its superfluid properties. His discoveries opened new avenues in quantum fluid research and deepened our understanding of quantum mechanics. In recognition of this work, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1996 alongside David Lee and Douglas Osheroff. Richardson was also a dedicated mentor, inspiring future generations of physicists.