February 26

Johan Ernst Gunnerus was a Norwegian bishop of the Church of Norway and a pioneering botanist and zoologist. Born in 1718, he served as Bishop of Nidaros and became the first professor of natural history at the University of Copenhagen's Trondheim branch. He co-founded the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters in 1760, promoting scientific research in Norway. Gunnerus published influential works describing the flora and fauna of Scandinavia, including detailed taxonomic studies. His meticulous observations laid the foundation for modern Northern European botanical and zoological studies. He died in 1773, leaving a lasting legacy in both the church and the natural sciences.

Anders Chydenius was a Finnish economist, philosopher and Lutheran priest who championed freedom of trade and civil liberties. Born in 1729, he served as a parish priest while writing influential works on political economy and natural rights. His 1765 pamphlet 'The National Gain' argued for free enterprise, press freedom and government accountability. Chydenius's ideas anticipated classical liberalism and influenced later European economic thought. He actively participated in Swedish Diets, advocating reforms that laid groundwork for modern welfare states. He died in 1803, leaving a legacy as the 'Adam Smith of the North'.

Matija Nenadović was a Serbian Orthodox priest and political leader born in 1777. He played a central role in the First Serbian Uprising against Ottoman rule, serving as a delegate and negotiator. In 1805, he was appointed the first Prime Minister of Serbia, helping to establish the duties of the emerging government. A noted historian, he documented the uprising in his memoirs, providing valuable insight into the period. Nenadović also supported education and church restoration, contributing to the development of Serbian national identity. He died in 1854, remembered as a founding father of independent Serbia.

François Arago was a prolific scientist and politician born in 1786 in Estagel, France. He made significant contributions to optics, astronomy and magnetism, including the discovery of electromagnetic induction. Arago served as the 25th Prime Minister of France during the 1848 Revolution, leading the provisional government. He championed public education and the expansion of scientific institutions, founding observatories and academies. A member of the French Academy of Sciences, his lectures popularized science for wider audiences. He died in 1853, honored as both a leading physicist and a progressive statesman.

Camille Flammarion was born in 1842 in Montigny-le-Roi, France. He made significant contributions to popular science with works that bridged astronomy, meteorology, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Flammarion authored over fifty books and founded the journal L’Astronomie in 1882. He established the Juvisy-sur-Orge observatory, advancing telescopic observations and public outreach. A member of the French Academy of Sciences, he inspired generations to look to the stars with wonder. His legacy endures in both scientific research and literature.

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg was born in 1852 and became a leading advocate of wellness and dietary reform. As director of the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan, he promoted vegetarianism, exercise, and hydrotherapy. Seeking a nutritious breakfast for patients, he and his brother Will invented a precursor to Corn Flakes in 1894, founding the Kellogg Company. Kellogg authored numerous books on health, nutrition, and hygiene, influencing early 20th-century wellness movements. His holistic approach combined medical practice with lifestyle advice, leaving a lasting mark on food culture and public health.

Émile Coué was born in 1857 and trained as a pharmacist before turning to psychology. He developed the Coué method, a form of self-hypnosis based on the repetition of positive affirmations such as “Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.” Coué traveled extensively, lecturing on autosuggestion and publishing works that made self-improvement accessible. His approach influenced modern psychotherapy, self-help, and motivational movements. Despite criticism from traditional psychologists, Coué’s legacy persists in contemporary techniques of positive thinking and mental training.

Kenneth Edgeworth was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1880. He worked as an engineer and civil servant before turning his attention to astronomy. In 1943, he theorized the presence of cometary bodies beyond Neptune, laying the groundwork for the Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt. His hypothesis remained theoretical until observational confirmation decades later. Edgeworth also published research in economics and statistics, showcasing his scholarly range. He contributed papers on celestial mechanics and the economics of natural resources. Edgeworth's ideas gained recognition posthumously when the icy belt was observed in the 1990s. He died in 1972, remembered for his visionary contributions to planetary science.

Giulio Natta conducted groundbreaking research in polymer chemistry at the Polytechnic University of Milan. In 1953, he discovered stereospecific polymerization catalysts that allowed the controlled synthesis of isotactic and syndiotactic polymers. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1963 alongside Karl Ziegler, Natta's work revolutionized the plastics industry by making polypropylene and related materials commercially viable. His discoveries led to widespread applications of lightweight and durable plastics in packaging, textiles, and manufacturing. Natta also served as a professor and mentor to a generation of Italian chemists, establishing Italy as a center of polymer research. He passed away in 1979, leaving an enduring impact on both science and industry.

Ahmed Zewail was an Egyptian-American scientist renowned as the 'father of femtochemistry' for his use of ultrafast lasers to capture molecular motion on femtosecond timescales. He won the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this pioneering research, which revolutionized the field of chemical dynamics. Zewail served as the Linus Pauling Professor of Chemistry and was a professor at the California Institute of Technology. He received the Wolf Prize and was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Committed to scientific collaboration, he helped establish research centers in Egypt and the Middle East to foster international partnerships. Zewail's work laid the foundation for advances in physical chemistry, materials science, and biology.

Born in 1955, Maislinger studied contemporary history and political science at the University of Innsbruck. He is best known for establishing the Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service in 1992, which offers young Austrians the chance to serve at Holocaust remembrance sites worldwide. His work promotes historical awareness and reconciliation through educational programs and exhibitions. Maislinger has lectured extensively on genocide studies and organized international conferences on collective memory. He continues to advocate for intercultural dialogue and the preservation of Holocaust history across Europe.

Ahn Cheol-soo (born 1962) is a South Korean physician-turned-entrepreneur and politician. He founded AhnLab in 1995, which grew into one of Korea's leading cybersecurity companies. A former professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine, he conducted research in computer virus prevention. Ahn entered politics in 2012, running for Seoul mayor and later for president. In 2016, he co-founded the centrist People Party and served as its leader until 2018. He remains influential in advocating for innovation and transparent governance in South Korea.