March 11

Born in 1278 as the youngest daughter of King Edward I and Queen Eleanor of Castile, Mary of Woodstock entered religious life at an early age. She spent most of her years at Amesbury Priory, dedicating herself to prayer and monastic duties. Historical records of her personal actions are scarce, but she is noted for her pious contributions to the priory. Mary’s life exemplifies the spiritual path often chosen by royal women of the medieval era. Her legacy survives in limited chronicles highlighting her religious devotion.

Born in Sorrento in 1544, Torquato Tasso became one of the leading poets of the late Renaissance. He studied law and classical literature at the universities of Padua and Bologna before serving as a court poet in Ferrara. His magnum opus, "Jerusalem Delivered," published in 1581, recounts a fictionalized account of the First Crusade and earned him widespread acclaim. Tasso’s work influenced European literature for centuries, blending heroic themes with lyrical beauty. Despite his success, he struggled with mental health issues and spent periods of his life under confinement. He died in Rome in 1595, leaving a rich legacy in poetic tradition.

Born in 1738 in Massachusetts, Benjamin Tupper served as an officer in the Continental Army under General George Washington. He saw action in key battles such as Saratoga and played a vital role in the Revolutionary War effort. After the war, Tupper became one of the founding members of the Ohio Company of Associates, promoting westward expansion. He helped establish the settlement of Marietta, Ohio, the first permanent American settlement in the Northwest Territory. Tupper’s pioneering spirit and military leadership left a lasting impact on early American frontier life. He died in 1792, remembered as a dedicated soldier and community builder.

Born in 1785 in Newark, New Jersey, John McLean moved to Ohio to practice law and quickly entered public service. He served as a U.S. Representative and Senator for Ohio before holding cabinet positions under Presidents Adams and Jackson. In 1829, McLean was appointed as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, where he served until his death in 1861. He authored influential opinions on issues like federalism and the rights of Native Americans. McLean was known for his independent thinking and commitment to the rule of law. His long tenure on the bench helped shape American constitutional jurisprudence.

Born in Paris in 1806, Louis Boulanger emerged as a leading figure of the French Romantic movement. He trained under the painter Pierre-Narcisse Guérin and exhibited his work at the Paris Salon beginning in 1833. Boulanger became celebrated for his evocative scenes that often explored themes of passion, mythology, and gothic melancholy. He also made significant contributions as a lithographer and book illustrator, bringing literary works to life. His art influenced a generation of Symbolist artists later in the 19th century. Boulanger taught at the École des Beaux-Arts and remained active until his death in 1867.

Born in 1811 in Saint-Lô, Urbain Le Verrier studied at the École Polytechnique and quickly distinguished himself in celestial mechanics. He analyzed irregularities in Uranus’s orbit and independently predicted the position of an undiscovered planet. On September 23, 1846, Neptune was observed almost exactly where Le Verrier had calculated. He later served as director of the Paris Observatory, overseeing major advancements in French astronomy. Le Verrier also investigated the orbit of Mercury and contributed to the study of planetary perturbations. His precise mathematical work laid the foundation for modern astrophysics.

Born in 1815, Anna Bochkoltz trained in Germany and made her operatic debut in the mid-1830s. She quickly gained recognition for her nimble coloratura technique and expressive stage presence. Bochkoltz performed at major opera houses across Germany and Austria, earning praise from critics and audiences alike. After retiring from the stage, she dedicated herself to teaching, opening a celebrated vocal studio in Munich. She also composed songs and vocal exercises that influenced 19th-century singing pedagogy. Her contributions to both performance and education left a lasting mark on the operatic world.

Born in Marseille in 1818, Marius Petipa became one of the most influential choreographers in ballet history. He joined the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg and eventually became Principal Ballet Master of the Mariinsky Theatre. Petipa collaborated with composers such as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to create enduring masterpieces, including "The Sleeping Beauty," "Swan Lake," and "The Nutcracker." His work codified the techniques and structure of classical ballet, setting standards still taught today. Petipa’s legacy lives on in ballet companies worldwide that continue to perform his iconic works. He died in 1910, leaving a transformative impact on dance as an art form.

Born in 1819 in Chorley, Lancashire, Henry Tate began his career in a local pharmacy before joining a sugar refinery in Liverpool. He established his own sugar business in 1859 and introduced innovative refining techniques that fueled his company’s growth. Tate became one of Britain’s leading sugar magnates and later merged his enterprise to form what would become Tate & Lyle. An avid art collector, he donated his personal collection and funds to establish the national gallery on Millbank, now known as Tate Britain. He also contributed generously to hospitals and educational institutions. Tate’s philanthropic vision shaped the cultural and social landscape of Victorian Britain.

Born in 1822, Joseph Bertrand studied at the École Polytechnique and soon joined its faculty as a mathematics professor. He made important contributions to number theory, analysis, and geometry, publishing influential treatises throughout his career. In probability theory, the Bertrand paradox highlighted subtle issues in random chord selection and spurred debates on mathematical foundations. Bertrand also studied economics, formulating the Bertrand competition model to describe price rivalry between firms. He was elected to the French Academy of Sciences and later served as its perpetual secretary. His interdisciplinary work bridged pure mathematics and emerging social sciences, shaping both fields into the 20th century.

Born in York, Stoddart became one of England's leading cricketers by captaining the national team in five Test matches. He also toured Australia as captain of the 1899-1900 British Lions rugby side. A powerful batsman and skilled all-rounder, he scored heavily for Middlesex and toured internationally. He earned caps for England in rugby union, demonstrating remarkable versatility across sports. Later life struggles saw him face financial and mental health challenges before his death in 1915.

In his 1900 doctoral thesis, Bachelier introduced the concept of Brownian motion to model stock market fluctuations. His work predated Einstein's study of Brownian motion and was largely unrecognized until mid-20th century. He studied at the École Normale Supérieure and later lectured at the University of Rennes. Bachelier's theories form the basis of the Black–Scholes model and contemporary option pricing. Throughout his career, he published influential papers on stochastic processes and mathematical finance.