March 11

He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1912 and served as a decorated pilot during World War I. In the late 1920s, Byrd led pioneering expeditions to Antarctica and claimed to have flown over the South Pole in 1929. He established scientific bases that advanced meteorological and geological research on the frozen continent. His leadership combined military discipline with adventurous spirit, earning him the Medal of Honor. Byrd's achievements inspired generations of explorers and expanded humanity's understanding of polar regions.

He led groundbreaking expeditions for the American Museum of Natural History in the 1920s. Andrews discovered the first-known fossilized dinosaur eggs at the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi Desert. His adventures captivated the public and inspired stories of daring exploration. A pioneer in paleontology, he collected thousands of specimens that reshaped scientific understanding of prehistoric life. He later served as director of the Yale Peabody Museum and championed conservation efforts worldwide.