March 15

Sir Henry Bessemer (1813–1898) was an English engineer and industrialist. He invented the Bessemer process for the mass production of steel, transforming the metal industry. His method dramatically lowered production costs and enabled the construction of railways, bridges, and skyscrapers. Bessemer founded the Bessemer Steel Company to commercialize his innovation and promote industrial growth. He also developed improvements in sugar refining, explosives, and armored plating. Knighted in 1879, he received numerous awards for his contributions to engineering. His legacy endures in modern steelmaking techniques that continue to underpin global infrastructure.

Aristotle Onassis was born in Smyrna (now Izmir) in 1906 and emigrated to Argentina as a teenager. He founded the shipping company Onassis Shipping in the 1930s and grew it into a global empire that dominated international maritime trade. Known for his opulent yachts and social circle, he gained fame through his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968. Onassis made strategic investments in real estate, airlines, and oil tankers, shaping modern shipping practices. His business acumen and flair for publicity made him one of the richest men of his era. He died in 1975, leaving a legacy of innovation in global commerce and a public fascination with his personal life.

Booth Gardner was an American businessman turned politician who served as the 19th Governor of Washington from 1985 to 1993. Born in Tacoma in 1936, he graduated from Yale and Harvard Business School before founding his own aerospace firm. As governor, Gardner championed education reform, environmental protection, and tax modernization. After leaving office, he authored and promoted the Washington Death with Dignity Act in 2008. Gardner also served on various boards and advocated for health care improvements. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 76.