March 17

Thomas Chalmers was born in Anstruther, Scotland, in 1780 and ordained in the Church of Scotland in 1803. A gifted preacher and academic, he became the first professor of moral philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. Chalmers emerged as a key figure in the Disruption of 1843, leading to the creation of the Free Church of Scotland. He applied economic principles to social reform, advocating for organized poor relief and self-sustaining welfare institutions. His writings, including the influential 'Manual of Political Economy,' shaped debates on political economy and social policy. Chalmers's legacy endures in both religious circles and the study of Christian economics.

Norbert Rillieux was born in New Orleans in 1806 to a prominent mixed-race Creole family and studied engineering in Paris. Under the mentorship of leading chemists, he developed the multi-effect evaporator, which greatly improved the safety and efficiency of sugar refining. His invention reduced fuel consumption and prevented explosions in sugar factories, earning international recognition in the mid-19th century. Despite his groundbreaking work, racial prejudice limited his opportunities in the United States, and he spent much of his career in Europe. Rillieux continued experimenting with distillation and evaporation processes until his return to the U.S. in the 1880s. He died in 1894, leaving a legacy as a pioneer of chemical engineering and industrial innovation.

Gottlieb Daimler was born in Schorndorf, Germany, in 1834 and studied engineering at the Stuttgart Polytechnic. He worked alongside Nikolaus Otto at Deutz Gasmotorenfabrik, where he helped develop the high-speed petrol engine. In 1890, Daimler co-founded Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft with Wilhelm Maybach, launching the Mercedes automobile brand. He patented the spray nozzle carburetor and adapted engines for use in motor vehicles, boats, and airships. Daimler's innovations laid the foundation for the global automotive industry and transformed personal and commercial transport. He passed away in 1900, leaving a legacy as a pioneer of engine design and automotive engineering.

Rosina Heikel was born in Turku, Finland, in 1842 and became the first woman to study medicine at the University of Helsinki, earning her degree in 1869. She initially worked as a midwife and schoolteacher before establishing a private medical practice in Helsinki. Heikel specialized in pediatrics and public health, campaigning to improve sanitary conditions in schools and orphanages. She co-founded the Finnish Women's Association and advocated for women's access to professional training and legal rights. As a physician, she provided free medical care to impoverished families and contributed to medical journals on hygiene and child welfare. Heikel died in 1929, remembered for breaking barriers in medicine and advancing women's roles in Finnish society.

Charles F. Brush was born in Euclid Township, Ohio in 1849. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in engineering and went on to invent a practical electric arc lamp in the 1870s. His invention led to the formation of the Brush Electric Company, which installed the first electric streetlights in Cleveland and New York City. Brush also developed generators and dynamos that improved power generation and distribution systems. A successful businessman, he used his wealth to fund research and philanthropic efforts, donating to educational and scientific institutions. His contributions helped lay the foundation for modern electric lighting and power utilities. He died in 1929, leaving a legacy as a pioneer of the electrical age.

Cornelia Clapp was born in 1849 in Westerly, Rhode Island. She initially taught mathematics at Mount Holyoke College before turning her attention to marine biology. Fascinated by the embryology of mollusks, she conducted extensive studies along the New England coast. Clapp helped establish the Mount Holyoke Marine Biological Laboratory, one of the first facilities in the United States dedicated to marine research. Throughout her career, she published influential papers on invertebrate development. As one of the first professional female scientists in America, she opened doors for women in higher education and scientific exploration. She retired in 1921 and passed away in 1934, leaving a lasting impact on both marine biology and women's participation in science.

Silvio Gesell was born in 1862 in Frankfurt, Germany, and later emigrated to Argentina where he built a successful trading business. Frustrated by the inequalities of capitalist systems, he developed his theory of free economy which advocated for free land and a stable currency charged with demurrage to encourage spending. His seminal work, The Natural Economic Order, published in 1916, influenced later economists including John Maynard Keynes. Gesell's ideas gave rise to movements promoting local currencies and monetary reform. He returned to Europe in the early 20th century to campaign for these reforms across Germany and Switzerland. Though controversial in his lifetime, his economic theories continue to be studied by heterodox economists today. Gesell died in 1930, leaving a provocative legacy in economic thought.

Walter Rudolf Hess (1881–1973) was a Swiss physiologist whose experiments revolutionized understanding of brain regulation. Through electrical stimulation of the brain in animal models, he mapped regions responsible for controlling internal organs and autonomic functions. In recognition of his groundbreaking work, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1949, shared with Egas Moniz. Hess served as a professor at the University of Zurich, mentoring generations of neurophysiologists. His publications established the basis for modern studies of the hypothalamus and autonomic nervous system. Beyond his scientific achievements, Hess was admired for his dedication to teaching and international collaboration.

Born in 1915 in Darien, Connecticut, Robert S. Arbib Jr. developed a passion for birdwatching as a child. He contributed articles to Audubon magazine and authored influential books such as 'The Birds of North America'. Arbib promoted citizen science by organizing bird counts and migration studies. He served on conservation committees and lobbied for habitat protection legislation. His clear and engaging writing inspired countless amateur and professional ornithologists. Arbib lectured at universities and participated in international conservation conferences. He passed away in 1987, leaving a lasting impact on bird conservation and environmental education.

Patrick Suppes was a professor at Stanford University who made foundational contributions to the philosophy of science and psychology. His research in formal measurement theory influenced how psychologists quantify perception and decision processes. Suppes also explored the philosophical underpinnings of probability and statistical inference. He was instrumental in the development of computer-assisted instruction and contributed to early work in artificial intelligence. Throughout his career, he published extensively on logic, semantics, and educational technology. Suppes's interdisciplinary approach bridged gaps between philosophy, psychology, and computer science.

Born in England, Peakall earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry and later joined the Canadian Wildlife Service in the 1960s. His pioneering studies demonstrated that DDT metabolites caused eggshell thinning, leading to dramatic declines in raptor populations. These findings were instrumental in the 1972 U.S. ban on DDT and shaped international pesticide regulations. Peakall headed the Environmental Contaminants Program at the National Wildlife Research Centre, authoring over 200 scientific papers. He received numerous awards for his contributions to ecotoxicology and environmental conservation.