April 04

Antoine Galland traveled extensively in the Ottoman Empire, documenting antiquities, coins, and manuscripts. He was appointed chair of Antiquities at the Collège de France and contributed to early archaeological scholarship. Galland's French translation of the 'Arabian Nights' introduced Europe to Middle Eastern tales and inspired subsequent literary works. He also published studies on ancient coins and inscriptions, advancing numismatics and history. His meticulous approach combined field observation with erudite commentary. Galland's legacy endures in both oriental studies and the broader appreciation of Eastern literature.

Born in Amance, France in 1688, Joseph-Nicolas Delisle became a prominent astronomer at the French Academy of Sciences. He developed the Delisle scale for measuring temperature and refined techniques for determining longitude at sea. In 1725, he founded an observatory in St. Petersburg under the patronage of Peter the Great, advancing Russian astronomy. Delisle produced detailed maps of Russia and Central Asia that aided European explorers. He published extensive star catalogs and conducted observations of planetary motions that were highly regarded by his peers. Through his teachings and writings, he trained a generation of astronomers in the Russian Academy and fostered international scientific collaboration. Delisle returned to France and died in Paris in 1768, leaving behind a legacy as a key figure in 18th-century astronomy and cartography.

Born in Witney, Oxfordshire in 1718, Benjamin Kennicott studied at Exeter College, Oxford, before joining the Bodleian Library as a librarian. He dedicated his career to collating manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible, examining over 600 Hebrew texts across Europe. His landmark publication, the two-volume Vetus Testamentum Hebraicum cum variis lectionibus, published in 1776, transformed biblical scholarship. Kennicott’s meticulous approach established new standards in textual criticism and influenced later generations of theologians. He collaborated with scholars like Richard Chandler on Eastern manuscripts and expanded the understanding of biblical variants. Kennicott’s work earned him recognition within the Royal Society and across European academic circles. He died in Oxford in 1783, leaving a profound impact on the study of the Old Testament.

Zénobe Théophile Gramme (1826–1901) was a Belgian inventor and electrical engineer born in Jehay-Bodegnée. He invented the Gramme ring dynamo, an efficient direct current generator that transformed electrical production. Gramme's machine won awards at the Paris Exposition of 1878 and enabled practical power distribution for industry. He founded the Société des Machines Magnéto-Électriques Gramme to manufacture his dynamos across Europe. Gramme's work influenced the development of electrical engineering and paved the way for modern electric motors. He died in 1901, remembered as a pioneer of the electrical age.

John Hughlings Jackson (1835–1911) was an English neurologist born in York. He introduced the concept of Jacksonian seizures, describing how epileptic fits spread across the body. Jackson proposed a hierarchical model of brain function, influencing the study of neurology and psychology. He served as physician at the National Hospital for the Paralysed and Epileptic in London for over 40 years. His clinical observations and theories advanced the understanding of neurological disorders and brain localization. Jackson died in 1911, honored as one of the fathers of modern neurology.

Édouard Lucas (1842–1891) was a French mathematician born in Amiens. He is best remembered for investigating the properties of the Fibonacci numbers and introducing the Lucas sequences. Lucas devised the Tower of Hanoi puzzle in 1883 and popularized recreational mathematics. He published important works on number theory, including efforts to factor large numbers and study triangular arrangements. Lucas was a member of the École Polytechnique and contributed to the French Mathematical Society. He died in 1891, leaving a legacy celebrated by mathematicians and puzzle enthusiasts.

Philippa Fawcett was an English mathematician and pioneering educator. She became the first woman to top the Cambridge Mathematical Tripos in 1890. Fawcett dedicated her career to teaching and advocating for women's education. She held academic positions and mentored future generations of mathematicians. Her achievement broke barriers for women in mathematics and academia.

Stylianos Lykoudis was a Greek admiral who served in the early 20th century. He combined military command with scholarly research on naval history. Lykoudis published works on maritime strategy and naval traditions. His expertise influenced both naval practice and historical study. He is remembered for bridging the gap between service and scholarship.

Frank Luther Mott (1886–1964) was an American historian, journalist, and professor who specialized in the history of American journalism and periodicals. Born in 1886, he earned his Ph.D. and later joined the faculty at the University of Iowa, where he taught journalism. Mott authored the groundbreaking four-volume 'A History of American Magazines,' which earned him the 1939 Pulitzer Prize for History. He also contributed to the study of American culture through his works on magazines and journalism education. Throughout his career, Mott influenced generations of journalists and historians with his meticulous scholarship and passion for the field.

Zdzisław Żygulski Sr. (1888–1975) was a Polish historian and professor who devoted his career to the study of cultural and art history in Poland and Europe. Over his lifetime, he published numerous articles and books exploring medieval and Renaissance artistic traditions. As an academic, he taught at leading Polish institutions and mentored generations of scholars. His research helped preserve an understanding of Poland's artistic heritage during a period of significant political change. Zygulski's work remains a valuable resource for historians of art and culture.

Hillel Oppenheimer was a distinguished botanist and pioneer in plant physiology. Born in Germany, he emigrated to British Mandate Palestine in the 1920s. He served as a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, mentoring generations of scientists. Oppenheimer conducted influential research on plant adaptation to arid environments and soil nutrition. He published numerous scientific papers and helped establish botanical gardens in Israel. His work laid foundations for modern agricultural practices in the region. Oppenheimer's legacy lives on in contemporary botanical science.

Đặng Văn Ngữ was a renowned Vietnamese doctor whose research advanced public health. He graduated from the University of Hanoi and specialized in tropical diseases like malaria. Ngữ’s studies improved diagnostic methods and treatments for parasitic infections. As a professor at Hanoi Medical University, he trained generations of Vietnamese doctors. During wartime, he organized medical services for resistance forces, establishing field hospitals. His dedication to healthcare laid foundations for Vietnam’s modern medical system. He passed away in 1967, remembered as a hero of Vietnamese medicine.