April 10

Abu Ali Hasan, known as Nizam al-Mulk, served as grand vizier under sultans Alp Arslan and Malik Shah I. He founded the Nizamiyya schools, setting a model for higher education in the Islamic world. His treatise Siyasatnama provided guidance on governance, administration, and justice. He reorganized the administrative structure of the Seljuk state, strengthening its bureaucracy. His tenure contributed to a golden age of Seljuk culture and political stability. He was assassinated in 1092, but his educational and political reforms endured for centuries.

Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus studied medicine, mathematics, and natural philosophy at European universities. He investigated optics and developed powerful burning glasses capable of achieving high temperatures. His work in chemistry led to early experiments on hard-paste porcelain alongside Johann Friedrich Böttger. He introduced the Tschirnhaus transformation, a method to simplify algebraic equations. A member of the Royal Society and other learned academies, he published extensively on scientific topics. He died in 1708, leaving behind contributions that bridged multiple scientific disciplines.

Born in Congleton, Cheshire, in 1713, John Whitehurst became a self-taught natural philosopher and renowned clockmaker. He moved to London, where his precision timepieces and chronometers earned acclaim among scientific circles. Whitehurst conducted pioneering experiments in fluid dynamics, geology, and thermometry, publishing influential papers on rock strata and hydraulic principles. A Fellow of the Royal Society, he bridged artisanal craftsmanship and academic research, shaping early experimental science in 18th-century England. His instruments and scientific writings left a lasting impact on both horology and the natural sciences.

Born in Meissen in 1755, Samuel Hahnemann trained in traditional medicine before formulating the principles of homeopathy. In 1796 he published the 'Organon of the Healing Art', outlining his 'law of similars' and advocating highly diluted remedies. His methods emphasized patient observation, symptom-based treatment, and minimal dosing, challenging the medical conventions of his day. Hahnemann practiced and taught in Germany, France, and England, garnering both ardent followers and skeptical critics. His rigorous approach to clinical experimentation and case documentation laid the foundation for homeopathy’s global expansion. Today, he is remembered as a pivotal figure in alternative medicine.

Born in Bologna in 1762, Giovanni Aldini studied medicine and physics before inheriting his uncle Luigi Galvani’s research on bioelectricity. He conducted dramatic public demonstrations, using electrical currents to induce muscle contractions in animal and human cadavers. As a professor of experimental physics at the University of Bologna and later the École Polytechnique in Paris, Aldini advanced understanding of electrophysiology. His work influenced early studies of nervous system function and inspired literary portrayals of reanimation, most famously in Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein'. Aldini’s experiments bridged the gap between science and spectacle in the age of Enlightenment.

Born in 1879 in the Netherlands, Coenraad Hiebendaal excelled as a competitive rower in his youth. He represented Dutch rowing clubs, showcasing endurance and technique on European waters. After his athletic career, he pursued medicine and trained as a physician, serving patients in his homeland. Hiebendaal balanced his passion for sport with dedication to healthcare, embodying dual expertise. His life reflected a harmonious blend of physical and intellectual pursuits. He died in 1921, remembered for both his athletic achievements and medical contributions.

Born in 1880, Frances Perkins was a pioneering American sociologist and labor reformer. She taught at Cornell University before entering public service to advance workers' rights. In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed her as Secretary of Labor, making her the first woman in the U.S. Cabinet. During her tenure, she helped design landmark New Deal programs, including Social Security and unemployment insurance. Perkins advocated for safe working conditions and fair wages throughout the Great Depression and World War II. She retired in 1945 and continued writing and speaking on social issues until her death in 1965.

Born in 1887 in Argentina, Bernardo Houssay studied medicine and developed a keen interest in physiology. His groundbreaking research on the role of pituitary hormones in metabolism earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1947. Houssay established research institutes in Argentina and trained a generation of Latin American scientists. His work laid the foundation for modern endocrinology and advanced understanding of hormonal regulation. Throughout his career, he published extensively and received international acclaim for his scientific leadership. He died in 1971, leaving a legacy as one of Argentina's foremost scientific figures.

Born in 1893 in Austria, Otto Steinböck specialized in zoology and conducted extensive research on invertebrates. His studies advanced understanding of animal anatomy and taxonomy, particularly within freshwater species. Steinböck published numerous scientific papers and collaborated with research institutions across Europe. He was recognized for his meticulous fieldwork and detailed laboratory investigations. His contributions helped refine classification systems and inspired future zoological research in Austria. He passed away in 1969, remembered for his dedicated scientific career.

Arnold Orville Beckman (1900-2004) was an innovative American chemist and entrepreneur. After earning his Ph.D. from Caltech, he invented the pH meter in 1934, revolutionizing chemical analysis. In 1935 he founded National Technical Laboratories (later Beckman Instruments), producing scientific instruments that advanced research in chemistry, biology, and medicine. His instruments were crucial during World War II for monitoring industrial processes. Beckman was also a generous philanthropist, establishing the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation to support scientific research and education. He served on the boards of several universities and research institutes. Beckman received multiple awards, including the National Medal of Science. He lived to 104, leaving a legacy of innovation and philanthropy.

Dhananjay Ramchandra Gadgil (1901-1971) was a leading Indian economist who shaped the country's development policies in the mid-20th century. Educated at the London School of Economics, he served as the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Poona. Gadgil was a member of the Indian Planning Commission and authored influential works on economic planning and industrialization. His 'Gadgil formula' guided the regional distribution of development funds, emphasizing balanced growth. He also served on government committees addressing agricultural, cooperative, and rural development policies. Gadgil's scholarly writings combined rigorous analysis with practical policy insights, earning him respect as an academic and public servant. He mentored a generation of Indian economists and left a lasting impact on economic thought in India.

Margaret Clapp (1910-1974) was an esteemed American historian and educator. She served as president of Wellesley College from 1949 to 1966, overseeing significant expansion and academic innovation. Clapp earned a Pulitzer Prize in 1954 for her book 'The Flowering of New England, 1815-1865,' a deep examination of the region's cultural and intellectual life. Educated at Smith College and Columbia University, she later taught at Bryn Mawr and Wellesley, influencing generations of students. Under her leadership, Wellesley strengthened its liberal arts curriculum and increased its endowment. Clapp was known for her scholarly rigor and commitment to women's education. Her legacy endures in the institutions she transformed and the scholars she mentored.