May 08

Étienne François, duc de Choiseul, was born in 1719 into a noble Lorraine family. He began his career as a diplomat and rose to become Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1758. As Secretary of State for War, he reorganized the French army and improved fortifications. Choiseul negotiated the Family Compacts with Spain and sought new alliances in Europe. He supported industrial and educational reforms while patronizing the arts. Dismissed in 1770, he spent his final years writing memoirs before dying on May 8, 1785.

Born in 1728, Stark served as a colonial militiaman during the French and Indian War. During the American Revolution, he led New Hampshire troops to victory at the Battle of Bennington in 1777. His leadership bolstered Patriot morale and disrupted British supply lines. After the war, he became a vocal advocate for veterans and state rights. His famous motto 'Live Free or Die' became New Hampshire's state motto. He died in 1822, remembered as a symbol of American independence.

Born in 1770, Balashov rose through military ranks to become a general in the Imperial Russian Army. He was appointed Minister of Police, overseeing internal security and censorship. Balashov played a key role in managing dissent following the Napoleonic Wars. As a politician, he advised Tsar Alexander I on domestic affairs and reforms. His tenure shaped Russia’s administrative and security structures. He died in 1837, remembered for his impact on law enforcement and governance.

Born in 1790, Dumont d'Urville joined the French Navy and showed early talent in navigation. He commanded voyages that charted parts of New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. During his 1837–1840 expedition, he explored the Antarctic coastline and collected scientific observations. His missions gathered valuable botanical, zoological, and ethnographic specimens. He published detailed accounts that expanded European knowledge of the southern oceans. He died in a shipwreck in 1842, leaving a rich legacy in geographic exploration.

Born in 1833 in Matamoros, Mexico, Manuel González Flores rose through the military ranks and became a trusted ally of President Benito Juárez. He supported Porfirio Díaz during the tumultuous period of the Reform War and French intervention. Elected president in 1880, his administration focused on railroad expansion, economic modernization, and attracting foreign investment. His tenure contributed to the stability of the Porfiriato but drew criticism for electoral manipulation and centralized power. After leaving office, González served as Mexican ambassador to the United States and remained an influential figure until his death on May 8, 1893.

Born in 1826 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Ross served as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1866, he became famous for his 1868 vote acquitting President Andrew Johnson, citing fairness over partisan pressure. His independent decision helped uphold the principle of separation of powers but cost him politically within his own party. Later, President Grover Cleveland appointed him Governor of New Mexico Territory, where he served from 1885 to 1889. As governor, Ross advocated for public education and infrastructure improvements across the territory. He retired to Kansas after leaving office and died in 1907, remembered for his principled stand during a pivotal moment in U.S. history.

Born in 1890 in Olesno, St. Petersburg Governorate, Reek served in the Imperial Russian Army during World War I. He joined the Estonian national forces in 1918 and played a pivotal role as a commander during the Estonian War of Independence. Reek rose to the rank of general and, in 1920, was appointed Minister of War, overseeing the creation of the Estonian Defence Forces. He helped establish military academies and modernize the army’s structure and training in the new republic. Following the Soviet occupation in 1940, Reek was arrested by the NKVD and died in prison under unclear circumstances in 1942. His legacy endures in Estonia’s military institutions and national commemorations of the War of Independence.

Born in 1919 in Wyszków, Poland, Anielewicz became involved in socialist Zionist youth movements in his teens. He emerged as the leader of the Jewish Fighting Organization (ŻOB) in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. In April 1943, Anielewicz led the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the first large-scale armed resistance against the Nazis. Under his command, Jewish fighters held out against overwhelming German forces for nearly a month. He died in May 1943 in a bunker on Miła Street, and his bravery remains a symbol of resistance and hope. Anielewicz’s courage and sacrifice continue to inspire global remembrance of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust.

Frank Bourne was born in 1854 and joined the British Army at a young age. He served with distinction during the Anglo-Zulu War and fought at the Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879. During the intense defense of the mission station, he played a crucial role in holding off Zulu forces despite being severely outnumbered. Bourne continued his military service after the campaign and became recognized for his bravery under fire. He lived to the age of 90, passing away in 1945 as the last surviving soldier of that iconic battle. His legacy endures in military history as a symbol of resilience and courage.

Wilhelm Rediess was born in 1900 and joined the SS in the 1930s. He rose to become the Higher SS and Police Leader in occupied Norway during World War II. In this role, he coordinated security operations and enforced harsh occupation policies against resistance fighters and civilians. Rediess was known for his strict enforcement of Nazi directives in the region. As Germany collapsed in 1945, he chose to end his own life rather than face capture. His actions exemplify the brutality of the SS leadership during the war.

Bernhard Rust was born in 1883 and served as a lieutenant during World War I. He joined the Nazi Party and took on leadership roles in educational policy. In 1934, he was appointed Reich Minister of Science, Education and National Culture, overseeing schools and universities under Nazi ideology. Rust enforced policies that aligned academic institutions with party doctrine. After Germany's defeat in 1945, he committed suicide in the Soviet-occupied zone. His tenure illustrates the politicization and manipulation of education under totalitarian regimes.

Josef Terboven was born in 1898 and began his career in the Freikorps and early SS. In 1940, Hitler appointed him Reichskommissar in Norway, granting him near-dictatorial powers over civil and military matters. He implemented strict occupation policies and collaborated closely with German forces and local collaborators. Terboven's rule was marked by repression, deportations, and resistance crackdowns. As the Third Reich fell in 1945, he committed suicide rather than surrender. His legacy remains tied to the harsh realities of occupation governance.