May 11

Niwa Nagashige was born into the Niwa clan and succeeded his father as daimyō at a young age. He served under Toyotomi Hideyoshi and later pledged fealty to Tokugawa Ieyasu after the Battle of Sekigahara. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, he governed multiple domains, enhancing infrastructure and castle fortifications. He played a role in stabilizing the region during the transition from the Sengoku to the Edo period. His leadership ensured the survival and prosperity of the Niwa clan in early 17th-century Japan. He died in 1637, leaving a legacy as a capable and adaptable feudal lord.

Johann Gottfried Bernhard Bach was the second son of composer Johann Sebastian Bach. He studied keyboard performance under his father's tutelage. He served as the organist at Mühlhausen's Blasiikirche early in his brief career. Despite his musical pedigree, he struggled with health issues that limited his performances. He died at the age of 23, leaving no known compositions. His life remains less documented than his famous siblings.

Johann Friedrich Blumenbach was a pioneering German physician and naturalist. He served as a professor at the University of Göttingen for over five decades. His groundbreaking work in comparative anatomy laid the foundations for physical anthropology. In 1795, he introduced one of the first systematic classifications of human races. His influential treatise 'On the Natural Variety of Mankind' shaped early ethnological studies. Blumenbach amassed an important anatomical and zoological collection, now housed at Göttingen. He advocated for the unity of human species despite physical differences. His interdisciplinary approach bridged medicine, physiology, and anthropology. He died in 1840, leaving a rich legacy in the biological sciences.

José Mariano Salas was a Mexican general and statesman active in the early republic. He began his military career fighting for independence against Spanish rule. He played key roles in regional conflicts and rose through the ranks under Antonio López de Santa Anna. In 1846, he briefly served as provisional president, restoring centralist government during the Mexican–American War. His administration reordered the political landscape amid national turmoil. After leaving office, he continued to influence military and political affairs until his death in 1867. His legacy reflects the complexities of post-independence Mexico.

Jean-Jacques Challet-Venel was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council. He represented the Free Democratic Party and was instrumental in federal governance. He served as President of the Confederation in 1867. During his tenure, he oversaw the expansion of the national railway network. Challet-Venel advocated for financial and administrative reforms in Switzerland. After resigning in 1872, he remained an influential figure in Swiss politics until his death in 1893.

Chang and Eng Bunker were the Siamese-American conjoined twin brothers who inspired the term 'Siamese twins.' Born in Siam (modern-day Thailand), they were exhibited in Europe and the United States as curiosities. They eventually settled in North Carolina, became naturalized US citizens, and married sisters. Together they fathered 21 children and managed a plantation. Their lives challenged medical understanding of conjoinment in the 19th century. They passed away in 1874, leaving a unique legacy in medical history and popular culture.

Charles W. Fairbanks was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 26th Vice President under Theodore Roosevelt. A native of Ohio, he built his career in Indiana as a lawyer, U.S. Senator, and Republican leader. Fairbanks was a staunch conservative voice within the Roosevelt administration from 1905 to 1909. He played a role in shaping early 20th-century domestic and foreign policies. After his vice presidency, he returned to law and remained active in national politics. Fairbanks died in 1918, remembered for his steadfast conservatism and political acumen.

Jack Blackham was an Australian cricketer renowned as one of the finest wicket-keepers of his era. He played in the first Test match in 1877 and earned the nickname 'The Prince of Wicket-keepers.' Blackham represented Victoria in domestic cricket and toured England multiple times. Known for his agility behind the stumps and reliable lower-order batting, he set standards for future keepers. After retiring, he remained involved in cricket as a coach and mentor. He passed away in 1932, leaving a lasting mark on Australian cricket history.

Archibald Warden was an English tennis player who competed in the sport's early organized championships. He participated in Wimbledon during the 1890s, showcasing aggressive net play. Warden also represented Great Britain in the 1900 Paris Olympic Games. Though records of his Olympic performance are sparse, he remained influential in Victorian tennis circles. After retirement, he continued to support the sport through local clubs in England. He died in 1943, remembered as a pioneer of the modern tennis game.

Frank Schlesinger was an American astronomer renowned for pioneering photographic methods in astrometry. Born in Washington, D.C., he earned his doctorate at Columbia University before joining the U.S. Naval Observatory. Schlesinger developed techniques to photograph star fields, dramatically improving precision in stellar positions. In 1920, he became director of the Yale Observatory, overseeing major cataloguing projects. He served as president of the International Astronomical Union and wrote influential texts on observational astronomy. His work laid the groundwork for modern photographic and, later, electronic sky surveys. Schlesinger passed away in 1943, leaving a lasting legacy in astronomical instrumentation.

Born in 1875 in Arcadia, Michigan, Harriet Quimby was the first American woman to earn a pilot's license in 1911. She made headlines the same year by becoming the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel in a Blériot monoplane. Quimby also broke into the film industry as a screenwriter, contributing scripts to early silent films such as The Mysterious Beauty. Known for her daring spirit, she promoted aviation among women and wrote articles to encourage female pilots. Tragically, her life was cut short in 1912 when her plane unexpectedly pitched forward and crashed during an aviation meet in Boston Harbor. Quimby's achievements paved the way for future generations of women in aviation, and she remains a symbol of courage and advancement.

Al Cabrera was born in 1881 in Havana, Cuba, and became a standout first baseman with a career spanning the Negro leagues and the Federal League. He debuted in the Negro leagues before joining the Brooklyn Tip-Tops of the Federal League in 1914. Renowned for his batting prowess and strategic mind, Cabrera later managed teams in Cuba and the United States. He served as a player-manager for the Cuban Stars, mentoring young talents and promoting baseball across cultural lines. Cabrera's leadership both on and off the field helped strengthen the presence of Latin American players in professional baseball. His legacy lives on as a pioneer who navigated racial and cultural barriers in early 20th-century sports.