May 19

Born into a prominent Somerset family in 1400, John Stourton was created the 1st Baron Stourton by King Henry VI. He commanded troops in the tumultuous Wars of the Roses, aligning with the Lancastrian cause. As a member of the House of Lords, he exercised political influence at the royal court and in Parliament. Stourton managed his estates with acumen, bolstering royal finances and local governance. His legacy endures through the Stourton peerage and his contributions to medieval English politics and military affairs.

Born in 1476 (or possibly 1474) as a daughter of Ivan III of Moscow, Helena of Moscow married Alexander Jagiellon in 1495. As Grand Duchess of Lithuania and Queen of Poland, she navigated complex dynastic politics and served as a mediator between Muscovy and the Jagiellon realms. Helena acted as a patron of the Orthodox Church, commissioning churches and supporting charitable institutions. Her marriage strengthened political ties but also stirred religious tensions in Eastern Europe. After her husband’s death in 1506, she retired to her dower lands and continued to influence cultural and religious affairs until her death in 1513.

Charles Weston was born in 1639 and became the 3rd Earl of Portland upon his brother’s death. He pursued a military career under King Charles II, serving in the Anglo-Dutch Wars and other royal campaigns. As a peer, he managed extensive family estates in Dorset and fulfilled civil duties as a justice of the peace. Weston was active in the Restoration court’s social and political circles. Despite his promising trajectory, he died in 1665 at just 26, ending his direct family line and passing the title to a distant relative.

Born in Soto la Marina in 1700, José de Escandón rose through the Spanish army to become a decorated sergeant and colonial governor. Appointed by the Viceroy of New Spain, he led the settlement of the Sierra Gorda region, founding over 20 towns in present-day Tamaulipas and Texas. As Count of Sierra Gorda, Escandón established missions, forts, and agricultural communities to secure Spain’s northern frontier. His pragmatic governance balanced relations with indigenous peoples while promoting ranching and farming. He returned to Spain in 1767 and died in Madrid in 1770, remembered as the ‘Father of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.’

Augustus Hervey was born in 1724 and joined the Royal Navy, rising to the rank of admiral and earning distinction in the Seven Years’ War. Parallel to his naval career, he served as a Member of Parliament and was appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1765. Upon inheriting the earldom in 1775, he moved to the House of Lords but continued advising on naval affairs. Known for his wit and controversial personal life, Hervey maintained correspondence with leading intellectuals of his day. He died in 1779, remembered as a formidable commander and influential political figure.

Princess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was born in 1744 and married King George III of Great Britain in 1761. As Queen, she bore 15 children and maintained a gentle presence at court, endearing herself to the British people. Charlotte was a patron of artists, musicians, and botanists, supporting figures such as Johann Christian Bach and Sir Joseph Banks. She played a key role in establishing Kew Gardens and promoted cultural institutions across her realm. Despite periods of her husband’s illness, she remained a stabilizing influence in royal affairs. Queen Charlotte died in 1818, leaving a lasting legacy of compassion and cultural enrichment.

Paul-Armand Challemel-Lacour began his career as a philosophy professor before entering politics. He held various administrative positions during the French Third Republic. Challemel-Lacour served as French Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1885–1886. He was appointed ambassador to London, strengthening Franco-British relations. As president of the Senate, he played a key role in legislative affairs and education reforms. His career combined academic scholarship with diplomatic service.

James Watney Jr. was a leading figure in the family brewery business, Watney & Company. He expanded the brewery’s operations and reputation during the Victorian era. Watney played first-class cricket for Surrey, demonstrating athletic talent. In 1871, he was elected as Conservative Member of Parliament for East Surrey. He advocated for business interests in Parliament and contributed to social causes. His multifaceted career spanned brewing, sports, and politics.

Born Nancy Langhorne in Virginia, she married Waldorf Astor and moved to England in 1905. In 1919, she won a by-election for Plymouth Sutton, becoming the first woman to take her seat at Westminster. Astor championed social reform, education, and women’s rights during her long parliamentary career. She was known for her sharp wit, hosting influential political salons at her Cliveden estate. Her tenure saw improvements in healthcare, housing, and temperance legislation. Nancy Astor remains a pioneering figure in British political history.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk led the Turkish National Movement in the aftermath of World War I, securing Turkey's independence through the War of Independence. As the founder and first President of modern Turkey, he implemented sweeping political, economic, and cultural reforms aimed at secularizing and modernizing the nation. Atatürk abolished the Ottoman sultanate and caliphate, replacing them with republican institutions and a new alphabet. His policies transformed education, law, and women's rights, laying the foundation for a secular, nationalist state. Renowned for his visionary leadership, Atatürk remains a central figure in Turkish national identity and 20th-century history.

Francis Biddle was a prominent American lawyer and judge who served as Attorney General under President Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1941 to 1945. During World War II, he shaped key wartime legal policies and oversaw the Justice Department's efforts on the home front. After his tenure, Biddle was appointed a judge on the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg, where he helped prosecute Nazi war criminals. Earlier, he served as Solicitor General of the United States, arguing several landmark Supreme Court cases. Biddle's commitment to justice and legal reform left a lasting impact on American jurisprudence.

Born Nguyễn Sinh Cung, Ho Chi Minh traveled the world, working in France and the United States before embracing Marxist-Leninist ideals. He founded the Viet Minh independence movement in 1941 to resist French colonial rule. Under his leadership, Vietnamese forces achieved victory at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, ending French colonial presence in Indochina. As President of North Vietnam, he led land reforms and guided the country through political consolidation. Ho Chi Minh remains a symbol of Vietnamese nationalism and anti-imperialist struggle.