May 27

Giovanni Battista Beccaria was born in Mondovì, Italy, in 1716. He became a professor of physics at the University of Turin, pioneering studies in electricity. Beccaria's experiments on static electricity advanced European understanding of electrical charge. He corresponded with Benjamin Franklin and contributed to early theories of electrostatics. His lectures and writings influenced a generation of scientists across Europe. He died on May 27, 1781, leaving a rich legacy in experimental physics.

Thomas Bulfinch was born in 1796 in Newton, Massachusetts. He authored 'Bulfinch's Mythology', a bestselling compilation of Greek, Roman, and Norse myths. His accessible retellings introduced American readers to classical legends and folklore. Bulfinch wrote with clarity and enthusiasm, shaping 19th-century American literary culture. Despite not holding formal academic posts, he became known as an authority on mythological stories. He passed away on May 27, 1867, leaving a timeless resource for myth enthusiasts.

Aleksandr Stoletov was born in 1839 in Vladimir, Russia. He pioneered research in electromagnetism and photoelectric effects. Stoletov formulated Stoletov's law, describing the relationship between electric current and voltage. He served as a professor at Moscow State University, mentoring future Russian scientists. His contributions laid groundwork for later developments in electronics and astrophysics. He died on May 27, 1896, remembered as a founder of Russian physical science.

Robert Koch was born in 1843 in Clausthal, Germany. He co-founded modern bacteriology and identified the bacteria causing tuberculosis and cholera. Koch developed the Koch's postulates, criteria for linking specific pathogens to diseases. He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1905 for his tuberculosis research. His laboratory techniques revolutionized medical microbiology worldwide. Koch died on May 27, 1910, leaving a profound impact on public health and infectious disease studies.

Muhammed Hamdi Yazır was born in 1878 in Kayseri, Ottoman Empire, and became a leading theologian and logician. He studied traditional Islamic sciences before embracing modern scholastic methods. His most enduring work is the Turkish Tafsir al-Kur'an, completed in the early 20th century, which rendered the Quran accessible to Turkish readers. Yazır also produced writings on logic, ethics, and philosophy, bridging classical and contemporary thought. His translations and commentaries remain influential in Turkish religious education. He passed away in 1942, leaving a lasting legacy in Islamic scholarship.

Enno Lolling was born in 1888 and pursued medical studies in Germany. During World War II, he joined the SS and was appointed chief physician at Sachsenhausen and later Ravensbrück concentration camps. In this capacity, Lolling managed camp hospitals and medical programs, including forced medical procedures. He enforced Nazi racial and medical policies, contributing to the camp system's brutality. As the war drew to a close, Lolling took his own life in 1945. His actions represent a dark chapter in the history of medical ethics under totalitarian regimes.

Blue served as an officer in the United States military before transitioning to civilian life with a passion for teaching. He spent years as an educator, inspiring students through his dedication to academic excellence. Simultaneously, he founded and managed a thriving local business that contributed to regional economic growth. His commitment to public service led him to run for office, where he advocated for veterans’ affairs and community development. Known for his integrity, he bridged the worlds of military discipline, education, enterprise, and politics. Throughout his varied career, Blue left a legacy of civic engagement and leadership at every level.

Born in Zell, Germany, Miessner emigrated to the United States and pursued music studies at the Cincinnati Conservatory. He joined the faculty at the University of Kansas where he developed innovative programs for teaching music in public schools. Miessner authored textbooks and songbooks that became standard resources for elementary and secondary education nationwide. As a composer, he created choral works and vocal arrangements that were widely performed by school groups. He also served as an adjudicator for regional and national music festivals, influencing music education standards. Miessner’s efforts helped integrate structured music appreciation into American classrooms and inspired generations of music teachers.

Niekisch studied history and political science before emerging as a leading advocate of national Bolshevism during the Weimar Republic. His radical writings critiqued both Western capitalism and Soviet communism, earning him both followers and fierce opponents. In 1937, the Nazi regime imprisoned him for his opposition to totalitarian ideology, and he endured years of confinement. After World War II, he reentered public life in West Germany, promoting decentralized government and social justice. Niekisch authored numerous essays and books on political theory, influencing post-war debates on nationalism and socialism. His unwavering critique of authoritarianism left a lasting mark on European intellectual history.

He graduated in agricultural science and worked as an agronomist focusing on rural development in Turkey. He joined the Nationalist Movement Party and became Minister of Agriculture under Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel in 1977. His tenure saw efforts to modernize Turkish farming practices and support rural communities. On May 27, 1980, he was assassinated by leftist militants in Ankara. He remains a symbol of nationalist politics and agrarian reform in Turkey.

Ismail Raji al-Faruqi was a leading Palestinian-American Islamic philosopher and scholar of comparative religion who served as a professor at Hartford Seminary, advocating interfaith dialogue. Lois Lamya al-Faruqi was an accomplished American ethnomusicologist who studied traditional music and taught at university level. The couple collaborated on academic projects, blending philosophy, theology, and musicology in their pursuit of deeper cultural understanding. On May 27, 1986, they were tragically murdered in a politically motivated attack at their home in Pennsylvania. Their deaths highlighted extremism's threats to intellectual freedom and interreligious cooperation. Their published works and interdisciplinary approach continue to influence studies in Islamic philosophy and ethnomusicology.

John Howard Northrop was an American biochemist and academic best known for his pioneering work in enzyme crystallization, for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1946. Born in 1891, he studied biochemistry at Columbia University and later joined the Rockefeller Institute, where he developed methods to purify enzymes in crystalline form. His research provided critical insights into protein structure and function, laying the foundation for modern structural biology. Northrop's achievements advanced our understanding of the molecular basis of life and influenced generations of biochemical research. He passed away on May 27, 1987.