June 02

Jean Paul de Gua de Malves (1713-1785) was a French mathematician who made significant contributions to geometry and analysis. He served as a professor at the College des Quatre-Nations in Paris, mentoring young scholars. Gua's work on the properties of curves, surfaces, and infinite series influenced the development of calculus. He published treatises on algebraic equations and the reversion of series, earning acclaim among his peers. His theoretical insights laid groundwork later built upon by mathematicians like d'Alembert and Lagrange.

Born in 1806 in Poland. Studied medicine and philosophy at the Jagiellonian University. Introduced psychology as an academic discipline in his home country. Authored influential works on the philosophy of history and aesthetics. Played a key role in shaping 19th-century Polish intellectual life. He died in 1875, leaving a lasting legacy in social science and philosophy.

Born in 1801 in France. Became a leading lexicographer, compiling the monumental Littré dictionary. Studied medicine before devoting himself to language and philosophy. Embraced positivism and wrote extensively on the intersection of science and society. His dictionary, published in the 1870s, remains a foundational reference for the French language. Died in 1881, remembered for his scholarly rigor and influence on linguistics.

Viktor Brack was a senior Nazi official and physician instrumental in the development and administration of the T4 euthanasia program that targeted the disabled and mentally ill. As chief of staff to Philipp Bouhler, he coordinated the logistics and staff for the systematic killing of thousands deemed unfit. After volunteering for frontline SS service, he continued to oversee medical activities under the Third Reich. Following Germany's defeat, Brack was tried at the Subsequent Nuremberg Trials, convicted of crimes against humanity, and sentenced to death. He was executed on June 2, 1948. His actions remain a somber reminder of the perversion of medical ethics under totalitarian regimes.

Karl Gebhardt served as Himmler's personal physician and later became chief surgeon for the Waffen-SS. In this capacity, he led brutal medical experiments at Ravensbrück concentration camp, testing the effects of bone, muscle, and nerve regeneration on unwilling subjects. A decorated World War I veteran, Gebhardt exploited his medical reputation to carry out inhumane research under the guise of scientific advancement. After Germany's defeat, he was tried at the Doctors' Trial and convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Gebhardt was executed on June 2, 1948. His activities remain a stark example of the ethical breaches committed in the name of pseudoscience.

Waldemar Hoven served as the camp doctor at Buchenwald, where he supervised and personally carried out experiments on inmates, including typhus vaccine trials and lethal gas tests. He was a member of the Waffen-SS and used his position to pursue unethical medical practices under the guise of advancing science. Hoven's experiments caused the suffering and death of countless prisoners before he was arrested following the war. He stood trial in the Dachau Trials and was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Hoven was executed on June 2, 1948. His case is remembered as one of the darkest episodes in medical history.

Born in 1887, Mason served as an officer in the British Army before turning to geographical surveying. He led groundbreaking expeditions in the Karakoram mountain range and mapped previously unexplored regions. Mason was a founding member of the Himalayan Club and advocated for more rigorous geographic research. In 1932, he became the first lecturer in geography at the University of Oxford, later rising to professor and shaping generations of geographers. His work laid the foundations for modern mountain surveying techniques. Mason's legacy endures in both military cartography and the academic study of geography.

Svyatoslav Fyodorov (1927–2000) was a world-renowned Russian ophthalmologist who pioneered the radial keratotomy procedure to correct vision defects. He founded a network of advanced eye microsurgery clinics and trained hundreds of specialists in microsurgical techniques. Fyodorov authored over 200 scientific papers and held prominent academic positions at leading medical institutions. In addition to his medical career, he founded the Motherland political party and served as a deputy in the State Duma. His dual legacy in medicine and public service earned him national and international acclaim. Fyodorov's innovations continue to influence modern refractive surgery practices and inspire ophthalmologists worldwide.

Gerald James Whitrow was born in 1912 and developed a deep interest in mathematics and physics at an early age. He made significant contributions to cosmology through his studies of space and time and wrote several influential books on the subject. Whitrow also explored the historical development of scientific ideas and brought an interdisciplinary perspective to his work. He held leadership positions in organizations dedicated to the history of science and influenced generations of scholars. His research bridged the gap between hard science and the humanities, leaving a broad intellectual legacy upon his death in 2000.

Samir Kassir was born in 1950 and became one of Lebanon's leading intellectuals and public commentators. He taught history at Saint Joseph University and authored influential books on Lebanese and Middle Eastern politics. Kassir wrote a celebrated column for An-Nahar newspaper, where he fearlessly analyzed regional conflicts and governance challenges. He co-founded the journal L'Orient L'Express and was active in civil society movements promoting democratic reform. On June 2, 2005, he was assassinated in a car bombing, an event that triggered widespread outrage. Kassir's writings and legacy continue to inspire advocates for free speech and political change across the Arab world.

Alexander Shulgin was a self-taught chemist who synthesized and bioassayed hundreds of psychoactive substances. He introduced MDMA (Ecstasy) to psychotherapists in the 1970s, profoundly impacting the field of psychopharmacology. Shulgin co-authored the books PiHKAL and TiHKAL, documenting his discoveries and experiences. His research blended scientific rigor with a deep curiosity about human consciousness. He founded the organization Erowid to share knowledge on psychoactive compounds responsibly. Shulgin passed away on June 2, 2014, leaving a lasting legacy in both science and counterculture.

Irwin Rose was an American biochemist awarded the 2004 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He shared the prize for elucidating the role of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation in cells. Rose's work revealed how cells maintain protein quality and regulate critical processes. He conducted research at institutions including the Fox Chase Cancer Center and the University of Pennsylvania. His findings have had profound implications for understanding diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration. Rose passed away on June 2, 2015, leaving a legacy of groundbreaking biomedical research.