June 09

Born in Ghent in 1580, Heinsius moved to Leiden after his family fled the Eighty Years' War. He became a professor of poetry and Greek literature at Leiden University at the age of 20. He published acclaimed Latin poetry collections, classical commentaries, and treatises on rhetoric. His editorial work on Greek and Latin texts helped to establish modern philology. Heinsius's scholarship and poetic style left a lasting mark on European humanism. He died in Leiden in 1655.

Born in 1781 in Wylam, Stephenson began his career building steam engines for mines. He designed and built the first public inter-city railway, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, opened in 1830. His locomotive 'Rocket' won the Rainhill Trials and set standards for future steam engines. Stephenson established engineering works and authored technical publications on locomotive design. Known as the 'Father of Railways', he transformed land transportation during the Industrial Revolution.

Born in 1812, Galle became a professor of astronomy and worked at the Berlin Observatory. Using predictions by Urbain Le Verrier, he located Neptune on September 23, 1846. This discovery confirmed the power of mathematical astronomy for predicting planetary positions. Galle contributed to astronomical instrumentation and published important observational studies. He served as director of the Breslau Observatory and educated future generations of astronomers.

Born in 1836 in London, she faced gender barriers to medical education but was licensed by the Society of Apothecaries in 1865. She opened St Mary's Dispensary for Women and Children, later St Mary's Hospital, helping women access medical care. Anderson was active in the women's suffrage movement and co-founded the London School of Medicine for Women. She served on the London School Board and became the first female mayor in the UK at Aldeburgh. Her achievements paved the way for women in medicine and public office.

Pierre Duhem made significant contributions to the foundations of thermodynamics and hydrodynamics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He championed the view that physical theories are underdetermined by experiment, a thesis later influential in philosophy of science. Duhem also conducted extensive research on elasticity and fluid mechanics, publishing key textbooks for university students. As a historian, he studied medieval science and alchemy, arguing for continuity between medieval and modern scientific thought. His multi-volume 'Le système du monde' traced the development of natural philosophy from antiquity to the Renaissance. Duhem held professorships at universities in Paris and Bordeaux, where he influenced generations of scholars. He died in 1916, leaving a legacy bridging science, history, and philosophy.

Gustav Tammann’s research laid the groundwork for modern physical chemistry and materials science, particularly his studies of phase diagrams and crystallization. Educated in St. Petersburg and Heidelberg, he held professorships in Göttingen and Munich, directing influential laboratories. Tammann developed the concept of the Tammann temperature, important for understanding nucleation and glass formation. He authored foundational texts on inorganic chemistry and the physics of metals, shaping industrial metallurgy processes. Tammann was a member of several scientific academies and received numerous honors for his work. His methods for determining critical points and heat capacities are still taught today. He passed away in 1938, remembered as a pioneer of thermophysical chemistry.

Born on June 9, 1875 in London, Henry Hallett Dale was a pioneering English pharmacologist and physiologist. He conducted groundbreaking research on the chemical transmission of nerve impulses alongside Otto Loewi. In 1936, Dale shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries on neurotransmitters. He served as director of the National Institute for Medical Research and influenced pharmacological science through leadership and mentorship. Dale's work laid the foundation for modern neuropharmacology and treatments for neurological disorders. He remained active in research and policy until his death in 1968.

Eric Hobsbawm was a world-renowned historian whose scholarship reshaped the study of modern history. Born in Cairo in 1917 to a German Jewish family, he moved to England and studied at Cambridge. Hobsbawm wrote influential books such as the trilogy 'The Age of Revolution,' 'The Age of Capital,' and 'The Age of Empire,' examining social and economic transformations. A committed Marxist, he lectured globally and contributed to debates on nationalism and social change. He spent much of his academic career at Birkbeck, University of London, and passed away in 2012.

Born in 1921, Jean Lacouture began his career at Le Monde and reported on decolonization and international affairs. He wrote acclaimed biographies of Charles de Gaulle, Ho Chi Minh, and Indira Gandhi, blending rigorous research with compelling narrative. Lacouture’s works shed light on political leadership during times of change and conflict. He held academic positions at universities in France and abroad, lecturing on history and journalism. Over his career, he received the Prix Médicis and was named a Commander of the Legion of Honor. He remained an active commentator on global politics until his death in 2015.

Hein Eersel was born in 1922 in Paramaribo, Suriname, and became a leading scholar of Creole languages. He served as the country’s first Minister of Education, Culture, and Science, implementing policies to expand access to education. Eersel founded the Institute for Linguistics and Folklore Studies, publishing key works on Sranan Tongo grammar and lexicon. He taught at the University of Suriname and advised UNESCO on linguistic diversity. A respected public intellectual, he promoted national culture and language rights. He continued his research and advocacy until his death in 2022.

Fernand Seguin was born in 1922 and earned his doctorate in biochemistry before becoming a professor at the Université de Montréal. He hosted popular television series that demystified scientific concepts for general audiences, earning him widespread recognition. Seguin wrote numerous books on biology and chemistry, aiming to make science accessible and engaging. He received the Royal Society of Canada’s McLaughlin Medal and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. His commitment to science education helped inspire a generation of Canadians. He passed away in 1988, leaving a legacy of public outreach in science.

Born in 1928, R. Geraint Gruffydd became a leading authority on medieval Welsh poetry and prose. He served as a professor at the University of Wales, Bangor, mentoring generations of Celtic studies students. His critical editions and translations brought renewed interest to early Welsh texts. He published influential analyses of the Mabinogion and the Welsh poetic tradition. He was honored for his contributions to the Welsh language and literature until his death in 2015.