June 14

Born in 1698 in Kilmodan, Scotland, Maclaurin entered the University of Glasgow at age 11. He was appointed professor of mathematics at the University of Edinburgh by age 19. Maclaurin made significant contributions to calculus, particularly the series expansion named after him. His 'Treatise of Fluxions' defended Newtonian methods against criticism. Maclaurin also worked on geometry, algebra, and the study of polar curves. He died in Edinburgh in 1746, remembered as one of Scotland's leading Enlightenment scholars.

Max Weber was born in Erfurt in 1864 and became one of the founding figures of sociology. His seminal work The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism explored the relationship between religion and economic behavior. He developed key concepts such as bureaucracy, social action, and types of authority, which remain central to social science. Weber held professorships at several German universities and influenced disciplines ranging from economics to political science. His methodological approach to understanding social structures and individual agency revolutionized academic study. Weber's theories continue to inform contemporary debates on society and governance.

Born in Helensburgh, Scotland, in 1888, John Logie Baird experimented with mechanical television transmissions in the early 1920s. In 1925 he successfully transmitted moving silhouette images, and by 1926 he held the first public demonstration of televised objects in London. Baird went on to develop the world's first color television and a rudimentary videophone system, pushing the boundaries of early broadcast technology. Despite later competition from electronic systems, his mechanical design laid critical groundwork for the television industry. Baird's inventive spirit and showmanship earned him enduring recognition as the father of television.

James E. Rogers was an influential American lawyer, businessman, and university president born in 1938. He founded and led multiple financial and corporate ventures before turning to academia as the president of the University of Arizona. Rogers championed educational accessibility, spearheading major scholarship programs and research initiatives. Under his leadership, the university expanded its infrastructure and raised significant endowment funds. He authored works on education reform and corporate governance that are still referenced today. His philanthropic efforts funded libraries, scholarship programs, and community projects across the American Southwest. Rogers's legacy endures through the educational opportunities he created and the institutions he strengthened.

Richard G. Cotton was an Australian molecular geneticist born in 1940, renowned for his groundbreaking work in human genetics. He founded the first commercial genetic diagnostics biotechnology company in the Asia-Pacific region. Cotton's research focused on identifying genetic mutations responsible for inherited diseases and developing tests for early diagnosis. He published extensively, including authoritative books and papers that became standard references in the field. As an academic, he mentored a generation of geneticists and established major research centers. His efforts led to improved understanding and management of conditions such as cystic fibrosis and hemophilia. Cotton's legacy lives on through the diagnostic laboratories he created and the many professionals he inspired.