June 26

Gabriel, comte de Montgomery, was born in 1530 and served as captain of the Scottish Guard for King Henry II of France. Renowned as a skilled jouster, he tragically mortally wounded the king during a tournament in 1559. Following the accident, Montgomery joined the Huguenot forces in the French Wars of Religion and commanded campaigns in Normandy and Picardy. After the Siege of Rouen, he was captured and executed in 1574. His life exemplifies the intense religious and political conflicts of Renaissance France.

Maximilian Ulysses Browne was born in 1705 into an Irish family exiled in Austria and embarked on a distinguished military career. He served under Prince Eugene of Savoy and distinguished himself during the War of the Austrian Succession, particularly at the Battle of Lawfeld. Appointed field marshal in 1743, Browne commanded Austrian forces during the Seven Years' War, winning key engagements such as the Battle of Kolin. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Breslau in 1757 and died shortly thereafter. Browne's tactical skill and leadership exemplify the multinational character of Habsburg military command.

Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle was born in 1760 and served as an army officer during the French Revolutionary Wars. In 1792, he composed the song 'Chant de guerre pour l’armée du Rhin,' later known as 'La Marseillaise,' which became France’s national anthem. His stirring melody and lyrics captured the spirit of revolution and national pride. Rouget de Lisle’s anthem endures as a symbol of liberty and unity. He died in 1836, celebrated for his lasting musical legacy.

Richard H. Anderson was born in 1821 and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served in the Confederate Army, rising to the rank of general. Anderson fought in significant engagements such as Antietam and Gettysburg, earning a reputation for tactical skill. After the war, he returned to civilian life and practiced law. He died in 1879, remembered for his leadership under challenging conditions and his impact on Civil War history.

Max Kögel (1895–1946) was a German SS officer who served in the Schutzstaffel, the paramilitary organization of Nazi Germany. His early life and specific wartime roles remain sparsely documented, but he was part of the regime's military apparatus. Kögel's career was emblematic of mid-level SS leadership during the conflict. Following Germany's defeat, he died in 1946. Details about his later life and any post-war proceedings are limited.

Born in 1936, Akwasi Afrifa joined the Ghanaian army and rose to prominence during the revolutionary government that ousted President Nkrumah in 1966. As a member of the National Liberation Council, he held several key positions before becoming chairman of the Presidential Commission in 1969, effectively serving as head of state. Afrifa oversaw Ghana's transition back to civilian rule later that year. After returning to civilian life, he remained active in politics until his arrest and execution following another coup in 1979. His tenure is remembered for efforts to stabilize Ghana's economy and restore democratic governance.

Denis Thatcher was born in 1915 in London and served as an officer in the Royal Sussex Regiment during World War II, earning the Military Cross. After the war, he joined and later led the family-owned Atlas Preservatives company. He married Margaret Roberts in 1951 and remained a devoted and discreet partner throughout her political career. Known for his dry wit and private nature, he became the first husband of a sitting British prime minister. Thatcher was made a baronet in 1990 and passed away in 2003, remembered as a steadfast pillar behind an iconic leader.

Born in 1902, Strom Thurmond was trained as a lawyer before embarking on a long political career. He served as the 103rd Governor of South Carolina and was active in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1954, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he became one of the longest-serving senators in history. A prominent figure in Southern politics, he ran for president in 1948 as a Dixiecrat candidate. Known for his advocacy of states' rights, his views and policies sparked both support and controversy. He celebrated his 100th birthday while still in office, marking a century of American political life. Thurmond's career spanned critical eras of change, leaving a lasting and complex impact on U.S. politics.