July 10

Born in 1625 in France and entered the service of Nicolas Fouquet. Managed Fouquet's finances and conducted clandestine negotiations. Amassed personal wealth through commercial speculations and loans. Embarked on diplomatic missions for the French crown and adventurous travels. Witnessed and influenced events of the Fronde and early Louis XIV's reign. Arrested and imprisoned briefly after Fouquet's downfall in 1661. Later wrote memoirs detailing court intrigues and financial schemes. Died in 1703, leaving a colorful legacy of adventure and finance.

Alfred Ronalds was an English artisan and author whose 1836 manual 'The Fly-fisher’s Entomology' revolutionized recreational angling by combining scientific observations with practical advice. Drawing on his background as an ironmonger and naturalist, he meticulously illustrated aquatic insects, linking life cycles to effective fly patterns. Emigrating to Australia in 1848, Ronalds pioneered horticulture and viticulture in Victoria, introducing new crops and irrigation methods at his property near Melbourne. He authored several horticultural guides and actively participated in early colonial scientific societies. Ronalds’ interdisciplinary approach bridged natural history, craftsmanship, and writing, influencing fishing enthusiasts and agricultural settlers alike. His engraved plates and detailed writings remain invaluable to anglers and historians of science.

Pyotr Klimuk, born in 1942, is a Belarusian military officer, pilot, and former cosmonaut who participated in three Soviet spaceflights: Soyuz 13, Soyuz 18, and Soyuz 30. As the first Belarusian in space, he conducted scientific experiments in low Earth orbit. Following his missions, Klimuk rose to the rank of general and served as director of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. He later became a deputy to the Russian State Duma and president of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. His pioneering contributions to human spaceflight remain celebrated.

Anna Czerwińska began her mountaineering career in the 1970s and became known for her bold solo expeditions in the Himalayas. She conquered four eight-thousanders, including Broad Peak, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum I, and Gasherbrum II. In 1990, she was the first Polish woman to summit Annapurna without supplementary oxygen. Czerwińska documented her adventures in several books, sharing insights into high-altitude climbing and survival. She also led mountaineering workshops and inspired a generation of female climbers in Poland. Her dedication to exploration and storytelling left a strong legacy when she passed away in 2023.

Christian Stangl, born July 10, 1966, in Eisenstadt, Austria, is an accomplished mountaineer and extreme skier. He became the first person to ski down all Seven Summits, combining high-altitude climbing with downhill skiing. Stangl has completed over 50 expeditions, tackling peaks such as Everest, K2, and Denali under challenging conditions. He is respected for his meticulous planning, technical skill, and commitment to safety in extreme environments. Beyond his records, Stangl inspires the adventure community through lectures, publications, and guiding aspiring climbers.