July 23

Born in 1613, he trained in law before gaining a reputation as a distinguished jurist in Paris. A prolific philologist, he authored critical works on ancient languages and literary history. His 'Menagiana' compiled witty anecdotes and intellectual conversations that captivated European salons. He corresponded with leading thinkers such as Madeleine de Scudéry and Jean Chapelain. Appointed historiographer of France, he chronicled royal events and scholarly achievements. He died in 1692, leaving behind influential contributions to modern philology.

Born in 1693, he began his career as a silversmith before devoting himself to natural history. He published 'A Natural History of Uncommon Birds' (1743–1751), featuring detailed hand-colored engravings. His accurate observations and illustrations earned him membership in the Royal Society in 1758. Edwards later became curator of the royal menagerie at Kew, compiling records of exotic species. His work influenced Linnaeus, who cited Edwards in the classification of numerous bird species. He died in 1773, remembered as a pioneer in ornithology and scientific illustration.

Born in 1804 in Hradec Králové, Carl von Rokitansky studied medicine at the University of Vienna. He became professor of pathological anatomy and performed over 30,000 autopsies during his career. Rokitansky's systematic approach to dissections defined new criteria for classifying diseases. He coined key pathological terms and influenced generations of medical students. Beyond his scientific work, he served in the Frankfurt Parliament and advocated for public health reforms. He was ennobled for his contributions to medicine and politics. Rokitansky died in 1878, leaving a lasting legacy in both medical science and public service.

Born in 1852 in Glasgow, William Ramsay studied under renowned chemist Robert Bunsen in Heidelberg. In 1894, he collaborated with Lord Rayleigh to discover argon in the Earth's atmosphere. Ramsay went on to isolate neon, krypton, and xenon, completing the group of noble gases. He coined the term 'noble gases' to describe their chemical inertness. Ramsay held professorships at University College London and the University of Glasgow. Ramsay's discoveries reshaped the periodic table and advanced atomic theory. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1904, Ramsay's work remains foundational to modern chemistry. He died in 1916, remembered as one of the great experimental chemists.

Born in 1851 in Corfu, Spyridon Lambros studied law and history in Vienna and Leipzig. He became a professor of history at the University of Athens, publishing influential works on Byzantine and modern Greek history. Lambros entered politics as Minister of Education, advocating for academic reforms. He was appointed Prime Minister of Greece in October 1916 amid political turmoil. His government faced the National Defence uprising and Allied pressure, leading to his resignation in December 1916. After leaving office, Lambros returned to academia and continued writing. He died in 1919 in Switzerland, remembered for his scholarly contributions and brief political leadership.

Frank Frost Abbott was a pioneering American classical scholar whose research illuminated the legal and administrative workings of ancient Rome. He served as a professor of Latin and Greek at Bryn Mawr College and lectured widely on epigraphy and Roman municipal governance. Abbott's seminal works include 'Municipal Administration in the Roman Empire' and 'A Handbook of Greek Epigraphy'. His scholarship shaped modern understanding of Roman social and legal history. Abbott's meticulous analysis of inscriptions provided new insights into the lives of everyday Romans.

Glenn Curtiss was a visionary engineer and pilot whose innovations propelled early aviation. He began his career building motorcycles before turning to aircraft design and setting a world speed record in 1908. Curtiss co-founded the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, which became a major supplier of aircraft and engines during World War I. He developed the first practical seaplane and advanced flying boat technology, expanding the possibilities of naval aviation. Curtiss's contributions laid the groundwork for the modern aerospace industry and earned him a place among aviation's founding figures.

Anna Abrikosova was a Russian-born linguist celebrated for her skill in languages and translations of religious texts. After a conversion to Catholicism, she founded the Russian Greek Catholic community known as the Passionist Sisters. Abrikosova's translation of spiritual classics brought Eastern Orthodox and Western Catholic traditions into dialogue. During Stalin's regime, she was arrested for her faith and intellectual activities and died as a political prisoner in 1936. Her courage and scholarship have led to calls for her beatification, marking her impact as both a scholar and a martyr.

George Lyman Kittredge was a prominent Harvard professor whose research on William Shakespeare shaped modern scholarship. He edited definitive editions of Shakespeare's plays and authored influential essays on Renaissance drama. Kittredge also conducted pioneering studies in New England folklore, preserving regional legends and ballads. He served as president of the Modern Language Association and mentored generations of literary academics. His scholarship bridged textual criticism and cultural history, leaving a lasting imprint on English literature studies.

Adam Czerniaków was a Polish engineer and senator who led the Warsaw Judenrat under Nazi occupation. As chairman of the Jewish Council, he faced impossible directives to facilitate deportations and sought to alleviate suffering through welfare programs. Czerniaków kept detailed diaries documenting life in the ghetto and the moral dilemmas he confronted. Unable to comply with orders to send children to their deaths, he tragically chose suicide on July 23, 1942. His diary remains a vital firsthand account of the Holocaust and his principled stand highlights the human cost of tyranny.

Henry Hallett Dale was a pioneering English pharmacologist and physiologist whose research revealed how chemical messengers transmit nerve signals. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1936 for his work on the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Dale served at the National Institute for Medical Research, advancing understanding of synaptic function. He later became President of the Royal Society, shaping scientific policy in Britain. His experimental methods laid the foundation for modern neuropharmacology. Dale's contributions have had lasting impact on medicine and neuroscience.

Esther Applin was an influential American geologist and paleontologist credited with pioneering the use of foraminiferal microfossils in petroleum exploration. In the 1920s, she demonstrated that these tiny fossils could effectively date and correlate rock layers, revolutionizing geological surveying techniques. Her research for Gulf Oil led to more accurate identification of oil-bearing formations, significantly improving resource extraction. Applin faced and overcame gender barriers in a male-dominated field, earning respect for her scientific rigor. Her work laid the foundation for modern stratigraphic analysis and has had a lasting impact on geology and the energy industry.