August 20

Thomas Simpson’s rule, introduced in his 1743 work The Doctrine and Application of Fluxions, remains a key technique in numerical integration. He served as a fellow and tutor at St. John’s College, Cambridge, influencing mathematics education in England. Simpson made contributions to probability, algebra, and finite difference methods. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1748, recognizing his advancements in mathematical science. His textbooks and treatises were widely used, shaping the teaching of calculus and analytical geometry. Simpson’s work paved the way for later developments in numerical analysis and applied mathematics.

Christian Mayer served as a professor of mathematics and physics, teaching at the University of Olomouc. He conducted early telescopic observations of double stars on Mount Etna, compiling one of the first catalogs of binary systems. His work on the refraction of light and astronomical instruments advanced optics and observational techniques. Mayer corresponded with leading European scientists, including Jérôme Lalande and Charles Messier. He wrote influential textbooks on astronomy and mathematics for university students. His efforts helped establish astronomy as an academic discipline in Central Europe.

Jöns Jacob Berzelius was a Swedish chemist and academic renowned for establishing modern chemical research. He introduced a systematic chemical notation that set the standard for element symbols still used today. Berzelius determined atomic weights for numerous elements, moving chemistry towards quantitative science. He discovered the elements cerium, selenium, silicon, and thorium, expanding the known periodic table. His invention of the concept of catalysis opened new avenues in chemical reaction studies. Berzelius was a central figure in 19th-century science whose methodologies remain foundational.

James Prinsep was an English orientalist, scholar, and antiquarian based in colonial India. As secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, he spearheaded efforts to collect and study ancient inscriptions. In 1837, he successfully deciphered the Brahmi script, unlocking centuries of Indian history. His work in numismatics and epigraphy provided key insights into South Asian chronology and culture. Prinsep also contributed to meteorology and chemistry through systematic observations in India. His interdisciplinary research bridged European and Indian scholarly traditions.

Born in Rantasalmi, Finland, in 1873, Eliel Saarinen studied at the Helsinki University of Technology. He gained international acclaim for co-designing the National Museum of Finland, blending Finnish folklore with Art Nouveau. Saarinen's later work in the United States included the Cranbrook Academy of Art campus, where he mentored a generation of designers. As an academic at the University of Michigan, he influenced modern architectural education. His visionary designs left a profound legacy in both Europe and America.

Born in Wiefelstede, Germany, in 1884, Rudolf Bultmann became one of the 20th century's most influential biblical scholars. As a professor at the University of Marburg, he pioneered the method of "demythologization," seeking the existential message behind ancient texts. His major works interrogated the relationship between faith and modern thought. Bultmann's approach sparked widespread debate, reshaping theological scholarship and hermeneutics. He supervised generations of theologians and contributed to Protestant theology's evolution. Despite controversy, his ideas remain a cornerstone of contemporary biblical studies.

Born in 1887 in Hanoi, Phan Khôi emerged as a leading voice in early 20th-century Vietnamese intellectual circles. As a journalist, he edited progressive journals advocating for the use of the modern quốc ngữ script. Phan Khôi critiqued traditional literati values and promoted new literary forms inspired by Western ideas. He also researched Vietnamese history and folklore, publishing influential essays. His efforts laid the groundwork for Vietnam's cultural renaissance. Despite political repression, his contributions to literature and scholarship shaped modern Vietnamese identity.

Vilhelm Moberg (1898–1973) was a Swedish historian, journalist, novelist, and playwright whose works chronicled the lives of immigrants and the working class. His most famous work, 'The Emigrants' series, follows a family's journey from Smaland to America in the 19th century, earning international acclaim. Moberg's meticulous research and vivid storytelling brought historical events to life, shedding light on social and cultural struggles. Besides novels, he wrote plays and essays critiquing modern society. His commitment to truth and empathy has made him one of Sweden's most beloved literary figures.

Jean Gebser (1905–1973) was a German linguist, poet, and philosopher best known for 'The Ever-Present Origin,' which described the evolution of human consciousness through structures he called archaic, magic, mythic, mental, and integral. His interdisciplinary approach bridged anthropology, history, and psychology, influencing fields from literary theory to cultural studies. As a poet, Gebser wrote lyrical verses reflecting his philosophical ideas. He emigrated to Switzerland in the 1930s, where he taught and wrote until his death. His legacy endures among scholars exploring alternatives to modern rationalism.

Roger Wolcott Sperry was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1913 and earned his Ph.D. in biology and psychology. He conducted groundbreaking research on split-brain patients, demonstrating functional specialization of the left and right hemispheres. In 1981, he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for these revolutionary discoveries. Sperry’s work transformed understanding of consciousness, lateralization, and brain organization. He served as chairman of the Division of Biology and Medicine at Caltech, influencing generations of scientists. His legacy continues to shape modern neuroscience and cognitive psychology decades after his death in 1994.

Paul Felix Schmidt was born in Narva, Estonia, in 1916 and emerged as a leading chess talent in the 1930s. He competed in national and international tournaments, earning the title of International Master. Alongside his chess career, he earned a doctorate in analytical chemistry and conducted research in spectrochemical methods. After World War II, Schmidt continued both his scientific work and competitive chess in Germany. He published influential papers and taught at technical universities while remaining active in the chess community. His dual achievements stand as a rare example of excellence in both science and sport before his death in 1984.

Sir John Boardman was a preeminent classical archaeologist and art historian specializing in ancient Greek ceramics and sculpture. He authored seminal works such as 'Athenian Black Figure Vases' and 'Greek Art,' which remain foundational texts in the field. Boardman served as a fellow and tutor at Oxford University, where he influenced generations of students. He conducted extensive research and excavations in the Mediterranean, shedding light on ancient production techniques and cultural exchange. Knighted for his contributions to archaeology, he also published broadly accessible books that brought classical art to a wider audience. Boardman's scholarship set new standards for the study of ancient art history. He passed away in 2024, leaving a monumental legacy.