September 07

Born in 1524 in Baden, Switzerland, Thomas Erastus studied medicine and theology at the University of Basel. He became a leading physician and held professorships in medicine at several European universities. Erastus advocated for close collaboration between church and civil authorities, a stance later termed Erastianism. He authored influential works on plague prevention and public health, applying scientific principles to disease control. As a theologian, he argued against the autonomy of church bodies in appointing clergy. He died in 1583, leaving a legacy in both medical science and ecclesiastical polity.

Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, was born in 1707 and became one of the most influential naturalists of the Enlightenment. He served as the intendant of the Jardin du Roi (Royal Garden) in Paris and oversaw its transformation into a modern scientific institution. Buffon's multi-volume 'Histoire Naturelle' systematically described the natural world, covering animals, minerals, and human anatomy. He introduced ideas about species variation and the age of the Earth that anticipated later scientific theories. Buffon was also active in mathematics and cosmology, publishing works that explored probability and the structure of the universe. He died in 1788, leaving a legacy that shaped the fields of natural history and scientific inquiry.

John William Polidori was born in 1795 and trained as a physician, earning his medical degree at the University of Edinburgh. In 1816, he accompanied Lord Byron as his personal physician and took part in the famous summer gathering at Villa Diodati. Inspired by the storytelling competition at the villa, Polidori wrote 'The Vampyre', the first modern vampire story in English literature. His novella prefigured later works like Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' and established enduring tropes of the genre. Despite his medical training, Polidori struggled with personal and financial difficulties and published few works beyond his famed novella. He died tragically in 1821 at the age of 25, leaving a lasting impact on gothic fiction and vampire lore.

Born in 1810 in Minden, Prussia, Hermann Heinrich Gossen became a pioneering figure in the field of economics. His seminal work, published in 1854, introduced the concept of diminishing marginal utility, which would later become a cornerstone of neoclassical economic theory. Gossen's ideas remained largely unrecognized during his lifetime, but they were rediscovered at the end of the 19th century and profoundly influenced subsequent economists. He held academic positions at the University of Berlin and contributed to statistical and economic research. Gossen's writings laid important groundwork for the development of utility theory and demand analysis. He died in 1858, but his contributions continue to be celebrated in economic scholarship.

Born in 1829 in Darmstadt, Germany, Friedrich August Kekulé von Stradonitz became one of the leading chemists of the 19th century. His most famous contribution was the discovery of the hexagonal ring structure of benzene in 1865, which transformed the understanding of aromatic compounds. Kekulé held professorships at the University of Ghent and the University of Bonn, mentoring many students who became prominent chemists. He authored influential textbooks on organic chemistry that shaped chemical education. Kekulé's work laid the groundwork for modern structural chemistry and chemical bonding theory. He was honored with numerous awards and memberships in scientific societies before his death in 1896.

August Toepler (1836–1912) was a German physicist known for his work in electrostatics and experimental physics. He invented the Toepler electrostatic machine, enhancing studies of electrical phenomena. Toepler also pioneered photographic techniques to capture lightning strikes and other rapid events. As a professor at the University of Breslau, he published influential research on gas discharge and corona effects. His contributions advanced the understanding of atmospheric electricity and laid groundwork for modern high-voltage technology. Toepler’s methods remain referenced in the history of experimental physics.

Edward Asahel Birge (1851–1950) was a distinguished zoologist and educator at the University of Wisconsin. He co-founded the modern study of limnology, investigating freshwater ecosystems alongside Chancey Juday. Birge served as president of the university from 1900 to 1918, guiding its expansion and research focus. He published extensively on plankton, lake biology, and water chemistry, influencing environmental science. A dedicated mentor, he trained generations of biologists and advanced laboratory techniques in aquatic research. His long career spanned teaching, administration, and groundbreaking scientific discovery.

Michael E. DeBakey was a pioneering American cardiovascular surgeon and medical educator. Over his six-decade career, he developed innovative procedures and devices, including the roller pump for the heart-lung machine. His research laid the foundation for modern cardiac and vascular surgery, including coronary bypass techniques. DeBakey performed the first successful Dacron graft repair for aortic aneurysms and co-authored over 1,300 scientific articles. He founded the DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and served as a professor at Baylor College of Medicine. Twice awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, his legacy lives on through advancements in heart care and the surgeons he trained.

James Van Allen was born in 1914 in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and pursued studies in nuclear physics and cosmic rays. During the early years of the U.S. space program, he designed instruments for the Explorer satellites. His instruments on Explorer 1 and Explorer 3 revealed the existence of intense radiation belts encircling the planet, later named the Van Allen belts. Van Allen served as head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Iowa for decades. He was awarded the National Medal of Science in recognition of his pioneering contributions to space science. Van Allen remained active in research and public outreach until his death in 2006.

Kiyosi Itô was born in Kyoto in 1915 and earned his doctorate in mathematics in the late 1930s. He revolutionized probability theory by developing Itô calculus, enabling rigorous study of stochastic processes and Brownian motion. His Itô integral and Itô's lemma became essential methods in both pure and applied mathematics, influencing fields from finance to physics. Itô held professorships at the University of Kyoto and later at the University of Tokyo, mentoring generations of mathematicians. He received numerous honors, including the Japan Academy Prize and the Wolf Prize in Mathematics. Itô continued his research and teaching well into his later years, passing away in 2008.

John Cornforth was born in Sydney in 1917 and moved to the United Kingdom to study chemistry at Oxford and later at the University of Manchester. He specialized in elucidating how enzymes influence the spatial arrangement of atoms in biochemical reactions. His pioneering work on enzyme stereochemistry earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975. Cornforth held academic positions at the University of Sussex and maintained collaborations across Europe. Despite suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, he continued to conduct research and mentor young scientists. He passed away in 2013, remembered for his elegant experimental techniques and lasting impact on organic chemistry.

Harold Amos was born in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, in 1918 and earned his medical degree at Harvard University. He made significant advances in understanding bacterial metabolism and cell physiology through his research at Harvard's Department of Bacteriology and Immunology. Amos became the first African-American department chair at Harvard Medical School, where he championed diversity and mentorship programs for underrepresented students. He also served as dean of Harvard's Division of Medical Sciences, influencing medical education and research policies. Recognized with awards such as the Harvard Medal of Graduate Education, he was committed to training the next generation of scientists and physicians. Amos passed away in 2003, remembered as a trailblazer in both science and academia.