English scholar and politician, Secretary of State for England
English scholar and politician
Secretary of State for England
English humanist scholar and statesman who served as Secretary of State under Edward VI.
Born near Cambridge in 1514 and educated at St John's College, Cambridge.
He became the first Regius Professor of Greek, promoting humanist learning across England.
Appointed tutor to the young King Edward VI, influencing Protestant reforms at court.
Named Secretary of State in 1550, he navigated complex political and religious changes.
Fell from favor under Queen Mary I and spent his final years in exile.
His pioneering works on Greek and Latin scholarship left a lasting academic legacy.
1557
John Cheke
Secretary of State for England
English scholar and author
English scholar and author
English classical scholar and writer renowned for his work on Greek literature.
Born in London in 1704 and educated at Eton and King’s College, Cambridge.
Gained a reputation for critical editions of ancient Greek texts.
Authored essays and dissertations on rhetoric, poetry, and antiquity.
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society for his contributions to classical studies.
Explored theological and historical topics in his later writings.
His scholarship influenced 18th-century classical learning in Britain and beyond.
1766
Benjamin Heath
Romanian pilot and engineer
Romanian pilot and engineer
Romanian engineer and aviation pioneer who built and flew his own aircraft in the early 20th century.
Aurel Vlaicu was born in 1882 in Binţinți, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (now Romania). He studied engineering at the Technical University of Budapest and later continued his education in Germany. Passionate about flight, he designed and constructed three experimental aircraft, known as the Vlaicu I, II, and III. In 1910, Vlaicu II won prizes at flight competitions in Romania, showcasing his innovative wing designs. He became one of Europe's earliest pilots and a national hero in Romania. In 1913, while attempting a long-distance demonstration flight in the Carpathian Mountains, his plane crashed and he died at the age of 30. Vlaicu's pioneering work laid foundations for Romanian aviation and inspired future aeronautical engineers.
1913
Aurel Vlaicu
Danish physiologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
Danish physiologist and academic
Nobel Prize laureate
August Krogh was a Danish physiologist awarded the 1920 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries on capillary blood flow and vessel regulation. He founded a leading research institute at the University of Copenhagen.
August Krogh conducted pioneering studies on the regulation of blood flow in capillaries, demonstrating how tissues adapt their blood supply to metabolic demand. He developed novel experimental methods and instruments that advanced the field of physiology. Krogh's research on respiratory gas exchange and muscle physiology provided fundamental insights into human and animal biology. His contributions were honored with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1920, which he shared with his wife, Marie Krogh. As a professor at the University of Copenhagen, Krogh inspired students and established the August Krogh Institute for Biophysical Research. He also played a key role in public health, campaigning for improved hygiene and tuberculosis prevention. Krogh's legacy endures through the continued work of the institute he founded and the principles he established in physiological research.
1949
August Krogh
Nobel Prize
Canadian priest, historian, and director
Canadian priest
historian
and director
Canadian Oblate priest and historian who pioneered Quebec film and cultural scholarship.
Born in 1895 in Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Tessier was ordained as a priest and devoted himself to preserving French-Canadian heritage. He authored numerous historical works on the Outaouais region, combining scholarly research with engaging narratives. As a filmmaker, he produced educational documentaries that highlighted Quebec's landscapes and traditions. His innovative use of cinema for cultural preservation earned him recognition as a trailblazer in Quebecois film. Tessier's interdisciplinary legacy continues to influence historians and filmmakers in Canada.
Albert Tessier
American psychologist and academic
American psychologist and academic
American educational psychologist best known for creating Bloom's Taxonomy of learning objectives.
Benjamin Bloom was a pioneering American psychologist and educator who transformed educational assessment.
He introduced Bloom's Taxonomy, a framework for classifying educational goals into cognitive levels.
He served as Chairman of the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago and directed major research projects in education.
Bloom's work influenced curriculum development and teaching methods worldwide, shaping how educators design learning outcomes.
His legacy endures in academic institutions, teacher training, and educational psychology.
1999
Benjamin Bloom
Canadian soldier, historian, and author, designed the Flag of Canada
Canadian soldier
historian
and author
designed the Flag of Canada
Canadian soldier, historian, and author best known for designing the national Flag of Canada.
George Stanley was a Canadian Army officer who served during World War II and later became a respected historian.
As a professor at the Royal Military College of Canada, he researched and wrote extensively on military history.
In 1964, Stanley proposed the design for the modern Canadian flag, featuring the iconic maple leaf.
His design was officially adopted in 1965, ushering in a unifying national symbol for Canada.
Stanley's work bridged military service, academia, and national identity, leaving a lasting legacy.
2002
George Stanley
Flag of Canada
Mexican chemist, co-invented the birth-control pill
Mexican chemist
co-invented the birth-control pill
Mexican chemist credited with co-inventing the first oral contraceptive pill.
Luis E. Miramontes was a Mexican organic chemist who played a pivotal role in synthesizing norethisterone in 1951.
Working at the Syntex laboratory in Mexico City, he collaborated with Carl Djerassi and George Rosenkranz.
Norethisterone became the key active ingredient in the first feasible birth-control pill, revolutionizing reproductive health.
Miramontes' work earned international recognition and opened new avenues in steroid chemistry.
He later contributed to academic research in Mexico, mentoring generations of chemists.
2004
Luis E. Miramontes
birth-control pill
American biologist and academic
American biologist and academic
Robert J. Behnke was an American biologist and academic known for his pioneering work in fish culture and salmonid taxonomy.
Robert Jay Behnke was a leading American fish biologist and professor.
He earned his doctorate in zoology and devoted his career to studying salmonid fishes, influencing fish management practices.
Behnke authored several seminal books, including ‘Trout and Salmon of North America’, widely used by scientists and anglers.
He held faculty positions at Colorado State University and Oregon State University, mentoring generations of fisheries scientists.
His research led to the identification of new trout species and conservation of native fish populations.
Behnke's contributions reshaped fisheries biology and remain reference points for modern ichthyologists.
Robert J. Behnke
British historian
British historian
Jonathan Riley-Smith was a distinguished British historian and leading scholar of the Crusades.
Jonathan Riley-Smith held professorships at the University of Cambridge, Durham University, and Queen Mary College, establishing himself as one of the foremost experts on the medieval Crusades. His groundbreaking research shed new light on the motivations, culture, and impacts of Crusader societies. He authored seminal works including 'The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading' and 'The Crusades: A History'. Known for his meticulous scholarship and eloquent writing, Riley-Smith influenced generations of medievalists. He served as Master of Downing College, Cambridge, and was a Fellow of the British Academy. His legacy endures through his extensive publications and the scholars he mentored.
2016
Jonathan Riley-Smith