September 27

Peter Artedi was born in Anundsjö, Sweden, in 1705 and studied medicine and natural history. He became a close colleague of Carl Linnaeus and focused his research on fish. Artedi developed a systematic approach to classifying fishes, grouping them by anatomical features. His manuscripts on ichthyology were tragically lost until Linnaeus published them after Artedi's death. Artedi's work established key principles for modern ichthyology and zoological taxonomy. He drowned in Amsterdam in 1735, at just 30 years old, but his legacy endures in the scientific naming of fish species.

Étienne Bézout was born in Nemours, France, in 1730 and began his career in the French Navy. He taught mathematics at the Royal School of Naval Engineering and wrote textbooks for naval cadets. Bézout developed key theories in elimination and polynomial equations, including Bézout's theorem on plane curves. His methods improved the study of algebraic geometry and influenced future mathematicians. He also contributed to theoretical mechanics and navigation techniques. Bézout died in Paris on September 27, 1783, and his name endures in the Bézout matrix and related algorithms.

Bernard Courtois was born in Dijon, France, in 1777 and trained as a pharmacist. While processing seaweed ash for potash, he isolated a purple vapor and discovered iodine in 1811. Courtois recognized iodine as a new element and published his findings to the scientific community. His discovery had immediate applications in medicine and analytical chemistry. He continued research on other compounds, including phosphorus derivatives. Courtois died in Paris on September 27, 1838, and is celebrated for one of the most significant elemental discoveries.

Born in 1844, Michel-Lévy became a professor at the École Normale Supérieure and revolutionized the study of igneous rocks. He introduced the Michel-Lévy interference colour chart to aid mineral identification under polarized light. His research clarified the relationships between different rock types and advanced the field of crystallography. He authored numerous papers and textbooks that became standard references for geologists. Michel-Lévy's methods are still widely used in modern geological laboratories. He died in 1911, leaving a legacy as one of the founders of modern petrography.

Born in London in 1858 to a wealthy family, Willmott used her inheritance to fund plant-hunting expeditions and garden projects. She created renowned gardens at her estate, Warley Place, showcasing rare plants from around the world. Willmott wrote horticultural manuals and edited works such as 'The Genus Rosa,' promoting best practices in gardening. She was honored with the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal of Honour in recognition of her contributions. Known for her exacting standards, she often traveled with a personal botanical encyclopedia cataloging thousands of specimens. Willmott's passion influenced the golden age of British gardening. She died in 1934, leaving behind a legacy as one of horticulture’s great pioneers.

Born in 1857 in Wels, Austria, Wagner-Jauregg studied medicine at the University of Vienna before focusing on neurology and psychiatry. In 1887, he became a professor at the University of Graz, conducting research on mental disorders. He discovered that inducing malaria fevers could treat neurosyphilis, a breakthrough known as malariotherapy. For this work, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1927. Wagner-Jauregg held prominent academic positions and published extensively on brain and nervous system diseases. Despite controversies over early psychiatric treatments, his innovations laid the groundwork for modern neuropsychiatry. He died in 1940, remembered as a pioneer in the treatment of mental illness.

S. R. Ranganathan (1892–1972) was an Indian mathematician and librarian whose work revolutionized library science. He developed the Colon Classification system in 1933, introducing faceted classification to organizing knowledge. Ranganathan's five laws of library science—'Books are for use', among others—have become foundational principles worldwide. He served as a professor at the University of Delhi and established the Documentation Research and Training Centre. His visionary contributions laid the groundwork for modern library and information science in India and beyond.

Born in 1907, Silvio Frondizi became a distinguished Argentinian lawyer and professor of administrative law at the University of Buenos Aires. He wrote influential works on legal philosophy and was a vocal advocate for civil liberties during times of political upheaval. As an academic leader, he mentored generations of jurists and participated in national debates on constitutional reform. His familial ties included being the brother of President Arturo Frondizi, positioning him at the crossroads of scholarship and politics. Frondizi's intellectual contributions continue to shape Argentinian legal thought. He passed away in 1974.

John E. Mack was born in New York City in 1929 and pursued psychiatry after earning his medical degree. At Harvard Medical School, he conducted pioneering studies on trauma and human development, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1977 for his biography of T.E. Lawrence. In the 1990s, Mack’s work shifted to the study of individuals claiming alien abduction experiences, in-depth interviews that challenged mainstream psychiatric thought on consciousness. His empathetic approach and rigorous methodology sparked global debate about the boundaries of scientific inquiry. Mack published several influential books and lectured widely on human transformation and the nature of belief. He died in 2004 in England, leaving a complex legacy that continues to inspire discussion.

Balaji Sadasivan (1955–2010) was one of Singapore's first neurosurgeons, establishing the country's premier neurosurgery unit at Singapore General Hospital. Entering politics in 1988, he served as Senior Minister of State for Health before becoming Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2008. He was widely respected for his contributions to healthcare and his diplomatic efforts in strengthening Singapore's global ties. Sadasivan championed public health initiatives and played a key role in shaping Singapore's foreign policy during a period of rapid regional change. His legacy endures through both his medical achievements and his dedicated public service.