October 20

Born around 1460 in Lincolnshire, Thomas Linacre studied medicine in Italy and became one of the leading humanists of his time. He served as physician to Henry VII and Henry VIII, earning a reputation at the Tudor court. Linacre founded the College of Physicians in London in 1518, which later received its royal charter. He translated key works of Galen and Aristotle from Greek into Latin, helping to revive classical learning in England. His scholarship laid the foundations for modern medical education and humanist studies in the country.

Archibald Pitcairne was born in 1652 in Edinburgh and studied medicine at Leiden University, where he later became a professor. He was an early adopter of Isaac Newton's theories, applying mathematical principles to anatomical and physiological studies. Pitcairne practiced as a physician in London and Edinburgh, gaining fame for his medical treatments and theoretical lectures. His published works advanced the use of quantitative methods in medicine, influencing future generations of physicians. Pitcairne's blend of clinical practice and academic scholarship helped shape modern scientific medicine.

Karl Christian Ulmann (1793-1871) was a Latvian-German theologian and academic. He made significant contributions to Lutheran scholarship during the 19th century. Ulmann lectured on biblical interpretation and dogmatics across German and Baltic universities. His writings explored the historical development of Christian doctrine and its relevance to modern faith. He was respected for his rigorous research methodology and clear pedagogical style. Ulmann’s work influenced subsequent generations of theologians in both Germany and Latvia.

James Anthony Froude (1818-1894) was a prominent English historian, novelist, and biographer. He is best known for his multi-volume History of England, which offered vivid narratives of Tudor and Elizabethan eras. Froude also published travelogues such as Oceana and wrote novels including The Nemesis of Faith. As editor of Fraser’s Magazine, he influenced public opinion on religion and politics in Victorian Britain. His interpretations of historical figures like Thomas Cromwell sparked debate among scholars. Through his engaging prose and controversial stances, Froude helped popularize scholarly history for general readers. His legacy endures in the continuing discussion of historiography and Victorian literature.

Harlow Shapley was born in 1885 in Missouri and developed an early interest in astronomy. He conducted pioneering studies of variable stars to estimate the size of the Milky Way. As director of the Harvard College Observatory, Shapley refined the scale of our galaxy and placed the Sun far from its center. He championed the extragalactic nature of spiral nebulae prior to the acceptance of other galaxies. Shapley also promoted public understanding of science through lectures and writings. He remained active in research and education until his death in 1972, leaving a profound legacy in galactic astronomy.

Carl Ferdinand Cori was born in 1896 in Prague and earned his medical degree in Europe. After moving to the United States in 1931, he partnered with his wife, Gerty Cori, to study carbohydrate metabolism. The Coris discovered the mechanism by which lactic acid is converted to glucose, now known as the Cori cycle. Their groundbreaking work earned them the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1947. Cori served as a professor at Washington University School of Medicine and published numerous influential papers. He passed away in 1984, leaving a lasting legacy in the fields of biochemistry and pharmacology.

Paul Dirac was born in 1902 in Bristol, England, and studied at the University of Cambridge. He developed the Dirac equation, uniting quantum mechanics and special relativity, and predicted the existence of antimatter. In 1933, Dirac shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Erwin Schrödinger for their foundational work in quantum theory. His research also laid the groundwork for quantum electrodynamics and influenced modern theoretical physics. Dirac held academic positions at Cambridge and Florida State University, mentoring future scientists. He passed away in 1984, and his contributions remain central to our understanding of the quantum world.

Andrey Kolmogorov was born in 1903 in Tambov, Russia, and studied at Moscow State University. In his 1933 work 'Foundations of the Theory of Probability', he established the axioms of modern probability theory. Kolmogorov made pioneering contributions to topology, logic, algorithmic information theory, and the study of turbulence. He held leadership roles at Moscow State University and the Steklov Institute, influencing generations of mathematicians. His theories on stochastic processes and turbulence continue to shape fields from physics to computer science. Kolmogorov passed away in 1987, leaving a profound and enduring impact on mathematics.

Max Kohnstamm (1914–2010) was a Dutch historian, diplomat, and one of the founding figures of postwar European cooperation. Born into a prominent family, he studied history at the University of Amsterdam before joining the Dutch foreign service. He served as Secretary to the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community and later as vice-president of the European Cultural Foundation. His efforts helped lay the groundwork for today’s European Union and fostered cultural exchange across the continent. He remained an advocate for European unity until his death in 2010 at age 96.

E. Donnall Thomas (1920–2012) was an American physician and academic renowned for his advances in hematology. In 1956, he performed the first successful human bone marrow transplant to treat leukemia. His groundbreaking work revolutionized cancer treatment and laid the foundation for modern hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1990. Throughout his career, Thomas held professorships at institutions such as the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington.

Lawrence Klein (1920–2013) was an influential American economist and academic. He developed econometric models that improved economic forecasting and policy analysis. In 1980, Klein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for creating models that accurately predicted business cycles. He taught at the University of Pennsylvania and founded the Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates. His work laid the groundwork for modern macroeconomic and financial modeling.

Arno Gruen was a German-Swiss psychologist and psychoanalyst known for his influential writings on human psychology. Born in 1923, he fled Nazi Germany and later studied under renowned psychoanalytic schools in Europe. Gruen's work examined the roots of aggression, authoritarian personalities, and self-alienation. His books, including 'The Betrayal of the Self', challenged traditional psychoanalytic concepts and societal norms. He held academic positions and lectured internationally, contributing to both clinical practice and theoretical discourse. Gruen died in 2015, leaving a legacy as a critical thinker in psychology and social theory.