October 26

Olympia Fulvia Morata was born in 1526 in Ferrara and became one of the most distinguished women humanists of the Renaissance. Fluent in Latin and Greek, she authored dialogues, letters, and commentaries that circulated widely in European intellectual circles. Morata served as a tutor and advisor at the court of the Duchess of Ferrara and later at the University of Heidelberg. During the Reformation, her Protestant sympathies led her to correspond with leading reformers and defend religious reforms in her writings. Forced to flee Heidelberg after the Palatine succession crisis, she found refuge in Mantua. Her surviving works offer rare insight into the scholarly life of a learned woman in the 16th century.

Michael Maestlin (1550–1631) was a professor of mathematics and astronomy at the University of Tübingen. He taught and influenced the young Johannes Kepler, introducing him to the heliocentric model of Copernicus. Maestlin produced highly accurate astronomical tables and corresponded with leading scholars across Europe. He was one of the first to present the heliocentric theory in print in Germany, although he remained cautious in public endorsement. His observations of planetary positions and commitment to mathematical rigor laid an important foundation for the scientific revolution. Maestlin continued teaching and writing until his death in 1631, leaving a significant imprint on early modern astronomy.

Amédée-François Frézier was born in 1682 into a family with cartographic interests. He trained in mathematics and military engineering before entering French service. In 1712–1714, Frézier undertook a scientific expedition to Chile, mapping the coastline. He documented native flora, introducing the strawberry variety Fragaria chiloensis to Europe. His engineering works included designing coastal defenses for the French navy. Frézier published detailed reports, contributing to geography and botany. He died in 1773, remembered for blending scientific inquiry with practical engineering.

Born in 1727 in Leiden, Jacquin became a professor of chemistry and botany at the University of Vienna. He conducted groundbreaking expeditions to the Caribbean and Central America, collecting thousands of plant specimens. His publications, including 'Histoire des plantes', established new standards in botanical illustration and taxonomy. Jacquin’s work laid the foundation for modern botany by integrating chemical analysis with plant science. He influenced generations of scientists through his teaching, research, and meticulous documentation of exotic flora.

Waldemar Haffkine (1860–1930) was a pioneering physician and microbiologist whose work laid the foundation for modern immunology. Born in Odessa in the Russian Empire, he studied medicine in Geneva before dedicating his career to combating infectious diseases. In 1892, Haffkine developed the first effective vaccine for cholera and later created a plague vaccine that saved countless lives. He personally tested his vaccines, demonstrating his commitment to public health and scientific rigor. During his tenure in India, he established vaccine institutes and trained local scientists, leaving a lasting legacy in global health.

Sir Marc Aurel Stein (1862–1943) was an archaeologist and Orientalist whose explorations mapped ancient trade routes across Central Asia. He led pioneering expeditions to sites such as Dunhuang, where he discovered the Library Cave with its trove of Buddhist manuscripts. Stein's meticulous surveys and excavations unearthed artifacts and documents that transformed understanding of Silk Road history. Knighted for his contributions, he held academic and curatorial positions, sharing his findings with museums and universities. His extensive photographs, maps, and records continue to serve as invaluable resources for scholars of Asian archaeology.

Aleksey Nikolayevich Krylov was born in 1863 near Oryol in Russia and studied at the Naval Engineering School in St. Petersburg. He became a leading expert in hydrodynamics and ship stability, introducing new analytical methods to predict vessel behavior in waves. Krylov’s research on gyroscopic phenomena and submarine drift had immediate applications in naval architecture. He authored numerous influential papers and textbooks that became standard references in marine engineering. During World War I and II, his theories guided the design of warships and submarines. Krylov was elected to the Russian Academy of Sciences and served as its president from 1936 to 1945. His legacy endures in the principles still used in modern naval engineering.

Paul Pelliot was born in Paris in 1878 and mastered several Asian languages while training at the École des Langues Orientales. In 1906, he embarked on a landmark expedition through Turkestan, where he visited the Mogao Caves at Dunhuang and uncovered thousands of ancient manuscripts. Pelliot meticulously documented and transported key texts to France, opening new avenues in the study of Silk Road history. After his return, he became a professor at the Collège de France, shaping generations of Oriental scholars. His translations and analyses of Chinese and Central Asian sources remain foundational in sinology. Pelliot’s combination of fieldwork and scholarship established him as a pioneering figure in Asian studies. Despite the challenges of early 20th-century travel, his legacy endures in museums and libraries worldwide.

Gerty Cori was born in Prague in 1896 and earned her medical degree at Charles University. She emigrated to the United States in 1922 with her husband, Carl Cori, and joined Washington University in St. Louis as a researcher. Together, they investigated carbohydrate metabolism and discovered the Cori cycle, explaining how glucose is converted to glycogen and back in the body. In 1947, the Coris were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for this groundbreaking work, making Gerty the first female laureate in her field. She was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and became a role model for women in science. Cori continued her research and teaching despite health challenges late in life. She passed away in 1957, leaving discoveries that transformed biochemistry and medicine.

Elizabeth Gunn was a Scottish-born pediatrician who transformed child health services in New Zealand. Born in Dundee in 1879, she studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh before moving to New Zealand. In 1920, she became the first director of the Child Health Division in the Department of Health. She founded the nation's first hospital-based baby clinic and worked tirelessly to expand free health services for mothers and infants. Gunn trained nurses and midwives in child welfare practices, emphasizing preventative care. Her initiatives led to significant declines in infant mortality rates across New Zealand. She retired in 1944 and continued to advocate for child health until her death in 1963.

Igor Sikorsky was a visionary aerospace engineer whose innovations shaped modern aviation. Born in Kyiv in 1889, he designed and built the world's first multi-engine fixed-wing aircraft in 1909. After emigrating to the United States in 1919, he founded Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in 1925. His company produced iconic helicopters like the VS-300 and the UH-60 Black Hawk. Sikorsky's work bridged the gap between airplanes and rotorcraft, revolutionizing rotary-wing flight. He held over a hundred patents and received the National Medal of Science for his achievements. Sikorsky remained active in research until his death in 1972, leaving a lasting legacy in aviation engineering.

Deryck Cooke was a leading English musicologist and critic whose work reshaped Mahler scholarship. Born in 1919, he studied at Oxford before joining the BBC as a music talks producer. Cooke's passion for Mahler led him to reconstruct the unfinished sketches of Mahler's Tenth Symphony. His performing edition, first presented in 1964, allowed audiences to experience the symphony's final movements. Beyond Mahler, Cooke authored influential books on musical form and criticism. He served as a lecturer at the University of Sussex and traveled extensively as a broadcaster. Cooke died in 1976, leaving behind a legacy of scholarly insight and advocacy for neglected repertoire.