November 05

Louis Bertrand Castel (1688–1757) was born in Montpellier and became a prominent figure of the French Enlightenment. He made significant contributions to the study of color perception, arguing that color could be understood through mathematical principles. In 1740, he published his influential work 'L'Optique des couleurs,' challenging existing theories of optics. Castel's interest in the harmony between music and light led him to invent the ocular harpsichord, an instrument designed to accompany musical performance with colored lights. He held memberships in several scientific academies and engaged in debates with leading thinkers of his time. Despite controversies around his theories, his interdisciplinary approach left a lasting impact on both scientific and artistic communities.

William Bland (1789–1868) trained in London as a surgeon before a duel in 1813 led to his transportation to New South Wales. In Australia, he resumed his medical career and became one of the colony’s most respected practitioners. Bland helped found the Sydney Medical Society and contributed to the development of the colony’s first medical journal. His civic engagement extended to politics, where he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council and advocated for public health, education, and prison reform. Bland’s efforts included establishing the Sydney Eye Hospital and promoting vaccination programs. He died in 1868, leaving a legacy of medical and political achievement in Australia.

Born in 1854, Paul Sabatier taught at the universities of Toulouse and Montpellier, mentoring a generation of chemists. He is best known for developing the Sabatier process, which uses metal catalysts to hydrogenate organic compounds. His research laid the groundwork for modern heterogeneous catalysis and had major industrial applications in petroleum refining. In 1912, he was honored with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his contributions to catalysis. Beyond his discovery, Sabatier published influential studies on gas thermochemistry and reaction mechanisms. He died in 1941, leaving a legacy as one of France's most celebrated scientists.

Léon Teisserenc de Bort was born in 1855 and devoted his career to studying the Earth's atmosphere. He pioneered the use of meteorological balloons to collect upper-air data, revealing temperature changes with altitude. In 1902, he identified a distinct atmospheric layer later named the stratosphere above the troposphere. His work transformed understanding of weather patterns and laid the groundwork for modern climatology. Teisserenc de Bort published detailed studies on atmospheric pressure and wind circulation. He passed away in 1913, hailed as a founding figure in aerology and modern meteorology.

Will Durant was an American historian and philosopher celebrated for his accessible works on world history and culture. Alongside his wife Ariel, he produced the multi-volume series 'The Story of Civilization,' which earned them a Pulitzer Prize in 1968 for 'Rousseau and Revolution.' Durant's writing emphasized the role of ideas, art, and individual agency in shaping human societies. He held a doctoral degree in philosophy and lectured at Columbia University. His popular lectures and radio broadcasts brought scholarly discussions to a broad audience. Durant's legacy continues to influence public history and philosophy today.

John Burdon Sanderson Haldane was a geneticist and biologist who co-founded the field of population genetics. He applied mathematical approaches to study natural selection and gene frequencies, producing foundational papers in the 1920s and 1930s. Haldane authored the influential book 'The Causes of Evolution' and popular science essays that engaged a broad audience. In 1957, he emigrated to India where he continued research at the Indian Statistical Institute. Known for his wit and intellect, he contributed to biochemistry, physiology, and evolutionary theory. Haldane's work laid the groundwork for modern evolutionary biology.

Beardsley Ruml was a leading American economist and statistician in the mid-20th century. As chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, he influenced key monetary policies during and after World War II. He introduced the payroll withholding system for federal income taxes, reshaping government revenue collection. Ruml authored significant works on price administration and public finance and served as an advisor to several U.S. presidents. His contributions established modern fiscal practices still in use today.

Ethelwynn Trewavas devoted her career to the study of fish taxonomy and systematics at the British Museum (Natural History). She specialized in cichlids, deep-sea species, and freshwater fishes, publishing extensively on their classification. Several fish genera and over a dozen species bear her name in recognition of her contributions. Trewavas mentored young scientists and helped modernize fish classification methods using morphological analysis. Her meticulous research laid the groundwork for contemporary biodiversity studies in ichthyology.

Fred Lawrence Whipple was an American astronomer who advanced the understanding of comets. He proposed the 'dirty snowball' model of comet nuclei in 1950, explaining their composition. Whipple served as director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory from 1955 to 1973. He championed the use of telescopic surveys to track near-Earth objects and meteoroids. Under his leadership, the observatory expanded its satellite tracking network for space research. Whipple received the National Medal of Science in 1970 for his contributions to astronomy. He authored numerous scientific papers and mentored generations of astronomers. Whipple's work laid the foundation for modern planetary science and comet exploration.

Sir John Winthrop Hackett was a senior British Army officer who served in World War II and beyond. He commanded the 5th Infantry Brigade during the D-Day landings and later led the 1st Division. Hackett served as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army of the Rhine in the 1960s. After retiring, he became a fellow at Balliol College, Oxford, and lectured on military history. He co-authored The Third World War: August 1985, a hypothetical scenario examining Cold War tensions. Hackett was knighted for his service and received several military honors. His writings influenced defense strategy and public understanding of modern warfare. Hackett passed away in 1997, leaving a legacy as a soldier-scholar of the British Army.

Wilbur Allen Wallis was an influential American economist and statistician. He served as president of the University of Rochester from 1962 to 1970, expanding academic programs. Wallis held the position of Under Secretary of Commerce under President Nixon from 1972 to 1973. He contributed to the development of national accounting systems and economic measurement. Wallis was a professor at the University of Minnesota and later at the University of Rochester. He authored numerous papers on economic policy, social welfare, and statistical methods. Wallis was awarded the Francis A. Walker Medal in 1980 for his contributions to economics. He passed away in 1998, remembered for blending academic rigor with public service.

Born in 1919 in Punjab, British India, Hasan Askari became a distinguished linguist and critic. He taught at various universities, including the University of the Punjab and Nankai University in China. Askari authored numerous works on Urdu literature, language structure, and literary criticism. His scholarship bridged linguistics and cultural studies, influencing generations of writers. He also translated key literary texts between Urdu, Punjabi, and English. Askari's contributions helped elevate the academic study of South Asian languages.