November 15

Born in 459, Bʼutz Aj Sak Chiik ascended to the throne of a prominent city-state during the height of the Classic Maya civilization. Under his rule, significant architectural projects and ceremonial centers were constructed, reflecting Mayan cosmology. He engaged in diplomatic alliances and occasional conflicts with neighboring polities to expand his influence. Inscriptions and stelae discovered by archaeologists provide valuable insights into his reign and religious ceremonies. Despite the passage of time, his legacy endures through the study of Mayan hieroglyphs and ancient monuments.

Born in 1316 to King Louis X and Queen Clementia of Hungary, John I became king immediately upon birth. He reigned for only five days before his untimely death, making him the shortest-serving monarch of France. His brief life and reign are shrouded in legends and political intrigue among the Capetian nobility. Though he never ruled in his own right, his birth and death had significant dynastic implications for the French crown. Historians study his life to understand medieval succession laws and the challenges of infant monarchy.

Born in 1498 to Philip the Handsome and Joanna of Castile, Eleanor was a member of the Habsburg dynasty. She married King Manuel I of Portugal at age 19, strengthening ties between Austria and Portugal. After widowing in 1521, she became queen consort of France through her marriage to King Francis I in 1530. As queen, she acted as regent and patron of the arts, navigating courtly rivalries amid the Italian Wars. Her political marriages exemplified Habsburg diplomatic strategies and bolstered alliances across Europe.

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708–1778), was one of Britain's most influential 18th-century statesmen. Born to a wealthy merchant family, he rose to prominence as an eloquent orator and radical Whig. As Prime Minister from 1766 to 1768, Pitt championed colonial interests and led Britain during the final years of the Seven Years' War. He negotiated key alliances, improved military finances, and expanded British influence across the globe. Pitt was famed for his opposition to corruption and his persuasive speeches in Parliament. His policies laid foundations for the British Empire, and he inspired future generations of politicians. Father of William Pitt the Younger, he left a lasting legacy in British parliamentary history. He was elevated to the peerage as Earl of Chatham in 1766.

Jérôme Bonaparte (1784–1860) was a French prince and the youngest brother of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Appointed King of Westphalia in 1807, he ruled the Napoleonic client state until 1813. His marriage to Princess Catharina of Württemberg reinforced ties between the Bonaparte dynasty and German royalty. Previously, he had a controversial marriage to Elizabeth Patterson of the United States, later annulled by Napoleon. Despite limited administrative talent, he implemented legal and educational reforms in Westphalia. After the fall of Napoleon, Jérôme lived in exile before returning to Europe, where he received a pension from the restored Bourbon monarchy. His varied marriages and short reign reflect the turbulent politics of the Napoleonic era.

Tewfik Pasha was born in 1852 in Alexandria as the eldest son of Isma'il Pasha. He succeeded his father as the Khedive of Egypt and Sudan in 1879. His reign coincided with the British occupation following the Urabi Revolt. Although he held titular authority, key decisions were controlled by British advisors. He oversaw several infrastructure and modernization projects across Egypt, including railway expansions. Tewfik died in 1892, leaving a mixed legacy of progress and foreign dominance.

Christopher Hornsrud was born in 1859 in Linderud, Norway. He began his career as a railway worker before becoming active in the labour movement. He co-founded the Norwegian Labour Party and served in the Storting for many years. In January 1928, he became the first Labour Prime Minister of Norway, but his cabinet fell after eighteen days. Hornsrud continued to influence social and economic policy as a Member of Parliament until his retirement. He died in 1960, remembered for his role in advancing labour rights and parliamentary democracy in Norway.

John Earle was born in 1865 in Cornwall, England, and migrated to Tasmania as a child. He worked as a miner and became active in the trade union movement. Elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in 1901, he became leader of the Labor Party and formed Tasmania’s first Labor government in 1909. His administration introduced progressive labor reforms, including an eight-hour workday and workers’ compensation. After losing power, he served as a Senator and federal cabinet minister. He died in 1932, remembered for pioneering social legislation and labor rights in Tasmania.

William Averell Harriman (1891–1986) was born into the prominent Harriman family and became a key figure in 20th-century American politics and business. After working in the family railroad business, he served as U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1943 and to Britain in 1946. President Harry S. Truman appointed him Secretary of Commerce in 1947, where he championed post-war economic policies. Harriman was also the U.S. representative to the Marshall Plan negotiations and later Ambassador to NATO. In 1955, he ran for president before serving as Governor of New York from 1955 to 1959. Known for his diplomacy during the Cold War, he remained active in public affairs, supporting arms control and human rights. His varied career merged business acumen with public service, leaving a lasting imprint on American history.

Born in Tsarskoye Selo, Olga Nikolaevna was the eldest daughter of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra. She studied painting and music, showing a talent for watercolor art. During World War I, she served as a Red Cross nurse alongside her mother. Her diaries and photographs provide insight into the last days of the Russian imperial family. She was executed with her family by Bolsheviks in 1918 at Ekaterinburg, becoming a symbol of the Romanov tragedy.

Aneurin “Nye” Bevan was born in a Welsh mining community and worked as a coal miner before entering politics. He was elected to Parliament in 1929 as a Labour MP for Ebbw Vale. As Minister of Health from 1945 to 1951, he championed the creation of the National Health Service. His passionate speeches and wit made him a popular figure on the Left. Bevan also advocated for social housing and workers’ rights. He remains celebrated as the architect of modern British healthcare.