November 15

Born in 1660, von der Hardt studied theology and oriental languages at the University of Jena. In 1699, he was appointed professor of history and oriental languages at the University of Helmstedt. He published seminal works on Persian, Arabic, and Turkish history, influencing European scholarship on the East. His magnum opus, 'Historia Orientalis', collected rare manuscripts and historical sources from the Near East. His research laid groundwork for modern Oriental studies and expanded the West’s knowledge of Asian civilizations.

Born in 1692 in Bavaria, Amort studied theology, philosophy, and law at the University of Ingolstadt. He became a professor of theology and later served as court librarian to the Elector of Bavaria. An ardent scholar, he wrote extensively on mysticism, metaphysics, and church history, including 'Theologia eclectica'. He also composed Latin and German poems, demonstrating his literary as well as theological talents. His interdisciplinary approach influenced 18th-century Catholic thought and the study of mysticism.

Sir William Herschel (1738–1822) was a German-English astronomer and composer who revolutionized astronomy. Born in Hanover, he served as a musician in England before turning his passion to telescope making and sky surveys. In 1781, Herschel discovered Uranus, the first planet found with a telescope, extending the known boundaries of the solar system. He catalogued over 2,500 nebulae and star clusters, laying groundwork for future deep-sky research. Herschel studied infrared radiation, identifying wavelengths beyond visible light and founding infrared astronomy. He served as Royal Astronomer to King George III and was knighted in 1816 for his contributions. His sister Caroline Herschel assisted in observations and made her own astronomical discoveries.

Heinrich Christian Friedrich Schumacher (1757–1830) was a Danish surgeon, botanist, and academic. He studied medicine at the University of Copenhagen before focusing on botany and natural history. Schumacher published "Beskrivelse af Guineiske planter," cataloguing West African plant species. As a professor of anatomy and surgery, he introduced innovative teaching methods and surgical techniques. He combined clinical practice with field research, collecting botanical specimens across Europe and Africa. His work advanced botanical taxonomy and influenced 19th-century medical education. Schumacher's interdisciplinary approach bridged scientific study and clinical application.

Michel Chasles (1793–1880) was a French mathematician celebrated for his contributions to geometry. He formulated Chasles' theorem on conic sections and pioneered the study of geometric transformations. His research laid the groundwork for projective and enumerative geometry, influencing later developments in algebra and topology. Chasles published extensively on curves, conics, and the history of mathematics. He served as a professor at the École Polytechnique and the Collège de France. Elected to the Académie des Sciences in 1842, he became a leading figure in 19th-century French scientific circles. Chasles also wrote biographies of mathematicians, preserving the heritage of the mathematical community.

Mary E. Byrd (1849–1934) was a pioneering American astronomer and educator. After earning her degree at Vassar College, she remained on the faculty and became one of the first women professors of astronomy in the U.S. Byrd directed the Vassar Observatory for over 30 years, supervising student research and public outreach. She conducted systematic observations of comets, variable stars, and double star systems. Byrd published her findings in leading scientific journals and lectured extensively on astronomical topics. She advocated for women's education in the sciences and inspired generations of female scientists. Her legacy includes significant contributions to astronomy and the advancement of women in academia.

Born in 1867 in the Russian Empire, Emil Krebs joined the German Foreign Office as a diplomat. He dedicated his life to the study of languages, becoming fluent in more than sixty tongues from Chinese to Hindi and Zulu. Krebs developed innovative methods for language learning and created his own constructed language. He published scholarly papers on linguistics and taught languages later in life. Despite suffering from cardiovascular problems, he continued his research until his death. He died in 1930, celebrated as one of history’s greatest polyglots.

Born in 1868 in Iași, Romania, Emil Racoviță earned his doctorate in biological sciences at the Free University of Brussels. He joined the Belgica expedition to Antarctica from 1897 to 1899 as the ship’s naturalist. Racoviță was the first scientist to conduct scientific research on the Antarctic continent. He later became a professor at the University of Cluj and founded modern biospeleology, studying cave fauna across Europe. He authored numerous scientific papers and mentored future generations of biologists. He died in 1947, remembered for his groundbreaking work in zoology and exploration.

Born in 1873 in Poughkeepsie, New York, Sara Josephine Baker graduated from the Women’s Medical College of the New York Infirmary. She worked for the New York City Health Department, focusing on maternal and child health. Baker established milk stations, taught hygiene, and advocated for sanitary housing conditions. Her efforts cut infant mortality rates by nearly half between 1908 and 1917. She also researched typhoid carriers and broke barriers for women in medicine. She died in 1945, leaving a lasting legacy in public health and preventive medicine.

Born in 1874 in Grenaa, Denmark, August Krogh studied medicine at the University of Copenhagen. He conducted groundbreaking research on capillary blood flow and gas exchange in tissues. Krogh proposed what is now known as the Krogh Principle, explaining how capillary recruitment matches oxygen supply to tissue demand. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1920 for these discoveries. Krogh also made significant contributions to respiratory physiology and helped found the Zoophysiological Laboratory in Copenhagen. He died in 1949, leaving a profound impact on cardiovascular and exercise physiology.

Felix Frankfurter (1882–1965) was an Austrian-born American lawyer, jurist, and founding faculty member of Harvard Law School. Emigrating to the U.S. at a young age, he excelled academically, earning his law degree from Harvard. Frankfurter served as a legal adviser to President Woodrow Wilson and was instrumental at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. In 1939, he was appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He championed the principle of judicial restraint, arguing that courts should defer to legislative judgments. His nuanced opinions on civil liberties and federalism left a lasting impact on American constitutional law. After retiring from the bench in 1962, he remained an influential voice on legal and political issues until his death.

Harald Riipalu Keres was born on November 15, 1912, in Narva, Estonia. He became Estonia's first professor of theoretical physics at the University of Tartu. His research spanned atomic physics, nuclear physics, and quantum mechanics. Keres played a key role in establishing physics education and research in Estonia during the 20th century. He supervised numerous students who went on to contribute to international scientific communities. His legacy endures in Estonian academia through awards and institutions named in his honor.