November 16

Gu Yanhui was a Chinese warlord during the late Tang dynasty who governed the Xichuan region. He inherited military power during a period of weakened central authority and navigated complex alliances with neighboring commanders. Known for his tactical skill and regional administration, he faced constant challenges from rival warlords. His death in 897 marked the end of his family's local rule. Gu's career illustrates the fragmentation that preceded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

Charles Neville (1542–1601) succeeded his father as Earl of Westmorland in 1564. Disaffected by Elizabeth I's Protestant policies, he allied with Catholic nobles to restore Mary, Queen of Scots. In 1569, Neville co-led the Northern Rebellion, briefly capturing Durham. The uprising collapsed under royal forces, forcing him into exile. He spent the rest of his life on the Continent in poverty. His estates were forfeited, and he never returned to England. Neville's revolt remains one of Elizabethan England's most significant Catholic insurrections.

James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde (1665-1745) was an Anglo-Irish aristocrat and military leader. He fought alongside the Duke of Marlborough in the War of the Spanish Succession, earning distinction at major battles. Ormonde served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, acting as the monarch's representative and overseeing administration. A skilled administrator and soldier, he navigated the complex politics of the Stuart and Hanoverian courts. His later involvement in the Jacobite cause led to his exile, but his early career left a mark on Irish and British history.

Moses Cleaveland (1754-1806) was an American general in the Revolutionary War and later a lawyer and land surveyor. In 1796, he led the surveying party that laid out the plans for a settlement on the Cuyahoga River, naming it Cleveland. Cleaveland's grid plan and land sales attracted settlers, and the town quickly grew as a port on Lake Erie. Although he left the settlement soon after its founding, his vision set the stage for Cleveland's development into a major city. His legacy endures in the city's name and the early civic institutions he helped establish.

Born in 1835 in Bohemia, František Chvostek pursued medical studies at the University of Vienna. After graduation, he joined the Austrian army as a military surgeon. In 1876, he described the eponymous Chvostek's sign, a twitch response used to diagnose hypocalcemia and tetany. His clinical observations advanced the understanding of electrolyte disturbances in neurology. Chvostek later served as a professor at the Vienna Medical School, where he taught and published on various medical topics. He remained active in both military and academic circles until his death in 1884. Today, Chvostek's sign remains a routine examination in clinical medicine.

William McDonough Kelly (1925–2013) was a Canadian military officer and politician. He served as a lieutenant in the Canadian Armed Forces, demonstrating leadership and dedication. After his military service, Kelly transitioned to politics and was elected to public office. He worked on policy initiatives aimed at strengthening national security and community welfare. Kelly was respected for his disciplined approach and commitment to public service. His dual experience in the military and politics provided a unique perspective on governance. He aimed to bridge the gap between defense and civilian policy-making through his work.

Born in Warsaw in 1920, Jadwiga Piłsudska escaped German-occupied Poland to join the British Air Transport Auxiliary during WWII. As one of the first female pilots in the ATA, she ferried military aircraft across the UK, demonstrating skill and bravery. After the war, she studied architecture in London and returned to Poland, contributing to modernist housing projects. Piłsudska balanced her pioneering wartime service with a successful architectural career, leaving an impact on both fields. She passed away in 2014 at the age of 94, remembered as a trailblazer in aviation and design.

Carl Sanders was born in 1925 and served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Elected Governor of Georgia in 1962 at age 37, he became the state's youngest governor and championed education reform. Sanders modernized state government, advanced civil rights measures, and attracted business investment to Georgia. After leaving office, he practiced law and held leadership roles in the private sector, shaping regional development. He died in 2014 at the age of 89, leaving a legacy of progressive governance in the American South.

Alton D. Slay was born in 1924 and commissioned into the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1946, serving as a pilot in postwar Europe. He commanded the Air Force's Electronic Systems Division at Hanscom Air Force Base, overseeing advanced communication and radar programs. Slay played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. Cold War aerospace strategy and the development of early satellite tracking systems. After retiring as a Lieutenant General in 1978, he consulted for aerospace firms and advocated for national defense innovation. He died in 2015 at the age of 90, leaving a legacy of technological advancement in military aviation.