November 19

Born in Virginia in 1752, George Rogers Clark moved to Kentucky where he organized settlers into militias. During the Revolutionary War, he led the Illinois campaign, capturing the British posts at Kaskaskia and Vincennes in 1778–1779. His daring winter march to Vincennes is regarded as one of the war’s most brilliant operations. Clark’s successes secured the Old Northwest for the United States in the Treaty of Paris. After the war, he struggled with lack of recognition and financial hardship. Despite personal setbacks, he is remembered as the “Conqueror of the Old Northwest.” Clark died in 1818, leaving a legacy of frontier resilience and military innovation.

Born Manikarnika in Varanasi in 1828, Lakshmibai married the Maharaja of Jhansi and became Rani upon his death. When the British East India Company annexed Jhansi under the Doctrine of Lapse, she refused to relinquish her kingdom and took up arms. Lakshmibai led her troops into battle, famously donning armor and riding a horse on the front lines. Her fierce defense of Jhansi and her escape to unite with rebel forces made her a legendary figure. She fought valiantly at the battle of Kalpi before falling in combat in 1858. Lakshmibai’s courage inspired future generations of Indian freedom fighters. She remains a symbol of female empowerment and national resistance.

Born in Ohio in 1831, James A. Garfield grew up in poverty before excelling at Williams College and becoming a teacher and lawyer. He served as a colonel and then brigadier general in the Union Army during the Civil War, earning a reputation for bravery at the Battle of Middle Creek. After the war, Garfield represented Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly two decades, advocating civil rights and economic development. He was elected President in 1880 on a platform of civil service reform and national unity. Garfield survived an assassination attempt in July 1881 but succumbed to infections from his wounds two months later. His death shocked the nation and led to major reforms in the federal patronage system. Garfield’s legacy endures in the ongoing debate over government integrity and public service.

Américo Tomás was born in 1894 in Lisbon, Portugal. He graduated from the Portuguese Naval Academy and rose to the rank of admiral, commanding the fleet and overseeing naval operations. In 1958, he was elected President of Portugal under the Estado Novo regime led by António de Oliveira Salazar. During his presidency, Tomás supported the authoritarian government’s policies while Portugal maintained its colonial territories. He was a key figure during a period of economic development and political repression. Tomás remained president until the Carnation Revolution of 1974 led to the end of the dictatorship. He died in 1987, remembered for his long tenure during a pivotal era in Portuguese history.

Quentin Roosevelt served as a lieutenant in the United States Army Air Service during World War I. Born in 1897, he was the youngest son of President Theodore Roosevelt. He flew combat missions over France and was noted for his bravery under fire. On July 14, 1918, he was shot down and killed in action, becoming a symbol of youthful sacrifice. His death was widely mourned and contributed to his legacy as an American war hero.

Franz Schädle was born in 1906 and became an officer in the Schutzstaffel (SS) of Nazi Germany. During World War II, he held various command positions within the SS. His service placed him at the center of the conflict on the Eastern and Western fronts. Little is widely documented about his specific actions, but he remained active in the SS until the end of the war. Schädle died in 1945 as the Third Reich collapsed.

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is an Egyptian field marshal born in 1954 and a prominent political leader. He rose through the ranks of the Egyptian Army, achieving the rank of field marshal and serving as Minister of Defense. El-Sisi assumed the presidency as the 6th President of Egypt in 2014. His tenure has focused on national security, economic development, and infrastructure projects. He remains a central figure in Egypt's political landscape, shaping the country's domestic and foreign policies.