November 20

Born in Sömmerda in 1787, Dreyse apprenticed as a gunsmith and studied mechanical engineering. In 1836 he patented the Dreyse needle gun, the first practical bolt-action breechloader. The rifle gave the Prussian army a significant tactical advantage in mid-19th-century conflicts. He established a manufactory that produced thousands of rifles for military forces. His innovations paved the way for modern small arms design and tactics.

Born in New York City, Charlotte Garrigue married Czech statesman Tomáš Masaryk in 1878. She moved to Europe and supported her husband’s career in philosophy and politics. As First Lady of Czechoslovakia, she was active in charitable work and social causes. She helped establish educational and health initiatives in the new republic. Garrigue’s personal letters reveal her intellect and dedication to democracy. She remained a close advisor to her husband until her death in 1923.

Born in 1866 in Millville, Ohio, Kenesaw Mountain Landis was appointed as a federal judge before gaining national prominence. In 1920, Major League Baseball owners appointed him as the sport’s first Commissioner to address the fallout from the 1919 Black Sox Scandal. Landis wielded broad powers to preserve baseball’s reputation, issuing lifetime bans to eight Chicago White Sox players involved in the conspiracy. His tenure saw the stabilization and growth of professional baseball, though his strict disciplinary approach and opposition to integration remain controversial. Landis served as commissioner until his death in 1944, leaving a complex legacy as both a moral guardian and an autocratic administrator.

Maria Letizia Bonaparte was born in 1866 into the illustrious Bonaparte dynasty as the eldest child of Prince Napoléon and Princess Maria Clotilde. Raised in the shadow of her family’s imperial legacy, she married her cousin Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Aosta, in 1888. Through this union, she became Duchess of Aosta and had three children, including Prince Amedeo, who later served in World War I. Maria Letizia maintained charitable activities and patronage befitting her rank. She witnessed the shifting fortunes of European royalty in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The duchess passed away in 1926, remembered as a dignified link between the Bonaparte and Aosta branches.

Herbert John Pitman was born on November 20, 1877, in Somerset and joined the merchant navy at a young age. He served as Third Officer on the RMS Titanic in 1912 and was responsible for lifeboat number 5 during the evacuation. Pitman helped launch and command the boat, overseeing the rescue of dozens of survivors. After the sinking, he testified at British inquiries, providing detailed accounts of the disaster. He continued his naval career and served during World War I, eventually retiring with the rank of lieutenant commander. Pitman lived quietly in Torquay, England, where he reflected on his experiences until his death in 1961.

Born in Russia in 1886, Stavisky emigrated to France and rose as a stockbroker and banker. He orchestrated massive bond frauds, embezzling funds from public institutions. The 1934 Stavisky Affair exposed corruption at high levels of government and incited riots. His mysterious death, ruled a suicide, fueled conspiracy theories and political instability. The scandal contributed to the fall of several French cabinets during the interwar period.

Chiyono Hasegawa was born on November 20, 1896, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, and lived through the Meiji, Taishō, Shōwa, and Heisei eras. She became the oldest living person in Japan and one of the top few worldwide, reaching 115 years and 237 days. Her remarkable longevity attracted national attention and she was celebrated for her clear memory and gentle spirit. Hasegawa credited her long life to a balanced diet, daily exercise, and a peaceful rural lifestyle. She witnessed dramatic changes in Japanese society, from the prewar period through rapid modernization. Her life story inspired many to reflect on the possibilities of healthy aging.

Pauli Murray was a fearless advocate for civil and women's rights, coining the term 'Jane Crow' to describe gender discrimination. She earned a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and framed arguments that influenced Brown v. Board of Education. In 1977, Murray became the first African American woman ordained as an Episcopal priest. She also wrote poetry and a groundbreaking memoir, Proud Shoes, chronicling her family's history. Her interdisciplinary legacy continues to inspire movements for social justice.

Libertas Schulze-Boysen came from an aristocratic family but devoted herself to anti-Nazi resistance efforts in Berlin. She and her husband Harro Schulze-Boysen gathered intelligence and distributed leaflets through the Red Orchestra espionage group. Libertas used her social connections to assist fugitives and communicate with other resistance cells. She was arrested by the Gestapo in 1942 and executed the same year for her covert activities. Today, she is remembered as a courageous figure who sacrificed her life to fight tyranny.

Born in Denison, Texas, in 1921, Jim Garrison served as the District Attorney of Orleans Parish from 1962 to 1969. He gained national attention for prosecuting New Orleans businessman Clay Shaw on charges related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. His controversial investigation was later dramatized in Oliver Stone's film 'JFK'. Garrison's work sparked debates about government transparency and conspiracy in American politics. Before his tenure as D.A., he served in the Marine Corps during World War II and practiced law in New Orleans. Garrison died in 1992, leaving a complex legacy in American legal history.

Timothy Evans (1924–1950) was a Welshman convicted and executed for the murders of his wife and infant daughter. Subsequent evidence revealed that serial killer John Christie, who lived in the same building, was the true murderer. Evans was posthumously pardoned in 1966, and his case became a landmark for legal reform. The public outcry over the injustice contributed to the abolition of the death penalty for murder in Britain in 1965. His story remains a powerful cautionary tale about miscarriages of justice and capital punishment.

Jeff Dowd began his career in independent film production, supporting emerging directors and stories outside the mainstream. He has produced documentaries and feature films that highlight social issues and community voices. As an activist, Dowd has participated in grassroots movements and political campaigns across the United States. His dual focus on creative media and advocacy has earned him respect in both arenas. Dowd’s passion for film and justice has inspired a generation of filmmakers and activists to use art as a tool for change.