November 26

Artemas Ward was an American merchant turned militia officer who became the senior-most commander of colonial forces during the early stages of the American Revolutionary War. He organized and led the Massachusetts militia during the Siege of Boston from 1775 to 1776, working alongside General George Washington. After military service, Ward served as a member of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress and was later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He advocated for veterans’ benefits and the development of infrastructure in Massachusetts. His leadership during the Revolution earned him recognition as one of the first American generals and a founding figure in the new republic.

Zeng Guofan was a scholar-official of the Qing dynasty who rose to prominence by organizing the Xiang Army to quell the Taiping Rebellion. His disciplined military strategies and administrative reforms restored stability to southern China and preserved imperial authority. As Viceroy of Liangjiang, he promoted education, infrastructure projects, and the Self-Strengthening Movement to modernize armaments and industry. Zeng’s writings on governance and Confucian ethics influenced later reformers and politicians. Revered for his integrity and leadership, he remains a complex figure in Chinese history for both his military success and cautious conservatism.

Mary Edwards Walker graduated from Syracuse Medical College as one of its first female graduates and opened a practice in Rome, New York. During the American Civil War, she served as a contract surgeon—often treating soldiers near the front lines. Captured by Confederate forces in 1864, she was later exchanged and continued her medical service. Walker campaigned tirelessly for dress reform and women’s suffrage, often wearing men’s attire to challenge social norms. In 1865, she was awarded the Medal of Honor for her wartime medical work, a distinction later revoked and posthumously restored. Her fearless advocacy and trailblazing career made her a symbol of courage and equality.

William Sterling Parsons was an American naval officer and ordnance expert instrumental in developing the 'Little Boy' atomic bomb. As the weaponeer on the Enola Gay, he oversaw the assembly and detonation of the bomb over Hiroshima in 1945. Parsons played key roles in naval gunfire planning and served as deputy commander of the Navy's Ordinance Division. His expertise in ballistics and ordnance management advanced U.S. military technology during World War II. Despite the controversy of his work, he remained a respected figure in naval ordnance and atomic research. Parsons continued to serve in senior positions until his death in 1953, leaving a complex legacy in military history.

Ryszard Kaczorowski joined the Polish resistance during World War II and was deported by Soviet forces to Siberia before escaping to join Anders' Army. He fought at the Battle of Monte Cassino and later settled in the United Kingdom, where he became active in the Polish émigré community. In 1989, he assumed the presidency of the Polish government-in-exile, upholding the legal continuity of the pre-war Polish Republic. He returned the presidential insignia to Lech Wałęsa after the fall of communism, marking Poland's restoration of sovereignty. A stalwart advocate for Polish democracy and history, Kaczorowski continued cultural and educational initiatives until his death in the 2010 Smolensk air disaster.

Porter Goss is an American former soldier, intelligence officer, and politician. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served with the U.S. Army Special Forces. Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1988, Goss was a leading figure on the House Intelligence Committee. In 2004, President George W. Bush appointed him as the 19th Director of the CIA, where he oversaw major intelligence reforms. After leaving the CIA in 2006, he continued to influence discussions on national security and intelligence policy.