November 27

Pierre Dupuy was born in Paris in 1582 into a family of distinguished scholars. He became the official historiographer to King Louis XIII and amassed extensive collections of medieval charters, documents, and manuscripts. Dupuy authored critical works such as the ‘Traité des droits et libertés de l’Église gallicane’ and contributed to preserving France’s royal archives. His meticulous scholarship set new standards for documentary history in the 17th century. Together with his brother Jacques, he established a private library that later became part of the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Dupuy’s legacy endured through his dedication to critical historical inquiry until his death in 1651.

Anders Celsius was a pioneering Swedish scientist who revolutionized temperature measurement by introducing the centigrade scale in 1742. He served as a professor of astronomy at Uppsala University and conducted extensive observations on the aurora borealis and the shape of the Earth. During his expeditions to Lapland, he gathered data that challenged prevailing astronomical models. His clear and systematic approach to science influenced the development of modern metrology. Although he died young, his temperature scale was later inverted and adopted universally. Today, the Celsius scale remains a fundamental tool in science and daily life.

Robert Lowth served as Bishop of London and later as Bishop of Oxford, earning acclaim for his scholarly contributions to English grammar and rhetoric. His landmark work, "A Short Introduction to English Grammar" published in 1762, shaped generations of language instruction. An accomplished poet and translator, he also produced a critical edition of the Book of Isaiah. Lowth combined his clerical duties with rigorous academic research, demonstrating the nexus of faith and scholarship in the 18th century. His lectures at the University of Oxford attracted students from across Europe. Lowth’s legacy endures in the fields of linguistics and literary criticism.

Georg Forster accompanied his father on Captain James Cook’s second voyage, producing the influential work "A Voyage Round the World" in 1777. His vivid descriptions of Pacific cultures and environments helped lay the foundations of modern ethnology and natural history. A fervent supporter of Enlightenment ideals, Forster advocated for scientific inquiry and cultural exchange. He became a professor of natural history and languages, inspiring a generation of scholars with his interdisciplinary approach. During the French Revolution, he embraced republican principles and played a role in the short-lived Mainz Republic. His premature death in exile in Paris cut short a brilliant intellectual career.

Born in 1820 in Livonia, New York, Gleason challenged 19th-century gender norms by pursuing medical education. In 1853, she graduated from the Cleveland Medical College, becoming the fourth woman in the U.S. to hold an MD. She established a successful medical practice and advocated for women's health and education. Gleason lectured widely on hygiene and female physiology, inspiring future generations of women physicians. Her career paved the way for greater acceptance of women in the medical profession during her era.

Charles Scott Sherrington was an English physiologist, bacteriologist, and pathologist whose experiments on reflexes revolutionized the understanding of neural function. He coined the term 'synapse' to describe the junction between nerve cells. In 1932, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the functions of neurons. His book 'The Integrative Action of the Nervous System' remains a foundational text in neuroscience. Sherrington held professorships at the University of Liverpool and Oxford, mentoring generations of researchers. His contributions laid the groundwork for modern neurophysiology and neuroanatomy. He continued research and collaboration well into his later years, influencing both scientific and medical communities.

Giovanni Giorgi was an Italian physicist and electrical engineer who revolutionized the system of measurement in science and industry. In 1901, he introduced the Giorgi system, which added the ampere as a fundamental unit alongside the meter, kilogram, and second. His proposal paved the way for the International System of Units (SI) adopted in 1960. Giorgi worked on electrical power transmission and taught at the Sapienza University of Rome. He authored numerous papers on electromagnetism and measurement theory, influencing engineers worldwide. Giorgi's work provided a coherent framework for electrical and mechanical units, simplifying scientific calculations. He is honored in metrology as a key pioneer whose ideas underpin modern unit standards.

Charles A. Beard was an influential American historian known for his economic interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. His seminal work, 'An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States' challenged traditional political narratives. A professor at Columbia University, he co-founded The New School for Social Research in 1919. Beard wrote extensively on American government, foreign policy, and social history, emphasizing material forces in politics. His scholarship sparked debates and helped professionalize the study of history in the 20th century. Beard served in the U.S. Army during World War I, working in intelligence and propaganda. His legacy endures through his contributions to historiography and educational institutions.

Chaim Weizmann was a Belarusian-born chemist and statesman who became a central figure in the Zionist movement. His development of the Weizmann process for producing acetone had significant impact during World War I. Weizmann’s diplomatic efforts were instrumental in securing the 1917 Balfour Declaration from the British government. He served as President of the World Zionist Organization and later became the first President of Israel in 1949. Under his leadership, the foundations of Israel’s scientific institutions and universities were established. Weizmann was a professor of chemistry at Manchester University before focusing full-time on political activism. His contributions bridged science and politics, shaping the emergence of Israel on the world stage.

Born in 1903 in Kristiania, Norway, Lars Onsager moved to the United States for his doctoral studies and later joined the faculty at Yale University. He formulated the Onsager reciprocal relations, providing a fundamental framework for non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Onsager also made pioneering contributions to the theory of electrolytes, liquid crystals, and magnetism. His rigorous mathematical approach bridged chemistry and physics, influencing countless researchers. For his groundbreaking work, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1968. Onsager continued to mentor students and publish influential papers until his death in 1976.

Born in 1909 in Ivanovo, Anatoly Maltsev studied at Moscow State University under Andrey Kolmogorov. He made seminal contributions to abstract algebra, introducing what are now called 'Maltsev conditions' in universal algebra. Maltsev's research extended to model theory and the foundations of logic, influencing the development of algebraic logic. As head of the Algebra Department at the Steklov Institute, he mentored a generation of Soviet mathematicians. His textbooks and papers remain standard references in the field. Maltsev's pioneering work earned him a leading place in 20th-century mathematics until his death in 1967.

Born in 1911 in the Philippines, Fe del Mundo was the first woman to be admitted to Harvard Medical School. She specialized in pediatrics, establishing the Philippines' first pediatric hospital and pioneering mobile health clinics in rural areas. Over her career, she trained generations of Filipino pediatricians and advocated for child healthcare. In 1977, she received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service. She founded the Children’s Medical Center Foundation and launched community-based nutrition and vaccination programs. Del Mundo continued practicing medicine beyond her centenary, leaving a profound legacy upon her death in 2011.