December 21

Francis Garnier was a French naval officer and engineer born in 1839. He joined the French Navy and quickly distinguished himself with his technical skills. Garnier led daring expeditions into the interior of Vietnam and the Mekong Delta. His explorations contributed to France's colonial expansion in Indochina. He was also recognized for his cartographic and scientific observations. Garnier died in 1873 during an encounter in Vietnam, becoming a colonial hero. His legacy endures in geographic names and historical accounts of French exploration.

Knud Rasmussen was born in 1879 in Jakobshavn, Greenland. A pioneering anthropologist, he documented Inuit culture and traditions. Rasmussen led the famous Thule Expeditions across the Arctic. Fluent in Inuit languages, he collected oral histories and legends. His work bridged Western science and indigenous knowledge. Rasmussen published influential accounts of Arctic life and exploration. He died in 1933, leaving a rich legacy in anthropology and polar research.