January 02

William Smyth (c.1460–1514) was an English academic and cleric who became Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, and later Bishop of Lincoln. A chaplain to Lady Margaret Beaufort, he played a key role in the education of Prince Henry, the future Henry VIII. In 1509 he co-founded Brasenose College, Oxford, leaving an endowment that shaped the college's early growth. Smyth was known for his administrative skill, building projects, and patronage of learning. He balanced his duties as a bishop with his commitment to university reform. His contributions to both church and academia left a lasting legacy in Tudor England.

Born in Alnwick, England, in 1801, Airy excelled in mathematics at Cambridge University. Appointed Astronomer Royal in 1835, he modernized the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. He introduced the prime meridian at Greenwich and improved telescopic instrumentation. Airy made significant contributions to planetary motion, lunar theory, and the study of Earth’s shape. His research laid foundations for precise timekeeping and navigation. Serving nearly half a century, his tenure shaped astronomy and mapping practices worldwide.

Léon Teisserenc de Bort (1855-1913) was a pioneering French meteorologist. He is best known for discovering the tropopause, the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere. Through systematic use of weather balloons, he collected data that revolutionized understanding of atmospheric layers. In 1905, he founded the Aerological Department of the French Meteorological Service, advancing airborne observation techniques. His work laid the groundwork for modern upper-atmosphere research and meteorological sounding methods. Teisserenc de Bort served as director of France's National Meteorological Service until his death on January 2, 1913.

Evangelos Averoff was born in 1910 in Metsovo, Greece, and emerged as both a respected historian and political figure. He authored several works on Greek history and culture, earning acclaim for his scholarship. Averoff entered politics with the National Radical Union and later the New Democracy party. He served as Minister for National Defence from 1955 to 1963, modernizing the Hellenic Armed Forces. During his tenure, he strengthened Greece’s defense capabilities amid Cold War tensions. After decades of public service, Averoff remained an influential voice until his death on January 2, 1990.

Dixy Lee Ray was born in 1914 and earned her doctorate in marine biology, one of the first women to do so. She served as a scientist with the Atomic Energy Commission before entering politics. Ray was elected the 17th Governor of Washington in 1976, serving until 1981. Her tenure was marked by environmental initiatives and controversial decisions on nuclear energy. She advocated for balanced resource management and challenged federal environmental regulations. After leaving office, Ray continued to engage in public policy debates until her passing on January 2, 1994.

Maclyn McCarty was a member of the Avery–MacLeod–McCarty team whose 1944 experiment demonstrated that DNA, not protein, transmits genetic traits. A professor at Rockefeller University, he advanced the study of bacterial genetics and contributed to molecular biology's foundation. His work paved the way for the discovery of DNA structure and modern biotechnology. McCarty published extensively on immunology and genetics and was a mentor to generations of researchers. He received numerous honors, including membership in the National Academy of Sciences, and remained active in science until shortly before his death.

Arthur Richard Newton was a pioneering researcher in electronic design automation and integrated circuit design. He served as dean of the UC Berkeley College of Engineering from 1998 until his death, championing interdisciplinary research and entrepreneurship. Newton founded the Berkeley Wireless Research Center and promoted high-throughput computing initiatives. His efforts helped strengthen Silicon Valley's ties with academia and nurtured startup culture. He received numerous accolades for his contributions to engineering education and research before passing away in 2007.

Elizabeth Fox-Genovese earned her Ph.D. from Columbia University and became a professor at Emory University. Her groundbreaking book Within the Plantation Household examined the lives of women in the antebellum South through a feminist lens. Co-founder of the Villa I Tatti Renaissance research center in Italy, she also directed Duke University's women's studies program. A prolific author and lecturer, she engaged in debates on gender, culture, and history, shaping discussions in academia. Her scholarly legacy endures through her writings and contributions to historical methodology.

Born in Dundee in 1958, Ross developed a passion for Scottish history early in life and dedicated his career to bringing the country’s past to a wider audience. He authored numerous best-selling books on Scottish military heritage, the Jacobite uprisings, and iconic figures such as Bonnie Prince Charlie. His engaging writing style and rigorous research earned him a loyal readership at home and abroad. Beyond writing, Ross was an active campaigner for Scottish cultural preservation. He died on January 2, 2010, remembered for inspiring renewed interest in Scotland’s rich history.

Born in Seattle in 1918, Hirabayashi refused to comply with curfew and relocation orders imposed on Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor. He took his case to the U.S. Supreme Court, resulting in the landmark Hirabayashi v. United States decision. After WWII, he earned a PhD in sociology and embarked on an academic career in Canada, teaching at the University of British Columbia. Hirabayashi remained a vocal advocate for civil liberties and redress for internment survivors. In 1988, his convictions were overturned, and he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 2012. He died on January 2, 2012, remembered as a symbol of resistance and justice.

Born in Vienna in 1920, Lerner fled Nazi persecution in 1939 and eventually settled in the United States, where she earned her PhD at Columbia University. In the 1960s, she began teaching and researching women’s history, publishing seminal works such as 'The Creation of Patriarchy' and 'The Woman in American History.' She founded the first graduate program in women’s history at Sarah Lawrence College and co-founded the Berkshire Conference of Women Historians. Lerner’s scholarship reshaped historical narratives by centering women’s experiences. She died on January 2, 2013, leaving a profound impact on feminist academia.

Born in 1929 in Serbia, Tihomir Novakov earned his doctorate in physics before moving to the United States in 1959. At Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, he led groundbreaking research on light-absorbing carbon particles, commonly known as 'black carbon'. His work provided critical insights into how soot and other aerosols influence global warming and air quality. Novakov published over 200 scientific papers and advised policymakers on environmental health risks. He was a fellow of the American Physical Society and received multiple awards for his contributions to atmospheric science. Novakov's legacy continues in the field of climate research and environmental protection.