January 09

Born in 1418 to the influential House of Cardona, Juan Ramón Folch III de Cardona inherited substantial territories. He commanded the Mediterranean fleet of the Crown of Aragon, defending trade routes against corsairs. Under his leadership, Aragonese naval power secured key ports and countered Ottoman and pirate threats. He participated in campaigns to protect Catalonia and project Aragonese influence in Italy. His naval reforms and strategic acumen bolstered Aragon’s maritime dominance. He died in 1485, remembered as a leading admiral of late medieval Spain.

Born in 1571 to the Longueval family, Charles Bonaventure de Longueval inherited the title Count of Bucquoy. He served as a commander in the Spanish Army of Flanders against Dutch rebels and Protestant forces. In the early stages of the Thirty Years’ War, he defended Habsburg interests in Bohemia and along the Rhine. His tactical skill secured key victories and reinforced Catholic Habsburg dominance in central Europe. He was respected for his leadership and resilience on the battlefield. Count Bucquoy died in 1621 from wounds sustained in combat, remembered as a brave and capable commander.

John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent, was born in 1735 and rose through the Royal Navy’s ranks. He achieved lasting fame at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797, earning his earldom. As Commander‐in‐Chief of the Channel Fleet, he reformed naval discipline and readiness. Later, as First Lord of the Admiralty, he balanced political duties with naval administration. His leadership during the Napoleonic Wars cemented Britain’s maritime supremacy. He died in 1823, remembered as one of the era’s greatest naval commanders.

Edwin Baker was a Canadian World War I veteran and educator who played a key role in founding the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in 1918. He dedicated his career to improving educational methods and resources for visually impaired students, pioneering adaptive teaching techniques. As a CNIB leader, Baker established training centers, libraries, and advocacy programs that transformed services for the blind community. His military experience imbued him with discipline and organizational skills that he applied to his humanitarian work. Baker’s efforts earned national recognition and laid the groundwork for future disability rights movements in Canada. His legacy lives on through the continued impact of the CNIB.