Bakar of Georgia
Bakar of Georgia
Prince Bakar of Georgia was a royal exile who served as a general in the Russian imperial army. He acted as a cultural and diplomatic link between Georgian émigrés and the Russian court.
Bakar of Georgia (1699–1750) was a prince of the Bagrationi dynasty and son of King Vakhtang VI of Kartli. Following his family's flight to Russia, he joined the imperial army and rose to the rank of general. Bakar undertook diplomatic missions on behalf of his father and cultivated support among European courts. He championed the preservation of Georgian culture and traditions while in exile. His service in Russia highlights the complex relationships between Georgian royalty and European powers in the 18th century. Bakar’s life reflects themes of displacement, adaptation, and loyalty to his homeland.
1750
Bakar of Georgia
4th Baronet, English field marshal and politician
4th Baronet
English field marshal and politician
Sir Robert Rich, 4th Baronet, was an English field marshal and member of Parliament. He held senior military commands and later influenced policy as a political leader.
Sir Robert Rich, 4th Baronet (1685–1768), enjoyed a distinguished career in both the British Army and Parliament. He served in the War of the Spanish Succession and commanded garrison forces in Britain. Rich was promoted to field marshal, overseeing military administration during peacetime. Concurrently, he sat as a Member of Parliament, advocating for military reforms and efficient government expenditure. His dual roles exemplify the interplay between military leadership and political authority in 18th-century Britain. Rich’s contributions helped professionalize the army and refine the relationship between the military and Parliament.
1768
Sir Robert Rich, 4th Baronet
Greek general and politician, 128th Prime Minister of Greece
Greek general and politician
128th Prime Minister of Greece
Greek general and statesman who served as the 128th Prime Minister of Greece and played a pivotal role in 20th-century Greek politics.
Born in 1878, Georgios Kondylis rose through the military ranks to become a respected general in the Greek Army. He first entered politics after leading a coup in 1925 that established a military government. Kondylis briefly served as Prime Minister from 1926 to 1928 and later again in 1932. He was instrumental in ending the Second Hellenic Republic and restoring the monarchy in 1935. Known for his authoritarian style, he held significant influence over Greece during a turbulent interwar period. Kondylis died in 1936, leaving a legacy marked by both military leadership and political controversy.
1936
Georgios Kondylis
Prime Minister of Greece
German general
German general
German field marshal best known for commanding the Sixth Army at the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II.
Born in 1890 in Breitenau, Germany, Friedrich Paulus served with distinction in World War I before rising through the Wehrmacht ranks. In 1942, he was appointed commander of the Sixth Army and led the German offensive into Stalingrad. The brutal urban combat turned into a disaster, and Paulus eventually surrendered in February 1943. His surrender marked the first time a German field marshal capitulated, a turning point in the war. Held as a prisoner of war in the Soviet Union, he later cooperated with the Soviets in anti-Nazi propaganda efforts. Paulus returned to East Germany in 1953 and died in 1957, remembered for his controversial decisions at Stalingrad.
1957
Friedrich Paulus
American colonel, pilot, and astronaut
David M. Brown, American captain, pilot, and astronaut
Kalpana Chawla, Indian-American engineer and astronaut
Laurel Clark, American captain, surgeon, and astronaut
Rick Husband, American colonel, pilot, and astronaut
William C. McCool, American commander, pilot, and astronaut
Ilan Ramon, Israeli colonel, pilot, and astronaut
American colonel
pilot
and astronaut
David M. Brown
American captain
pilot
and astronaut
Kalpana Chawla
Indian-American engineer and astronaut
Laurel Clark
American captain
surgeon
and astronaut
Rick Husband
American colonel
pilot
and astronaut
William C. McCool
American commander
pilot
and astronaut
Ilan Ramon
Israeli colonel
pilot
and astronaut
Seven astronauts who perished in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on re-entry.
On February 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry, tragically killing all seven crew members.
The crew included Michael P. Anderson, David M. Brown, Kalpana Chawla (the first Indian-American woman in space), Laurel Clark, Rick Husband, William C. McCool, and Ilan Ramon (Israel's first astronaut).
They were conducting scientific experiments and research in microgravity during mission STS-107.
The disaster prompted a comprehensive review and overhaul of NASA's shuttle safety procedures.
The bravery and dedication of the Columbia crew continue to inspire future generations of space explorers.
2003
Space Shuttle Columbia
Michael P. Anderson
David M. Brown
Kalpana Chawla
Laurel Clark
Rick Husband
William C. McCool
Ilan Ramon
Russian marshal
Russian marshal
Vasily Petrov was a Soviet military commander who rose to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union. He served with distinction during World War II and throughout the Cold War era.
Vasily Petrov was born in 1917 and joined the Red Army before the outbreak of World War II.
He saw action on the Eastern Front and quickly rose through the ranks due to his leadership and tactical skill.
After the war, Petrov held various high-level military posts and contributed to the modernization of Soviet ground forces.
In 1983, he was promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union, the highest military rank of the era.
He served on the Defense Council and advised on strategic planning during the latter years of the Cold War.
A recipient of the title Hero of the Soviet Union and numerous military honors, he retired in the late 1980s and remained a respected figure until his death in 2014 at the age of 97.
Vasily Petrov
Guatemalan general and politician, 27th President of Guatemala
Guatemalan general and politician
27th President of Guatemala
Óscar Humberto Mejía Victores was a Guatemalan general who served as the country’s de facto president from 1983 to 1986 after leading a military coup.
Born in Guatemala City in 1930, Óscar Humberto Mejía Victores rose through the military ranks to become a senior general.
In 1983, he led a coup that deposed President Efraín Ríos Montt and assumed the presidency of Guatemala.
His administration oversaw the transition to civilian rule and implemented a new constitution.
Mejía Victores presided over counterinsurgency operations during the latter years of the Guatemalan Civil War.
After handing power to an elected civilian government in 1986, he retired from public life.
He passed away in 2016 at the age of 85, leaving a complex legacy marked by both political reform and military rule.
2016
Óscar Humberto Mejía Victores
President of Guatemala
American colonel, pilot, and astronaut
American colonel
pilot
and astronaut
American Air Force colonel and NASA astronaut who perished in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.
Michael P. Anderson was a United States Air Force colonel, physicist, and NASA astronaut.
Selected by NASA in 1994, he flew as a mission specialist and payload commander on two Space Shuttle missions.
Anderson logged over 30 days in space, conducting scientific experiments aboard Endeavour and Columbia.
On February 1, 2003, he tragically lost his life during the Columbia disaster while returning to Earth.
His dedication to space science and exploration inspired fellow astronauts and future generations.
He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and other honors.
Michael P. Anderson
American captain, pilot, and astronaut
American captain
pilot
and astronaut
American naval captain and NASA astronaut who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.
David M. Brown was a United States Navy captain and astronaut selected by NASA in 1996.
He served as a mission specialist on the STS-107 Columbia mission, conducting experiments in microgravity.
Brown accrued over 15 days in space, focusing on biomedical and atmospheric studies.
On February 1, 2003, he lost his life along with his crewmates during Columbia's re-entry.
A skilled pilot and scientist, Brown inspired colleagues with his leadership and curiosity.
His legacy endures through educational programs encouraging careers in science and engineering.
David M. Brown