February 03

Geert Adriaans Boomgaard was born in 1788 in Groningen, Netherlands, and lived through the Napoleonic wars, industrial revolution, and into the modern age. He served as a soldier in the Dutch army during his youth and later worked as a weaver. Boomgaard reached the age of 110 years and 135 days, becoming the first person whose longevity claim has been fully verified by modern standards. His life spanned three centuries of profound social and technological change. Contemporary newspapers and civic records documented his milestones, drawing widespread public interest. Boomgaard's remarkable lifespan remains a landmark in the study of human longevity.

Born in 1893 in Germany, Roland Freisler served as a legal scholar before aligning with the Nazi Party. Appointed President of the People's Court in 1942, he became notorious for his harsh sentencing and aggressive courtroom tactics. Freisler led trials against resistance members, including the White Rose group, condemning many to death. His dramatic performance and lack of due process made the court a symbol of Nazi legal oppression. Freisler died in 1945 during an Allied bombing raid on Berlin. His legacy endures as a stark reminder of the corruption of justice under totalitarian regimes.

Justice Nasim Hasan Shah was born in 1929 and built a distinguished legal career in Pakistan's judiciary. He served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan from 1999 to 2002, a period marked by controversial political changes. Shah is noted for his role in the bench that validated General Pervez Musharraf's 1999 military coup under the doctrine of necessity. Throughout his tenure, he authored several important judgments on constitutional law and civil rights. Before his appointment to the Supreme Court, he held positions as a district judge and served on various legal commissions. Shah contributed to legal scholarship through articles and lectures on parliamentary democracy and human rights. He retired in 2002 and passed away in 2015, remembered for his influential yet debated jurisprudence.