February 06

Born in Florence in 1453, he became a close confidant of Lorenzo de' Medici and member of the Platonic Academy. Benivieni translated classical works and contributed to the revival of humanist poetry in Tuscany. He later embraced the reformist preacher Girolamo Savonarola, producing religious-themed verse. His works reflect a blend of classical inspiration and early Renaissance spirituality. He died in 1542, leaving a body of poetry that influenced later Italian literature.

Évariste de Parny was born in 1753 on the island of Réunion. He moved to France to pursue legal studies in Lyon before settling in Paris. His 1787 collection Chansons madécasses introduced exotic themes and early free verse forms to French poetry. Parny was celebrated for his romantic lyricism and cutting wit, blending love themes with elegant satire. He influenced prominent Romantic poets such as Lamartine and Hugo. He died in 1814, leaving a reputation as one of the pioneers of modern French verse.

Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz was born in 1758 in what is now Belarus. He studied at Vilnius University and became active in the Polish Enlightenment. Niemcewicz wrote patriotic poems and satirical plays that critiqued social and political issues. He served as a deputy in the Four-Year Sejm and contributed to drafting the Constitution of 3 May 1791. After the failed Kościuszko Uprising, he was briefly imprisoned and then emigrated to the United States, where he lectured and wrote memoirs. Returning to partitioned Poland, he held diplomatic posts and continued writing until his death in 1841. His work influenced future generations of Polish writers and patriots.

Ugo Foscolo was born in 1778 on the island of Zakynthos in the Venetian Republic. He studied law but soon devoted himself to literature and journalism. His epistolary novel Ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis (1802) is considered a precursor to Italian Romanticism. Foscolo’s poem Dei sepolcri (1807) reflects on death, memory, and national identity. An outspoken critic of foreign rule, he faced exile and spent his later years teaching in London. He died in 1827, and his writings remain influential in Italian literature.

Henry Liddell served as Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, where he shaped academic life and theology. Alongside Robert Scott, he co-authored A Greek-English Lexicon, a monumental reference work still in use today. An accomplished author, he wrote on ethics and classical literature, influencing Victorian scholarship. Liddell's daughter, Alice, inspired Lewis Carroll's famous stories when he met the family at Christ Church. He lectured widely on moral philosophy and held the Lady Margaret Professorship of Divinity. Liddell's contributions bridged religious vocation and humanistic study, leaving a lasting impact on education.

Born in Polanco, Cantabria, José María de Pereda became a leading figure of the Realist movement in Spain. After studying law, he entered public service in the Philippines and Cuba before devoting himself to literature. His regionalist novels, such as 'Peñas arriba' and 'Sotileza', captured the customs and dialects of rural Cantabria. He also served as a professor of language and literature, influencing generations of Spanish writers. Pereda was elected to the Royal Spanish Academy in 1891 and remained a respected cultural figure until his death. He died in 1906, leaving a lasting legacy in Spanish costumbrismo.

Wilhelm von Scherff began his career in the Prussian Army, fighting in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. He rose through the ranks to become a general after distinguished service in the Franco-Prussian War. Beyond his field command, he wrote extensively on infantry tactics and army organization. His treatises emphasized systematic training, discipline, and the science of warfare. Scherff's works influenced military reforms in Germany and other European armies. He retired in 1901 and remained active as a military theorist until his death in 1911.

Known as the Chofetz Chaim, Israel Meir Kagan was a leading figure in Orthodox Judaism. Born in Dzyatlava, Lithuania, he studied at the Volozhin Yeshiva before becoming a dayan in Radun. He authored 'Chofetz Chaim' on the laws of proper speech and the 'Mishnah Berurah', a guide to daily Jewish law. In 1869, he founded the Radun Yeshiva, attracting students from across Eastern Europe. Kagan's emphasis on Mussar ethics influenced Jewish education and spiritual life. He passed away in 1933, and his writings continue to be central to rabbinic scholarship.

Frederic William Henry Myers was born in 1843 in England and studied classical languages at Cambridge. He developed influential poetry and scholarly writings on philology and ancient literature. In 1882, he co-founded the Society for Psychical Research to investigate paranormal phenomena scientifically. Myers published pioneering works on mediumship and spiritualism, blending literary flair with academic research. He died in 1901, leaving a lasting impact on both Victorian literature and the emerging field of psychical studies.

John Henry Mackay was born in 1864 in London to a Scottish father and German mother and grew up in Germany. He became a leading voice for individualist anarchism, publishing the seminal work "The Anarchists" in 1891. Mackay also wrote novels and travel essays, exploring themes of freedom, nature, and social critique. Under the pseudonym "Sagitta," he anonymously advocated for homosexual rights in early 20th-century Germany. He died in 1933, remembered for his unique blend of philosophical thought and literary creativity.

Jan Werich was a central figure in Czechoslovakia's avant-garde theatre movement, co-founding the Osvobozené divadlo (Liberated Theatre) with Jiří Voskovec and Jaroslav Ježek. His clever wordplay, political satire, and comedic timing resonated with audiences during the 1920s and 1930s. Werich's plays and performances blended humor with social commentary, often challenging authoritarianism through allegory and farce. He continued to write, act, and engage with television and film after World War II, navigating the constraints of a changing political landscape. His creative partnership and solo works remain cornerstones of Czech cultural history.

Joseph Schull was a prolific author whose plays and television dramas explored Canadian identity and historical themes. As a historian, he published numerous well-researched biographies and accounts of critical events such as Canada's role in World War I and II. Schull's writings combined narrative flair with academic rigor, earning him recognition in both literary and scholarly circles. He worked in broadcasting for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, adapting historical subjects for radio and television. Throughout his career, he contributed significantly to public understanding of Canada's heritage.