February 09

Born in 1781 in Höchstadt, Germany, Spix pursued natural science studies at the University of Erlangen. In 1817, he joined an expedition to Brazil, exploring the Amazon and collecting plant and animal specimens. Spix and his companion Carl von Martius catalogued new species, greatly expanding knowledge of Brazilian biodiversity. His detailed field notes and illustrations became valuable resources for zoology and botany. Spix's work earned him recognition at the Bavarian Academy of Sciences upon his return in 1820. Although he died young in 1826, Spix's contributions continue to influence tropical biology and exploration.

Charles Kingsford Smith was born in 1897 in New South Wales and became one of aviation’s most celebrated pioneers. He served as a flight instructor in World War I before forming the Southern Cross expedition team. In 1928, he and his crew completed the first trans-Pacific flight from Oakland, California to Brisbane, Australia in the Fokker F.VIIb/3m 'Southern Cross'. He also achieved the first nonstop crossing of the Australian mainland and set multiple long-distance flight records. Smith promoted commercial aviation and helped establish Qantas, Australia’s national airline. His daring exploits captured the world’s imagination and advanced international air travel. In 1935, he disappeared over the Andaman Sea during an attempted England-to-Australia flight, and his legacy endures in numerous memorials and aeronautical achievements.