February 26

Claude Gaspard Bachet de Méziriac was born in 1581 into a noble French family and excelled in mathematics and languages. He translated and annotated the Arithmetica of Diophantus, laying groundwork for modern number theory. Bachet also published collections of Latin and Greek puzzles, popularizing recreational mathematics among scholars. His work on chess problems in 'Ludus sive Scaccorum' influenced early studies of game theory. A polymath, he contributed to linguistics by compiling grammars and dictionaries for classical languages. He died in 1638, remembered for bridging scholarly rigor with playful intellectual inquiry.

Born Yamuna in 1865 in Kalyan, India, and married at age nine to a progressive social reformer. Encouraged by her husband, she traveled to the United States in 1883 to study medicine. She enrolled at the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1886, becoming India's first woman doctor trained in Western medicine. Her thesis on obstetrics and gynecology was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Joshi was welcomed back to India as a pioneer for women's education and healthcare. Her health declined due to tuberculosis, prompting her return to India. She died in 1887, inspiring future generations of women pursuing professional careers in medicine.

Carl Menger's 1871 work 'Principles of Economics' laid the foundation for the Austrian School and introduced the concept of marginal utility. His methodological approach emphasized individual choice and subjective value, challenging the classical labor theory of value. Menger's ideas influenced economists like Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek, shaping modern economic thought. He served as a professor at the University of Vienna, mentoring a generation of economists. Menger's legacy endures through his contributions to microeconomic theory and his rigorous analytical methods.

Mary Whiton Calkins was the first woman to complete the Harvard psychology curriculum, though she was denied a Ph.D. by the university's male-only policy. She developed the paired-associates technique, a cornerstone method in memory research that remains influential today. In 1905, she became the first female president of both the American Psychological Association and the American Philosophical Association. Her work in self-psychology explored the nature of the self and its role in human cognition. Calkins advocated for women's rights in academia, leaving a lasting impact on psychology and philosophy.

Otto Wallach's work on alicyclic compounds revolutionized organic chemistry, earning him the 1910 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. A professor at the University of Göttingen, he developed methods to isolate and characterize terpenes and other natural products. Wallach's research provided key insights into molecular structure and laid groundwork for modern synthetic chemistry. He published extensively and mentored numerous chemists who continued his innovative approaches. His legacy persists in the continued relevance of his techniques in both academic and industrial chemistry.

Sabiha Kasimati studied biology and ichthyology at the University of Turin, becoming Albania’s first female scientist. She conducted groundbreaking research on the freshwater fish species of the region, publishing several important papers. After returning to Albania, she helped found the Institute of Natural Sciences and advanced zoological studies in her homeland. In 1951, she was falsely accused of anti-state activities by the communist regime and executed with 21 colleagues. Her work laid the foundation for modern ichthyology in Albania and she is remembered as a martyr for science and truth.

Tjalling Koopmans was born in 1910 in 's-Graveland, Netherlands, and later became an American citizen. He shared the 1975 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to the theory of optimal allocation of resources. His research on activity analysis laid the groundwork for modern linear programming and operations research. Koopmans held professorships at the Cowles Commission and Yale University, influencing both theoretical and applied economics. He explored topics ranging from population dynamics to transportation planning, combining mathematical rigor with practical insight. His legacy endures in the fields of econometrics and mathematical economics, where his methods remain foundational.

Theodore Schultz was born in 1902 in South Dakota and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. He studied agricultural economics during the Great Depression, advocating for investment in education and skills development. Schultz's research on human capital theory earned him the 1979 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. He argued that education, health, and training were vital drivers of economic growth and productivity. As president of the American Economic Association, he influenced policy debates on development and poverty. His work laid the foundation for modern labor economics and continues to inform global education initiatives.

Born in 1943, Jef Raskin was a pioneer in human–computer interaction and user interface design. He conceived and led the early Macintosh project, aiming to create an intuitive personal computer for the masses. Raskin advocated for simplicity and user-centered design principles, hallmarks of modern computing interfaces. After leaving Apple, he continued his research and authored The Humane Interface, influencing generations of designers. He passed away in 2005, remembered as a key visionary behind the personal computing revolution.

Sheppard Clough 'Mac' Frere (1916–2015) was a pioneering scholar in the study of Roman frontiers and the archaeology of Britain's past. His excavations at sites such as Canterbury and Verulamium provided deep insights into the daily lives and military presence of Romans in Britain. Frere's seminal work, Britannia: A History of Roman Britain, remains a standard reference in the field. As a professor at Oxford University, he influenced generations of historians and archaeologists through his teaching and mentorship. He also served as editor of prominent academic journals, contributing to scholarly discourse on classical archaeology. Frere was honored with fellowships of the British Academy and other prestigious institutions. He passed away in 2015, leaving an enduring scholarly legacy that still shapes our understanding of ancient history.

Born in 1917 in Syracuse, New York, Theodore Hesburgh was ordained as a Catholic priest and earned a doctorate in theology. In 1952, he became president of the University of Notre Dame, serving for 35 years and transforming it into a leading research institution. He played a pivotal role in supporting the civil rights movement and advised multiple U.S. presidents on education policy. As a member of the Second Vatican Council, he contributed to the modernization of the Catholic Church. He also chaired the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for nearly 15 years, advocating for racial equality and social justice. Over his lifetime, he received numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Hesburgh authored more than thirty books on theology, education, and public service.