August 19

Born in 1028 in Nishapur, Al-Juwayni became one of the leading scholars of the Shafi'i school. He served as the chief judge of both Mecca and Medina, earning the honorific title 'Imam of the Two Holy Sanctuaries.' His principal works, including 'Tahrir al-Ahkam' and 'al-Burhan fi Usul al-Fiqh,' laid foundations for later jurists. He taught a generation of students, notably influencing his disciple Al-Ghazali. Al-Juwayni's blend of rational inquiry and traditional scholarship had a lasting impact on Islamic legal thought until his death in 1085.

Born in 1583 in a farming family in Aberdeenshire, Alexander Henderson studied theology at the University of St Andrews and in Geneva under John Calvin's successors. Returning to Scotland, he became minister of Leuchars and quickly emerged as a voice for Presbyterian reform. Henderson helped draft the National Covenant of 1638, opposing attempts by King Charles I to impose Anglican practices on the Scottish Church. He was appointed principal of the University of Edinburgh and served as moderator of the General Assembly. Alexander Henderson died in 1646 while attending the Westminster Assembly in England, celebrated for his leadership in securing Scottish religious freedom.

Born in 1623 in Clermont-Ferrand, Blaise Pascal demonstrated precocious talent in geometry and invented an early mechanical calculator at age 19. He made foundational contributions to probability theory in collaboration with Pierre de Fermat and formulated Pascal's law in fluid mechanics. Pascal's experiments with the vacuum challenged Aristotelian physics and laid groundwork for modern hydrodynamics. Later in life, he experienced a profound religious conversion, resulting in his influential theological work 'Pensées.' He died in 1662 at the age of 39, leaving a legacy that spans science, mathematics, and Christian philosophy.

Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre was a prominent French astronomer and mathematician celebrated for his scientific rigor. Born in 1749, he became professor of astronomy at the Collège de France and later director of the Paris Observatory. Between 1792 and 1798, he measured the meridian arc from Dunkirk to Barcelona to establish the meter as the standard unit. Delambre published influential works on planetary motions, star catalogs, and trigonometric methods. He served as one of the first members of the Bureau des Longitudes, shaping modern astronomical practice. He passed away in 1822, leaving foundational contributions to both geodesy and celestial mechanics.

Vilfredo Pareto was an Italian sociologist, economist and philosopher celebrated for his analyses of income distribution and elite theory. After a career in engineering, he turned to social sciences and published his landmark 'Cours d'économie politique'. He introduced the Pareto principle, observing that roughly 80% of wealth is held by 20% of the population. Pareto's studies on the circulation of elites and social equilibrium influenced political sociology. He served as a professor at the University of Lausanne, mentoring a generation of economists. His interdisciplinary methods bridged engineering, economics and sociology. Pareto died in 1923, leaving a legacy that spans multiple fields and everyday business analytics.

Giovanni Giorgi was born in 1871 in Lucca, Italy, and studied engineering at the University of Naples. Combining his expertise in physics and engineering, he proposed in 1901 the innovative "Giorgi system", integrating electrical units with mechanical units to create a coherent measurement framework. His work laid the groundwork for the International System of Units (SI) adopted in 1960. Giorgi held professorships in Turin and Rome, publishing numerous papers on electricity and measurement standards. His contributions continue to underpin how scientists and engineers around the world use standardized units today.

Isaac Deutscher was born in 1907 in Chrzanów, Poland, and became active in communist movements before World War II. He fled to Britain in 1940 and worked as a journalist for The Observer and The Economist, reporting on Soviet affairs. Deutscher’s three-volume biography of Leon Trotsky revolutionized the study of Soviet history, blending scholarly analysis with literary flair. He was also critical of Stalinist totalitarianism, advocating for a democratic socialism. His writings, including The Prophet Armed and The Prophet Unarmed, remain essential texts for understanding 20th-century political thought.

George Gamow was born in 1904 in Odessa, then part of the Russian Empire, and earned his doctorate in physics from the University of Leningrad. He emigrated to the United States in 1934, joining the faculty of George Washington University and later the University of Colorado. Gamow co-authored the seminal α-β-γ paper in 1948, presenting the first theoretical explanation for how elements formed in the early universe. He introduced the concept of radioactive decay in stellar nucleosynthesis and contributed to understanding the cosmic microwave background. Gamow also wrote popular science books, using humor and analogies to explain complex topics to general audiences.

Paweł Jasienica, born Leon Leńczyk in 1909, served as an officer in the Polish Army during World War II and took part in the Warsaw Uprising. After the war, he adopted his pen name and became a prolific writer, producing a series of bestselling books on Polish history from the medieval period to the partitions. His accessible narrative style, combining scholarship with vivid storytelling, won him a wide readership both in Poland and abroad. Despite censorship under communist rule, Jasienica’s works subtly criticized totalitarianism and celebrated national heritage. His legacy endures as one of Poland’s most popular and influential historians.

Mark Donohue was born in 1937 in Montclair, New Jersey, and studied engineering at Brown University and MIT. He began his racing career while pursuing postgraduate studies, quickly earning a reputation for technical acumen and precision driving. Donohue joined Team Penske in 1968, capturing multiple championships in the Trans-Am and Can-Am series. In 1972, he won the 12 Hours of Sebring and secured the Indianapolis 500 pole position, showcasing his dual talents as a driver and mechanical innovator. Nicknamed 'Captain Nice' for his calm demeanor, his contributions to race car design and development left a lasting mark on motorsport before his tragic death in a practice crash in 1975.

Linus Pauling was one of the most influential chemists of the twentieth century. His work on the nature of the chemical bond and electronegativity transformed modern chemistry. He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954 for his research on chemical bonds. In 1962, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his campaign against nuclear weapons testing. Pauling also made significant contributions to molecular biology with his discovery of the alpha helix structure in proteins. He authored several influential books and became known for his advocacy of vitamin C for health. His career bridged groundbreaking science and passionate activism.