November 10

Laurentius Paulinus Gothus was born in 1565 and became a noted astronomer in 17th-century Sweden. He held academic positions and published on celestial observations during a time of expanding scientific inquiry. Alongside his scientific work, Gothus served in high ecclesiastical offices within the Lutheran Church. He advocated for the harmony of faith and reason, influencing both scholarly and religious communities. His dual legacy in astronomy and theology reflects the interconnected nature of science and religion during the early modern period.

John Bevis was born in 1695 and pursued parallel careers in medicine and astronomy. He recorded telescopic observations, including early sightings of the Crab Nebula, and compiled data for the 'Uranographia Britannica'. Although unpublished in his lifetime, his star atlas project influenced later cartographers. Bevis founded an astronomical society and corresponded with leading scientists, embodying Enlightenment collaboration. His blend of scientific precision and medical practice marked him as a versatile scholar. He died in 1771, leaving manuscripts that shaped future astronomical mapping.

Born in Durham in 1735, Granville Sharp became one of the first campaigners against the slave trade in Britain. He successfully challenged the legality of slavery in landmark court cases, helping enslaved Africans of the Sons of Africa community. In 1791, he was a key founder of the Sierra Leone Company, aimed at resettling freed slaves. Sharp’s scholarly works included treatises on law and theology, reflecting his deep commitment to justice. His tireless advocacy laid the groundwork for the eventual abolition of the British slave trade in 1807 and influenced global human rights efforts.

Born in Madrid in 1764, Andrés Manuel del Río studied mineralogy and chemistry in Europe before moving to New Spain (modern Mexico). In 1801, he isolated a new element in lead ores and named it panchromium; it was later renamed vanadium. Del Río served as the first professor of mineralogy at the Royal College of Mines in Mexico City, educating future generations of scientists. He published extensively on geology, minerals, and mining techniques during the period of Spanish colonial rule. Despite initial controversy over his discovery, his pioneering work laid the foundation for modern inorganic chemistry in the Americas.

Samuel Gridley Howe was born in 1801 in Boston and studied medicine at Harvard University. Moved by his work treating wounded Greek revolutionaries, he joined the Greek War of Independence as a surgeon. After returning to the United States, he founded the Perkins School for the Blind in 1832, introducing tactile reading systems for visually impaired students. Howe also supported abolitionism and women’s rights, employing his wife, Julia Ward Howe, in social reform efforts. His innovative teaching methods and advocacy established new standards in special education and human rights.

Henry Eyster Jacobs was a prominent American theologian, educator, and church leader within the Lutheran tradition. He served as professor and later president of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Mount Airy in Philadelphia. Jacobs authored and edited numerous textbooks and periodicals, including the influential Lutheran Church Review. He was instrumental in modernizing Lutheran education and fostering scholarly research in theology. His academic work bridged Old and New World Lutheran scholarship, impacting generations of clergy and laity.

Richard Armstedt was a distinguished German philologist and historian specializing in the study of East Prussian dialects and regional history. He served as a teacher and administrator in Prussian schools, inspiring a generation of students with his rigorous approach to language research. Armstedt published numerous monographs on philology, medieval literature, and the cultural heritage of his homeland. He also contributed to historical journals and helped preserve regional archives. His work remains a valuable resource for scholars of Germanic linguistics and local history.

Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu (1887–1973) was one of the world's first female engineers and a trailblazer in her field. She studied at the Royal Academy of Technology in Berlin, overcoming barriers for women in science. Zamfirescu specialized in petroleum engineering and geology, contributing to early mineral research in Romania. She taught at the Bucharest School of Mines, mentoring students and promoting technical education. During World War I, she served as a combat nurse, later returning to academia and industry. Zamfirescu published scientific articles and participated in international conferences. Her work helped modernize Romania's mining and oil extraction techniques. She advocated for women's access to scientific and technical professions throughout her life. Zamfirescu's legacy is honored by awards, scholarships, and institutions bearing her name.

Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev was born on November 10, 1888 in the Russian Empire. After studying engineering, he joined the aviation department where he developed his first aircraft. In 1922, he founded the Tupolev Design Bureau, leading groundbreaking projects in bomber and commercial airliner designs. His bureau produced famous models such as the Tu-2 and Tu-95, which became mainstays of the Soviet Air Force. Tupolev's work earned him multiple awards, including the Hero of Socialist Labor and the Lenin Prize. He continued innovating through World War II and the Cold War, leaving a legacy as one of the most influential aircraft designers of the 20th century. Tupolev passed away in 1972, but many of his design principles remain in modern aerospace engineering.

József Mátyás Baló was born on November 10, 1895 in Hungary. He graduated from the University of Budapest School of Medicine and became a leading academic in his field. Baló conducted pioneering research into neurological disorders and liver pathology, publishing numerous influential papers. He taught and mentored generations of medical students, shaping the next wave of physicians and researchers. His work earned national recognition and advanced diagnostic techniques in clinical practice. Baló continued his research and teaching through the mid-20th century, leaving a profound impact on Hungarian medicine. He passed away in 1979, remembered for his dedication to medical science and education.

Born Leon Lech Beynar in 1909, Paweł Jasienica served as an officer during the 1939 Defensive War in Poland. After World War II, he became a prominent journalist for Tygodnik Powszechny and began writing popular histories. His acclaimed series on the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth combined rigorous scholarship with accessible prose. Jasienica’s works brought Poland’s past to a broad audience and remain influential in historical studies. He also lectured at universities and contributed to underground publishing under Communist rule. Jasienica died in 1970, leaving behind a rich legacy of historical writing.

Karl Shapiro was born in Baltimore in 1913 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he began writing poetry. His first collection, V-Letter and Other Poems (1944), won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1945, bringing him national acclaim. Shapiro served as the Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (now Poet Laureate) from 1946 to 1947. He taught creative writing at institutions such as Bard College and the University of Iowa. Known for his candid style and exploration of human experience in war and peace, he published numerous collections including The Bourgeois Poet. Shapiro received the Bollingen Prize in 1969 and continued writing until his death in 2000, leaving a lasting legacy in American letters.