06月26日

Masahisa Matsudaira, born in 1659, was a member of the influential Matsudaira family overseeing the Okita Domain in present-day Chiba Prefecture. As daimyō, he managed land surveys, improved domain finances, and maintained peace under the Tokugawa shogunate. He fostered town development and encouraged agricultural reforms among his samurai and peasantry. Known for his diplomatic skills, he liaised with neighboring domains to secure alliances and stability. His tenure reflected the administrative duties and social responsibilities of an Edo-period feudal lord. Masahisa passed away in 1720, leaving a legacy of governance that strengthened his domain's prosperity.

Amamori Yoshishū, born in 1668, was a prominent Confucian scholar in Tokugawa Japan. He studied Zhu Xi’s teachings and applied them to moral guidance for both samurai and commoners. Employed by the Satsuma Domain, he advised on foreign policy and facilitated early relations with the Ryukyu Kingdom. His writings emphasized ethics, filial piety, and good governance, shaping intellectual life in Kyushu. He founded academies and mentored students, leading a revival of Confucian learning in regional domains. Yoshishū passed away in 1755, leaving a legacy that bridged philosophical study and practical statecraft.

Born in 1730, Charles Messier worked as a naval astronomer and observatory assistant in Paris. He compiled the Messier Catalogue to help comet hunters distinguish permanent deep-sky objects from transient comets. His list of 110 objects includes galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters still used by astronomers worldwide. Messier discovered 13 comets between 1760 and 1781, contributing to our understanding of cometary orbits. His systematic observations advanced the field of observational astronomy and inspired future amateur astronomers. He died in 1817, but the Messier Catalogue remains a foundational tool in modern astronomy.

Nagazumi Okabe, born in 1740, inherited leadership of the Okabe Domain in present-day Osaka Prefecture. As daimyō, he managed domain finances and oversaw judicial affairs under the Tokugawa shogunate. He implemented agricultural improvements, including irrigation projects to boost rice production. Okabe maintained diplomatic relations with neighboring domains and attended formal audiences in Edo. His tenure exemplified the balance between domain autonomy and shogunal obligations in the mid-Edo era. He died in 1809, remembered for his steady governance and contributions to regional stability.

Arthur Middleton, born in 1742 into a prominent South Carolina family, studied law in England before returning home. He represented South Carolina in the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Middleton led militia forces against British troops and played a key role in the southern theater of the Revolutionary War. He later served in the South Carolina legislature and briefly as acting Governor during wartime. A proponent of education, he advocated for legal reforms reflecting Enlightenment ideals. Middleton died in 1787, celebrated as one of America’s Founding Fathers.

Tadatoki Mizuno, born in 1744, succeeded as daimyō of the Karatsu Domain in present-day Saga Prefecture. Under his leadership, he implemented domain reforms to improve agricultural output and fiscal stability. He established schools promoting Confucian ethics and practical governance among samurai and commoners. Mizuno maintained relations with the shogunate and oversaw coastal defense measures. His initiatives in disaster relief and infrastructure development strengthened his domain’s resilience. He died in 1818, remembered for his benevolent leadership and effective administration.

Born in 1824 in Belfast, William Thomson became a professor at the University of Glasgow at age 22. He formulated the Kelvin scale of absolute temperature and co-developed the second law of thermodynamics. Thomson pioneered the first transatlantic telegraph cable, applying his electromagnetic theory to practical engineering. His work in heat and energy laid the foundation for modern physics and engineering disciplines. He received numerous honors, including a peerage as Baron Kelvin in 1892, for his scientific contributions. Thomson died in 1907, remembered as a towering figure in 19th-century science and technology.

Born in 1835, Michiyasu Mishima began his career as a samurai in the Satsuma Domain before the Meiji Restoration. After 1868, he joined the Home Ministry, overseeing regional administration and police reforms. Mishima implemented land tax revisions and modernized police structures in various prefectures. He balanced traditional samurai values with the demands of building a modern nation-state. His administrative reforms contributed to the centralization and stabilization of Meiji-era governance. He died in 1888, remembered as a key figure in Japan's transition from feudal rule to modern bureaucracy.

Junzō Matsumura, born in 1842, served as an officer in the newly formed Imperial Japanese Army. He participated in key military campaigns that shaped Japan's emergence as a modern state. Matsumura was recognized for his leadership and tactical skills among his fellow officers. He contributed to the training and organization of Japan’s early military institutions. His service exemplified the rapid modernization of Japan’s armed forces after the samurai era. Matsumura died in 1919, leaving a legacy as part of Japan’s rise as a military power.

Genpachi Misukuri, born in 1862, studied at Tokyo Imperial University and became a professor of history. He specialized in analyzing ancient Japanese texts, including the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. Misukuri published influential works on early Japanese myths, genealogies, and cultural origins. He advocated using historical research to shape national identity and educational curricula. His rigorous approach influenced a generation of historians and educators in Japan. Misukuri died in 1919, remembered for his contributions to the field of Japanese historiography.

文久2年（1862年）に生まれ、弁護士として司法の道を歩む。法曹界での経験を活かし政界に転身し、衆議院議員や政府の要職を歴任。司法改革や地方自治の発展に尽力し、大正末から昭和初期の法制度整備に貢献した。1933年に没した。

1869年に生まれ、ケンブリッジ大学で地質学を学んだ後、大英地質調査所に入所。スコットランド高地の地質調査を指揮し、火山岩や堆積物の研究で知られる。1935年から同調査所の所長を務め、第二次世界大戦期の資源探査にも貢献した。1947年に逝去。