Martha Jane Hunt was born in Baltimore, Maryland back in 1826. The family moved to Philadelphia in the 1830. It’s unclear but when she was 15 or 16 he eloped with Benjamin who was 21. He became director of the U.S. Navy’s 9scientific laboratory in Washington, D.C. There was a dispute in his pay for his work so he resigned in 1847 and went to work for the Boston Gas Company.As a result, from chemical fumes exposure he died in 1848. The following two years were tragic to Martha as two of her children died as well as her mother, leaving her in emotionally drained and financially ruined. While going through her husband’s hand written notes she discovered something that will forever put her in the history book.For nearly 10 years she devoted her work on the incomplete notes of her husband ex... 04/20/2017

Karl Ludwig von Bertalanffy was born in Atzgerdorf, Austria-Hungary back in 1901 to Gustav and Charlotte. His parents divorced when he was ten. He was educated by private tutors. In 1918, at 17 he began his studies at the University of Innsbruck and the University of Vienna.He had a choice of philosophy of science or biology and he chose biology. He received his PhD in 1926. In 1934, he received is doctorial in “theoretical biology”. He was in the U.S. when he returned to Vienna where he joined the Nazi Party. I do not know if he did that for self-preservation or because he was forced to. After the war, he moved several times to teach and do research two of which were the University of Southern California and the State University of New York at Buffalo. In 1972, he died from a sudden he... 04/19/2017

Virginia Hall was born in Baltimore, Maryland back in 1906 to Ewin and Barbara. She attended Roland Park School and went on to Radcliff College and Barnard College studying French, Italian and German. Wanting to continue her education she received an appointment as a Consular Service clerk in Warsaw, Poland in 1931.During a hunting trip in Turkey in 1932 she accidently shot herself in the left leg. As a result, the leg was amputated from the knee down replaced with a wooden appendage that she called “Cutbert”. This ended her diplomatic career so she moved to Washington, D.C. and graduated from the American University. After graduation, she joined the Ambulance Service in Paris ending up in the Vichy controlled territory when the fighting stopped in 1940.She joined the Special Operation ... 04/06/2017

Josephine Owaissa was born in Bloomington, Texas back in 1922 to William ad Minnie. Her father died when she was only 17 months old leaving her mother to tend to their children. She opened up millinery shot which failed moving her family to Houston.She attended San Jacinto High School where she performed in the drama club, she also was an accomplished dancer and ice skater at Houston’s Polar Palace. When she was seventeen two teachers encouraged her to enter a contest on Gateway to Hollywood. She won and was given a one-year contract with a movie studio. As they say the rest is history.She worked in low budget films for RKO Radio Pictures. In the 1950’s she became a television icon starring in two highly successful series. In her later years, she struggled with alcoholism, she died in D... 03/21/2017

Peadar was born in Dublin back in 1883. Educated at the Model School and St. Joseph’s Christian Brothers School in Fairview, Dublin. He left school at 14 to be an apprentice house painter.He joined the Gaelic League in 1901 and the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1903. In 1904 he was one of the first to inspect the National Theatre which later became Abbey Theatre. He worked assisting with props and occasional walk-ons. He helped co-found the Irish Volunteers in 1913. In 1914 you could find him running guns. He was also active in the War of Independence and in 1920 he was captured in his home at Summerhill, Dublin.After being released he returned to his original trade of house painting. He died in relative poverty in 1942. Of course, I’m writing about Peadar Kearney today. Name doesn’t ... 03/17/2017

Wesley was born in Baltimore, Maryland back in 1927.  During his senior year in high school he was the Cadet Corps Battalion Commander.  He was the first in his family to attend college at Howard University.He entered the Naval Academy in 1945 and graduated in 1949.  He was also an athlete, running cross-country with Jimmy Cater9 yes that Jimmy Carter.  he served this country from 1944 to 1969 in the U.S. Navy.  He fought in the Korean and Vietnam War’s retiring as a Lieutenant Commander.  His daughter chairs the California Division of the American Cancer Society today as well as the External Affairs and Diversity management departments at Macy’s West.I’m writing about Wesley Anthony Brown today, he was the first African-American graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland... 03/12/2017

August Karl was born in the Kingdom of Prussia back in 1861. He graduated from the University of Greifswald and the University of Bonn where he received his doctors license. Sorry I do not have any dates or who his parents were etc., so let’s continue with the rest of the story.On August 16th, 1898, he did something that will forever place him in the history books. More on that later. In 1903 he joined the faculty of the University of Bonn as a full professor teaching there until 1907. He moved to Berlin being appointed Geheimrat Professor of Surgery and Chief Surgeon. He treated some important people including Kaiser Wilhelm II and family members of Nicholas II of Russia and of course Vladimir Lenin. If you haven’t guessed it by now I’m writing about August Karl Gustav Bier.  Now we’ll... 03/01/2017

Cornelius was born in Dublin, Ireland back in 1920. Sorry I do not have any information about his parents or his early childhood however, what I can tell you is the rest of the story. he studied the violin at the Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and was an altar boy at St. Kevin’s Church.In 1940 he became a war correspondent covering the air war in Europe. He was involved in fourteen missions with the Eighth and Ninth United States Army Air Forces before joining General George S. Patton’s Third Army. After the European war ended he transferred to the Pacific theater of action.He emigrated to the United States in 1947 working for Time Magazine. During a trip to Normandy he came up with an idea that will forever be noted in the history books. Now you may be asking yourself what was that i... 02/06/2017

Thora Maria Fredrika Hildegard Bjorck was born in Bro, Varmland back in 1847 to Carl and Anna. Her mother died when she was only four years old and her father when she was 22. She graduated from the Nya Elementar-school in Stockholm in 1872.The following year she entered Uppsala University graduating with a medico-philosophy degree in 1873 and a medicine degree in 1879. She suffered with an outbreak of measles and hearing problems stopping her studies to become a licensed doctor. She became an informal assistant doctor to her uncle however, after they died she worked as a private caretaker to several individuals in France and England. She died in 1920and is buried at Skogskyrokgarden cemetery in Stockholm next to her brother Rudolf.So, you may be asking yourself what or why is James wri... 02/05/2017

Earl was born in Columbia Heights, Minnesota back in 1924.  He described himself as a nerd.  He attended the University of Minnesota earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1948.  Just after WWII hospitals were just starting to employ electronic equipment however, they did not have the staff to maintain and repair them.Seizing on the opportunity he started his own business to assist the medical institutions in doing just that.  He, with the help of his brother-in-law, started the company in his garage and as they say the rest is history.  He was round when Dr. C. Walton Lillehei was performing a life-saving surgery on children with blue baby syndrome.  Now you may be asking yourself what surgery did Doctor Lillehei perform and what business did Earl start?  Well now y... 01/24/2017

John Taylor was born in Exeter, New Hampshire back in 1753. By 1775 he was one of the Minutemen moving up to a selectman in 1777. He served as a member of the New Hampshire House of representatives in 1779 to 1781 when he was selected as a delegate to the Convention of the States in Hartford, Connecticut.In 1791 he was appointed as the New Hampshire Treasurer and moderator serving off and on until 1825. During that time, he also served as Governor in 1794. He died in Exeter in 1828 he was 74.Now let me tell you the rest of the story. If you haven’t figured it out my now I’m writing about John Taylor Gilman. When he was 22 he read aloud a Dunlap Broadside, which was the first published copies of the Declaration of Independence, printed on the night of July 4th, 1776. There were only 200 ... 01/18/2017

Francis Salvador was born back in 1747 to Jacob (sorry I do not have any information as to his mother’s name), in London, England.  His uncle, Joseph Salvador was a prominent business man and director of the British East India Company.  His father died when he was two.  He inherited a rather large sum planning on using it to settle in the New World.He married Sarah his first cousin and they moved to the small community of Savannah, Georgia.  When the Spanish attacked Georgia in 1740 he fled with his family to Charleston, South Carolina.  He purchased 7,000 acres in the Carolina colony, and in 1773 he joined the American cause.  During that time, he was elected to the South Carolina Provincial Congress being re-elected to the second Provincial Congress in 1775 holding that office until h... 01/16/2017

John Jeffries was born in Boston, Massachusetts back in 1745.  I have no information about his parents or his upbringing that is until he graduated from Harvard College getting his medical degree from the University of Aberdeen.  He was a key witness for the defense for the trial that ensued after the Boston Massacre.  He is credited with being among America’s first weather observers, taking daily weather measurement in 1774.  In fact, National Weatherperson’s Day is celebrated in his honor.  Amherst College has a collection of his papers if you are ever close you need to stop by and take a look at them. He lived in England from 1776 to 1790 returning to Boston to open a private practice staying there until his death in 1819.  During his lifetime, he served the British Army in Nova Scot... 01/11/2017

Nicky Daniel was born in Caraway, Arkansas back in 1945 to Johno and Beta. In 1951 the family moved to Glendale, Arizona. He grew up driving tractor and picking cotton on a ranch where his father worked. He quit school to work full-time helping to support the family when his father was diagnosed with polio.At 17 he forged his mother’s signature to enlist in the Arizona National Guard. When he turned 18 he enlisted in the US Army where after basic training he was stationed in Worms, Germany. He was sent to Vietnam in 1966 at which time he was wounded three times. He volunteered for a second tour from 1968-1969 reaching the rand of staff sergeant while serving with the 21st, Infantry Regiment. During an operation near Tam Ky his platoon leader was wounded and he assumed command. He led hi... 01/04/2017

Richard Trevithick was born in Cornwall, England back in 1771 to Richard and Ann.  They had 6 children, he was the only boy.  He stood 6ft. 2in. and was athletic.  One of his teachers described him as “a disobedient, slow, obstinate, spoiled boy, frequently absent and very inattentive”.  The only good thing is that he was exceptional at arithmetic.  Apparently, he was very good having an unconventional means of arriving at the correct answer.  From what I’ve read it does not tell me what that unconventional means was so we’ll go on.He started working t 19 with the East Stray Park Mine.  In 1997 becoming an engineer at the Ding Dong Mine (not made up), he pioneered the use of high-pressure steam.  In 1801 he developed what was called the “Puffing Devil”, a full-size steam road locomotive... 12/27/2016

Asa was born in Srednik, Lithuania back in 1886 to Moses and Nechama. In 1891 the family moved to New York. His mother died in 1895, this put him in a state of withdrawal spending time at the St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys. Later that same year he was introduced to something that became his life’s work. More on that shortly.In 1902 he worked for the Walter L. Main’s Circus working as an usher. It wasn’t long before he was noticed and moved up as a performer in one of the Side Shows of the circus. It was from this humble beginning that Asa’s career took off. He moved to San Francisco as a vaudeville singer. Returning to New York in 1909 he appeared in his first musical revue at the Winder Garden Theater. The show he performed in lasted for 104 performances while his popularity con... 12/13/2016

Chuck was born in Clifton, Colorado back in 1939 to Lester and Esther. He graduated from Central High School in Grand Junction, Colorado. He received a BS in engineering physics from the University of Colorado in 1961.He came up with an idea back in 1983 that forever changed his life (more on that later). Three weeks before he applied for a patent two other beat him to it. However, after a short time the other two had abandoned the idea due to “a lack of business perspective”. He applied and received U.S. Patent 4,575,330 for his idea in March of 1986.Now many of you may be asking what was his idea but first I guess it’s time to tell you I’m writing about Chuck Hull and his invention was what he called sterolithography. Better known s (3D Printing). His company is 3D Printing. He is nam... 11/29/2016

Horace Abbott was born in Sudbury, Massachusetts back in 1806. Sorry I don’t have the names of his parents but onward to today’s history lesson. What I can tell you of course is the rest of the story. In 1836 he bought the Canton Iron Works in Baltimore, Maryland, the company specialized in the production of steamboat and railroad components.   He renamed it the Abbott iron Company and by 1850 it was the largest iron mill in the United States. He was founder of Baltimore’s First National Bank and director of the Second National Bank of Baltimore. He died in Baltimore in 1887 at 81.Now you may be asking yourself why I am writing about Horace? Again, as usual I’m so glad you did for you see his company provided the armor plating for the USS Monitor, USS Agamenticus, USS Roanoke and the US... 11/23/2016

Blanche Douglass was born in Tensas Parish, Louisiana back in 1860. I don’t know her fathers or mothers name but it doesn’t matter. Anyway, on with the lesson. She married and as such she became the daughter-in-law of T.P. Leathers. You may be asking yourself sooooo? Well now I mentioned that because it ties in with the rest of the story.You see he T.P. Leathers was the Captain of the riverboat Natchez. She was there to see such passengers as Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis as they travelled down the mighty Mississippi. Sorry maybe does the name Blanche Douglass Leathers ring a bell? Hmm, so let me tell you a story for you see back in 1894 she began an historic voyage up the mighty Mississippi as she was the first female steamboat captain on the Mississippi piloting the Natchez up the... 11/18/2016

William Shippen was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania back in 1712 to Edward and Abigail. He joined the Second Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia back in 1742. He helped Benjamin Franklin who founded the Public Academy in 1749, serving as one of its trustees.He served as a trustee of the College of Philadelphia from 1755 to 1779, the College is now known as the University of Pennsylvania. He was chosen as a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1778 to1780. He remained active well into his eighties. He died in 1801 and is buried in the First Presbyterian Churchyard in Philadelphia.So, no biggie, here right? Well not so fast cowboy for you see it was some of his offspring that will be wrote about later that will tell the rest of the story. more to follow on this man later.  Stay tu... 11/11/2016