Marthe Mathide Cnockaert was born in Westrozebeke, West Flanders, Belgium back in 1892 to Felix and Marie-Louise. She studied at the Ghent university school of medicine. However, her studies were interrupted when WWI started. In 1914, her home was burned down by German troops. She spoke English, German, French and Flemish. For her services, she received the Iron Cross from Germany. In 1915, she was transferred to the German Military Hospital in Roulers. It was around that time when she was approached by Lucelle Deldonck about being a spy for the British. For two years she used her cover as a nurse to spy on the Germans under the cover name of Laura. For a short time she pretended to be a double agent but when it became too difficult she had the German who tried to recruit her killed. Sh... 06/30/2019

Joseph Thomas was born in Aylsham, Norfolk back in 1825 to John and Elizabeth. After graduation, from Gray Friars’ Priory School he apprenticed as a surgical dresser to Charles Gibson a local surgeon. He continued his studies at the University College Hospital graduating in 1846. In 1848, he became the Resident Medical Officer at the University College Hospital. He was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1850. He worked as a general practitioner starting in 1853 until his death in 1882. Because of his expertise he was sought out to give lectures. Some of his patients included Sir Robert Peel, Florence Nightingale, Sir Erasmus Wilson, Napoleon III of France and Alexandra of Demark.What you may not know about Joseph Thomas Clover is that he was a pioneer of anesthesia... 06/29/2019

Chin Gee Hee was born in Taishan, China back in 1844. His father was a maker of soy sauce crocks. While I don’t have the time frame he made his was to America working in a placer mine in Port Gamble, Washington, where he worked in a lumber mill.In 1783, he arrived in Seattle he opened up the Wa Chong Company where he imported or manufactured sugar, tea, rice, cigars, opium and fireworks. He ordered a mail order bride form China. He became a central figure in the political and diplomatic defense against the anti-Chinese riots in November of 1885. In 1888, he became one of the main sources providing construction workers for the Great Northern Railway and the Seattle and Walla Walla Railroad.In 1904, he returned to China turning over his business to his son Chin Lem where he founded the fi... 06/17/2019

Dennis Chalker was born in Mantua, Ohio back in 1954. I do not any data about his upbringing, his parents etc. As usual I do have the rest of the story, so let’s get to it. He joined the U.S. Army serving in the 82nd Airborne Division. When he was discharged he found a few civilian jobs but not as challenging as the military.So, he decided to join the U.S. Navy becoming a Navy Seal. He was assigned to Seal Team One but was hand-selected by the Commander to join the famous Seal Team Six. He was operational during the US Invasion of Grenada, he also saw action in Haiti, El Salvador ad Panama. His last assignment was at the BUDS/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs) training in Coronado, California.What you may not know about Command Master Chief Petty Officer Dennis Chalker is that he inv... 06/06/2019

Jean Castaing was born in circa 1685 in France. Sorry but I don’t have any information about his early life or education. In circa 1679, he invented something (more on that in a moment). It took him several years but in 1686 his invention was approved by the Council of State for France. His invention was so successful that a rival (George E. Ewing, Jr.) accused him of conspiracy along with two Paris Judges. He was found guilty in 1700, where he was imprisoned however he only served two years before being let out. His accuser was ordered to pay him $6,000.00 in damages (a hefty sum in those days) as well as three-fourths of the trial expenses. His history for what he did after his release is unknown, it is reported that he died in the early 18th century. No records of his death can be fo... 06/02/2019

Richmond Reed was born in New York City, New York back in 1906 to William and Genevieve. His father died when he was two and his mother married again. His stepfather thought the way to bring up someone else’s boy was the beat him every day. When he was fourteen he ran away, never to go back.He spent time with his maternal uncle Peter. He studied at the Philadelphia Graphic Arts Institute. For a time, he earned a living painting portraits at the price of $2.50. He was arrested for vagrancy, while in jail he was beaten suffering a broken nose that did not set correctly.He decided to switch profession so he recited the gravedigger’s line from Hamlet. He started working for Cecil B. Demille the next day, and as they say the rest is history.By 1936, he was a member of John Ford’s stock compa... 05/29/2019

Fredrik Rosing Bull was born in Oslo, Norway back in 1882. By 1907, he had finished his studies in civil engineering at the Technical School of Kristiania. In 1916, he was hired as a technical inspector for the insurance company Storebrand.He was interested in one aspect of the company so he set about developing a machine to take care of the problem. In 1919, he obtained a patent for his machine. In 1921, he assembled a team to improve on his invention. He was diagnosed with cancer at a young age and died in 1925, he was 42. His patents were later sold, which constituted the basis for the founding of the French company Groupe Bull.What you may not know about Fredrik is that what he invented was the punched card that was superior to the one originally invented by Herman Hollerith. Fredri... 05/04/2019

Albert Edward Pryke Briggs was born in Redcar, England back in 1923. When he was 12 he saw the HMS Hood anchored off the River Tees. He volunteered to join the Royal Navy the next day. he was told he couldn’t join until he was 15, just one week after turning 15 he joined the Royal Navy. He was trained on the HMS Ganges for 16 months before being transferred to the HMS Hood.Of course, you know his ship was dispatched to intercept the German battleship Bismark in the Denmark Straits. He was assigned to the HMS Hilary which was used to assist the landing for the D-Day invasion. He served in the Royal Navy until 1973. His total service was 35 years. He was discharged with the rank of Lieutenant and died in 2008 at 85.What you may not know about Albert is that he was one of only three men to... 04/07/2019

Carl Maxie Brashear was born in Tonieville, Kentucky back in 1931 to McDonald and Gonzella who were sharecroppers. In 1935 the family moved to Sonora, Kentucky. He attended Sonora Grade School graduating in 1946. Two years after graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.He graduated number 16 out of 17 in his class.In 1966, in an accident known as the Palomares Incident a B28 nuclear bomb was lost of the coast of Palomares, Spain. Carl was serving aboard the USS Hoist when it was dispatched to the site. It took 2.5 months before the bomb was found. For his service in helping find the bomb he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal-the highest Navy award for non-combat heroism. During the operation, a line broke used for towing which caused Carl’s leg to be amputated. He served this na... 04/02/2019

John Braithwaite was born in London, England back in 1797. He was educated at Mr. Lord’s School in Surrey. He worked at his father’s business becoming a skilled draughtsman. His father died in 1818, leaving his business to John. He added to the business by making high-pressure steam-engines. By 1834, he stopped playing an active role in the business when he started to practice as a civil engineer. He was instrumental in the Eastern Counties Railway system. He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1819, a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1838 and a member of the Society of Arts. I looked at several sites and could not find where he had any formal education in engineering, interesting don’t you think?What you may not know about John is that he invented the f... 03/31/2019

Emily Newell was born in Jasper County, Missouri back in 1877 to James and Anna.  She graduated from Carthage Senior High School.  She attended Goucher College and the University of Missouri but did not graduate due to the death of her father.  She married Harry in 1900, he was an attorney.  She became active in the local suffragist campaign by 1914.  She accepted a position in the Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defense.  In 1928, she was selected to be the president of the Woman’s National Democratic Club.  She died in 1951, she was 74.What you may not know about Emily Newell Blair is that she was a founder of the League of Women Voters, she organized the Woman’s National Democratic Club, being the club’s principal founder.  She attained the vice chairwoman of the Democra... 03/18/2019

James Black was born in Hackensack, New Jersey back in 1800. His mother died when he was very young. His father married again and James and his stepmother did not get along so he ran away from home at the age of 8. He moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he was an apprenticed to a silversmith. When he reached 18 he was off again working as a deckhand on the Red River. He settled just northeast of Fulton, Arkansas (I know that town well) for the remainder of his life. There he set up a blacksmith shop, being soon recognized as the best blacksmith in the area. However, it was something he made in 1830, that will forever place him in the history books. His shop is now a part of the Old Washington Historic State Park in Old Washington, Arkansas. That location is also the headquarters o... 03/15/2019

Adolpho A. Birch was born in Washington, D.C. back in 1932.  His father was widowed bringing up Adlopho as a single parent.  His father’s duties as an Episcopal priest often kept him away from home leaving Adolpho with a lot of time on his own.  He graduated from Washington’s Dunbar High School in 1950.He attended Howard University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1956.  After graduation, he served on active duty as a Naval Reservist until 1958.  He moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he was appointed as an assistant public defender for Davidson County.  In 1966, he was appointed assistant district attorney being the first African American to work as a prosecutor in Davidson County.What you may not know about Adolpho is that he is the only perso... 03/06/2019

William Franklin Beedle Jr., was born in O’Fallon, Illinois back in 1918 to William Sr. and Mary. When he was three the family moved to South Pasadena, California. He graduated from the South Pasadena High School, after graduation he attended the Pasadena Junior College.With the outbreak of WWII, he served in the United States Army Air Force as a first lieutenant. After being discharged he got into motion pictures as he did prior to the war, but this time he was recognized as a star. His career really didn’t take off until 1950, where he played a part that earned him his first Best Actor Oscar nomination. He stared in several other films, but it was one in 1953 where he earned the Academy Award for Best Actor.While you may not recognize the name William Franklin Beedle Jr. surely, you’v... 02/19/2019

Mary Elizabeth Bass was born in Marion County, Mississippi back in 1876. During the depression, the family lost their property and moved to Lumberton, Mississippi. Graduating from Columbia High School in 1893 she became an assistant teacher. She worked as a teacher in public schools in Mississippi and Texas.She continued her education at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania graduating in 1904. She moved to New Orleans opening up her private practice. Because hospitals in New Orleans did not admit women physicians so she became a founder of a dispensary which has grown considerably and is now the Sara Mayo Hospital in New Orleans.In 1911, she and Edith Ballard became the first women faculty members of the Tulane University School of Medicine. By 1920, she was a full professor wher... 02/09/2019

Thomas Baines was born in King’s Lynn, Norfolk back in 1820. At 22 he left England landing in South Africa working for a while in Cape Town as a scenic and portrait artist. He was an official war artist during the Eight Frontier War for the British Army. In 1855-57 the Royal Geographical Society sponsored an expedition across northern Australia, he was the official artist and storekeeper.However, that paled to what he accomplished during 1858, more on that in a moment. In 1869, he led one of the first gold prospecting expeditions to Mashonaland what is not Rhodesia. During an expedition to explore for gold between the Gweru and Hunyani rivers in the Matabele nation he died in Durban on May 8th, 1875.What you may not know about Thomas is that in 1858 he accompanied David Livingstone alon... 01/19/2019

Donald Coleman was born in Rotherham, Yorkshire, England back in 1901. He attended Rotherham Grammar School and The Leys School in Cambridge. He went on to earn his Bachelor degree in Engineering at the University of Sheffield, graduating in 1923.After graduation, he worked as a civil servant in the War Office for the British Empire. It was while he was there he invented something that was used during WWII. Kfor his invention he was knighted in 1946. If you watch the History Channel, when they show archives of WWII you have no doubt seen his invention. He died in 1985 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England. The home he was born in is still standing.What you may not know about Donald Coleman Bailey is that he invented the Bailey Bridge. It was a pre-fabricated, truss bridge, it required no spec... 01/14/2019

Mary Astell was born in Newcastle upon Tyne back in 1666 to Peter and Mary. Being a female back then she was not privy to any formal education. However, her uncle Ralph taught her to read and write when she was 8 until she reached the age of 12, that’s when her father died.He left no dowry so her and her mother moved in with her aunt. Her mother died in 1688 at which time she moved to Chelsea, London.It was while she lived in Chelsea she begins to write. Her first publication was in 1694, the title was Serious Proposal to the Ladies for the Advancement of their True and Greatest Interest. All in all, she wrote 12 books, essays and letters dealing with the treatment of women. Her reasoning was that women were just as rational as men, and just as deserving of education.What you may not kn... 01/03/2019

Artur Fischer was born in Tumlingen, Germany back in 1919 to Georg and Pauline. When he was a youngster his parents recognized their son’s mechanical aptitude so they bought him the equivalent of an Erector Set. Surviving the Battle of Stalingrad, he left on the last plane, only to be captured later in Italy. He spent the remained of the war in England at a prisoner-of-war camp.After the war, he returned to Germany working for an engineering company make lighters and loom switches out of military scrap. He founded his firm two years later. He died in 2016 at the age of 96.What you may not know about Artur is that he was also an inventor. My word count is getting short so let’s get to it. In 1949, he invented the synchronized flash light photography. It synchronized to flash with the cam... 12/28/2018

Margaret Ives was born in Calcutta, India back in 1878 to Charles and Mary. Her father died when she was young so her mother moved the family to Boston. The family moved again to Paris, France from 1899 to 1902. She married Finley Peter Dunne in 1902, the union produced four children. She died in 1955 at a young 76.What you may not know about Margaret Ives Abbott is that she participated in the Olympic Games of 1900 in Paris. This was the first-time women were allowed to compete. She came in first place and was awarded a porcelain bowl for her victory. Her mother also entered the competition. For the record, this was also the “only” time in Olympic history that a mother and daughter competed in the same sport, in the same event at the same Olympics. Well now, you may be asking yourself ... 12/07/2018