Born on October 13

British explorer and ethnographer (1862–1900), Mary Kingsley was one of the first European women to travel alone in West Africa. She brought back invaluable observations on the cultures and wildlife of Gabon and the Congo, and championed African societies against colonial prejudice.

French Post-Impressionist painter and co-founder of the Nabis group. Celebrated for his intimate scenes in vibrant colors — interiors, nudes, gardens — Bonnard reinvented French painting in the first half of the 20th century.

Arthur "Art" Tatum (1909-1956) was an American jazz pianist, regarded as one of the greatest virtuosos in the history of the piano. Nearly blind from birth, he revolutionized piano technique through his velocity, his daring harmonies, and his reharmonizations.

Margaret Thatcher, the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1979–1990), transformed the British economy through radical free-market policies. Nicknamed the “Iron Lady,” she privatized state-owned enterprises, took on the trade unions, and played a major role in ending the Cold War alongside Reagan and Gorbachev.

American jazz saxophonist (1940-2022), a major figure of free jazz and spiritual jazz. A collaborator of John Coltrane in the 1960s, he developed an intense style blending powerful breath, ecstatic sonorities, and African and Eastern inspirations.