Born on March 14

King of Sardinia and then first King of unified Italy (1861), Victor Emmanuel II was the monarch who, allied with Cavour and Garibaldi, brought the Risorgimento to completion. He reigned until his death in 1878, embodying Italian national unity.

German-born physicist who became Swiss and later American (1879–1955), Albert Einstein revolutionized physics by developing the theories of special and general relativity. He is the author of the famous equation E=mc² and received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his work on the photoelectric effect.

French philosopher and a major figure in phenomenology. He placed the body and perception at the heart of knowledge, breaking with the dualism between subject and object. A professor at the Collège de France, he was also a close friend and later a critic of Sartre.

American photographer (1923–1971), Diane Arbus is celebrated for her portraits of people on the margins of society: dwarfs, giants, transvestites, nudists. Her work profoundly renewed the documentary gaze in photography.

Quincy Jones (1933-2024) is one of the most influential musicians and producers of the 20th century. A jazz composer, arranger, and bandleader, he is also the producer of Michael Jackson's best-selling albums, including Thriller.