Born on July 15

King of Macedon and legendary conqueror, Alexander built one of the largest empires of the ancient world in less than thirteen years. Tutored by the philosopher Aristotle, he conquered the Achaemenid Persian Empire and extended his dominion as far as India, spreading Greek culture across Asia.

Börte was the first wife and principal empress of Genghis Khan. Abducted shortly after her marriage and then rescued by her husband, she ruled the imperial court and played a major political role, with her four sons becoming the heirs of the Mongol Empire.

Italian cardinal (1549–1626), diplomat and influential patron of Baroque Rome. He was Caravaggio's first major patron, housing him in his palace and commissioning several of his key works. Close to Galileo, he also had a keen interest in science and music.

Rembrandt van Rijn was a Dutch painter and etcher of the 17th century, considered one of the greatest masters of Western painting. A virtuoso of chiaroscuro, he excelled in portraits, biblical scenes, and self-portraits. His work, marked by profound humanity, has had a lasting influence on the history of art.

Vilfredo Pareto (1848-1923) was an Italian economist and sociologist, a major figure of the Lausanne School. He left his mark on neoclassical political economy and sociology through his work on the distribution of wealth and the behavior of elites.

British feminist political activist (1858–1928)

French physician and polar explorer (1867–1936), Jean-Baptiste Charcot led several scientific expeditions to Antarctica aboard the Pourquoi-Pas?. A pioneer in the exploration of the southern regions, he also contributed to oceanographic research.

German philosopher, literary critic and translator, a figure of the Frankfurt School. A thinker of language, history and modernity, he is the author of an unfinished, fragmentary body of work that became major after his death.

Iris Murdoch (1919-1999) was an Irish-British philosopher and novelist, professor at Oxford, known for novels that combine moral reflection with psychological intrigue. The author of more than twenty-six novels and major philosophical works, she explores themes of love, freedom, and the Good.

Jacques Derrida is a French philosopher, the founder of deconstruction, a major current of contemporary thought. He profoundly influenced philosophy, literary criticism, and the humanities throughout the world.

A Polish sailor born in 1936, she became in 1978 the first woman to complete a solo circumnavigation of the globe by sailboat. Her achievement, accomplished aboard the sailboat Mazurek, took 401 days.

British astrophysicist born in 1943, Jocelyn Bell discovered pulsars in 1967 — neutron stars emitting regular radio signals — during her doctoral thesis. Her thesis supervisor received the Nobel Prize for this discovery, sparking a lasting controversy over the recognition of women in science.