Born on March 4

An Italian Christian monk, Benedict of Nursia is regarded as the founder of Western monasticism. He wrote a monastic rule that organized community life around prayer and work, and founded the abbey of Monte Cassino.

An 18th-century Venetian composer and violinist, Vivaldi is one of the major figures of Baroque music. He is best known for his violin concertos, particularly The Four Seasons, which remain among the most performed works in the classical repertoire.

A self-taught American inventor, Garrett Morgan designed the gas mask (1914) and the three-position traffic signal (1923). His inventions saved lives and revolutionized public safety.

Rosalind Pitt-Rivers was a 20th-century British biochemist who specialized in thyroid hormones. In 1952, together with Jack Gross, she co-discovered triiodothyronine (T3), a major thyroid hormone.

South African jazz singer and political activist

Honduran environmental activist of Lenca origin, co-founder of COPINH (Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras). Winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2015, she was assassinated in 2016 for her fight against the Agua Zarca dam.