20 August - Benjamin Harrison birth anniversary

 

Benjamin Harrison, born on 20 August 1833, in North Bend, Ohio, was an American statesman and the 23rd President of the United States. Here are key points about Benjamin Harrison:

1. Family Background: Benjamin Harrison came from a prominent political family; his grandfather, William Henry Harrison, was the ninth President of the United States.

2. Education and Military Service: Harrison studied law at Miami University and worked as a lawyer. During the Civil War, he served in the Union Army, eventually attaining the rank of brigadier general.

3. Political Career: Harrison entered politics after the war and served as the reporter for the Indiana Supreme Court. He was later elected as a U.S. Senator from Indiana, serving from 1881 to 1887.

4. Presidential Election of 1888: In 1888, Benjamin Harrison, a Republican, won the presidential election against the incumbent, Grover Cleveland. Harrison lost the popular vote but won in the Electoral College.

5. Sherman Antitrust Act: During his presidency, Harrison signed the Sherman Antitrust Act into law in 1890. The act aimed to curb monopolistic business practices and promote fair competition.

6. McKinley Tariff: Harrison also signed the McKinley Tariff Act in 1890, which raised tariffs on imported goods. The legislation was intended to protect American industries but contributed to the economic downturn.

7. Election of 1892: Harrison sought re-election in 1892 but lost to Grover Cleveland in a rematch of their previous contest.

8. Later Years: After leaving the presidency, Harrison returned to his law practice. He remained active in Republican politics and supported the U.S. entry into World War I.

9. Death: Benjamin Harrison passed away on 13 March 1901, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

10. Legacy: Harrison's presidency is often associated with economic issues, including tariff policies and antitrust measures. His tenure marked a transitional period in American politics as the country grappled with industrialization and economic challenges.

Benjamin Harrison's contributions to American law and politics, along with his military service during the Civil War, are notable aspects of his legacy. Despite his accomplishments, Harrison is often overshadowed by the more prominent presidencies of the late 19th century.

20 August - Yellowstone Fires of 1988 know as “Black Saturday"

 

One of the most notable fire events occurred in 1988, commonly known as the "Yellowstone Fires of 1988."

During the summer of 1988, multiple fires ignited and spread across the park due to a combination of factors, including drought, dry conditions, and lightning strikes. These fires eventually merged into large and intense wildfires. The fires burned through a significant portion of the park's landscape, including forests and grasslands.

The exact number of acres destroyed can vary based on the specific sources and timeframes considered, but it is widely reported that more than 793,000 acres (approximately 36% of the park's total area) were affected by the fires in 1988. The fires prompted a significant response effort involving firefighting teams from various agencies.

The 1988 Yellowstone fires had ecological impacts and led to discussions about fire management policies in national parks. Despite the destruction caused by the fires, they also played a role in natural regeneration and ecosystem renewal. Over time, the park's landscape has shown signs of recovery, with new growth and ecological changes taking place.

On the most significant single day, Saturday, August 20th, to be known thereafter as “Black Saturday,” tremendous winds pushed fire across more than 150,000 acres.

20 August - Roger Wolcott Sperry birth anniversary

 

Roger Wolcott Sperry (August 20, 1913 – April 17, 1994) was an American neuroscientist who is best known for his groundbreaking research on the functional specialization of the brain's hemispheres. He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1981 for his split-brain research, which provided significant insights into the organization of the brain and its role in cognition.

Sperry's split-brain experiments involved studying patients who had undergone a surgical procedure called corpus callosotomy, which involved severing the corpus callosum—a bundle of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain. His research showed that the two hemispheres of the brain could function independently in certain tasks and had different specialized functions.

This work led to a better understanding of lateralization of brain function—how different functions are localized in specific brain regions—and the concept that the left and right hemispheres of the brain could have distinct cognitive abilities and processes. Sperry's research had significant implications for fields such as psychology, neurology, and cognitive science.

Roger Sperry's contributions to neuroscience and our understanding of the brain's complex organization have had a lasting impact on the field. His work challenged conventional wisdom and paved the way for new avenues of research into brain lateralization and cognition.

20 August - Salvatore Quasimodo birth anniversary

 

Salvatore Quasimodo (August 20, 1901 – June 14, 1968) was an Italian poet, essayist, and translator. He is known for his significant contributions to Italian literature and his engagement with themes of existentialism, spirituality, and the human experience in his poetry.

Quasimodo's poetry is characterized by its lyricism and introspective exploration of emotions. He was deeply affected by the social and political events of his time, including World War II and its aftermath, and these themes often found their way into his works.

In 1959, Salvatore Quasimodo was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his "lyrical poetry, which with classical fire expresses the tragic experience of life in our own times." He was one of the leading figures of 20th-century Italian literature and played a significant role in shaping the post-war Italian literary scene.

Beyond his poetry, Quasimodo was also involved in translating works from other languages into Italian and promoting cultural exchange. His writings continue to be studied and appreciated for their depth, sensitivity, and intellectual engagement with the complexities of human existence.

 

20 August - Sir Ronald Ross identified the Anopheles mosquito ,the malaria parasite in 1897

 

Sir Ronald Ross (May 13, 1857 – September 16, 1932) was a British physician who is best known for his groundbreaking work on the transmission of malaria by mosquitoes. His discovery of the role of mosquitoes in transmitting the parasite responsible for malaria marked a significant breakthrough in understanding the disease's lifecycle and opened the door for effective methods of control and prevention.

In 1902, Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery, becoming the first British person to receive a Nobel Prize in a scientific field. His work laid the foundation for further research into mosquito-borne diseases and contributed to the development of strategies to combat malaria.

Ronald Ross was not only a scientist but also a prolific author and poet. His contributions to medicine and public health have had a lasting impact on global efforts to control and eliminate malaria, a disease that has historically been a major public health concern in many parts of the world.

 Sir Ronald Ross identified the Anopheles mosquito as the vector responsible for transmitting the malaria parasite on August 20, 1897. This discovery was a significant milestone in understanding the transmission of malaria and has had a profound impact on the field of medicine and public health.