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Feb 15, 1564
Galilei Galileo
Galilei Galileo was born on Feburary 15, 1564 and died on Janurary 8 1642, at age 78.
When Galileo began his study of objects in motion he later published 'The Little Balance', that described the hydrostatic principles of weighing small objects, earning him some fame. But Galileo's true claim to fame was at age 45 when he decided to create a series of telescopes in 1609, which had better optical performance than the Dutch spyglass.
Galileo later made his telescope about 30 times magnification. -
Otton von Guericke
Otto von Guericke was born on November 20, 1602 and died on May 11, 1686 at age 83.
His claim to fame was when he invented the first air pump, using that to study the role of air in combustion and respiration. He then created a partial vacuum by 1650 at age 48.
Von Guericke also constructed the first electric generator in 1663, which produced static electricity, by adding friction onto a rotating ball of sulfur. -
Evangelista Toirricelli
Evangelista Toirricelli was born on October 15, 1608 and died on October 25, 1647.
Toirricelli's claim to fame was when he invented the mercury barometer and was the first to create a proper vacuum by the age of 35.
Toirricelli was also a skilled lens grinder and created telescopes and simple microscopes. -
Blaise Pascal
Blaise Pascal was born on June 19, 1623 and died on August 19, 1662 at age 39.
Pascal's claim to fame was when he invented the Pascaline, an early calculator in 1642. In late 1640 Pascal confirmed Torricelli's theory of barometrical variations around the age of 17.
Pascal accidently inventing a roulette machine in 1655. -
Christiaan Huygens
Christiaan Huygens was born on April 14, 1629 and died on July 8, 1695.
Huygens claim to fame was when he spotted Saturn in 1655, around the age of 26, using his own telescope lense then discovered Saturn's true shape and explained the phase and changes in the shape of it's rings.
Huygens also invented the cycloidal pendulum and built many other pendulum clocks to determine sea longitude. -
Amedeo Avogadro
Amedeo Avogadro was born on August 9, 1776 and died on July 9, 1856.
Avogadro's claim to fame was when he created 'Avogadro's Law' in 1811 around the age of 35.
Avogadro earned degrees in law and began to practice as a ecclesiastical lawyer. -
John Dalton
John Dalton was born on September 6, 1776 and died on July 27, 1844 by the age of 68.
Dalton's claim to fame was when he created 'Dalton's Law' of atmospheric pressures around the age of 27.
In the 1880's Dalton was the first scientist to explain the behaviour of atoms.