On This Day

Famous People Born in May 1788

  • May 10 Augustin Fresnel, French civil engineer & physicist, born in Broglie, France (d. 1827)
  • May 10 Augustin-Jean Fresnel, French physicist and optics pioneer (proved wave theory of light correct, invented catadioptric Fresnel lens), born in Broglie, France (d. 1827)
  • May 10 Catherine Pavlovna of Russia, German queen (d. 1819)
  • May 16 Friedrich Rückert, German Poet, Translator and Orientalist (d. 1866)
  • May 18 Hugh Clapperton, Scottish explorer of Africa, born in Annan, Scotland (d. 1827)

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