On This Day

Famous People Born in May 1872

  • May 1 Sidónio Pais, Portuguese politician (4th President of Portugal, 66th Prime Minister of Portugal), born in Caminha, Portugal (d. 1918)
  • May 2 G. G. van der Hoeven, Dutch editor-in-chief (NRC newspaper), born in Brielle, Netherlands (d. 1955)
  • May 6 Willem de Sitter, Dutch scientist and cosmologist (developed theoretical models of the universe based on Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity), born in Sneek, Netherlands (d. 1934)
  • May 10 Marcel Mauss, French sociologist (d. 1950)
  • May 14 Elia Dalla Costa, Italian cardinals (d. 1961)

Bertrand RussellBertrand Russell (1872-1970)

May 18 English mathematician and philosopher (Nobel 1950), born in Trellech, England

Bertrand Russell
  • May 21 Henry Warren, American inventor (Telechon electric clock), born in Boston, Massachusetts
  • May 28 Marian Smoluchowski, Polish physicist (pioneer of statistical physics), born in Vorder-Brühl, Austria-Hungary (d. 1917)
  • May 31 Charles Greeley Abbot, American astronomer (Solar Constant), born in Wilton, New Hampshire (d. 1973)
  • May 31 W. Heath Robinson, English illustrator and cartoonist (Don Quixote), born in Islington, England (d. 1944)

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