Born on This Day: May 16

Italian mathematician and philosopher whose textbook became one of the earliest comprehensive works on calculus.

American statesman whose diplomacy preserved foreign neutrality during the Civil War and secured the purchase of Alaska.

American educator and reformer who promoted kindergarten, Transcendentalism, publishing, and women’s intellectual life.

British-American inventor whose work on telegraphy, microphones, and radio detection advanced electrical communication.

American actor whose restrained performances became defining examples of twentieth-century stage and screen acting.

American broadcaster and oral historian whose interviews preserved the experiences of workers and ordinary citizens.

American pianist and entertainer whose flamboyant performance style influenced television, concert presentation, and celebrity culture.

American poet and essayist whose writing on identity, power, feminism, and social justice became widely influential.