Science · Literature · Philosophy · 1706–1749

Émilie du Châtelet

French mathematician who translated Isaac Newton's Principia Mathematica

Did you know?She was a keen gambler and used her mathematical skills to develop successful strategies for betting at the Palace of Versailles.

Gabrielle Émilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, Marquise du Châtelet (French:; 17 December 1706 – 10 September 1749) was a French mathematician and physicist. Her most recognized achievement is her philosophical magnum opus, Institutions de Physique (Paris, 1740, first edition; Foundations of Physics).

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Would be: 319
Age at death: 42
Years since death: 277

Born: December 17, 1706 · Paris, France
Died: September 10, 1749
Cause of death: Pulmonary embolism
Nationality: French
Known for: Science, Literature, Philosophy

Family

Father: Louis Nicolas le Tonnelier de Breteuil
Mother: Gabrielle-Anne de Froulay
Spouse: Florent-Claude du Chastelet
Child: Louis Marie Florent du Châtelet

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1936–2025

Pope Francis

Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 13 March 2013 until his death in 2025.

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1778–1829

Humphry Davy

Sir Humphry Davy, 1st Baronet (17 December 1778 – 29 May 1829) was a British chemist and inventor who invented the Davy lamp and an early form of arc lamp.

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ScienceWould be 247

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b. 1975

Milla Jovovich

Milica Bogdanovna Jovović (born December 17, 1975), known professionally as Milla Jovovich ( MEE-lə YOH-və-vitch), is an American actress and former model. Her starring roles in numerous science fiction and action films led the music channel VH1 to deem her the "reigning queen of kick-butt" in 2006.

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1942–2025

Muhammadu Buhari

Muhammadu Buhari ( 17 December 1942 – 13 July 2025) was a Nigerian general and politician who ruled as military dictator of Nigeria from 1983 to 1985, and later served as the democratically elected civilian president of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023.

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PoliticsWould be 83

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b. 1948

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (born 17 December 1948), also referred to by his initials KK, is a Turkish politician who served as the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) from 2010 to 2023. He was Leader of the Main Opposition in Turkey between 2010 and 2023.

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b. 1978

Manny Pacquiao

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao Sr. ( PAK-ee-ow; locally; born December 17, 1978) is a Filipino professional boxer and former politician.

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SportsAge 47

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1878–1953

Joseph Stalin

Iosif Vissarionovich Stalin (born Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili; 18 December 1878 – 5 March 1953) was a Soviet politician and revolutionary who ruled the Soviet Union from 1922 until his death in 1953, holding the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1952 and the…

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PoliticsWould be 147

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1770–1827

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a German composer, conductor, and pianist.

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MusicWould be 255

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1815–1852

Ada Lovelace

Mathematician who wrote what is considered the first computer program, for Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine.

MathematicsWould be 210

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1874–1965

Winston Churchill

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945, during the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955.

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MilitaryWould be 151

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