merchant, shipownerBorn: 1739Birthplace: Salem, Mass. Having inherited his father's shipping business, he actively engaged the firm's ships in privateering during the American Revolution. He…
food products manufacturerBorn: 1857Birthplace: Mansfield, Ohio She and her husband formed the Knox Gelatin Company, but it was she who ran it after his death in 1908 and who turned it into a…
opera singerBorn: 9/15/1945Birthplace: Augusta, Georgia Known for her stage presence, vocal range, and her ability to convey emotion, Jessye Norman is one of the world's most respected opera…
diplomatBorn: 4/24/1941Birthplace: New York City A career diplomat who is well known within the Washington Beltway, Holbrooke became a familiar face to the rest of the country when he brokered a…
singer, dancer, and actress Born: 1/17/1927Birthplace: North, S.C. Kitt is best known for the holiday hit "Santa Baby." She started her entertainment career in the early 1950s as a dancer with the…
actressBorn: 5/23/1933Birthplace: London, England British-born actress best known for her role as the seductress Alexis, on the prime time soap Dynasty (1981–88), for which she won a Golden Globe…
actor, director, producerBorn: 8/28/1957Birthplace: Bethesda, Maryland Stern gave memorable performances in the films Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), Born in East L.A. (1987), as one of the…
actor, screenwriter Born: 8/4/1955Birthplace: Hot Springs, Arkansas After a long stint as a low-profile actor and screenwriter, Thornton careened to stardom for writing, directing, and acting in…
Born: 1831Birthplace: Bremen, Germany Tapered roller bearings—The bearings that existed in the late 19th century worked well at reducing friction but ran into problems when wheels had to bear heavy…
rock bandBorn: 1964 A Grammy Award-winning British band known for merging progressive, ambient and blues influences into futuristic rock. Pink Floyd recordings include the music industry's biggest-…
