King of Bavaria who encouraged industrialization, initiated the Ludwig Canal, and oversaw the first German railway, later abdicating during the 1848 revolutions

French physicist and astronomer who invented the Foucault pendulum, measured the speed of light, discovered eddy currents, and named the gyroscope

Scottish astronomer, mathematician, physicist, and inventor known for his work in physical optics, including the discovery of Brewster's angle and the invention of the kaleidoscope

The 15th President of the United States, a lawyer, politician, and diplomat who served from 1857 to 1861

King of Siam from 1851 to 1868, formally adopting the title "King of Siam" in diplomatic contexts

Italian composer and conductor who revolutionized opera in the late Classical and early Romantic eras, celebrated for his 39 operas