Louis Braille

popular name: Kathleen Cavendish, Marchioness of Hartington

date_of_death: May 13, 1948

age: 28

cause_of_death: Plane crash

claim_to_fame: Historical Figure

best_know_for: Kathleen Agnes Cavendish, Marchioness of Hartington (née Kennedy) also known as "Kick" Kennedy was an American socialite. She was the second daughter of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald, a sister of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy, and the wife of the Marquess of Hartington, heir apparent to the 10th Duke of Devonshire. When her father was serving as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Kathleen made many friends in London and was the "debutante of 1938". Working with the Red Cross, she began a romantic relationship with Lord Hartington, whom she married in May 1944 much to the anger of her parents. He was killed on active service in Belgium only four months later. Kathleen died in a plane crash in 1948, flying to the south of France while on vacation with her new partner, the 8th Earl Fitzwilliam. The only family member to attend her funeral was her father, Joseph P. Kennedy. Her mother, Rose Kennedy waited 20 years to visit her daughter's grave, and even then it was a brief visit.

popular name: Dom Pérignon

date_of_death: December 4, 1715

age: 77

cause_of_death: Natural causes

claim_to_fame: Historical Figure

best_know_for: Dom Pierre Pérignon was a French Benedictine monk who made important contributions to the production and quality of Champagne wine in an era when the region's wines were predominantly red. He is often credited erroneously that he invented sparkling Champagne but that dominant style of Champagne did not appear until about 200 years after his death. Today the famous Champagne Dom Pérignon, the prestige cuvée of Moët & Chandon, is named for him. The remains of the monastery where he spent his adult life is now the property of the winery.

popular name: Antoine-Augustin Parmentier

date_of_death: December 13, 1813

age: 76

cause_of_death: Tuberculosis

claim_to_fame: Historical Figure

best_know_for: Antoine-Augustin Parmentier (1737–1813) was a French pharmacist, agronomist, and nutrition advocate best known for promoting the potato as a reliable food source in France. After serving as a military pharmacist during the Seven Years’ War, he was captured by Prussians and fed a diet largely consisting of potatoes—an experience that convinced him of their nutritional value at a time when the French public considered them unsafe. Returning to France, Parmentier conducted scientific studies on potato cultivation, organized public demonstrations, and even persuaded influential figures, including King Louis XVI, to support his efforts. Beyond potatoes, he contributed significantly to public health by working on food preservation, public hygiene, smallpox vaccination campaigns, and improved bread production. Parmentier’s work helped transform French agricultural practices and eased food shortages, securing his legacy as a pioneering figure in nutrition and public health.