(1729) Italian Catholic priest, biologist, and physiologist Lazzaro Spallanzani was born. His research showed that digestion was the result of chemical processes, and not just the grinding and breakdown of food in the body.
(1877) American physical chemist, inventor, and philanthropist Frederick Gardner Cottrell was born. He is known for inventing the electrostatic precipitator, a device for the elimination of air pollution.
(1911) English biologist and chemist Norman Healey was born. He is known for developing the back extraction technique, which can effectively purify penicillin in large quantities.
