Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) is a figure of almost mythological proportions. He was a person of immense inventive gifts who came along at just the right time to turn many scientific concepts discovered by people with much more education into practical appliances we still use every day.

In essence, Marx and Engels had the idle time to develop Marxism due to the wealth of the Engels family. Now, isn’t that special?

Abraham Lincoln (1809-65) was born in poverty in Kentucky. Largely self-educated, Lincoln had a tremendous drive and sense of right and wrong. When asked as an adult to fill out a form once, in response to the question “Education?,” he wrote “inadequate.”

I last left you with Thomas Jefferson in bucolic Virginia. We now need to go across the Atlantic Ocean and visit with a few French folks. First up is Marquis de Lafayette, born in 1757, 14 years after Thomas Jefferson. He was commissioned as an officer in the French military at the ripe old age of 13. A fan of the American Revolution, he was instrumental in France supporting the colonists and was a key figure in the colonists’ ability to win the war.

I last left you with Thomas Jefferson in bucolic Virginia. We now need to go across the Atlantic Ocean and visit with a few French folks. First up is Marquis de Lafayette, born in 1757, 14 years after Thomas Jefferson. He was commissioned as an officer in the French military at the ripe old age of 13. A fan of the American Revolution, he was instrumental in France supporting the colonists and was a key figure in the colonists’ ability to win the war.

We are approaching, but not quite at, the middle of my list of people who shaped our modern world. Up through John Harrison – our subject last week – you might have thought of these people as living in very olden times. I think the tone will begin to change now, as we start talking about people of what I would consider more modern times.

John Harrison needed the math of Newton and Leibenz, and Britain needed the work of Harrison to manage its colonies through the communications tool of the day – sailing ships. Unless you have studied certain navigational subjects, you have likely never heard of John Harrison, but he is key to modern commerce (at least up to the point where we threw satellites up in the sky to aid in navigation).

Newton was born in 1642 and died in 1726. He never married. His life spanned many other interesting lives of the time. Galileo died the year he was born. He had only been deceased for 10 years when George Washington was born. There are others in between we will discuss.

Pascal had a dramatic conversion experience in November 1654 and after that wrote a number of famous religious treatises. We will see this theme again shortly, a mixture of mathematics, physics and deep Christian religious faith.

Galileo was born in 1564 (along with Shakespeare) and died in 1642, outliving Shakespeare by 26 years. Galileo’s full name was Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de' Galilei. He was from Pisa, Italy. Galileo invented the thermoscope (predecessor to the modern thermometer), various styles of military compasses and other scientific instruments. He is best known, however, for his work with the telescope.

So, where did Christopher Columbus get the idea that he could travel west to go east; that is, leave Europe going west and end up in India? Actually, it was already a very old understanding that the Earth was round when he embarked.

Christopher Columbus, or whatever his name was, bumped into specks of the western hemisphere (islands) around 1492. And quite literally, he did bump into these places, a phenomenon we will clear up when we get to the 1700s and discuss John Harrison.

The Magna Carta is significant, for it is the first time in modern times that a serious political argument was settled diplomatically. Down through the years, first in England, then in the U.S., and now internationally, one will see the elements of the Magna Carta woven into constitutional documents and manifestos up to this time. It is a very important document, imparting ideas of fairness and balance among the rulers and the ruled.

Spring is just around the corner. We likely believe that more in Atlanta, Ga. than you do in Highland County at the moment, but trust me, it is. With spring, comes graduations. Whether from high school or college, young graduates view this as a liberating time, a time to spend a little money.

You have had a year. Have you cleaned up your home and grounds? Would a stranger walking by think, “Someone who lives there loves that place?” Notice, I didn’t talk about spending a dime on paint or anything other expense like that. Just your idle elbow grease. By now, we should have the whole world cleaned up – if we love this place.