Kristian Birkeland

Kristian Olaf Bernhard Birkeland was a Norwegian scientist, professor of physics at the Royal Fredriks University in Oslo. He is best remembered for his theories of atmospheric electric currents that elucidated the nature of the aurora borealis. In order to fund his research on the aurorae, he invented the electromagnetic cannon and the Birkeland–Eyde process of fixing nitrogen from the air. Birkeland was nominated for the Nobel Prize seven times.

13 December 1867

Born on the same birth day (13 December): Archduke Louis of Austria • Dick Van Dyke • Emil Seidel • Francesco Bianchini • Larry Doby • Laurens van der Post • Morris Day • Olev Roomet • Santi Cazorla • Ted Nugent

Born in the same month (December 1867): Amy Carmichael • Antti Aarne • Foxhall P. Keene • Gregorios Xenopoulos • Józef Piłsudski • Madam C. J. Walker • Phan Bội Châu • Stanley Argyle • Tevfik Fikret • William John Bowser