Learn the February Star Signs of Great Hall of Famers
Long ago, in many parts of the world, astrology was considered an important branch of astronomy with several well-known scientists charting the skies, calculating the movement of constellations, and predicting the impact this could theoretically have on everything from the weather to a person’s destiny.
Of course, our modern understanding of space tells us that astrology is not a true science. However, many people still find it fun and interesting to consider what ancient predictions might be written in the stars for each of us. One common way we see astrology explored today is through the 12 zodiac signs (or star signs) named after their respective constellations.
Depending on the time of year in which you were born, you are assigned one of the 12 zodiac signs. February’s signs include Aquarius and Pisces, and each is associated with its own unique symbol and set of traits. If you have a February birthday, you share a star sign with some of the legendary National Inventors Hall of Fame® Inductees below. Read on to check them out!
Aquarius
Aquarius is Latin for “water-bearer,” and its symbol is often pictured as water, or a person pouring water from a jug. People born between Jan. 20 and Feb. 18 are sometimes said to be independent, intellectual and creative like these Aquarian Inductees:
John Deere
John Deere was born on Feb. 7, 1804. He developed the first successful self-scouring steel plow. It could cut through heavy soil without having soil constantly adhering to the plow, unlike other cast iron plows of the time. In 1868, Deere’s plow business was incorporated as Deere & Co., which is still an industry leader today.
An Wang
Born Feb. 7, 1920, in Shanghai, China, An Wang made several contributions to the advancement of computer technology. He came to the United States in 1945 and in 1951, he founded Wang Laboratories, focusing on the development of specialty electronic devices. In all, Wang held over 35 patents relating to computer technology.
Thomas Alva Edison
Thomas Edison, born Feb. 11, 1847, earned patents for over 1,000 inventions, but the one he is best known for is likely the incandescent electric lamp. His curiosity began in childhood, and by 1878 he announced he would invent a safe and inexpensive electric light to replace the millions of gaslights that were commonly used in homes. Edison, along with leading financial figures of the time, formed the Edison Electric Light Co., the predecessor of today’s GE, where he demonstrated the carbon-filament lamp.
Pisces
In Latin, Pisces means “fishes,” and the symbol for this sign is often pictured as two fish swimming in opposite directions. This sign is often associated with being imaginative and emotionally aware. If you were born between Feb. 19 and March 20, you share this star sign with these inspiring innovators:
Mary Anderson
Born on Feb. 19, 1866, Mary Anderson invented the windshield wiper after observing that streetcar drivers often had to open their windows or get out of the car to clear their windows during inclement weather. What started as an idea for a lever inside of a vehicle that controlled a spring-loaded arm with a rubber blade turned into the first effective windshield-clearing device. Over time, the windshield wiper was adapted for automotive use and is now among the standard equipment on most cars.
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs was born on Feb. 24, 1955 and was co-founder of Apple alongside Steve Wozniak. Jobs influenced several industries, from personal computing to smartphones and even animated movies. During his time as Apple CEO, Jobs made impactful contributions to the operating systems for devices, the design of user interfaces and touch-screen technology.
Learn More!
To discover more exciting stories about our extraordinary Hall of Famers, we invite you to visit our website and explore our Inductees.