Austrian physicist and philosopher Ludwig Boltzmann was born #OTD in 1844.
His greatest achievements were the development of statistical mechanics, & the statistical explanation of the second law of thermodynamics. In 1877 he provided the current definition of entropy, S = kB ln Ω, where Ω is the number of microstates whose energy equals the system's energy, interpreted as a measure of statistical disorder of a system. Max Planck named the constant kB the Boltzmann constant.
An interesting fact about Boltzmann and (S = k_B \ln \Omega) is that this equation is the epitaph on his tombstone in Vienna (image below).
Also, because of the manner of his death, the following introduction to DL Goodstein's 1975 book States of Matter is... well... also interesting (at least):
"Ludwig Boltzmann, who spent much of his life studying statistical mechanics, died in 1906, by his own hand. Paul Ehrenfest, carrying on the work, died similarly in 1933. Now it is our turn to study statistical mechanics. Perhaps it will be wise to approach the subject cautiously."
Image is Chapter 1, section 1.1, page 1. At least you get warned up front.
"And now they sing a mighty choral hymn.
I note Beethoven's style; no doubt it's his.
But still, it's not one known to me.
Upon my question what that piece might be
They tell me that it was composed by him
By Beethoven upon the Lord's command.
They sing it now at all the celebrations
Because among their songs it's far the best.
"I do believe that; but - oh lead me to him
So I will not have travelled here in vain."
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