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Puzzle of the Disgruntled Children

Jin Park writes [AIR 16:2]:

Can anyone help me identify the disgruntled children in this photograph? This is a science puzzle, and I want to know the answer. My professor when I was living in the United States gave me this as a sort of humorous scientific historical gift. He was that kind of professor. It came with a set of clues. He said that three (3) of the children grew up to be famous scientists, one (1) grew up to be a famous international financier and criminal, two (2) are female, two (2) are male, one (1) famously loathed wearing shoes, two (2) were involved with theories about quarks, all (4) excelled at mathematics, and one was involved in a famous quarrel in Paris.

I don’t know who any of them are, or even how to start finding out. That is why I am asking you. It looks to me that at least one of the children is in distress and has to evacuate its bowels soon.

Posted by Stephen Drew on Sunday, August 19th, 2012 at 12:02 am under Letters from readers.

  • Wendy

    I think I can solve part of this :-)
    The photo would have been taken around 1913.
    The cranky young lady on the far left is Miriam Rothschild (1908 – 2005) – a naturalist, entomologist (described how fleas jump) who wrote many books and papers on biology including the famous treatise on parasitism “Fleas, Fluke and Cuckoos”. She was famous for never wearing leather shoes – she wore funny moon boots and wellingtons. (therefore scientist, female, loathed wearing -leather- shoes).
    The baby on the chair is Miriam’s younger sister Pannonica (1913 – 1988) who was a famous jazz patroness. She did take the rap for Charlie Parker when they were both charged with marijuana possession. (therefore female, but criminal?)
    The two on the right are the boys.
    I think the one with the messy hair thinking of tipping his little sister off the chair is Victor Rothschild (1910 – 1990), also a biologist. He was a financier and for most of his adult life was dogged by rumours that he was a spy. (therefore male, scientist, financier (criminal??)).
    I have no idea who the sailor on the right is.
    What I can’t figure out is who had a quarrel in Paris and what the connection with quarks is. The Rothschild family was (and still is) a very wealthy and powerful family – in banking etc so no doubt there were plenty of arguments all over the world. In other generations of the Rothschild family there are other famous biologists and people with connections to the Curies etc but I think the photo looks a bit too recent/good to be them.
    Over to you…

  • Wendy

    Actually, maybe the little sailor is Guy de Rothschild (1909 – 2007).
    He was the chair of the bank Rothschild Freres until it was nationalised
    by France. That would probably constitute a quarrel in Paris.

  • Wendy

    Actually, maybe the little sailor is Guy de Rothschild (1909 – 2007).
    He was the chair of the bank Rothschild Freres until it was nationalised
    by France. That would probably constitute a quarrel in Paris.

  • Wendy

    And Haim Harari and Harry Lipkin each received a Rothschild Prize in Physical Sciences for their contributions to particle physics. Presumably there is some connection between these kids and that Prize.