I. Bernard Cohen was an esteemed American historian of science, born on 1 March 1914. He had a prolific career at Harvard University, where he taught for 60 years from 1942 until 2002. Cohen was instrumental in establishing the university's Department of the History of Science, serving as its first chair in 1966. He was a mentor to many notable students, including George Basalla, Lorraine Daston, and Allen G. Debus.

Cohen was an accomplished author of numerous books on the history of science, with a particular focus on Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin, and Howard H. Aiken. Among his many contributions, he provided a complete English translation of Newton's Principia Mathematica. Additionally, he served as the second chief editor of the prestigious journal Isis, dedicated to the history of science.