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Sacrobosco, Johannes de

(Encyclopedia)Sacrobosco, Johannes de yōhänˈəs də săkrōbŏsˈkō [key], or John of Hollywood, c.1200–1256, English mathematician and astronomer. He wrote several widely read and influential books: Algorism...

Gordon, Charles William

(Encyclopedia)Gordon, Charles William, pseud. Ralph Connor, 1860–1937, Canadian clergyman and novelist. His popular stories were based on his experience as a Presbyterian missionary in the lumber and mining camps...

anagram

(Encyclopedia)anagram [Gr.,=something read backward], rearrangement of the letters of a word or words to make another word or other words. A famous Latin anagram was an answer made out of a question asked by Pilate...

Gass, Patrick

(Encyclopedia)Gass, Patrick, 1771–1870, American explorer, member of the Lewis and Clark expedition, b. Perry co., Pa. His journal of the trip across the continent first appeared in 1807 and was widely read. Gass...

Saavedra y Fajardo, Diego de

(Encyclopedia)Saavedra y Fajardo, Diego de dyāˈgō ᵺā sävāˈᵺrä ē fähärˈᵺō [key], 1584–1648, Spanish writer and diplomat in the reign of Philip IV. His chief works are Empresas políticas [politi...

illiteracy

(Encyclopedia)illiteracy, inability to meet a certain minimum criterion of reading and writing skill. Throughout most of history most people have been illiterate. In feudal society, for example, the ability to re...

Cumberland, Richard, 1732–1811, English dramatist

(Encyclopedia)Cumberland, Richard, 1732–1811, English dramatist; great-grandson of the 17th-century philosopher Richard Cumberland. His family connections earned him a clerical position with the British board of ...

Gravelot, Hubert

(Encyclopedia)Gravelot, Hubert übĕrˈ grävlōˈ [key], 1699–1772, French engraver. Gravelot was instrumental in introducing the French rococo pictorial tradition to England. The books he illustrated include th...

Tatum, Art

(Encyclopedia)Tatum, Art tāˈtəm [key], 1910–56, American jazz pianist, b. Toledo, Ohio. Born with cataracts in both eyes, Tatum remained virtually blind for life. He read music in Braille, but his sensitive ea...

Chalkley, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Chalkley, Thomas chôˈklē [key], 1675–1741, Quaker mariner and missionary preacher, b. England. He made his home after 1701 in Philadelphia. He traded chiefly with the West Indies, navigating his ...