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Flüe, Nicholas von der, Saint

(Encyclopedia)Flüe, Nicholas von der, Saint fən dĕr flüˈə [key], 1417–87, Swiss patriot and folk hero. He was leader of the cantonal forces fighting Austria and counselor for many years to the duke of Saxon...

Fouquier-Tinville, Antoine Quentin

(Encyclopedia)Fouquier-Tinville, Antoine Quentin äNtwänˈ käNtăNˈ fo͞okyāˈ-tăNvēlˈ [key], 1746–95, French revolutionary. A lawyer, he was public prosecutor (Mar., 1793–July, 1794) of the Revolutionar...

Douglas, Archibald, 3d earl of Douglas

(Encyclopedia)Douglas, Archibald, 3d earl of Douglas, 1328?–1400?, Scottish nobleman; illegitimate son of Sir James de Douglas, lord of Douglas. In 1361 he became constable of Edinburgh and in 1364 and 1368 he wa...

Abernathy, Ralph David

(Encyclopedia)Abernathy, Ralph David ăbˈərnăthˌē [key], 1926–90, American civil-rights leader, b. Linden, Ala. A Baptist minister, he helped Martin Luther King, Jr., organize the Montgomery bus boycott (195...

Roux, Jacques

(Encyclopedia)Roux, Jacques zhäk ro͞o [key], d. 1794, French revolutionary. A priest in Paris, he abandoned the priesthood at the start of the French Revolution. Roux was a member of the Commune of Paris of Aug.,...

New Year's Day

(Encyclopedia)New Year's Day, among ancient peoples the first day of the year frequently corresponded to the vernal or autumnal equinox, or to the summer or winter solstice. In the Middle Ages it was celebrated amo...

Woodin, William Hartman

(Encyclopedia)Woodin, William Hartman wo͝odˈən [key], 1868–1934, American cabinet officer, b. Berwick, Pa. After studying engineering at Columbia, he entered (1892) the railroad-equipment firm founded by his g...

Swampscott

(Encyclopedia)Swampscott swŏmpˈskət [key], town (1990 pop. 13,650), Essex co., E Mass., a residential suburb of Boston, formerly an exclusive summer resort, on Massachusetts Bay; settled 1629, set off from Lynn ...

Kléber, Jean Baptiste

(Encyclopedia)Kléber, Jean Baptiste zhäN bätēstˈ klābĕrˈ [key], 1753–1800, French general, b. Strasbourg. A trained architect, he attended military school in Munich and served in the Austrian army from 17...

Hérault de Séchelles, Marie Jean

(Encyclopedia)Hérault de Séchelles, Marie Jean märēˈ zhäN ārōˈ də sāshĕlˈ [key], 1759–94, French revolutionary. A lawyer, he became a favorite of Queen Marie Antoinette, but nevertheless joined the r...