(Encyclopedia) Foster, Abigail Kelley, 1810–87, American abolitionist and advocate of women's rights, b. near Amherst, Mass. Abby Kelley, as she was known to her contemporaries, began her crusade…
actor, director, comicBorn: 11/30/1965Birthplace: New York City Stiller's talents in comedy were shown to advantage on Saturday Night Live (1989) and the Ben Stiller Show (1990), which, though…
(Encyclopedia) Dulles, John FosterDulles, John Fosterdŭlˈəs [key], 1888–1959, U.S. secretary of state (1953–59), b. Washington, D.C.; brother of Allen Dulles, grandson of John Watson Foster,…
alternative rock group Formed in 1994 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, this trio's trademark is the unexpected. Though the group shares its name with founder Ben Folds, there are three, not five,…
musicianBorn: 10/28/1969Birthplace: Pomona, California Though he has never had a hit album, Ben Harper's unique combination of elements of blues revivalism, Jimi Hendrix-influenced rock, and '90s…
(Encyclopedia) Bostanai ben ChaninaiBostanai ben Chaninaibôsˈtänī bĕn khänēnīˈ [key], c.618–670, first Jewish exilarch (i.e., ruler of the Jewish exiles in Babylonia) under Arab rule. He is the…
(Encyclopedia) Foster, William Zebulon, 1881–1961, American Communist leader, b. Taunton, Mass. An itinerant worker in many different occupations, he was first affiliated with the Socialist party,…
(Encyclopedia) Big Ben, the bell in the Parliament tower (Westminster Palace), London, England. It was named for Sir Benjamin Hall, commissioner of works when the bell was installed in 1856. The name…
(Encyclopedia) Shahn, Ben (Benjamin Shahn), 1898–1969, American painter and graphic artist, b. Lithuania. Shahn emigrated to the United States in 1906. After working in lithography until 1930, his…
(Encyclopedia) Hecht, BenHecht, Benhĕkt [key], 1894–1964, American writer, b. New York City. He grew up in Wisconsin and, while still in his teens, worked on newspapers in Chicago. Early in his…
