actorBorn: 10/22/1938Birthplace: Leytonstone, East London, England Sir Derek Jacobi's myriad stage roles have included Cyrano de Bergerac, Uncle Vanya, Adolf Hitler, Oedipus Rex, and a slew of…
JACKSON, Richard, Jr., a Representative from Rhode Island; born in Providence, R.I., July 3, 1764; completed preparatory studies in the schools of Providence and Pomfret, Conn.; entered the…
Dragons deserve a category all their own because they are beasts found all over the world. But there are two distinct types of dragon: the dragon of the Western world and the dragon of the Eastern…
SHAW, George Bullen, a Representative from Wisconsin; born in Alma, Allegany County, N.Y., on March 12, 1854; moved to Eau Claire, Wis., in 1856 with his father; attended the public schools…
(Encyclopedia) LohengrinLohengrinlōˈən-grĭn [key], in medieval German story, a knight of the Holy Grail, son of Parzival. He is sent to rescue Princess Elsa of Brabant from an unwanted suitor. Led to…
(Encyclopedia) Launcelot, SirLauncelot, Sirlănˈsəlŏtˌ, lŏnˈ–, lônˈ– [key], in Arthurian legend, bravest and most celebrated knight at the court of King Arthur. He was kidnapped as an infant by the…
(Encyclopedia) Gaveston, PiersGaveston, Pierspērz găvˈəstən [key], d. 1312, favorite of Edward II of England. Son of a Gascon knight at the court of Edward I, he was a boyhood playmate of the future…
(Encyclopedia) Wolfram von EschenbachWolfram von Eschenbachvôlˈfräm fən ĕshˈənbäkh [key], c.1170–c.1220, German poet. Perhaps the greatest of the German minnesingers, and one of the finest poets of…
SHARP, Edgar Allan, a Representative from New York; born in Patchogue, Suffolk County, N.Y., June 3, 1876; attended the public and high schools; engaged as a clerk in the post office at…