(Encyclopedia) John Henry, legendary African American famous for his strength, celebrated in ballads and tales. In the most popular version of the story, John Henry tries to outwork a steam drill…
(Encyclopedia) Wallis, JohnWallis, Johnwŏlˈĭs [key], 1616–1703, English mathematician. He was Savilian professor of geometry at Oxford from 1649. He systematized the use of formulas, introduced the…
(Encyclopedia) Bouvier, JohnBouvier, Johnb&oobreve;vērˈ [key], 1787–1851, American writer on law, b. France. He emigrated to Philadelphia in 1802 with his parents and later was a lawyer and…
(Encyclopedia) Toland, JohnToland, Johntōˈlənd [key], 1670–1722, British deist, b. Ireland. Brought up a Roman Catholic, Toland became a Protestant at 16. He studied at Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Leiden…
(Encyclopedia) Clare, John, 1793–1864, English poet. A romantic poet who wrote shortly after the vogue for such verse, he had a profound and singular gift for capturing nature in exquisitely specific…
(Encyclopedia) Baldessari, John (John Anthony Baldessari), 1931–2020, American artist, b. National City, Calif., grad. San Diego State College (now Univ.; B.A., 1953; M.F.A., 1957). A founder of…
(Encyclopedia) Hunyadi, JohnHunyadi, Johnh&oobreve;nˈyŏdĭ [key], Hung. Hunyadi János, c.1385–1456, Hungarian national hero, leader of the resistance against the Ottomans. He was chosen (1441)…
(Encyclopedia) Gerson, John (Jean Charlier de Gerson)Gerson, Johngûrˈsən; zhäN shärlyāˈ də zhârsôNˈ [key], 1363–1429, French ecclesiastical statesman and writer. He studied (1377–94) under Pierre d'…
(Encyclopedia) Wyclif, Wycliffe, Wickliffe, or Wiclif, JohnWyclif, Wycliffe, Wickliffe, or Wiclif, Johnall: wĭkˈlĭf [key], c.1328–1384, English religious reformer. A Yorkshireman by birth, Wyclif…
(Encyclopedia) McLean, JohnMcLean, Johnməklānˈ [key], 1785–1861, American political figure and jurist, b. Morris co., N.J. His family moved to Ohio, where he studied law, was admitted (1807) to the…
