(Encyclopedia) Wilmington, Spencer Compton, earl of, 1673?–1743, British politician. He was a member of Parliament (1695–1710, 1713–30) and served as speaker of the House of Commons (1715–27). He was…
(Encyclopedia) BenedictusBenedictusbĕnədĭkˈtəs [key], hymn of Zachary, taken from Luke 1.68–79. It begins in Latin, “Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel” [blessed be the Lord God of Israel]. It is used at…
(Encyclopedia) Southampton, Thomas Wriothesley, 4th earl of, 1607–67, English nobleman; son of the 3d earl. At first an opponent of the court party in the events leading up to the English civil war,…
(Encyclopedia) Dexter, Timothy, 1747–1806, American merchant and eccentric, b. Malden, Mass. He gained a fortune from the American Revolution by buying up depreciated certificates of indebtedness…
(Encyclopedia) Derwent Water, lake, 3 mi (4.8 km) long and 1 mi (1.6 km) wide, Cumbria, NW England, formed by a widening of the River Derwent. It is surrounded by wooded hills, with the Lodore (c.90…
(Encyclopedia) Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th earl of, 1694–1773, English statesman and author. A noted wit and orator, his long public career, begun in 1715, included an ambassadorship to…
(Encyclopedia) Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?ēˈlī, lāˈmə sābăkˈthənī; āˈlē, läˈmä säbäkhˈthänē [key] or Eloi, Eloi, lama sabach-thani?Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?ēˈloi; āˈloi […
(Encyclopedia) Ellenborough, Edward Law, 1st earl ofEllenborough, Edward Law, 1st earl ofĕlˈənbûrˌə [key], 1790–1871, British statesman; son of the 1st Baron Ellenborough. He served as president of…
(Encyclopedia) Granville, Granville George Leveson-Gower, 2d EarlGranville, Granville George Leveson-Gower, 2d Earll&oomacr;ˈsən-gôrˈ [key], 1815–91, British statesman. He entered Parliament as a…
(Encyclopedia) Fools, Feast of, burlesque religious festival of the Middle Ages. It occurred during the Christmas and New Year's revels, on or near New Year's Day. In many places a Lord of Misrule…
