Born: 1919Birthplace: New Haven, Conn. High-voltage, high-power semiconductor pin rectifier—Hall's invention boosted efficiency and reduced wasted power and destructive heat build-up in large-scale…
Born: 1926Birthplace: New York City Diagnostic x-ray systems—Ledley developed the ACTA diagnostic x-ray scanner, the first whole-body computerized tomography (CT) machine. He was the first to do…
actorBorn: 4/4/1965Birthplace: New York City Talented actor who has battled personal demons as he has worked to establish himself as one of Hollywood's finest actors. His portrayal of tormented…
actorBorn: 8/17/1943Birthplace: New York City Academy Award-winning actor known for his demanding, tough-guy roles in Martin Scorsese films. His films include The Godfather Part II (1974), Raging…
Born: Aug. 6, 1932Surgeon revolutionized sports medicine by popularizing the use of arthroscopic surgery to treat injuries; learned technique from Japanese physician that allowed athletes to return…
(Encyclopedia) Croker, John WilsonCroker, John Wilsonkrōˈkər [key], 1780–1857, British Tory politician and author, b. Ireland. He was a member of Parliament from 1807 to 1832 and secretary of the…
(Encyclopedia) Lee, Harper (Nelle Harper Lee), 1926–2016, American novelist, b. Monroeville, Ala. A member of an old Southern family and related to Robert E. Lee, she was a lifelong friend of Truman…
(Encyclopedia) Turgot, Anne Robert JacquesTurgot, Anne Robert Jacquesän rōbĕrˈ zhäk türgōˈ [key], 1727–81, French economist, comptroller general of finances (1774–76). The son of a rich merchant, he…
(Encyclopedia) Fort Niagara, post on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, at the mouth of the Niagara River, NW N.Y. It was strategically located on the water route to the fur lands. French explorer…
