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Selkirk, Thomas Douglas, 5th earl of

(Encyclopedia)Selkirk, Thomas Douglas, 5th earl of, 1771–1820, Scottish philanthropist, founder of the Red River Settlement. Emigration to America seemed to him the best solution for the poverty of his countrymen...

Lutheranism

(Encyclopedia)Lutheranism, branch of Protestantism that arose as a result of the Reformation, whose religious faith is based on the principles of Martin Luther, although he opposed such a designation. When Luther r...

Alaska Range

(Encyclopedia)Alaska Range, S central Alaska, rising to the highest mountain in North America, Denali (Mt. McKinley; 20,310 ft/6,190 m). The range divides S central Alaska from the great plateau of the interior. Mt...

Hubbard Glacier

(Encyclopedia)Hubbard Glacier, SE Alaska, largest tidewater glacier in North America, on Disenchantment Bay at head of Yakutat Bay, at the northern end of the Alaskan panhandle. Extending 76 mi (122 km) from Mt. Lo...

Harvard, John

(Encyclopedia)Harvard, John, 1607–38, English minister in America and first major benefactor of Harvard College, b. Southwark, England, M.A. Emmanuel College, Cambridge, 1635. He immigrated in 1637 to Charlestown...

Horn, Cape

(Encyclopedia)Horn, Cape, headland, 1,391 ft (424 m) high, S Chile, southernmost point of South America, in the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego. It was discovered and first rounded by Willem Schouten, the Dutch nav...

Groseilliers, Médard Chouart, sieur des

(Encyclopedia)Groseilliers, Médard Chouart, sieur des mādärˈ shwär syör dā grôsāyāˈ [key], 1618?–c.1690, French trader and explorer in North America. He was the brother-in-law of Pierre Esprit Radisson...

Astor, John Jacob, 1864–1912, American financier

(Encyclopedia)Astor, John Jacob, 1864–1912, American financier, b. Rhinebeck, N.Y.; son of William Backhouse Astor (1829–92). He served in the Spanish-American War. Drowned in the Titanic disaster, he left two ...

Calgary, University of

(Encyclopedia)Calgary, University of, at Calgary, Alta., Canada; coeducational; provincially supported; founded 1945 as a branch of the Univ. of Alberta. It gained full autonomy in 1966. It has faculties of educati...

Carson, Johnny

(Encyclopedia)Carson, Johnny, 1925–2005, American television entertainer, b. Corning, Iowa. Carson, who grew up in Nebraska, began his career as a magician, then wrote comedy sketches for radio and hosted daytime...