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Verrazzano, Giovanni da

(Encyclopedia)Verrazzano, Giovanni da jōvänˈnē dä vĕrˌrätsäˈnō; vĕrˌəzäˈnō [key], c.1480–1527?, Italian navigator and explorer, in the service of France, possibly the first European to enter New ...

Charles V, duke of Lorraine

(Encyclopedia)Charles V (Charles Leopold), 1643–90, duke of Lorraine; nephew of Duke Charles IV. Deprived of the rights of succession to the duchy, he was forced to leave France and entered the service of the Hol...

Charolais

(Encyclopedia)Charolais shärôlāˈ [key], small region, Saône-et-Loire dept., E central France, in Burgundy, in the Massif Central, named after the town of Charolles. Cattle breeding is the chief occupation. The...

Clausel, Bertrand

(Encyclopedia)Clausel or Clauzel, Bertrand bĕrträNˈ klōzĕlˈ [key], 1772–1842, marshal of France. Having served in the French Revolutionary Wars and in the Napoleonic campaigns, particularly in the Peninsula...

Debreu, Gerard

(Encyclopedia)Debreu, Gerard dəbro͞oˈ [key], 1921–2005, French-American economist, b. Calais, France. He studied mathematics in France before coming to the United States in 1950, where he worked with the Chica...

Greenpeace

(Encyclopedia)Greenpeace, international organization that promotes environmental awareness and addresses environmental abuse through direct, nonviolent confrontations with governments and companies. Founded in 1971...

Oudinot, Nicolas Charles

(Encyclopedia)Oudinot, Nicolas Charles nēkôläˈ shärl o͞odēnōˈ [key], 1767–1847, French soldier. A veteran of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, he was created marshal of France (1809) and duke...

Garonne

(Encyclopedia)Garonne gärônˈ [key], river, 402 mi (647 km) long, rising in the central Pyrenees just inside Spain, and flowing generally NE to Toulouse, in SW France, where it swings northwest to join the Dordog...

Guettard, Jean-Étienne

(Encyclopedia)Guettard, Jean-Étienne zhän-ātyĕnˈ gĕtärˈ [key], 1715–86, French geologist, botanist, and natural historian. He was curator of the natural history collection of the French scientist René de...

Bresse

(Encyclopedia)Bresse brĕs [key], region, in Burgundy, E France, between the Ain and Saône rivers. Bourg-en-Bresse is the historic capital. A fertile farm area, it is famous for its chickens and wines. To the sout...