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Fibonacci, Leonardo

(Encyclopedia)Fibonacci, Leonardo lāōnärˈdō fēbōnätˈchē [key], b. c.1170, d. after 1240, Italian mathematician, known also as Leonardo da Pisa. In Liber abaci (1202, 2d ed. 1228), for centuries a standard...

Sesostris I

(Encyclopedia)Sesostris I sĭsŏsˈtrĭs [key], d. 1926 b.c., king of ancient Egypt, 2d ruler of the XII dynasty; son and successor of Amenemhet I. He was coregent with his father from 1980 b.c.; from 1971 to 1926 ...

Pallas, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Pallas pălˈəs [key], in astronomy, 2d asteroid to be discovered. It was found in 1802 by H. Olbers. The second largest asteroid, it has a diameter of c.300 mi (480 km). Its orbit has a semimajor ax...

Vansittart, Nicholas, 1st Baron Bexley

(Encyclopedia)Vansittart, Nicholas, 1st Baron Bexley vănˈsĭtärt [key], 1766–1851, British politician. He entered Parliament in 1796, was joint secretary of the treasury (1801–4, 1806–7) and briefly secret...

Tatian

(Encyclopedia)Tatian tāˈshən [key], 2d cent., Christian apologist. Probably born in Syria, he was a pupil of Justin Martyr. After his master's death, he left Christianity, becoming an Encratitic Gnostic—i.e., ...

Burney, Charles

(Encyclopedia)Burney, Charles, 1726–1814, English music historian, composer, and organist. His General History of Music (1776–89; 2d ed. 1935) was one of the first important music histories in English. He wrote...

Canopus, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Canopus, in astronomy, 2d brightest star in the sky, located in the constellation Carina, which is part of the ancient constellation Argo Navis; Bayer designation α Carinae; 1992 position R.A. 6h23.8...

Mary of Guise

(Encyclopedia)Mary of Guise gēz [key], 1515–60, queen consort of James V of Scotland and regent for her daughter, Mary Queen of Scots. The daughter of Claude de Lorraine, duc de Guise, she was also known as Mary...

Essenes

(Encyclopedia)Essenes ĕsˈēnz [key], members of a small Jewish religious order, originating in the 2d cent. b.c. The chief sources of information about the Essenes are Pliny the Elder, Philo's Quod omnius probus ...

Latins

(Encyclopedia)Latins, in ancient times, inhabitants of Latium, particularly of the great plain of Latium. The Latins established themselves in many small settlements. Gradually increasing in size, these settlements...