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Coulomb, Charles Augustin de

(Encyclopedia)Coulomb, Charles Augustin de ko͞oˈlŏm, ko͞olŏmˈ, Fr. shärl ōgüstăNˈ də ko͞olôNˈ [key], 1736–1806, French physicist. In 1789 he retired from his posts as military engineer and as super...

coulomb

(Encyclopedia)coulomb ko͞oˈlŏm [key] [for C. A. de Coulomb], abbr. coul or C, unit of electric charge. The absolute coulomb, the current U.S. legal standard, is the amount of charge transferred in 1 second by a ...

Sainte-Beuve, Charles Augustin

(Encyclopedia)Sainte-Beuve, Charles Augustin shärl ōgüstăNˈ săNt-böv [key], 1804–69, French literary historian and critic. The first major professional literary critic, he developed the art of appreciating...

Coulomb's law

(Encyclopedia)Coulomb's law ko͞oˈlŏmz [key], in physics, law stating that the electrostatic force between two charged bodies is proportional to the product of the amount of charge on the bodies divided by the sq...

de Candolle, Augustin Pyrame

(Encyclopedia)de Candolle, Augustin Pyrame də käNdōlˈ [key], 1778–1841, Swiss botanist. Considered the most important Swiss botanist of his era, de Candolle wrote on a wide variety of botanical topics, from m...

Thierry, Augustin

(Encyclopedia)Thierry, Augustin ōgüstăNˈ tyĕrēˈ [key], 1795–1856, French historian. His vivid literary style, romantic treatment of events, and use of contemporary documents helped to create interest in hi...

Pajou, Augustin

(Encyclopedia)Pajou, Augustin ōgüstăNˈ päzho͞oˈ [key], 1730–1809, French sculptor. He won the Prix de Rome at the age of 18 and began a long career of royal commissions. He is noted for the elegance of his...

Beaumarchais, Pierre Augustin Caron de

(Encyclopedia)Beaumarchais, Pierre Augustin Caron de pyĕr ōgüstăNˈ karôNˈ də bōmärshāˈ [key], 1732–99, French dramatist. Originally a watchmaker, he rose to wealth and position among the nobility. His...

Caulaincourt, Armand Augustin Louis, marquis de

(Encyclopedia)Caulaincourt, Armand Augustin Louis, marquis de ärmäNˈ ōgüstăNˈ lwē märkēˈ də kōlăNko͞orˈ [key], b. 1772 or 1773, d. 1827, French diplomat and general, created duke of Vicenza by Napol...

Calmet, Augustin

(Encyclopedia)Calmet, Augustin ōgüstăNˈ kälmāˈ [key], 1672–1757, French biblical scholar, a Benedictine abbot at Nancy and Sens. His critical commentaries were widely studied until the 19th cent. when the ...