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Scruggs, Earl Eugene

(Encyclopedia)Scruggs, Earl Eugene, 1924–2012, American banjo player, b. Flint Hill, N.C. He developed a distinctive syncopated, three-finger style on the five-string banjo that changed the way it is played. From...

Flaxman, John

(Encyclopedia)Flaxman, John, 1755–1826, English sculptor and draftsman. At 20 he went to work for Josiah Wedgwood, designing the cameolike decorations for Wedgwood's pottery. Later, in Rome, he devoted himself to...

Eden, Anthony, 1st earl of Avon

(Encyclopedia)Eden, Anthony, 1st earl of Avon āˈvən [key], 1897–1977, British statesman. After service in World War I ...

Derby, James Stanley, 7th earl of

(Encyclopedia)Derby, James Stanley, 7th earl of därˈbē [key], 1607–51, English nobleman. He sat in the House of Commons (1625–28), took his seat in the House of Lords as Baron Strange (succeeding his father ...

Derby, Thomas Stanley, 1st earl of

(Encyclopedia)Derby, Thomas Stanley, 1st earl of därˈbē [key], 1435?–1504, English nobleman. During the Wars of the Roses, Stanley was ostensibly a supporter of the Lancastrian Henry VI, but he had Yorkist sym...

Desmond, Gerald Fitzgerald, 15th earl of

(Encyclopedia)Desmond, Gerald Fitzgerald, 15th earl of dĕzˈmənd [key], d. 1583, Irish nobleman. He spent his life fighting Thomas Butler, 10th earl of Ormonde, who represented English interests. He was twice imp...

Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st earl of Beaconsfield

(Encyclopedia)Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st earl of Beaconsfield dĭzrāˈlē [key], 1804–81, British statesman and author. He is regarded as the founder of the modern Conservative party. Disraeli succeeded the earl ...

Douglas, Archibald, 5th earl of Angus

(Encyclopedia)Douglas, Archibald, 5th earl of Angus, 1449–1514, Scottish nobleman. He was a member of the faction that allied with Edward IV of England in opposition to the influence of Robert Cochrane, favorite ...

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