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commutation of sentence

(Encyclopedia)commutation of sentence, in criminal law, reduction of a sentence for a criminal act by action of the executive head of the government. Like pardon, commutation of sentence is a matter of grace, not o...

Cooper, Samuel

(Encyclopedia)Cooper, Samuel, 1609–72, one of the greatest English miniaturists. A student of Hoskins, he worked in London from c.1642. He painted portraits of numerous celebrated Englishmen. His draftsmanship an...

Crvenkovski, Branko

(Encyclopedia)Crvenkovski, Branko, 1962–, North Macedonian political leader, b. Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (now in Bosnia and Herzegovina). An electrical engineer, he worked in industry before being elected to the Nati...

Christ's-thorn

(Encyclopedia)Christ's-thorn, name for several Old World plants popularly said to have composed the crown of thorns. It is applied most often to two members of the family Rhamnaceae (buckthorn family): (1) the Jeru...

Ghazouani, Mohamed Ould

(Encyclopedia)Ghazouani, Mohamed Ould, 1956–, Mauritanian military and political leader, president of Mauritania (2019–). He joined the military in the late 1970s, rising to become commander of the armored corp...

Álvarez Álvarez, Luis Héctor

(Encyclopedia)Álvarez Álvarez, Luis Héctor, 1919–2016, Mexican political leader and businessman, b. Camargo, Chihuahua state, Mexico. A textile industry executive, he was a member of the conservative National ...

Grand Manan

(Encyclopedia)Grand Manan mənănˈ [key], island c.16 mi (26 km) long and c.7 mi (11.3 km) wide, S N.B. Canada, in the Bay of Fundy. On the north and west sides are bold cliffs, rising from 200 ft to 400 ft (61–...

Van Tyne, Claude Halstead

(Encyclopedia)Van Tyne, Claude Halstead, 1869–1930, American historian, b. Tecumseh, Mich. An assistant professor at the Univ. of Michigan (1903–6) and a professor there from 1906 to his death, he became head o...

Hilary of Arles, Saint

(Encyclopedia)Hilary of Arles, Saint hĭlˈərē, ärl [key], d. 449, Gallo-Roman churchman. Forsaking riches, he entered the monastery at Lérins. He was made archbishop of Arles (c.429) against his wishes. As hea...

Izetbegović, Alija

(Encyclopedia)Izetbegović, Alija, 1925–2003, Bosnian political leader. As a Muslim nationalist in what was then part of Communist Yugoslavia, he served time in prison (1946–49, 1983–88). After helping to fou...