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Burckhardt, Jacob Christoph

(Encyclopedia)Burckhardt, Jacob or Jakob Christoph yäˈkôp krĭsˈtôf bo͝orkˈhärt [key], 1818–97, Swiss historian, one of the founders of the cultural interpretation of history. He studied under Ranke at th...

Knights of Columbus

(Encyclopedia)Knights of Columbus, American Roman Catholic society for men, founded (1882) at New Haven, Conn. (where its headquarters are still located), by Father Michael J. McGivney. Its mission is to encourage ...

Hadley, John

(Encyclopedia)Hadley, John, 1682–1744, English instrument maker. An optician by trade, Hadley built reflecting telescopes, based on Newton's model, that had greater resolution than the cumbersome refractors then ...

Fielding, Antony Vandyke Copley

(Encyclopedia)Fielding, Antony Vandyke Copley, 1787–1855, English landscape painter in watercolor. For the last 24 years of his life he was president of the Water Colour Society, where he exhibited yearly. Fieldi...

Rapp, George

(Encyclopedia)Rapp, George, 1757–1847, German religious leader, known as Father Rapp, b. Württemberg. In 1803 he emigrated to the United States, where he and his followers, known as Rappites, formed the Harmony ...

Sprat, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Sprat, Thomas, 1635–1713, English author, bishop of Rochester and dean of Westminster. His poem on the death of Oliver Cromwell was published in Dryden's Miscellany (1659). Sprat is best remembered ...

Sperry, Elmer Ambrose

(Encyclopedia)Sperry, Elmer Ambrose, 1860–1930, American inventor, b. Cortland, N.Y. Although probably best known for his work on the gyroscope, he also invented the gyrocompass (1910), an extremely effective hig...

Fenian movement

(Encyclopedia)Fenian movement fēˈnēən [key] or Fenians, secret revolutionary society organized c.1858 in Ireland and the United States to achieve Irish independence from England by force. It was known variously...

Chinese Dynasties (table)

(Encyclopedia)Chinese Dynasties

Mexico, city, United States

(Encyclopedia)Mexico, city (1990 pop. 11,290), seat of Audrain co., central Mo., in a farm area; inc. 1857. Prefabricated homes, firebrick, trailers, and ceramic tile are manufactured, and there are livestock marke...