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Gouthière, Pierre

(Encyclopedia)Gouthière, Pierre pyĕr go͞otyĕrˈ [key], 1732?–c.1813, French metalworker. The greatest artist of ornamental bronzes of the period of Louis XVI, he produced a vast number of superb cast and chis...

Messmer, Pierre

(Encyclopedia)Messmer, Pierre (Pierre Joseph Auguste Messmer) pyĕr mĕsmāˈ [key], 1916–, French political leader. In World War II he fought with the Free French forces before joining General de Gaulle's staff....

La Calprenède, Gautier de Costes, sieur de

(Encyclopedia)La Calprenède, Gautier de Costes, sieur de gōtyāˈ də kôst syör də lä kälprənĕdˈ [key], 1609?–1663, French novelist and dramatist. His best-known works were Cassandre (10 vol., 1642) and...

Gassendi, Pierre

(Encyclopedia)Gassendi, Pierre pyĕr gäsäNdēˈ [key], 1592–1655, French philosopher and scientist. A teacher and priest, Gassendi taught at Digne, Aix, and the Royal College at Paris and held several church of...

Laval, Pierre

(Encyclopedia)Laval, Pierre lävälˈ [key], 1883–1945, French politician. Elected (1914) to the chamber of deputies as a Socialist, he held various cabinet posts and in 1926 became a senator as an Independent, ...

Werner, Pierre

(Encyclopedia)Werner, Pierre pyĕr vĕrˈnər [key], 1913–2002, political leader in Luxembourg. A lawyer, he held various posts in the ministry of finance after World War II. Secretary to the council of governmen...

Le Daim, Olivier

(Encyclopedia)Le Daim or Le Dain, Olivier both: ôlēvyāˈ lə dăN [key], d. 1484, favorite of King Louis XI of France. His original surname was Necker. Beginning as the king's barber and valet, he gained great i...

Bérégovoy, Pierre

(Encyclopedia)Bérégovoy, Pierre pēĕrˌ bārāgōvoiˈ [key], 1925–93, French politician. A leader of the Socialist party after 1969, he was an adviser (1981–82) to François Mitterrand, under whose governme...

Klossowski, Pierre

(Encyclopedia)Klossowski, Pierre: see under Balthus. ...

Nicole, Pierre

(Encyclopedia)Nicole, Pierre pyĕr nēkôlˈ [key], 1625–95, French Jansenist writer. He studied and taught at Port-Royal abbey, the center of Jansenism (see under Jansen, Cornelis). One of his pupils there was R...