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Queensberry, James Douglas, 2d duke of

(Encyclopedia)Queensberry, James Douglas, 2d duke of, 1662–1711, Scottish statesman. One of the early supporters of William III in Scotland, he held offices under him and Queen Anne, rising to become commissioner...

James, Thomas, American fur trader and pioneer

(Encyclopedia)James, Thomas, 1782–1847, American fur trader and pioneer, b. Maryland. He accompanied the 1809 expedition of the Missouri Fur Company up the Missouri River. He left the expedition at the Mandan vil...

mks system

(Encyclopedia)mks system, system of units of measurement based on the metric system and having the meter of length, the kilogram of mass, and the second of time as its fundamental units. Other mks units include the...

Molyneaux, James Henry, Baron Molyneaux of Killead

(Encyclopedia)Molyneaux, James Henry, Baron Molyneaux of Killead, 1920–2015, Northern Irish political leader. A Protestant and strong Unionist, he served in the Royal Air Force during World War II and subsequentl...

Bennett, James Gordon, 1795–1872, American newspaper publisher

(Encyclopedia)Bennett, James Gordon, 1795–1872, American newspaper proprietor, b. Keith, Scotland. He came to America in 1819 and won a reputation as Washington correspondent of the New York Enquirer and later (1...

Perth, James Eric Drummond, 16th earl of

(Encyclopedia)Perth, James Eric Drummond, 16th earl of, 1876–1951, British diplomat. He was the first secretary-general of the League of Nations (1919–33) and ambassador to Rome (1933–39) and served (1939–4...

Wilson, James, American agriculturist and cabinet officer

(Encyclopedia)Wilson, James, 1836–1920, American agriculturist and cabinet officer, b. Ayrshire, Scotland. He emigrated to the United States and settled (1851) in Connecticut, later moving (1855) to Tama co., Iow...

Bayard, James Asheton, 1767–1815, U.S. Representative and Senator from Delaware

(Encyclopedia)Bayard, James Asheton bīˈərd [key], 1767–1815, U.S. representative (1797–1803) and senator (1805–13) from Delaware, b. Philadelphia. Admitted to the bar in 1787, he began practice at Wilmingt...

Stanhope, James Stanhope, 1st Earl

(Encyclopedia)Stanhope, James Stanhope, 1st Earl, 1673–1721, English general and statesman. During the War of the Spanish Succession he participated in the capture (1705) of Barcelona, was appointed (1706) minist...

Offa's Dyke

(Encyclopedia)Offa's Dyke, ancient entrenchment of W England and E Wales, from the Dee estuary to near the estuary of the Wye River. It was built in the 8th cent. by Offa, king of Mercia, as a barrier against the W...