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Innis, Harold Adams

(Encyclopedia)Innis, Harold Adams, 1894–1952, Canadian political economist, b. Otterville, Ontario. One of Canada's leading economic historians, Innis wrote about various facets of Canadian culture and economy. I...

Hume, John

(Encyclopedia)Hume, John, 1937–2020, Northern Irish political leader. A moderate Catholic, he devoted his career to the peaceful settlement of sectarian conflicts in his homeland. Hume began by seeking to improve...

Fries, John

(Encyclopedia)Fries, John, c.1750–1818, American rebel, b. Montgomery co., Pa. After serving in the American Revolution, Fries became a traveling auctioneer. Strongly opposed to the federal property taxes levied ...

Lawrence, Amos Adams

(Encyclopedia)Lawrence, Amos Adams, 1814–86, American colonizer and philanthropist, b. Boston, grad. Harvard, 1835; nephew of Abbott Lawrence. A prosperous commission merchant and manufacturer of textiles, Lawren...

Hancock, John

(Encyclopedia)Hancock, John, 1737–93, political leader in the American Revolution, signer of the Declaration of Independence, b. Braintree, Mass. From an uncle he inherited Boston's leading mercantile firm, and n...

Quincy, Josiah, 1772–1864, American political leader and college president

(Encyclopedia)Quincy, Josiah, 1772–1864, American political leader and college president, b. Braintree, Mass.; son of Josiah Quincy (1744–75). After studying law, Quincy became interested in politics and entere...

Smibert, John

(Encyclopedia)Smibert or Smybert, John both: smīˈbərt [key], 1688–1751, American portrait painter, b. Scotland, the first skillful painter in New England. After his apprenticeship to an Edinburgh house painter...

Platt, Charles Adams

(Encyclopedia)Platt, Charles Adams, 1861–1933, American architect, landscape architect, painter, and etcher, b. New York City. He studied etching with Stephen Parrish and painting, in Paris, under Boulanger and L...

Pynchon, John

(Encyclopedia)Pynchon, John pĭnˈchən [key], c.1626–1703, American colonist and merchant, b. England; son of William Pynchon. He emigrated to Massachusetts Bay colony with his father in 1630. When his father re...

Keller, Helen Adams

(Encyclopedia)Keller, Helen Adams, 1880–1968, American author and lecturer, blind and deaf from an undiagnosed illness at the age of two, b. Tuscumbia, Ala. In 1887 she was put under the charge of Anne Sullivan (...