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Ré, island, France

(Encyclopedia)Ré rā [key], island (1991 pop. 13,973), 33 sq mi (85 sq km), Charente-Maritime dept., off La Rochelle, W France, in the Bay of Biscay. The island is largely agricultural; it has oyster beds, some fi...

Céspedes, Carlos Manuel de, 1871–1939, president of Cuba

(Encyclopedia)Céspedes, Carlos Manuel de, 1871–1939, president of Cuba (1933), b. New York City; son of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (1819–74). He actively participated in the Revolution of 1895 and the Spanish-...

pessimism

(Encyclopedia)pessimism, philosophical opinion or doctrine that evil predominates over good; the opposite of optimism. Systematic forms of pessimism may be found in philosophy and religion. In religion Buddhism and...

Drexel, Anthony Joseph

(Encyclopedia)Drexel, Anthony Joseph drĕkˈsəl [key], 1826–93, American banker and philanthropist, b. Philadelphia. He entered (1838) at an early age the well-known banking firm of Drexel and Company, founded b...

Aleandro, Girolamo

(Encyclopedia)Aleandro, Girolamo jērôˈlämō älāänˈdrō [key], 1480–1542, Italian scholar, cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is also called Hieronymus Aleander. A principal in the Lutheran crisis, ...

Amsdorf, Nikolaus von

(Encyclopedia)Amsdorf, Nikolaus von nēˈkōlous fən ämsˈdôrf [key], 1483–1565, German Protestant reformer. He became a devoted supporter of Martin Luther. Elector John Frederick I of Saxony appointed Amsdorf...

Jouvenet, Jean Baptiste

(Encyclopedia)Jouvenet, Jean Baptiste zhäN bätēstˈ zho͞ovənāˈ [key], 1644–1717, French painter, one of a family of painters. He worked in Paris in the studio of Charles Le Brun, whose manner he acquired a...

Arrau, Claudio

(Encyclopedia)Arrau, Claudio clawdēō ărˈrō [key], 1903–91, classical pianist, b. Chile. In 1911 he was sponsored by the Chilean government to study with Martin Krause in Berlin, where his talent attracted at...

Kinderhook

(Encyclopedia)Kinderhook kĭnˈdərho͝okˌ [key], village (1990 pop. 1,293), Columbia co., SE N.Y.; settled before the Revolution, inc. 1838. Richard Upjohn designed St. Paul's Church (1851) there. President Marti...

Blest Gana, Alberto

(Encyclopedia)Blest Gana, Alberto älbārˈtō blĕst gäˈnä [key], 1830–1920, Chilean novelist. He is considered the principal 19th-century Spanish-American realist. Although as a diplomat he spent much of his...