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Stark, John

(Encyclopedia)Stark, John, 1728–1822, American Revolutionary soldier, b. Londonderry, N.H. He fought in the French and Indian Wars. At the start of the Revolution he distinguished himself at Bunker Hill, and he s...

Cairoli, Benedetto

(Encyclopedia)Cairoli, Benedetto bānādĕtˈtō kīrôˈlē [key], 1825–89, Italian patriot and premier. One of five brothers all noted as heroes of the Risorgimento, he was the only brother to survive the wars ...

Peña Nieto, Enrique

(Encyclopedia)Peña Nieto, Enrique, 1966–, Mexican politician, president of Mexico (2012–18). He earned a law degree from the Panamerican Univ., Mexico City, and an M.B.A. from Monterrey Technological Institute...

Wrangel, Karl Gustaf

(Encyclopedia)Wrangel, Karl Gustaf kärl go͞oˈstäf vränˈgĕl [key], 1613–76, Swedish general and admiral. After distinguishing himself in land campaigns in the Thirty Years War, he succeeded to command of th...

Waltari, Mika

(Encyclopedia)Waltari, Mika mēˈkə välˈtärē [key], 1908–79, Finnish author. Waltari wrote plays, detective stories, and travelogues, but is best known for his novels. After completing his university educati...

Weatherford, William

(Encyclopedia)Weatherford, William, c.1780–1824, Native American chief, b. present-day Alabama, also called Red Eagle. In the War of 1812 he led the Creek war party, stirred by Tecumseh, against the Americans. On...

Bligh, William

(Encyclopedia)Bligh, William blī [key], 1754–1817, British admiral. He is chiefly remembered for the mutiny (1789) on his ship, the Bounty, but he had a long and notable career. He was sailing master on Capt. Ja...

Aedui

(Encyclopedia)Aedui hĕˈdyo͞oī [key], Gallic people, occupying in the 1st cent. b.c. a part of what later became Burgundy. Defeated by Ariovistus and at odds with their Gallic neighbors, they were allies of the ...

Pawnee

(Encyclopedia)Pawnee pônēˈ [key], Native North Americans whose language belongs to the Caddoan branch of the Hokan-Siouan linguistic stock (see Native American languages). At one time the Pawnee lived in what is...

conscription

(Encyclopedia)conscription, compulsory enrollment of personnel for service in the armed forces. Obligatory service in the armed forces has existed since ancient times in many cultures, including the samurai in Japa...