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executors and administrators

(Encyclopedia)executors and administrators. An executor is the person designated in the will of a deceased person to carry out the provisions of the will. An administrator is the person appointed by a probate court...

Poison Affair

(Encyclopedia)Poison Affair, in French history, scandal implicating a number of prominent persons at the court of King Louis XIV. It began with the trial of Marie Madeleine d'Aubray, marquise de Brinvilliers (c.163...

Harvard University

(Encyclopedia)Harvard University, mainly at Cambridge, Mass., including Harvard College, the oldest American college. From two distinct schools, Radcliffe College for women (est. 1879, chartered 1894) and Harvar...

Engleheart, George

(Encyclopedia)Engleheart, George, 1752–1829, English miniature painter. He studied with Sir Joshua Reynolds and made copies in miniature of Reynolds's paintings. Court miniaturist under George III, he competed su...

Mirabeau, Honoré Gabriel Riquetti, comte de

(Encyclopedia)Mirabeau, Honoré Gabriel Riquetti or Riqueti, comte de ōnôrāˈ gäbrēĕlˈ rēkĕtēˈ kôNt də mēräbōˈ [key], 1749–91, French revolutionary and political leader; son of Victor de Mirabeau...

census

(Encyclopedia)census, periodic official count of the number of persons and their condition and of the resources of a country. In ancient times, among the Jews and Romans, such enumeration was mainly for taxation an...

Papua New Guinea

(Encyclopedia)Papua New Guinea păpˈo͞oə, –yo͞oə, gĭnˈē [key], officially Independent State of Papua New Guinea, independent Commonwealth nation (2015 est. pop. 6,672,000), 183,540 sq mi (475,369 sq km), ...

journalism

(Encyclopedia)journalism, the collection and periodic publication or transmission of news through media such as newspaper, periodical, television, and radio. By broadcasting events such as the Watergate hearin...

La Chaise, François d'Aix de

(Encyclopedia)La Chaise, François d'Aix de fräNswäˈ dāks də lä shĕz [key], 1624–1709, French Jesuit, confessor of Louis XIV after 1675. His influence at court was considerable. The great cemetery in NE Pa...

Sackville, Charles, 6th earl of Dorset

(Encyclopedia)Sackville, Charles, 6th earl of Dorset, 1638–1706, English poet and courtier. After the restoration, he became a member of the intimate circle of young rakes and wits at the court of Charles II, wri...