Source: The U.S. Secret Service Counterfeiting of money is one of the oldest crimes in history. It was a serious problem during the 19th century when banks issued their own currency. At the time of…
(Encyclopedia) Delcassé, ThéophileDelcassé, Théophiletāôfēlˈ dĕlkäsāˈ [key], 1852–1923, French foreign minister. He began his career as a political journalist and then turned to politics. First…
(Encyclopedia) hajjhajjhäj [key], the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, one of the five basic requirements (arkan or “pillars”) of Islam. Its annual observance corresponds to the major holy day id…
advertising executiveBorn: 7/26/1935Birthplace: Beaumont, Tex. Adept at combining her business acumen with a little Southern charm, Beers has paved the way for women to succeed in the extremely…
actressBorn: 12/2/1968 Birthplace: Queens, New York Though she made her television debut in 1991 as Courtney, the Peach Pit waitress on Beverly Hills 90210, it wasn't until 1998 that Liu's career…
(Encyclopedia) Chamberlain, Wilt (Wilton Norman Chamberlain), 1936–99, American basketball player, b. Philadelphia. At the Univ. of Kansas he was a two-time All-American center. During 14 seasons in…
(Encyclopedia) Grey, Charles Grey, 2d Earl, 1764–1845, British statesman. Elected to Parliament in 1786, he was one of those appointed to manage the impeachment of Warren Hastings. From 1792 he was a…
(Encyclopedia) Gideon v. Wainwright, case decided in 1963 by the U.S. Supreme Court. Clarence Earl Gideon was convicted of a felony in a Florida court. He had defended himself after being denied a…
(Encyclopedia) Williams, William Sherley, 1787–1849, American trader and trapper, known as Old Bill Williams, b. Rutherford co., N.C. Much of his early life was spent in Missouri, where he was a…