(Encyclopedia) Young, Charles Augustus, 1834–1908, American astronomer, b. Hanover, N.H., grad. Dartmouth, 1853. He discovered the reversing layer of the solar atmosphere and proved the gaseous…
(Encyclopedia) Worth, Charles Frederick, 1825–95, French and British fashion designer. He was the founder of the Maison Worth in Paris and London, the longest running fashion dynasty, and the arbiter…
(Encyclopedia) Wuorinen, Charles PeterWuorinen, Charles Peterwûrˈĭnən [key], 1938–2020, American composer, conductor, and pianist, b. New York City. Wuorinen studied at Columbia (B.A., 1961; M.A.,…
(Encyclopedia) Wurtz, Charles AdolpheWurtz, Charles Adolpheshärl ädôlfˈ vürts [key], 1817–84, French chemist. He was professor at the Sorbonne (1852–75), at the Faculty of Medicine, Paris (1853–75),…
(Encyclopedia) Wentworth, William Charles, 1793?–1872, Australian statesman. His exploration (1813) of the Blue Mts. in Australia revealed vast pasturelands in the western part of the continent. In…
(Encyclopedia) Wheatstone, Sir CharlesWheatstone, Sir Charleshwētˈstōn, –stən [key], 1802–75, English physicist and inventor. He was professor at King's College, London, from 1834. A pioneer in…
(Encyclopedia) Whitaker, Charles HarrisWhitaker, Charles Harrishwĭtˈəkər [key], 1872–1938, American architect and author, b. Rhode Island, studied art abroad. Editor (1913–27) of the journal of the…
(Encyclopedia) Wagley, Charles WalterWagley, Charles Walterwăgˈlē [key], 1913–91, American anthropologist, b. Clarksville, Tex., grad. Columbia (Ph.D., 1941). He began teaching at Columbia in 1940,…
(Encyclopedia) Benchley, Robert Charles, 1889–1945, American humorist, b. Worcester, Mass., grad. Harvard, 1912. He was drama critic of Life (1920–29) and of the New Yorker (1929–40). Benchley was…
(Encyclopedia) Cadman, Charles Wakefield, 1881–1946, American composer, b. Johnstown, Pa. Although he is known to the public principally for two songs—From the Land of the Sky-blue Water, based on…