(Encyclopedia) Wyss, Johann DavidWyss, Johann Davidyōˈhän däˈvĭt vēs [key], 1743–1818, Swiss author. His Swiss Family Robinson (1813, tr. 1814), an internationally popular classic for children,…
(Encyclopedia) Wells, David Ames, 1828–98, American economist, b. Springfield, Mass., grad. Williams, 1847, and Lawrence Scientific School, Cambridge, Mass., 1851. Early in life he wrote several…
(Encyclopedia) Wallace, David Foster, 1962–2008, American writer, b. Ithaca, N.Y., grad. Amherst College (B.A., 1985), Univ. of Arizona (M.F.A., 1987). He published his comic first novel, The Broom…
(Encyclopedia) Ben-Gurion, DavidBen-Gurion, Davidbĕn-g&oomacr;ˈrēŏn [key], 1886–1973, Israeli statesman, b. Plońsk, Poland, as David Grün. He settled in Palestine in 1906, but lived for periods…
(Encyclopedia) Burnet, David GouverneurBurnet, David Gouverneurgŭvˌən&oobreve;rˈ bûrˈnĭt [key], 1788–1870, provisional president of Texas (1836), b. Newark, N.J.; son of William Burnet (1730–91…
(Encyclopedia) Brewster, Sir David, 1781–1868, Scottish physicist and natural philosopher. He is noted especially for his research into the polarization of light (the invention of the kaleidoscope…
(Encyclopedia) Brinkley, David McClure, 1920–2003, American news broadcaster, b. Wilmington, N.C. He began (1942) his lengthy journalistic career as a reporter for United Press, soon (1943) joining…
(Encyclopedia) Broder, David Salzer, 1929n–2011, American journalist, b. Chicago Heights, Ill., grad. Univ. of Chicago (1947). Noted for measured and incisive political analysis, Broder worked for…
(Encyclopedia) Broderick, David ColbrethBroderick, David Colbrethbrōˈdərĭk [key], 1820–59, American politician, b. Washington, D.C. Brought up in New York City, he was active in Tammany Hall before…
(Encyclopedia) Birkhoff, George David, 1884–1944, American mathematician, b. Overisel, Mich.; father of Garrett Birkhoff. The son of a physician, he was educated at Harvard (B.A., 1905) and the Univ…