(Encyclopedia) Spee, Maximilian, Graf vonSpee, Maximilian, Graf vonmäkˌsēmēˈlyän gräf fən shpā [key], 1861–1914, German admiral. At the start of World War I he commanded a squadron in East Asia. In…
(Encyclopedia) Biron or Biren, Ernst Johann vonBiron or Biren, Ernst Johann vonĕrnst yōhänˈ fən bēˈrôn, bēˈrən [key], 1690–1772, duke of Courland (1737–43, 1763–69), favorite of Czarina Anna of…
(Encyclopedia) Brühl, Heinrich, Graf vonBrühl, Heinrich, Graf vonhīnˈrĭkh gräfˈ fən brül [key], 1700–1763, Saxon statesman. He was adviser to Augustus II, king of Poland and elector of Saxony, and…
(Encyclopedia) Caprivi, Leo, Graf vonCaprivi, Leo, Graf vonlāˈō gräf fən käprēˈvē [key], 1831–99, German chancellor, whose full name was Georg Leo, Graf von Caprivi de Caprara de Montecuculi. A…
(Encyclopedia) Bellingshausen, Fabian Gottlieb vonBellingshausen, Fabian Gottlieb vonfäbˈēən gôtˈlēp fôn bĕlˈĭngzhouˌzən [key], 1778–1852, Russian explorer, b. Sarema, Estonia. A graduate of the…
(Encyclopedia) Blücher, Gebhard Leberecht vonBlücher, Gebhard Leberecht vongĕpˈhärt lāˈbərĕkht fən blüˈkhər [key], 1742–1819, Prussian field marshal, an outstanding military opponent of Napoleon I.…
(Encyclopedia) Bethmann-Hollweg, Theobald vonBethmann-Hollweg, Theobald vontāˈōbält fən bātˈmän-hôlˈvāk [key], 1856–1921, German chancellor. A career civil servant, he became minister of the interior…
(Encyclopedia) Werner, Anton Alexander vonWerner, Anton Alexander vonänˈtôn älĕksänˈdər fən vĕrˈnər [key], 1843–1915, German historical painter, portraitist, and illustrator. He was director (1875–…
