(Encyclopedia) Smeaton, JohnSmeaton, Johnsmēˈtən [key], 1724–92, English civil engineer. He became an instrument maker, improved navigation instruments, and carried out many experiments on mechanical…
(Encyclopedia) Smibert or Smybert, JohnSmibert or Smybert, Johnboth: smīˈbərt [key], 1688–1751, American portrait painter, b. Scotland, the first skillful painter in New England. After his…
(Encyclopedia) Spottiswoode, JohnSpottiswoode, Johnspŏtˈĭsw&oobreve;d [key], 1565–1639, Scottish prelate and church historian. Under James and Andrew Melville he studied for the ministry but…
(Encyclopedia) Stark, John, 1728–1822, American Revolutionary soldier, b. Londonderry, N.H. He fought in the French and Indian Wars. At the start of the Revolution he distinguished himself at Bunker…
(Encyclopedia) Bartram, JohnBartram, Johnbärˈtrəm [key], 1699–1777, pioneer American botanist, b. near Darby, Pa. He had no formal schooling but possessed a keen mind and a great interest in plants.…
(Encyclopedia) Barth, JohnBarth, Johnbärth [key], 1930–, American writer, b. Cambridge, Md. He attended Johns Hopkins (B.A. 1951, M.A. 1952), and, beginning in 1973, taught writing at its graduate…
(Encyclopedia) Steinbeck, John, 1902–68, American writer, b. Salinas, Calif., studied at Stanford. He is probably best remembered for his strong sociological novel The Grapes of Wrath, considered one…
(Encyclopedia) Bartlett, John, 1820–1905, American compiler and publisher, b. Plymouth, Mass. While he worked in his university book store in Cambridge, he compiled the invaluable Familiar Quotations…
(Encyclopedia) Bampton, John, 1689–1751, English clergyman, founder of an Oxford lectureship on religious subjects. The Bampton Lectures, now given biennially, have frequently given rise to lively…
