(Encyclopedia) Evans, Oliver, 1755–1819, American inventor, b. near Newport, Del. He joined his brothers in a flour-milling business in Wilmington, and after studying similar earlier devices, he…
(Encyclopedia) Humphreys, David, 1752–1818, American diplomat and poet, b. present Ansonia (then in Derby), Conn. His military talents and patriotism won the friendship of General Washington and a…
(Encyclopedia) Huntington, Henry Edwards, 1850–1927, American financier, b. Oneonta, N.Y. He was prominent in railroad and other enterprises. Until the death of his uncle, Collis P. Huntington, the…
(Encyclopedia) Legionaries of Christ, Roman Catholic order est. 1941 in Mexico by Father Marcial Maciel Degollado. The conservative order, which became wealthy and influential, was noted for…
(Encyclopedia) Van Allsburg, Chris, 1949–, American writer and illustrator of children's books, b. East Grand Rapids, Mich., B.F.A. Univ. of Michigan, 1972, M.F.A. Rhode Island School of Design, 1975…
clothing entrepreneurBorn: 1937Birthplace: Hangchow, China Mow's family came to the United States when he was a boy. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1959 and earned a Ph.D.…
(Encyclopedia) Gresham, Sir ThomasGresham, Sir Thomasgrĕshˈəm [key], 1519?–1579, English merchant and financier. As the royal financial agent in Antwerp after 1551 he proved himself very able, though…
(Encyclopedia) Bemelmans, Ludwig, 1898–1962 American author and illustrator of children's books, b. Meran, Austria-Hungary (now in Italy), to Belgian and German parents. Trained in the hotel and…
(Encyclopedia) torpedo boat, small fast warship built specially for using the torpedo as a means of attack. The first modern torpedo boat was the Lightning, built for the British navy in 1877 by the…