(Encyclopedia) Wilbur, Richard, 1921–2017, American poet and translator, b. New York City, B.A. Amherst, 1942, M.A. Harvard, 1947. A virtuoso craftsman who wrote with grace and precision in…
(Encyclopedia) Bentley, Richard, 1662–1742, English critic and philologist. Generally considered the greatest of English classical scholars, he was also an Anglican clergyman who became (1717) Regius…
(Encyclopedia) Willstätter, RichardWillstätter, Richardrĭkhˈärt vĭlˈshtĕtər [key], 1872–1942, German chemist. He was professor at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Chemistry, Berlin (1912–16), and at…
(Encyclopedia) Wilson, Richard, 1713?–1782, British landscape painter, b. Wales. He studied in London and achieved success as a portrait painter, but after a visit to Italy (c.1750–1756) he devoted…
(Encyclopedia) Wright, Richard, 1908–60, American author. An African American born on a Mississippi plantation, Wright struggled through a difficult childhood and worked to educate himself. He moved…
(Encyclopedia) Whately, RichardWhately, Richardhwātˈlē [key], 1787–1863, English prelate and writer. Fellow and tutor of Oriel College, Oxford, he published a witty work aimed at extreme skeptics,…
(Encyclopedia) Wagner, RichardWagner, Richardrĭkhˈärt [key]Wagner, Richard vägˈnər [key], 1813–83, German composer, b. Leipzig.
Wagner's second wife, Cosima Wagner, 1837–1930, was the daughter of…
(Encyclopedia) Wall, Richard, 1694–1778, Spanish statesman. Born in France of Irish parents, Wall entered the Spanish military service as a young man and later held important diplomatic posts. He…
(Encyclopedia) Burton, Richard, 1925–84, British actor, b. Pontrhydfen, Wales; his original name was Richard Jenkins. A dark, introspective actor with a splendid speaking voice, Burton specialized in…
(Encyclopedia) Brathwaite, RichardBrathwaite, Richardbrăthˈwāt [key], 1588?–1673, English poet. His Barnabae Itinerarium, a doggerel travelogue of provincial England, was written first in Latin (1636…
