(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) Rayonnant styleRayonnant stylerāˈənănt [key], the middle period (c.1240–1350) of French Gothic architecture, so termed from the characteristic radiating tracery of the rose window. In…
(Encyclopedia) Tsai Ing-wenTsai Ing-wentsī ēng-wŭn [key], 1956–, Taiwanese political leader, president of Taiwan (2016–), b. Pingtung, grad. National Taiwan Univ. (LL.B., 1978), Cornell (LL.M., 1980…
(Encyclopedia) RajputanaRajputanaräjˌp&oobreve;täˈnə [key], historic region, NW India; roughly coextensive with the modern Indian state of Rajasthan. The name means “land of the Rajputs.” Rajput…
(Encyclopedia) azaleaazaleaəzālˈyə [key] [Gr.,=dry], any species of the genus Rhododendron, North American and Asian shrubs of the family Ericaceae (heath family) that are distinguished by the…
(Encyclopedia) Videla, Jorge RafaelVidela, Jorge Rafaelhôrˈhā räfäĕlˈ vēdāˈlä [key], 1925–2013, Argentine general and president. Born to a military family, he graduated (1944) from the National…
(Encyclopedia) PrachandaPrachandaprăchänˈdə [key] [the fierce one], nom de guerre of Pushpa Kamal DahalPushpa Kamal Dahalp&oomacr;shˈpä kəmälˈ dəhäl [key], 1954–, Nepalese military and political…
film, television and stage actorBorn: 19/19/1928Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York Though Hickey had been acting since the 1940s, it wasn't until 1985 that he gained fame for his role as the aging,…
ship captain, merchant, and abolitionistBorn: January 17, 1759 Birthplace: Cuttyhunk, Mass. Paul Cuffe was born in colonial Massachusetts as a free Black person. Cuffe's mother was an American…
(John Herndon Mercer)lyricist, songwriterBorn: 11/18/1909Birthplace: Savannah, Georgia This prolific lyricist wrote words for some of the most memorable songs of the 1940s and 1950s, many made…
