actressBorn: 5/31/1961Birthplace: Rochester, Minnesota A professional dancer who trained with the American Ballet Theatre and other prestigious companies, Thompson became a familiar face through…
(Encyclopedia) Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811–96, American novelist and humanitarian, b. Litchfield, Conn. With her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, she stirred the conscience of Americans concerning slavery…
actressBorn: 3/20/1958Birthplace: Conyers, Georgia Academy- and Emmy Award-winning film and television actress. Often thought of as a Southern bundle of energy who can talk, talk, talk, she proved…
Many children have written books that have been published. One of the first we know about is Francis Hawkins. In 1641, when he was 8 years old, he wrote a book of manners for children called Youth…
(Encyclopedia) Clements, Vassar, 1928–2005, American virtuoso fiddle player, b. Kinards, S.C. Self-taught, he played with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys from 1949 to 1956. Though his roots were in…
(Encyclopedia) Holstein-Friesian cattleHolstein-Friesian cattlehōlˈstēn-frēˈzhən, –stīn– [key], breed of dairy cattle originated in N Holland and Friesland. Commonly called Holsteins in the United…
(Encyclopedia) Fletcher, Andrew, 1655–1716, Scottish politician, known as Fletcher of Saltoun. An opponent of the policies of the duke of Lauderdale and the duke of York (later James II) in Scotland…
(Encyclopedia) limerick, type of humorous verse. It is always short, often nonsensical, and sometimes ribald. Of unknown origin, the limerick is popular rather than literary and has even been used in…
(Encyclopedia) Mandeville, BernardMandeville, Bernardmănˈdəvĭl [key], 1670–1733, English author, b. Dordrecht, Holland. A physician, he went to London in 1692 ostensibly to learn the language, but…
(Encyclopedia) William II, 1626–50, prince of Orange, stadtholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands (1647–50), son and successor of Frederick Henry. He married (1641) Mary, eldest daughter…
