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Forsyth, Alexander John

(Encyclopedia)Forsyth, Alexander John fôrsīthˈ [key], 1769–1843, Scottish inventor. He invented in 1807 the first workable percussion cap for the ignition of gunpowder in firearms. Forsyth refused an offer fro...

Fleming, Sir Alexander

(Encyclopedia)Fleming, Sir Alexander, 1881–1955, Scottish bacteriologist, discoverer of penicillin (1928) and lysozyme (1922), an antibacterial substance found in saliva and other body secretions. Educated at St....

Ingraham, Hubert Alexander

(Encyclopedia)Ingraham, Hubert Alexander ĭngˈgrəm [key], 1947–, Bahamian political leader, prime minister of the Bahamas (1992–2002, 2007–12), b. Cooper's Town, Abaco. A lawyer, Ingraham started his politi...

De Croo, Alexander

(Encyclopedia)De Croo, Alexander, 1975–, Belgian political leader. He worked for the Boston Consulting Group (1999–2006) and his own management consulting firm (2006–9) before entering politics. The son of Be...

Alger, Russell Alexander

(Encyclopedia)Alger, Russell Alexander, 1836–1907, U.S. secretary of war (1897–99), b. near Medina, Ohio. After moving to Michigan he engaged in the lumber business, in which he made a fortune. During the Civil...

Dowie, John Alexander

(Encyclopedia)Dowie, John Alexander douˈē [key], 1847–1907, founder of the Christian Catholic Church, b. Scotland. He emigrated (1860) to Australia, where he was ordained as a Congregational minister. Dowie's t...

Drew, George Alexander

(Encyclopedia)Drew, George Alexander, 1894–1973, Canadian political leader. A lawyer, he led the Conservative party in Ontario from 1938 and served in the provincial legislature (1939–48) and in the House of Co...

Doniphan, Alexander William

(Encyclopedia)Doniphan, Alexander William dŏnˈĭfən [key], 1808–87, American lawyer and soldier, b. Mason co., Ky. He began (1830) to practice law in Lexington, Mo., and served three terms in the state legisla...

Dallas, Alexander James

(Encyclopedia)Dallas, Alexander James dălˈəs [key], 1759–1817, U.S. secretary of the treasury (1814–16), b. Jamaica, West Indies. He went (1783) to Philadelphia, practiced law, and was secretary of state (17...

Alexander of Aphrodisias

(Encyclopedia)Alexander of Aphrodisias ăfrōdĭshˈēəs [key], fl. a.d. 200, Greek Peripatetic philosopher. A celebrated ancient commentator on Aristotle, he was often called the Exegete. Among his extant writing...