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Polk, James Knox

(Encyclopedia)Polk, James Knox pōk [key], 1795–1849, 11th President of the United States (1845–49), b. Mecklenburg co., N.C. To the surprise of many, the new President proved to be his own man; he even ignor...

Cormenin, Louis Marie de La Haye, vicomte de

(Encyclopedia)Cormenin, Louis Marie de La Haye, vicomte de lwē märēˈ də lä ā vēkôNtˈ də kôrmənăNˈ [key], 1788–1868, French politician, jurist, and pamphleteer. He held minor offices under Napoleon,...

Du Deffand, Marie de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise

(Encyclopedia)Du Deffand, Marie de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise märēˈ də vēshēˈ-shäNrôNˈ märkēzˈ dü dĕfäNˈ [key], 1697–1780, French woman of letters, whose salon was frequented (1753–80) by the lea...

Luynes, Charles d'Albert, duc de

(Encyclopedia)Luynes, Charles d'Albert, duc de shärl dälbĕrˈ dük də lüēnˈ [key], 1578–1621, constable of France, minister and favorite of King Louis XIII. With the king's collaboration he caused the assa...

Fersen, Count Hans Axel

(Encyclopedia)Fersen, Count Hans Axel, 1755–1810, Swedish soldier and diplomat; son of Count Fredrik Axel Fersen. He entered (1779) the French service, was aide-de-camp of comte de Rochambeau in the American Revo...

Mary, the mother of Jesus

(Encyclopedia)Mary, in the Bible, mother of Jesus. Christian tradition reckons her the principal saint, naming her variously the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady, and Mother of God (Gr., theotokos). Her name is the He...

Buchanan, Franklin

(Encyclopedia)Buchanan, Franklin byo͞okăˈnən [key], 1800–1874, American naval officer, b. Baltimore. Appointed a midshipman in 1815, Buchanan rose to be a commander in 1841. He was chief adviser to Secretary ...

Chevreuse, Marie de Rohan-Montbazon, duchesse de

(Encyclopedia)Chevreuse, Marie de Rohan-Montbazon, duchesse de märēˈ də rōäNˈ-môNbäzôNˈ düshĕsˈ də shəvrözˈ [key], 1600–1679, French beauty and politician, an intimate of the French queen, Anne ...

Richelieu, Armand Jean du Plessis, duc de

(Encyclopedia)Richelieu, Armand Jean du Plessis, duc de (Cardinal Richelieu) plĕsēˈ dük də rēshəlyöˈ [key], 1585–1642, French prelate and statesman, chief minister of King Louis XIII, cardinal of the Ro...

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