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Bartlett, Robert Abram

(Encyclopedia)Bartlett, Robert Abram, 1875–1946, American arctic explorer, b. Brigus, near St. John's, N.L., Canada. He accompanied Robert E. Peary on the expeditions of 1897–98 and 1905–6, and in 1908–9 he...

Barton, Elizabeth

(Encyclopedia)Barton, Elizabeth, 1506?–1534, English prophet, called the Maid of Kent or the Nun of Kent. She was a domestic servant who, after a period of illness, began (c.1525) to go into trances and to utter ...

Pordenone, Giovanni Antonio de

(Encyclopedia)Pordenone, Giovanni Antonio de jōvänˈnē äntôˈnyō dā pōrdānôˈnā [key], c.1484–1539, Venetian painter. His real name was Giovanni Antonio de Sacchis. He studied in Venice and probably in...

Baraga, Frederic

(Encyclopedia)Baraga, Frederic bârˈəgə [key], 1797–1868, Roman Catholic missionary to the Native Americans of Upper Michigan, b. Slovenia. He received (1821) a law degree from the Univ. of Vienna, and after s...

Thorndike, Dame Sybil

(Encyclopedia)Thorndike, Dame Sybil (Agnes Sybil Thorndike), 1882–1976, English actress. Thorndike made her debut with the Ben Greet Players and toured the United States with them (1904–7). She worked with the ...

Radcliffe, Ann (Ward)

(Encyclopedia)Radcliffe, Ann (Ward), 1764–1823, English novelist, b. London. The daughter of a successful tradesman, she married William Radcliffe, a law student who later became editor of the English Chronicle. ...

Ridpath, John Clark

(Encyclopedia)Ridpath, John Clark, 1840–1900, American educator and author, b. Putnam co., Ind., grad. Indiana Asbury College (now DePauw Univ.), 1863. After teaching in Indiana schools, he was successively (1869...

nylon

(Encyclopedia)nylon, synthetic thermoplastic material characterized by strength, elasticity, resistance to abrasion and chemicals, low moisture absorbency, and capacity to be permanently set by heat. After 10 years...

Vigo, Jean

(Encyclopedia)Vigo, Jean zhäN vēgōˈ [key], 1905–34, French movie director, whose original name was Jean Almereyda. His reputation is based on two superb films: Zéro de Conduite (1933) and L'Atalante (1934, u...

Vassar, Matthew

(Encyclopedia)Vassar, Matthew văsˈər [key], 1792–1868, American philanthropist, founder of Vassar College, b. England. He emigrated to the United States with his father in 1796. In 1811, after his father's suc...