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Dillon, John

(Encyclopedia)Dillon, John, 1851–1927, Irish nationalist. A supporter of Charles Stewart Parnell, he entered Parliament in 1880 and was arrested several times for his advocacy of boycotting and agrarian agitation...

Durkee, John

(Encyclopedia)Durkee, John dûrˈkē [key], 1728–82, American pioneer and Revolutionary officer, b. Windham, Conn. Durkee, a leading member of the Connecticut Sons of Liberty, led the group that forced Jared Inge...

Dwight, John

(Encyclopedia)Dwight, John, fl. 1671–98, English potter, reputed founder of the Chelsea porcelain factory. The registration in 1671 of his patent for the “Mistery of transparent earthenware …” is the firs...

Dyer, John

(Encyclopedia)Dyer, John, 1700?–1758, English nature poet, b. Wales. He is best known for the topographical poem Grongar Hill (1726). ...

Earle, John

(Encyclopedia)Earle, John ûrl [key], 1601?–1665, English clergyman and author. The Microcosmographie (1628), a collection of witty characterizations, is his most famous work. In 1663 he became bishop of Salisbur...

Eaton, John

(Encyclopedia)Eaton, John, 1829–1906, American educator, b. Sutton, N.H., grad. Dartmouth, 1854. After serving as a school principal in Cleveland, Ohio, and as superintendent of schools in Toledo, he enrolled at ...

Deere, John

(Encyclopedia)Deere, John, 1804–86, American industrialist, manufacturer of agricultural implements, b. Rutland, Vt. He was one of the pioneers of the steel plow industry. A blacksmith by trade, he established (1...

Dennis, John

(Encyclopedia)Dennis, John, 1657–1734, English critic and playwright. Best known for his critical works, which include Grounds of Criticism in Poetry (1704) and An Essay on the Genius and Writings of Shakespeare ...

Dowland, John

(Encyclopedia)Dowland, John douˈlənd [key], 1563–1626, English composer, unsurpassed in his day as a lutenist. His books of Songs or Ayres (1597–1603) established him as the foremost song composer of his time...

Drew, John

(Encyclopedia)Drew, John, 1827–62, American actor, b. Dublin. After establishing a reputation as a comedian in the 1840s, he devoted his energies to the Arch Street Theatre, Philadelphia, where he maintained a fa...