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Montgolfier, Joseph Michel

(Encyclopedia)Montgolfier, Joseph Michel zhäk ātyĕnˈ [key], 1745–99, French inventors, brothers. Together they invented the first practical balloon. On June 5, 1783, they sent up at Annonay, near Lyons, a lar...

Martelly, Michel Joseph

(Encyclopedia)Martelly, Michel Joseph, 1961–, Haitian musician and political leader. After periods of living in the United States, he returned home in 1987 and became a keyboard player and singer, specializing in...

Hofmann, Joseph

(Encyclopedia)Hofmann, Joseph, 1876–1957, Polish-American pianist, b. near Cracow; pupil of Anton Rubinstein. He toured Europe as a child prodigy, making his American debut in 1887 at the Metropolitan Opera House...

Colomb, Michel

(Encyclopedia)Colomb or Colombe, Michel both: mēshĕlˈ kôlôNˈ [key], c.1430–1512, French sculptor, one of the masters of the French Renaissance. Few of his works survive. His name is associated with the exec...

Chevalier, Michel

(Encyclopedia)Chevalier, Michel shəvälyāˈ [key], 1806–79, French economist. An ardent Saint-Simonian as a youth, he later favored a form of welfare capitalism. He advocated industrial development as the key ...

Ako, Michel

(Encyclopedia)Ako, Michel: see Aco, Michel.

Chamillart, Michel

(Encyclopedia)Chamillart or Chamillard, Michel both: mēshĕlˈ shämēyärˈ [key], 1652–1721, French statesman. He was named controller general of finances (1699), minister of state (1700), and minister of war ...

Claude Michel

(Encyclopedia)Claude Michel: see Clodion.

Foucault, Michel

(Encyclopedia)Foucault, Michel, 1926–84, French philosopher and historian. He was professor at the Collège de France (1970–84). He is renowned for historical studies that reveal the sometimes morally disturbin...

Houellebecq, Michel

(Encyclopedia)Houellebecq, Michel mēshĕlˈ wĕlˈbĕk [key], b. 1958– or 1956–, French author, perhaps France's best-known contemporary novelist, b. Réunion as Michel Thomas. A literary pessimist and master ...