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Vigo, Francis

(Encyclopedia)Vigo, Francis vēˈgō, vīˈgō [key], 1747–1836, American frontier trader and merchant, supporter of the American Revolution. He was born at Mondovi, Italy, and originally named Giuseppe Maria Fra...

Willughby, Francis

(Encyclopedia)Willughby, Francis wĭlˈəbē [key], 1635–72, English naturalist. He is known especially for his early systematic work on birds and fishes, in which he made some of the most important contributions...

Bourne, Francis

(Encyclopedia)Bourne, Francis bôrn [key], 1861–1935, English prelate, cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He entered the priesthood in 1884 and later was made bishop coadjutor of Southwark (1896), bishop of S...

Beaumont, Francis

(Encyclopedia)Beaumont, Francis bōˈmŏnt [key], 1584?–1616, English dramatist. Born of a distinguished family, he studied at Oxford and the Inner Temple. His literary reputation is linked with that of John Flet...

Borgia, Francis

(Encyclopedia)Borgia, Francis: see Francis Borgia, Saint. ...

Carco, Francis

(Encyclopedia)Carco, Francis fräNsēsˈ kärkōˈ [key], 1886–1958, French poet and novelist, b. New Caledonia of Corsican parents. His real name was François Carcopino. The bohemian Parisian life he cherished ...

Wharton, Francis

(Encyclopedia)Wharton, Francis, 1820–89, American clergyman and lawyer, b. Philadelphia, grad. Yale, 1839. Admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1843, he became an authority on criminal law and wrote A Treatise on ...

Wayland, Francis

(Encyclopedia)Wayland, Francis, 1796–1865, American clergyman and educator, b. New York City, grad. Union College, 1813, and studied at Andover Theological Seminary. As pastor (1821–26) of the First Baptist Chu...

Bormann, Martin

(Encyclopedia)Bormann, Martin bôrˈmän [key], 1900–1945, German National Socialist (Nazi) leader. He met Adolf Hitler in 1924 and soon became an important figure in the Nazi party hierarchy. He succeeded Rudolf...

cosmic rays

(Encyclopedia)cosmic rays, charged particles moving at nearly the speed of light reaching the earth from outer space. Primary cosmic rays consist mostly of protons (nuclei of hydrogen atoms), some alpha particles (...