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Long, Stephen Harriman

(Encyclopedia)Long, Stephen Harriman, 1784–1864, American explorer, b. Hopkinton, N.H. As an army engineer, Long was sent on several exploring and surveying expeditions. The first in 1817 was to the region of the...

freethinkers

(Encyclopedia)freethinkers, those who arrive at conclusions, particularly in questions of religion, by employing the rules of reason while rejecting supernatural authority or ecclesiastical tradition. The freethink...

Gardner, John William

(Encyclopedia)Gardner, John William, 1912–2002, American public official, U.S. secretary of health, education, and welfare (1965–68), b. Los Angeles. After teaching psychology at Connecticut and Mt. Holyoke col...

Van Cortlandt, Stephen

(Encyclopedia)Van Cortlandt, Stephen or Stephanus văn kôrtˈlənd [key], 1643–1700, colonial American merchant and politician, b. New Amsterdam (later New York City); brother of Jacobus Van Cortlandt. A succes...

Brooke, Sir James

(Encyclopedia)Brooke, Sir James, 1803–68, rajah of Sarawak on Borneo, b. India, of English parents. After active service in Burma (1825–26), he retired (1830) from the army of the East India Company. He sailed ...

Broun, Heywood Campbell

(Encyclopedia)Broun, Heywood Campbell bro͞on [key], 1888–1939, American newspaper columnist and critic, b. Brooklyn, N.Y. He worked on the New York Tribune (1912–21) and the New York World (1921–28), where h...

Langley Air Force Base

(Encyclopedia)Langley Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 3,195 acres (1,293 hectares), SE Va., N of Hampton; est. 1917 and named for aviation pioneer Samuel P. Langley, amalgamated 2010 with Fort Eustis in...

Montmagny, Charles Jacques Huault de

(Encyclopedia)Montmagny, Charles Jacques Huault de shärl zhäk üōˈ də môNmänyēˈ [key], fl.1622–54, governor of New France (1636–48). He was an administrator in New France from 1632 and succeeded Samuel...

Pea Ridge

(Encyclopedia)Pea Ridge, chain of hills, NW Ark., where the Civil War battle of Pea Ridge (or Elkhorn Tavern) was fought Mar. 6–8, 1862. Earl Van Dorn, leading a large Confederate command, which included Sterling...

Port Royal Sound

(Encyclopedia)Port Royal Sound, arm of the Atlantic Ocean, between St. Helena and Parris islands to the north and Hilton Head Island to the south, in S S.C.; it receives the Broad River. The sound was named in 1562...