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Breton Succession, War of the

(Encyclopedia)Breton Succession, War of the, 1341–65, an important episode of the Hundred Years War. Duke John III of Brittany died in 1341 without heirs. The succession was contested by his half-brother, John de...

Biron, Ernst Johann von

(Encyclopedia)Biron or Biren, Ernst Johann von ĕrnst yōhänˈ fən bēˈrôn, bēˈrən [key], 1690–1772, duke of Courland (1737–43, 1763–69), favorite of Czarina Anna of Russia. A Baltic nobleman, he rose ...

Strayhorn, Billy

(Encyclopedia)Strayhorn, Billy (William Thomas Strayhorn), 1915–67, African-American jazz composer, arranger, lyricist, and pianist, b. Dayton, Ohio. Classically trained, he was drawn to jazz, and early in his ca...

Ballantyne, James

(Encyclopedia)Ballantyne, James bălˈəntīn [key], 1772–1833, Scottish editor and publisher. Ballantyne and his brother John set up a publishing business in Edinburgh with the aid of Sir Walter Scott. The firm ...

Smith, Horatio

(Encyclopedia)Smith, Horatio or Horace, 1779–1849, and James Smith, 1775–1839, English parodists, brothers. They wrote the famous Rejected Addresses (1812) which burlesqued such contemporary poets as Wordsworth...

Paget, Sir James

(Encyclopedia)Paget, Sir James păjˈĭt [key], 1814–99, British surgeon and pathologist. He taught and practiced at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, and cataloged the museums of St. Bartholomew's and of the R...

Pall Mall

(Encyclopedia)Pall Mall pĕl mĕl, păl măl [key], street in the City of Westminster borough, London, England. It is the main thoroughfare of St. James's district. St. James's Palace, Marlborough House, and a numb...

Fitzsimmons, Robert L.

(Encyclopedia)Fitzsimmons, Robert L., 1863–1918, British boxer, b. Cornwall, England. Fitzsimmons began fighting professionally in Australia and New Zealand before going to the United States in 1890. He won the w...

Beaton, David

(Encyclopedia)Beaton or Bethune, David both: bēˈtən [key], 1494–1546, Scottish churchman, cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He was made cardinal in 1538 and succeeded his uncle, James Beaton, as archbisho...
 

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