French philosopher and theologian who led the opposition at the University of Paris to the 13th-century rise of the newly formed mendicant religious orders.
Franco-Syrian politician, churchman, and historian whose experiences in the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem inspired him to write a history of medieval Palestine.
Anglo-Norman prince, only son of Henry I of England and recognized duke of Normandy (as William IV, or as William III if the earlier claim of his uncle, William Rufus, is not acknowledged). He succeeded his uncle, the imprisoned Duke ...
citadel of Calcutta, named after King William III of England. The English East India Company's main Bengal trading station was moved from Hooghly to Calcutta in 1690 after a war with the Mughals. Between 1696 and 1702 the first fort ...
private, coeducational institution of higher learning opened in 1791 and founded as a college in 1793 at Williamstown, Massachusetts, U.S. Like many other New England colleges, Williams was established by the Congregational church, but it is now nondenominational. It offers ...
Northern Irish peace activist who, with Mairead Corrigan, founded the Community for Peace People in 1976 and with her shared the 1976 Nobel Prize for Peace.
first and longtime prime minister of independent Trinidad and Tobago (1962-81), who founded (1956) the People's National Movement (PNM) and led his country to independence.
American historian, clergyman, politician, lawyer, lecturer, and soldier who was the first person to write an objective and scientifically researched history of black people in the United States.
American activist who helped found the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL). In 1997 she and the campaign were named corecipients of the Nobel Prize for Peace.
Canadian sprinter, winner of two upset gold medals at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. He is the only sprinter not from the United States to win two gold medals at one Olympics.
104th archbishop of Canterbury (from 2002), a noted theologian, archbishop of the Church in Wales (2000-2002), and the first archbishop of Canterbury in modern times chosen from outside the Church of England.
American union leader, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (1981-83) before being convicted in 1982 with four others of conspiring to bribe Howard Cannon, U.S. senator from Nevada, to defeat a trucking industry regulation bill.
professional baseball player who compiled a lifetime batting average of .344 as an outfielder with the American League Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1960. He was the last player to hit .400 in Major League Baseball (.406 in 1941).
American tennis players and sisters who revolutionized women's tennis with their powerful style of play and became the game's most dominant players. From 1999 to 2005 they collected 12 grand slam singles titles, 6 major doubles titles, and 3 Olympic ...
historic city, seat (1654) of James City county (though administratively independent of it), southeastern Virginia, U.S., on a tidewater peninsula, between the James and York rivers, 27 miles (43 km) northwest of Newport News. First settled by the English in ...
county, eastern South Carolina, U.S. It is bordered to the south by the Santee River, and the Great Pee Dee River touches the northeastern extremity; the county is also drained by the Black River. Williamsburg county is an agricultural region ...
city, seat (1896) of Mingo county, southwestern West Virginia, U.S. It lies on Tug Fork, opposite South Williamson, Kentucky (to which it is connected by bridge), and is at the centre of the Tug Valley coalfield, popularly known as the ...
Australian dramatist and screenwriter known for topical satiric comedies that display his flair for naturalism and local vernacular. He explored the psychology of social interaction, focusing on the social and cultural attitudes of the Australian middle class.
American blues vocalist and the first influential harmonica virtuoso, a self-taught player who developed several technical innovations on his instrument.
city, seat (1796) of Lycoming county, north-central Pennsylvania, U.S. It lies on the West Branch Susquehanna River, opposite South Williamsport, and in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, 75 miles (121 km) north of Harrisburg. The area was inhabited by ...
town (township), Berkshire county, northwestern Massachusetts, U.S., on the Hoosic River 21 miles (34 km) north of Pittsfield. Settled as West Hoosac in 1749, it was incorporated in 1765 and renamed for Colonel Ephraim Williams, killed in the French and ...
city and principal community in the town (township) of Windham, Windham county, east-central Connecticut, U.S., at the junction of the Willimantic and Natchaug rivers. The site was settled about 1686 and developed because of the availability of waterpower for gristmills ...
township, Burlington county, western New Jersey, U.S. It lies midway between Camden and Trenton (both in New Jersey) on Rancocas Creek, just upstream from the creek's mouth in the Delaware River. English Quakers settled there about 1677. The community, which ...
British organ builder, a meticulous craftsman and designer whose splendid instruments, though limited and perhaps decadent in comparison with the 18th-century German classical organ, were perfectly suited to the music played in England during his time.
British physicians, leader of the English iatrochemists, who attempted to explain the workings of the body from current knowledge of chemical interactions; he is known for his careful studies of the nervous system and of various diseases. An Oxford professor ...
