a French Huguenot who was imprisoned in the Bastille, went to New York where he was a prosperous merchant, and on visiting France in the 1690s was sentenced to a life sentence as a galley slave. After being freed, he became an Anglican catechist to "Negroes and Indians". In 1706, he secured passage of a bill in New York stating that slaves could be catechize...

a French Huguenot who was imprisoned in the Bastille, went to New York where he was a prosperous merchant, and on visiting France in the 1690s was sentenced to a life sentence as a galley slave. After being freed, he became an Anglican catechist to "Negroes and Indians". In 1706, he secured passage of a bill in New York stating that slaves could be catechized. The Episcopal Church commemorates him as a "witness to the faith" on September 7.

a Swiss banker who became a French statesman and finance minister for Louis XVI. He held the finance post during the period 1777-1781 and helped make decisions that were critical in creating political and social conditions that contributed to the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789. He was recalled to royal service just before the Revolution actually d...

a Swiss banker who became a French statesman and finance minister for Louis XVI. He held the finance post during the period 1777-1781 and helped make decisions that were critical in creating political and social conditions that contributed to the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789. He was recalled to royal service just before the Revolution actually did start, but remained in office for only a brief period of time.

a German writer and bookseller. Nicolai was born in Berlin, where his father, Christoph Gottlieb Nicolai (d. 1752), was the founder of the bookseller Nicolaische Buchhandlung. He received a good education, and in 1749 went to Frankfurt (Oder) to learn his father's business, finding time also to become acquainted with English literature. In 1752 Nicolai retur...

a German writer and bookseller. Nicolai was born in Berlin, where his father, Christoph Gottlieb Nicolai (d. 1752), was the founder of the bookseller Nicolaische Buchhandlung. He received a good education, and in 1749 went to Frankfurt (Oder) to learn his father's business, finding time also to become acquainted with English literature. In 1752 Nicolai returned to Berlin, and began to take part in literary controversy by defending John Milton against the attacks of JC Gottsched.

a financier and official from Philadelphia who served as a militia officer in the American Revolutionary War. On July 8, 1776, he made the first public proclamation of the Declaration of Independence from the steps of the Pennsylvania State House. The same year, Nixon was promoted colonel and later served under more

a financier and official from Philadelphia who served as a militia officer in the American Revolutionary War. On July 8, 1776, he made the first public proclamation of the Declaration of Independence from the steps of the Pennsylvania State House. The same year, Nixon was promoted colonel and later served under George Washington at the Battle of Princeton. In 1776, he became a member of the Navy Board, and two years later was with Washington again at Valley Forge.