a Dutch feminist outspoken during the French Revolution. She gave the address Discourse on the Injustice of the Laws in Favour of Men, at the Expense of Women to the French National Convention on 30 December 1790. In 1768 she traveled with Jan Munniks, a young attorney, brother of the celebrated professor of botany Wynoldus Munniks, who had been appoi...

a Dutch feminist outspoken during the French Revolution. She gave the address Discourse on the Injustice of the Laws in Favour of Men, at the Expense of Women to the French National Convention on 30 December 1790. In 1768 she traveled with Jan Munniks, a young attorney, brother of the celebrated professor of botany Wynoldus Munniks, who had been appointed consul at Messina for the Dutch Republic to France, where she stayed behind because of illness. On the way she met Douwe Sirtema van Grovestins, a former equerry to the widow of Stadtholder William IV of Orange, who became her lover, and introduced her in higher circles. She left him in 1773 and moved to Paris, where she settled in the Palais Royal area, and became a courtesan for the better classes, taking a number of lovers.

King’s Counsel in Nîmes (France), born in this city in 1512, died in 1563, contributed to the spread of Calvinism in his hometown. He has published in French, among other works, a Discours historial de l’antique et illustre cité de Nismes (1557), that appeared difficult to read to his contemporaries, but full of useful research for historians. H...

King’s Counsel in Nîmes (France), born in this city in 1512, died in 1563, contributed to the spread of Calvinism in his hometown. He has published in French, among other works, a Discours historial de l’antique et illustre cité de Nismes (1557), that appeared difficult to read to his contemporaries, but full of useful research for historians. He was also a lawyer at the Parliament of Toulouse.

a French mathematician, mechanician, physicist, philosopher, and music theorist. Until 1759 he was also co-editor with Denis Diderot of the Encyclopédie. D'Alembert's formula for obtaining solutions to the wave equation is named after him. The wave equat...

a French mathematician, mechanician, physicist, philosopher, and music theorist. Until 1759 he was also co-editor with Denis Diderot of the Encyclopédie. D'Alembert's formula for obtaining solutions to the wave equation is named after him. The wave equation is sometimes referred to as d'Alembert's equation.

a prose writer and poet of the French Renaissance. She wrote both verse and novels, including Book of the Prudent and Imprudent [Livre des Prudents et Imprudents] (1509) and Fainting Lady’s Complaint against Fortune [La complainte de la dame pasemée contre Fortune] (1525), as well as royal song [chant royal], which is the only extant...

a prose writer and poet of the French Renaissance. She wrote both verse and novels, including Book of the Prudent and Imprudent [Livre des Prudents et Imprudents] (1509) and Fainting Lady’s Complaint against Fortune [La complainte de la dame pasemée contre Fortune] (1525), as well as royal song [chant royal], which is the only extant poem of it genre.

a French jurist and writer. He was counseller to the Parlement of Brittany and advocate general to the Grand Conseil. François d'Amboise wrote a comedy in verse entitled the Néapolitaines (1584) and several works of poetry, including an elegy on the death of more

a French jurist and writer. He was counseller to the Parlement of Brittany and advocate general to the Grand Conseil. François d'Amboise wrote a comedy in verse entitled the Néapolitaines (1584) and several works of poetry, including an elegy on the death of Anne de Montmorency, Élégie sur le trépas d'Anne de Montmorency (1568). He was also responsible for an edition of the works of Peter Abelard (1616).

a French conseiller d’État, specialising in financial questions, in the court of Marie de' Medici. By the elegance of his language, he was among the major poets, writers and translators of 17th century French classicism. A fervent Catholic, he played an important role in the history of Jansenism and was one of the Solitaires of Port-Royal-des-Champs. He w...

a French conseiller d’État, specialising in financial questions, in the court of Marie de' Medici. By the elegance of his language, he was among the major poets, writers and translators of 17th century French classicism. A fervent Catholic, he played an important role in the history of Jansenism and was one of the Solitaires of Port-Royal-des-Champs. He was also renowned for his part in the development of the pruning of fruit trees, to which he was devoted.

a French writer. Not very much information is available about her life. She wrote poems to be printed in a very small quantity, mainly for her family and inner circle. Later, to contribute to a charitable work, she agreed to print more of her poems. These were published in "La Revue des Deux Mondes" and then grouped by Amyot publisher in 1855 under the name...

a French writer. Not very much information is available about her life. She wrote poems to be printed in a very small quantity, mainly for her family and inner circle. Later, to contribute to a charitable work, she agreed to print more of her poems. These were published in "La Revue des Deux Mondes" and then grouped by Amyot publisher in 1855 under the name of "Poems and News".

an Italian opera librettist. D'Arienzo was a professional state official and, at the same time, a writer and librettist. From 1834 to 1837 he worked as a journalist for the Neapolitan newspaper L'Omnibus and was also author of Neapolitan songs, many of which were set to music by Saverio Mercadante. His comic librettos have been described as "witty and well p...

an Italian opera librettist. D'Arienzo was a professional state official and, at the same time, a writer and librettist. From 1834 to 1837 he worked as a journalist for the Neapolitan newspaper L'Omnibus and was also author of Neapolitan songs, many of which were set to music by Saverio Mercadante. His comic librettos have been described as "witty and well presented" in spite of their involved plots.

a French poet, soldier, propagandist and chronicler. His epic poem Les Tragiques (1616) is widely regarded as his masterpiece. Aubigné studied in Paris, Orléans, Geneva and Lyon before joining the Huguenot cause of Henry of Navarre (Henry IV) as both soldier and c...

a French poet, soldier, propagandist and chronicler. His epic poem Les Tragiques (1616) is widely regarded as his masterpiece. Aubigné studied in Paris, Orléans, Geneva and Lyon before joining the Huguenot cause of Henry of Navarre (Henry IV) as both soldier and counsellor. Henry's accession to the throne of France entailed an, at least nominal, conversion to the Roman Catholic Church and Aubigné left his service to tend to his own Poitou estates, even though his Huguenot confederates welcomed Henry's religious tolerance.

a French writer, publicist, and Hellenist. At the age of thirteen he became a convert to Roman Catholicism, and when he left the Lycée Henri IV in 1822, he became a disciple of Auguste Comte. In 1832 d'Eichthal went to Greece, and on his return to Paris in 1836 published "Les Deux Mondes," containing his reflections on the Orient. He now began to advocate t...

a French writer, publicist, and Hellenist. At the age of thirteen he became a convert to Roman Catholicism, and when he left the Lycée Henri IV in 1822, he became a disciple of Auguste Comte. In 1832 d'Eichthal went to Greece, and on his return to Paris in 1836 published "Les Deux Mondes," containing his reflections on the Orient. He now began to advocate the use of Greek as a universal language, and published many works.

a French Renaissance polymath. He was a lawyer and politician, a mathematician and alchemist, an antiquarian, poet and friend of French literati. Jean D'Espagnet is known to have owned several books that had previously formed part of Montaigne's library, including his copy of De rerum natura, in which his signature overwrites that of Montaigne's on the title...

a French Renaissance polymath. He was a lawyer and politician, a mathematician and alchemist, an antiquarian, poet and friend of French literati. Jean D'Espagnet is known to have owned several books that had previously formed part of Montaigne's library, including his copy of De rerum natura, in which his signature overwrites that of Montaigne's on the title-page. In 1623 D'Espagnet wrote Arcanum Hermeticae philosophiae and Enchiridion physicae restitutae.

a French-German author, philosopher, encyclopedist and prominent figure in the French Enlightenment. He was born in Edesheim, near Landau in the Rhenish Palatinate, but lived and worked mainly in Paris, where he kept a salon. He was well known for his atheism and for his voluminous writings against religion, the most famous of them being The System of Natur...

a French-German author, philosopher, encyclopedist and prominent figure in the French Enlightenment. He was born in Edesheim, near Landau in the Rhenish Palatinate, but lived and worked mainly in Paris, where he kept a salon. He was well known for his atheism and for his voluminous writings against religion, the most famous of them being The System of Nature (1770).

son of Louis Roger d'Hozier, succeeded his uncle Charles as juge d'armes. He published the Armorial général, ou registre de la noblesse de France (10 vols, 1738 – 1768), which must not be confounded with the publication written by his uncle, inasmuch as it related solely to noble families and was not an official collection. Complete copies of this work, ...

son of Louis Roger d'Hozier, succeeded his uncle Charles as juge d'armes. He published the Armorial général, ou registre de la noblesse de France (10 vols, 1738 – 1768), which must not be confounded with the publication written by his uncle, inasmuch as it related solely to noble families and was not an official collection. Complete copies of this work, which should contain six registres, are comparatively rare.

a French writer and philosopher. In 1746 Victor d'Hupay was born into an aristocratic family in the village of La Tour-d'Aigues in the Luberon, Provence.While still young he wrote texts on agriculture and economics, expressing his wish to share his land with his neighbours, thus transforming the ideals of the Enlightenment philosophers into practice. His fir...

a French writer and philosopher. In 1746 Victor d'Hupay was born into an aristocratic family in the village of La Tour-d'Aigues in the Luberon, Provence.While still young he wrote texts on agriculture and economics, expressing his wish to share his land with his neighbours, thus transforming the ideals of the Enlightenment philosophers into practice. His first book, Projet de Communauté philosophe, published in 1777, advocated the idea of living in a sort of commune. In 1785, just before the French revolution, he was referred to as a communist in a book review by Restif de la Bretonne; according to some sources, this was the first time that the word "communism" was used in print in its modern sense.

a British writer, scholar and man of letters. He is best known for his essays, his associations with other men of letters, and as the father of British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. He penned a handful of English adaptations of traditional tales from the Middle East, wrote a few historical biographies, and published a number of poems. His most popular wo...

a British writer, scholar and man of letters. He is best known for his essays, his associations with other men of letters, and as the father of British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. He penned a handful of English adaptations of traditional tales from the Middle East, wrote a few historical biographies, and published a number of poems. His most popular work was a collection of essays entitled Curiosities of Literature.

the eldest daughter of Gaston d'Orléans, and his first wife Marie de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier. One of the greatest heiresses in history, she died unmarried and childless, leaving her vast fortune to her cousin, Philippe of France. She is best remembered for her role in the Fronde, her role in bringing the famous composer Lully to the king's court, an...

the eldest daughter of Gaston d'Orléans, and his first wife Marie de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier. One of the greatest heiresses in history, she died unmarried and childless, leaving her vast fortune to her cousin, Philippe of France. She is best remembered for her role in the Fronde, her role in bringing the famous composer Lully to the king's court, and her Mémoires.

an English antiquary. He became a member of the Society of Antiquaries. Two of his contributions to the society are preserved in Thomas Hearne's Collection of Curious Discourses (ed. 1771, i. 175–6, 183–4), from transcripts made by Dr. Thomas Smith from the Cotton manuscripts. The subject of one is Of the Antiquity of Arms, the other (written in French) ...

an English antiquary. He became a member of the Society of Antiquaries. Two of his contributions to the society are preserved in Thomas Hearne's Collection of Curious Discourses (ed. 1771, i. 175–6, 183–4), from transcripts made by Dr. Thomas Smith from the Cotton manuscripts. The subject of one is Of the Antiquity of Arms, the other (written in French) treats Of the Etymology, Dignity, and Antiquity of Dukes.

a French novelist and miscellaneous writer. It was in Savoy that he conceived the plan of his novel L'Astrée, the scene of which is laid on the banks of the Lignon in his native province of Forez. It is a leisurely romance in which the loves of Celadon and Astrée are told at immense length with many digressions. The first part of L'Astrée appeared in 1607...

a French novelist and miscellaneous writer. It was in Savoy that he conceived the plan of his novel L'Astrée, the scene of which is laid on the banks of the Lignon in his native province of Forez. It is a leisurely romance in which the loves of Celadon and Astrée are told at immense length with many digressions. The first part of L'Astrée appeared in 1607, the second in 1610, the third in 1619, and in 1627 the fourth part was edited. In 1628 a fifth was added by D'Urfé's secretary Balthazar Baro.

an English writer and wit. He composed plays, songs, and poetry, in addition to writing jokes. He was an important innovator and contributor in the evolution of the Ballad opera. D'Urfey was born in Devonshire and began his professional life as a scrivener, but quickly turned to the theatre. In personality, he was considered so affable and amusing that he co...

an English writer and wit. He composed plays, songs, and poetry, in addition to writing jokes. He was an important innovator and contributor in the evolution of the Ballad opera. D'Urfey was born in Devonshire and began his professional life as a scrivener, but quickly turned to the theatre. In personality, he was considered so affable and amusing that he could make friends with nearly everyone, including such disparate characters as Charles II of England and his brother James II, and in all layers of society.

an Italian writer and storiographer, better known as the author of the novel Novella novamente ritrovata with the story of Romeo and Juliet, later reprised by William Shakespeare for his famous drama. Da Porto wrote the novel in his villa in Montorso Vicen...

an Italian writer and storiographer, better known as the author of the novel Novella novamente ritrovata with the story of Romeo and Juliet, later reprised by William Shakespeare for his famous drama. Da Porto wrote the novel in his villa in Montorso Vicentino near Vicenza before June 1524. The title of the book was Historia novellamente ritrovata di due nobili amanti ("Newly found story of two noble lovers"), published posthumously about 1531 in Venice and dedicated to his mentor Pietro Bembo.

a Jewish author born in Livorno, Grand Duchy of Tuscany. He was the son-in-law of the dayan Mordechai Rafael Malachi. Around the year 1679, at age 20, Da Silva left his native city for Jerusalem in then-Ottoman Syria (Damascus Eyalet), where he attended the yeshivah of Rabbi Moses Galante for ten years. In 1689, Galante died and Da Silva succeeded him as Ros...

a Jewish author born in Livorno, Grand Duchy of Tuscany. He was the son-in-law of the dayan Mordechai Rafael Malachi. Around the year 1679, at age 20, Da Silva left his native city for Jerusalem in then-Ottoman Syria (Damascus Eyalet), where he attended the yeshivah of Rabbi Moses Galante for ten years. In 1689, Galante died and Da Silva succeeded him as Rosh Yeshiva. He was sent to Europe to collect funds for Jerusalem.

a Norwegian historian, ethnologist, auditor, editor of magazines and newspapers, educator and politician. In 1840–1841 he ran afoul with Henrik Wergeland, who wrote the farces Engelsk Salt and Vinægers Fjeldeventyr (both 1841) about Daa. Daa replied with anonymous attacks in Granskeren, whereas Wergeland was convicted of libel. In 1842 Wergeland released ...

a Norwegian historian, ethnologist, auditor, editor of magazines and newspapers, educator and politician. In 1840–1841 he ran afoul with Henrik Wergeland, who wrote the farces Engelsk Salt and Vinægers Fjeldeventyr (both 1841) about Daa. Daa replied with anonymous attacks in Granskeren, whereas Wergeland was convicted of libel. In 1842 Wergeland released the poem Fordums-Venner about Daa. From 1853 to 1856 he was the editor of Christiania-Posten, and in 1853 he was elected to Parliament for the last time, from Christiania.

an English dramatist of the Jacobean era. He worked on at least five plays for Henslowe in this era, either alone or with collaborators who included Cyril Tourneur, John Fletcher, Nathan Field, and Philip Massinger. None of these plays, with titles like Machiave...

an English dramatist of the Jacobean era. He worked on at least five plays for Henslowe in this era, either alone or with collaborators who included Cyril Tourneur, John Fletcher, Nathan Field, and Philip Massinger. None of these plays, with titles like Machiavel and the Devil, The Arraignment of London, and The She Saint, have survived. Daborne is credited with the authorship of only two extant plays, both of which could be described, in some measure, as swashbucklers

a Swedish writer, playwright and songwriter. Dahlgren is best remembered for writing two Swedish folk songs. He and Anders Fryxell wrote the lyrics to Ack Värmeland, du sköna (O Värmland, you lovely). He was the sole author of Jänta å ja' (the girl and I). Dahlgren also wrote the musical drama "Värmlänningarna" (The People of Värmland), a popular wor...

a Swedish writer, playwright and songwriter. Dahlgren is best remembered for writing two Swedish folk songs. He and Anders Fryxell wrote the lyrics to Ack Värmeland, du sköna (O Värmland, you lovely). He was the sole author of Jänta å ja' (the girl and I). Dahlgren also wrote the musical drama "Värmlänningarna" (The People of Värmland), a popular work for over one hundred fifty years.

a Swedish poet. Dahlstierna's patriotism was touching in its pathos and intensity, and during his long periods of professional exile he comforted himself by the composition of songs to his beloved Sweden. His genius was most irregular, but at his best he easily surpasses all the Swedish poets of his time. His best-known original work is Kungaskald (Stettin, ...

a Swedish poet. Dahlstierna's patriotism was touching in its pathos and intensity, and during his long periods of professional exile he comforted himself by the composition of songs to his beloved Sweden. His genius was most irregular, but at his best he easily surpasses all the Swedish poets of his time. His best-known original work is Kungaskald (Stettin, 1697), an elegy on the death of Charles XI.

a Slovene priest, author, and linguist, known primarily as the inventor of the Dajnko alphabet (Slovene: dajn?ica), an innovative proposal for the Slovene alphabet. Dajnko was also a proficient beekeeper and wrote the first book about beekeeping in the Slovene language, titled ?elarstvo (meaning "Beekeeping" in English). After finishing high school in Marib...

a Slovene priest, author, and linguist, known primarily as the inventor of the Dajnko alphabet (Slovene: dajn?ica), an innovative proposal for the Slovene alphabet. Dajnko was also a proficient beekeeper and wrote the first book about beekeeping in the Slovene language, titled ?elarstvo (meaning "Beekeeping" in English). After finishing high school in Maribor, he studied theology and philosophy at the University of Graz, where he graduated in 1814. He returned to Gornja Radgona, where he was a chaplain until 1831, when he moved to Velika Nedelja to be the parish priest. He died in Velika Nedelja.

a Scottish intellectual interested in linguistic problems. Originally from Aberdeen, he later worked as a schoolteacher in Oxford in collaboration with John Wilkins, although the two parted company intellectually in 1659. Dalgarno was the author of Didascalocophus or the Deaf and Dumb man's tutor (1680), which proposed a totally new linguistic system for use...

a Scottish intellectual interested in linguistic problems. Originally from Aberdeen, he later worked as a schoolteacher in Oxford in collaboration with John Wilkins, although the two parted company intellectually in 1659. Dalgarno was the author of Didascalocophus or the Deaf and Dumb man's tutor (1680), which proposed a totally new linguistic system for use by deaf mutes. The system is still used in the United States.

a Slovene Lutheran minister, writer and translator. He translated the complete Bible into Slovene. Dalmatin was the author of several religious books. However, his most important achievement is the complete translation of the Bible into Slovene, which he allegedly wrote to a large extent at Turjak Castle under the protection of the Carniolan governor, Herbar...

a Slovene Lutheran minister, writer and translator. He translated the complete Bible into Slovene. Dalmatin was the author of several religious books. However, his most important achievement is the complete translation of the Bible into Slovene, which he allegedly wrote to a large extent at Turjak Castle under the protection of the Carniolan governor, Herbard VIII von Auersperg (Slovene: Hervard Turjaški), and Herbard's son Christoph von Auersperg, who are said to have provided for the translator Dalmatin a "Wartburg"-type sanctuary as had been offered to Martin Luther by Frederick the Wise, the Elector of Saxony.

an English sculptor and novelist. During the period 1784–1818, Damer exhibited 32 works as an honorary exhibitor at the Royal Academy. Her work, primarily busts in Neoclassical style, developed from early wax sculptures to technically complex ones in works in terracotta, bronze, and marble. Damer was also a writer, with one published novel, Belmour (first ...

an English sculptor and novelist. During the period 1784–1818, Damer exhibited 32 works as an honorary exhibitor at the Royal Academy. Her work, primarily busts in Neoclassical style, developed from early wax sculptures to technically complex ones in works in terracotta, bronze, and marble. Damer was also a writer, with one published novel, Belmour (first published on 1801).

the first Englishman to explore parts of what is today Australia, and the first person to circumnavigate the world three times. He has also been described as Australia's first natural historian, as well as one of the most important He came from Somerset, England, and fought alongside buccaneers in Central America. Marooned on the Nicobar Islands in the India...

the first Englishman to explore parts of what is today Australia, and the first person to circumnavigate the world three times. He has also been described as Australia's first natural historian, as well as one of the most important He came from Somerset, England, and fought alongside buccaneers in Central America. Marooned on the Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean, he escaped in a canoe and wrote about his travels in "Voyage Around the World" in 1697.

the founder of a colony of Labadists along the Bohemia River in Maryland. He was a cooper, and was very experienced in mathematics, history and theology. He is known for his journal, kept while traveling through the territory which had previously been part of the New Netherland. Documenting his journey in 1679-1680, it offers a description of the landscape a...

the founder of a colony of Labadists along the Bohemia River in Maryland. He was a cooper, and was very experienced in mathematics, history and theology. He is known for his journal, kept while traveling through the territory which had previously been part of the New Netherland. Documenting his journey in 1679-1680, it offers a description of the landscape and the lifestyle of inhabitants of the region in the late 17th century. His father was Pieter Danckaerts and his mother was Janneke Schilders -- Schilders is the pseudonym he used on his travels during his American expedition. He died at Middleburg between 1702 and 1704.

a French dramatist and actor, was born at Fontainebleau. He belonged to a family of rank, and his parents entrusted his education to Pere de la Rue, a Jesuit, who made earnest efforts to induce him to join the order. But he had no religious vocation and proceeded to study law. His first play, Le Notaire obligeant, produced in 1685, was well received. La Dés...

a French dramatist and actor, was born at Fontainebleau. He belonged to a family of rank, and his parents entrusted his education to Pere de la Rue, a Jesuit, who made earnest efforts to induce him to join the order. But he had no religious vocation and proceeded to study law. His first play, Le Notaire obligeant, produced in 1685, was well received. La Désolation des joueuses (1687) was still more successful. Le Chevalier à la mode (1687) is generally regarded as his best work, though his claim to original authorship in this and some other cases has been disputed.

a French jurist and Calvinist theologian. He wrote a book on witchcraft, Dialogus de veneficiis (1564). His views on the topic of hunting witches caused trouble for him in Leiden. It was translated, in its 1574 edition, into English by Thomas Twyne as A Dialogue of Witches (1575). His Physica christiana (1576) argued for a Scriptural basis for physics. It wa...

a French jurist and Calvinist theologian. He wrote a book on witchcraft, Dialogus de veneficiis (1564). His views on the topic of hunting witches caused trouble for him in Leiden. It was translated, in its 1574 edition, into English by Thomas Twyne as A Dialogue of Witches (1575). His Physica christiana (1576) argued for a Scriptural basis for physics. It was translated by Twyne as The Wonderfull Workmanship of the World (1578).

an English poet and historian. His first known work, a translation of Paulus Jovius, to which some original matter is appended, was printed in 1585. His first known volume of verse is dated 1592; it contains the cycle of sonnets addressed to "Delia" and a romance called The Complaint of Rosamond. Twenty-seven of the sonnets had already been printed at the en...

an English poet and historian. His first known work, a translation of Paulus Jovius, to which some original matter is appended, was printed in 1585. His first known volume of verse is dated 1592; it contains the cycle of sonnets addressed to "Delia" and a romance called The Complaint of Rosamond. Twenty-seven of the sonnets had already been printed at the end of Sir Philip Sidney's Astrophil and Stella without the author's consent. Several editions of Delia appeared in 1592, and they were very frequently reprinted during Daniel's lifetime.

a Welsh-language professional poet from the Ll?n area of Gwynedd, Wales. Although not considered to be one of the foremost of the Poets of the Nobility, his work provides a portrait of the gentry society of north-west Wales at the start of the Tudor period. His date of birth is not known and our knowledge of him depends almost entirely on the evidence of hi...

a Welsh-language professional poet from the Ll?n area of Gwynedd, Wales. Although not considered to be one of the foremost of the Poets of the Nobility, his work provides a portrait of the gentry society of north-west Wales at the start of the Tudor period. His date of birth is not known and our knowledge of him depends almost entirely on the evidence of his poetry, of which 28 poems survive. He is perhaps best known for his elegy (marwnad) to the renowned poet Tudur Aled (d. 1526), whom he knew.

an English naturalist and geologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors, and in a joint publication with Alfred Russel Wallace introduced h...

an English naturalist and geologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors, and in a joint publication with Alfred Russel Wallace introduced his scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection, in which the struggle for existence has a similar effect to the artificial selection involved in selective breeding. Darwin published his theory of evolution with compelling evidence in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species, overcoming scientific rejection of earlier concepts of transmutation of species.

an English physician. One of the key thinkers of the Midlands Enlightenment, he was also a natural philosopher, physiologist, slave-trade abolitionist, inventor and poet. His poems included much natural history, including a statement of evolution and the relatedness of all forms of life. He was a member of the Darwin–Wedgwood family, which includes his gra...

an English physician. One of the key thinkers of the Midlands Enlightenment, he was also a natural philosopher, physiologist, slave-trade abolitionist, inventor and poet. His poems included much natural history, including a statement of evolution and the relatedness of all forms of life. He was a member of the Darwin–Wedgwood family, which includes his grandsons Charles Darwin and Francis Galton. Darwin was also a founding member of the Lunar Society of Birmingham, a discussion group of pioneering industrialists and natural philosophers. He turned down George III's invitation to be a physician to the King.

a famous poet of Orissa (in modern India), belonging to the Vaishnava tradition of bhakti movement. He is known for his Oriya poem titled "Rasakallola", which is devoted to Lord Krishna. Among his many literary compositions, "Artatrana Chautisa" is a reputed one. Dinakrushna has about 15 poems to his credit, among which the most famous one is Rasakollola. H...

a famous poet of Orissa (in modern India), belonging to the Vaishnava tradition of bhakti movement. He is known for his Oriya poem titled "Rasakallola", which is devoted to Lord Krishna. Among his many literary compositions, "Artatrana Chautisa" is a reputed one. Dinakrushna has about 15 poems to his credit, among which the most famous one is Rasakollola. He earned a great reputation in writing Chautisa and other lyrical poems about Radha and Krushna. The most recurrent themes of his writings are the glorification and the portrayal of the divine drama of deities he worshipped.

a prolific French writer. She was a daughter of M. de Courtiras, and early married the Marquis de Saint-Mars. After the loss of her fortune, she took to writing. On her remarking that she wished to write under an assumed name, that of her favorite dog, “Dash,” was suggested, which she adopted. In many years she produced five to six novels. Her themes are...

a prolific French writer. She was a daughter of M. de Courtiras, and early married the Marquis de Saint-Mars. After the loss of her fortune, she took to writing. On her remarking that she wished to write under an assumed name, that of her favorite dog, “Dash,” was suggested, which she adopted. In many years she produced five to six novels. Her themes are mainly from the beau monde and deal with the travails of love.

a French poet, scholar and a member of a group known as The Pléiade. In 1556 he was appointed professor of Greek at the Collège Royal. In 1567, he resigned the post in favour of his nephew, Nicolas Goulu. King Charles IX gave him the title of poeta regius ("the king's poet"). His prolific output was the wonder of his time; he is said to have composed more ...

a French poet, scholar and a member of a group known as The Pléiade. In 1556 he was appointed professor of Greek at the Collège Royal. In 1567, he resigned the post in favour of his nephew, Nicolas Goulu. King Charles IX gave him the title of poeta regius ("the king's poet"). His prolific output was the wonder of his time; he is said to have composed more than 15,000 Greek and Latin verses. The best of these he published at Paris in 1586. He died at Paris.

an English poet and playwright. Along with Thomas Killigrew, Davenant was one of the rare figures in English Renaissance theatre whose career spanned both the Caroline and Restoration eras and who was active both before and after the English Civil War and during the Interregnum. In 1645, after the decisive Royalist defeat at the Battle of Naseby, he retired ...

an English poet and playwright. Along with Thomas Killigrew, Davenant was one of the rare figures in English Renaissance theatre whose career spanned both the Caroline and Restoration eras and who was active both before and after the English Civil War and during the Interregnum. In 1645, after the decisive Royalist defeat at the Battle of Naseby, he retired to Paris, where he became a Roman Catholic and worked on his epic poem Gondibert.

an English novelist, briefly married to the miscellanist and biographer Richard Alfred Davenport. Her eleven published novels have been described recently as "effective if stereotyped". Most of her works were published by Minerva Press (later A. K. Newman & Company), known especially for sentimental and Gothic fiction. At least two were translated into Germa...

an English novelist, briefly married to the miscellanist and biographer Richard Alfred Davenport. Her eleven published novels have been described recently as "effective if stereotyped". Most of her works were published by Minerva Press (later A. K. Newman & Company), known especially for sentimental and Gothic fiction. At least two were translated into German.

an American poet of the early 19th century. When about fourteen years old she was allowed to attend a ball in Plattsburg, but, in the midst of her preparations, was found sitting in a corner writing verses on “What the World Calls Pleasure.” Her mother's friends advised that pen and ink be kept from her, and, hearing of this, she voluntarily gave up her ...

an American poet of the early 19th century. When about fourteen years old she was allowed to attend a ball in Plattsburg, but, in the midst of her preparations, was found sitting in a corner writing verses on “What the World Calls Pleasure.” Her mother's friends advised that pen and ink be kept from her, and, hearing of this, she voluntarily gave up her favorite pursuit for several months, until her mother, seeing that she grew melancholy, advised her to resume it.

a writing-master and an Anglo-Welsh poet. He is usually known as John Davies of Hereford (after the city where he was born) in order to distinguish him from others of the same name. Davies wrote very copiously on theological and philosophical themes. He also wrote many epigrams on his contemporaries which have some historical interest. John Davies died in Lo...

a writing-master and an Anglo-Welsh poet. He is usually known as John Davies of Hereford (after the city where he was born) in order to distinguish him from others of the same name. Davies wrote very copiously on theological and philosophical themes. He also wrote many epigrams on his contemporaries which have some historical interest. John Davies died in London.

one of Wales's leading scholars of the late Renaissance. He wrote a Welsh grammar and dictionary. He was also a translator and editor and an ordained minister of the Church of England. He is believed to have been the main editor and reviser of the 1620 edition of the Welsh translation of the Bible and the 1621 edition of the Welsh translation of the Book of ...

one of Wales's leading scholars of the late Renaissance. He wrote a Welsh grammar and dictionary. He was also a translator and editor and an ordained minister of the Church of England. He is believed to have been the main editor and reviser of the 1620 edition of the Welsh translation of the Bible and the 1621 edition of the Welsh translation of the Book of Common Prayer. He published a Welsh grammar in Latin in 1621, Antiquae linguae Britannicae, and a Welsh-Latin Latin-Welsh dictionary in 1632, Dictionarum duplex. In 1632 he also published Llyfr y resolusion, a masterly translation and Protestant adaptation of The first booke of the Christian exercise, appertayning to resolution (1582) by English Roman Catholic Robert Parsons.

an English poet, lawyer, and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1597 and 1621. He became Attorney General for Ireland and formulated many of the legal principles that underpinned the British Empire. Davies wrote poetry in numerous forms, but is best known for his epigrammes and sonnets. In 1599 he published Nosce Teipsum (Kno...

an English poet, lawyer, and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1597 and 1621. He became Attorney General for Ireland and formulated many of the legal principles that underpinned the British Empire. Davies wrote poetry in numerous forms, but is best known for his epigrammes and sonnets. In 1599 he published Nosce Teipsum (Know thyself) and Hymnes of Astraea. Queen Elizabeth became an admirer of Davies' work, and these poems contain acrostics that spell out the phrase Elisabetha Regina.

a Welsh author. He published the Athenae Britannicae in 1716. Davies was a native of Whiteford, near Holywell in Flintshire, Wales. His parents George and Elizabeth Davies lived in Tre'r Abbot.[2] Isaac D'Israeli said his biography was quite unknown. He was educated at the English Jesuit College in Rome, and was made a Roman Catholic priest on 17 Apri...

a Welsh author. He published the Athenae Britannicae in 1716. Davies was a native of Whiteford, near Holywell in Flintshire, Wales. His parents George and Elizabeth Davies lived in Tre'r Abbot.[2] Isaac D'Israeli said his biography was quite unknown. He was educated at the English Jesuit College in Rome, and was made a Roman Catholic priest on 17 April 1688.[2] He left Rome on 15 October 1688 to work with the Jesuits in Wales, but soon converted to Protestantism, and in 1705 published an explanation (apologia) for his surprising conversion in The Recantation of Mr Pollett, A Roman priest.

a Welsh bishop and scholar. Famous for his oratory abilities, he was renowned for having an embarrassing speech impediment which earned him the affectionate nickname of Biffe.The nickname Biffe derived from the ancient Celtic word for fool from which we now take the word buffoon. Another of the bishops friends was Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex. Assisti...

a Welsh bishop and scholar. Famous for his oratory abilities, he was renowned for having an embarrassing speech impediment which earned him the affectionate nickname of Biffe.The nickname Biffe derived from the ancient Celtic word for fool from which we now take the word buffoon. Another of the bishops friends was Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex. Assisting William Salesbury, Davies took part in translating the New Testament into Welsh, and also did some work on the Welsh translation of the Book of Common Prayer. He helped to revise the Bishops' Bible of 1568, being himself responsible for the book of Deuteronomy, and the second book of Samuel.

an English ship captain and author. He was part of the expedition of the Virginia Company of Plymouth which established the short-lived Popham Colony, also called "Northern Virginia." Records suggest that Captain Davis and Virginia made at least one other Atlantic crossing, from England to the more successful Jamestown Settlement, a project of the Virginia C...

an English ship captain and author. He was part of the expedition of the Virginia Company of Plymouth which established the short-lived Popham Colony, also called "Northern Virginia." Records suggest that Captain Davis and Virginia made at least one other Atlantic crossing, from England to the more successful Jamestown Settlement, a project of the Virginia Company of London. Virginia was apparently one of the two pinnaces in tow behind one of the larger ships of the Third Supply mission to Jamestown, which left Plymouth in 1609. Captain Davis is credited with being the author of Relation of a Voyage to Sagadahoc, 1607-1608.

an English poet. He was the author of eighteen of the poems in the first of edition of the Poetical Rhapsody, 1602, the poetical collection compiled by his brother Francis. At the time these poems were composed he was under eighteen years of age. "Seventeen of these comprise a competent but unmemorable sequence of amatory poems; the last is a translation fro...

an English poet. He was the author of eighteen of the poems in the first of edition of the Poetical Rhapsody, 1602, the poetical collection compiled by his brother Francis. At the time these poems were composed he was under eighteen years of age. "Seventeen of these comprise a competent but unmemorable sequence of amatory poems; the last is a translation from the Latin of a misogynistic epigram."

a Cornish chemist and inventor, who is best remembered today for his discoveries of several alkali and alkaline earth metals, as well as contributions to the discoveries of the elemental nature of chlorine and iodine. He also studied the forces involved in these separations, inventing the new field of electrochemistry. In 1799 Davy experimented with nitrous ...

a Cornish chemist and inventor, who is best remembered today for his discoveries of several alkali and alkaline earth metals, as well as contributions to the discoveries of the elemental nature of chlorine and iodine. He also studied the forces involved in these separations, inventing the new field of electrochemistry. In 1799 Davy experimented with nitrous oxide and became astonished that it made him laugh, so he nicknamed it "laughing gas.", and wrote about its potential anaesthetic properties in relieving pain during surgery. Berzelius called Davy's 1806 Bakerian Lecture On Some Chemical Agencies of Electricity "one of the best memoirs which has ever enriched the theory of chemistry." He was a Baronet, President of the Royal Society (PRS), Member of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA), and Fellow of the Geological Society (FGS). He also inventer the Davy miner's lamp.

a Russian soldier-poet of the Napoleonic Wars who invented a specific genre -- hussar poetry noted for its hedonism and bravado – and spectacularly designed his own life to illustrate such poetry. Davydov's poems read like a diary of the hussar and bon-vivant that he was. Admired by Belinsky for their organic quality and Russianness, they address such them...

a Russian soldier-poet of the Napoleonic Wars who invented a specific genre -- hussar poetry noted for its hedonism and bravado – and spectacularly designed his own life to illustrate such poetry. Davydov's poems read like a diary of the hussar and bon-vivant that he was. Admired by Belinsky for their organic quality and Russianness, they address such themes as courage in battle, harlots, vodka, and the value of true friendship. In them he sings the praise of reckless valor, on the field of battle as well as before the bottle.

an English barrister and miscellaneous writer. Dawes was a barrister of the Inner Temple. He left the bar and lived quietly at Clifford's Inn for the last thirty-six years of his life. Dawes took the Whig side on the American War of Independence, and the law of libel; but defended William Blackstone against more

an English barrister and miscellaneous writer. Dawes was a barrister of the Inner Temple. He left the bar and lived quietly at Clifford's Inn for the last thirty-six years of his life. Dawes took the Whig side on the American War of Independence, and the law of libel; but defended William Blackstone against Jeremy Bentham, had doubts as to abolishing tests, and held that philosophical truth was beyond reach. He wrote many treatises on legal and governmental issues.

an ethnic Slovak lower nobleman, politician, lawyer, and poet in the Kingdom of Hungary. He was a member of what became known as the Ludovít Štúr generation. He was a co-author of the Slovak Requests of Liptovský Mikuláš (1848), Requests of the Slovak Nation (1848), Memorandum of the Slovak Nation in 1861, and was one of the founders of the Matica slov...

an ethnic Slovak lower nobleman, politician, lawyer, and poet in the Kingdom of Hungary. He was a member of what became known as the Ludovít Štúr generation. He was a co-author of the Slovak Requests of Liptovský Mikuláš (1848), Requests of the Slovak Nation (1848), Memorandum of the Slovak Nation in 1861, and was one of the founders of the Matica slovenská (Slovak Foundation) in 1863. He was also a founder of the first Slovak Gymnasium in Revúca in 1862.

an English dramatist of the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. He was born at Cawston, Norfolk, and educated at Ely. He became a sizar of Caius College, Cambridge, in 1592, but was expelled in the next year for stealing a book. He became one of Philip Henslowe's playwrights, collaborating with Henry Chettle, William Haughton, Thomas Dekker, Richard Hathwaye a...

an English dramatist of the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. He was born at Cawston, Norfolk, and educated at Ely. He became a sizar of Caius College, Cambridge, in 1592, but was expelled in the next year for stealing a book. He became one of Philip Henslowe's playwrights, collaborating with Henry Chettle, William Haughton, Thomas Dekker, Richard Hathwaye and Wentworth Smith. There are 22 plays to which he is linked.

a British author and abolitionist. He first attended a school in Stoke Newington, Middlesex, but after a bout of smallpox he was moved to Charterhouse School. He subsequently attended Corpus Christi College, Oxford where he became a master debater. He was well known for the children's book The History of Sandford and Merton (1783–1789) which emphasized Rou...

a British author and abolitionist. He first attended a school in Stoke Newington, Middlesex, but after a bout of smallpox he was moved to Charterhouse School. He subsequently attended Corpus Christi College, Oxford where he became a master debater. He was well known for the children's book The History of Sandford and Merton (1783–1789) which emphasized Rousseauvian educational ideals. In 1773, Day published his first work — The Dying Negro — a poem he had written with John Bicknell. It tells the story of a runaway slave, and sold well.

an English cleric and biblical commentator. He received his education at Eton College. He was elected in 1624 to King's College, Cambridge, of which he became a Fellow (B.A. 1628-9, M.A. 1632). In 1635 he was incorporated M.A. at Oxford, and in 1637 he was presented by Eton College to the vicarage of Mapledurham, Oxfordshire. He complied with all the changes...

an English cleric and biblical commentator. He received his education at Eton College. He was elected in 1624 to King's College, Cambridge, of which he became a Fellow (B.A. 1628-9, M.A. 1632). In 1635 he was incorporated M.A. at Oxford, and in 1637 he was presented by Eton College to the vicarage of Mapledurham, Oxfordshire. He complied with all the changes of government from 1637 to the Restoration, keeping his vicarage. He was also made divinity reader in his majesty's chapel of St. George in Windsor Castle.

a French novelist, playwright, epistolarian and duelist. A bold and innovative author, his work was part of the libertine literature of the first half of the seventeenth century. Today he is best known as the inspiration for Edmond Rostand's most noted drama Cyrano de Bergerac which, although it includes elements of his life, also contains invention and myth...

a French novelist, playwright, epistolarian and duelist. A bold and innovative author, his work was part of the libertine literature of the first half of the seventeenth century. Today he is best known as the inspiration for Edmond Rostand's most noted drama Cyrano de Bergerac which, although it includes elements of his life, also contains invention and myth.

a German cartographer, engineer and mystic. In 1754 he was appointed by the British as surveyor general for Georgia Colony. In August 1756 he traveled to the Cherokee Overhill country on the banks of the Little Tennessee River as the engineer constructing Fort Loudoun. He is said to have been the most prolific mapmaker in the Southern Colonies in the late ei...

a German cartographer, engineer and mystic. In 1754 he was appointed by the British as surveyor general for Georgia Colony. In August 1756 he traveled to the Cherokee Overhill country on the banks of the Little Tennessee River as the engineer constructing Fort Loudoun. He is said to have been the most prolific mapmaker in the Southern Colonies in the late eighteenth century. From 1778 he resided in Britain; making a brief visit to his German homeland before settling in Philadelphia in 1791 where he converted to Quakerism. There his writings on Cosmography were inspired by the ideas of an earlier German mystic, Jacob Boehme.

a French writer of the 18th century. He was president of the parliament of his hometown Dijon from 1741, a member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres from 1746, and a member of the Académie des Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres de Dijon from 1761. Because he opposed the absolute power of the king, he was exiled twice, in 1744 and 1771. He wro...

a French writer of the 18th century. He was president of the parliament of his hometown Dijon from 1741, a member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres from 1746, and a member of the Académie des Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres de Dijon from 1761. Because he opposed the absolute power of the king, he was exiled twice, in 1744 and 1771. He wrote numerous academic papers on topics concerning ancient history, philology and linguistics, some of which were used by Denis Diderot and D'Alembert in the Encyclopédie (1751-1765), as well as five books.

a French historian, poet, translator and official. De Charmettes was born in Bordeaux (France). He was appointed to the French Conseil d'État in 1810 and became a préfet (prefect) in the French department of Haute-Saône in 1830. A contributor to the literary magazine l’Abeille littéraire, created by more

a French historian, poet, translator and official. De Charmettes was born in Bordeaux (France). He was appointed to the French Conseil d'État in 1810 and became a préfet (prefect) in the French department of Haute-Saône in 1830. A contributor to the literary magazine l’Abeille littéraire, created by Victor Hugo in 1821, he is mainly known for his successful efforts to rescue the figure of Jeanne d'Arc from partial oblivion and turn her into a national heroine.

a French philosopher, abolitionist, historian, orientalist, and politician. He was at first surnamed Boisgirais after his father's estate, but afterwards assumed the name of Volney (which he had created as a contraction of Voltaire and Ferney). He embarked on his journey to the East in late 1782 and reached Ottoman Egypt, where he spent nearly seven months. ...

a French philosopher, abolitionist, historian, orientalist, and politician. He was at first surnamed Boisgirais after his father's estate, but afterwards assumed the name of Volney (which he had created as a contraction of Voltaire and Ferney). He embarked on his journey to the East in late 1782 and reached Ottoman Egypt, where he spent nearly seven months. Thereafter, he lived for nearly two years in Greater Syria in what is today Lebanon and Israel/Palestine in order to learn Arabic. In 1785 he returned to France, where he spent the following two years compiling his notes and writing his Voyage en Egypte et en Syrie, which was published in 1787, and Considérations sur la guerre des Turcs et de la Russie in 1788.

born in the diocese of Coutances, a cartographer, navigator and military commander, considered to be one of the best French admirals of the Marine Royale. Having long served in the French Navy, Francis I of France made him captain of the Ponant being the ...

born in the diocese of Coutances, a cartographer, navigator and military commander, considered to be one of the best French admirals of the Marine Royale. Having long served in the French Navy, Francis I of France made him captain of the Ponant being the first to receive this title. After his defeat at the Battle of Muros Bay in 1543 he retired to his land. He wrote a famous treatise on wolf hunting (La chasse du loup), published in 1567. He was also the author of a world map that Francis put in his library. The exact date of his death is not known.

a French noblewoman known for her skill in languages and translation of works from Spanish to French. Her only known surviving work is her 1566 translation of a best-selling text, Coloquios y Diálogos (1547) by the Spanish encyclopaedist Pedro Mexía. The French title was Trois dialogues de M. Pierre Messie, touchant la nature du soleil, de la terre et de t...

a French noblewoman known for her skill in languages and translation of works from Spanish to French. Her only known surviving work is her 1566 translation of a best-selling text, Coloquios y Diálogos (1547) by the Spanish encyclopaedist Pedro Mexía. The French title was Trois dialogues de M. Pierre Messie, touchant la nature du soleil, de la terre et de toutes les choses qui se font et apparaissent en l'air (Three Dialogues on the Sun and the Earth). Its dialog form appealed to a wide readership and it was reprinted 29 times between 1566 and 1643.

a French poet and tragedian. Having been educated at the Jesuit school in the town, and afterwards at the Collège Mazarin. He became an advocate, and was placed in the office of a lawyer named Prieur at Paris. With the encouragement of his master, son of an old friend of Scarron's, he produced a Mort des enfants de Brutus, which was never produced on the st...

a French poet and tragedian. Having been educated at the Jesuit school in the town, and afterwards at the Collège Mazarin. He became an advocate, and was placed in the office of a lawyer named Prieur at Paris. With the encouragement of his master, son of an old friend of Scarron's, he produced a Mort des enfants de Brutus, which was never produced on the stage. Crébillon was considered by many to be superior to Voltaire as a tragic poet.

a French woman of letters, by marriage a member of the Créquy family, which counted several distinguished public servants and prelates, particularly in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.The Souvenirs de la Marquise de Créquy is attributed to her by university librarians. In her Souvenirs, which consists mainly of accurate noble genealogies and court gossip...

a French woman of letters, by marriage a member of the Créquy family, which counted several distinguished public servants and prelates, particularly in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.The Souvenirs de la Marquise de Créquy is attributed to her by university librarians. In her Souvenirs, which consists mainly of accurate noble genealogies and court gossip from the reigns of Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI and Napoleon, there is a tale for which the author of the Souvenirs is the sole authority.

a Parisian diarist and collector. Born in Paris into a middle-class background, Pierre de l'Estoile was tutored by Mathieu Béroalde. He knew Agrippa d'Aubigné. He became a law student at Bourges (1565). He became a notary, and royal secretary. He spent time in prison in 1589, being taken for one of the supporters of the 'Politiques'. The Registres Journaux...

a Parisian diarist and collector. Born in Paris into a middle-class background, Pierre de l'Estoile was tutored by Mathieu Béroalde. He knew Agrippa d'Aubigné. He became a law student at Bourges (1565). He became a notary, and royal secretary. He spent time in prison in 1589, being taken for one of the supporters of the 'Politiques'. The Registres Journaux (1574-1611) are personal accounts of the reigns of Henry III and Henry IV of France. They contain other matter (sonnets, pamphlets).The Journals were not intended for publication. Material from them was edited as Journal de Henri III (1621 by Louis Servin, 1744 by Nicolas Lenglet Du Fresnoy); and the Journal de Henri IV (The Hague, 1741).

a French architect, one of the great masters of the French Renaissance; also wrote two books on architecture. Much of his work has disappeared, but his fame remains. An ardent humanist and student of the antique, he yet vindicated resolutely the French tradition in opposition to Italian tendencies; he was a man of independent mind and a vigorous originality....

a French architect, one of the great masters of the French Renaissance; also wrote two books on architecture. Much of his work has disappeared, but his fame remains. An ardent humanist and student of the antique, he yet vindicated resolutely the French tradition in opposition to Italian tendencies; he was a man of independent mind and a vigorous originality.

a French librettist, composer and historian. He was born in Paris and guillotined in Paris. Not much information is available about his life. Jean-Philippe Rameau taught him composition, and Antoine Dauvergne taught him the violin. He was a prolific composer of opéras-comiques and songs. He is now remembered for his four-volume Essai sur la musique ancienne...

a French librettist, composer and historian. He was born in Paris and guillotined in Paris. Not much information is available about his life. Jean-Philippe Rameau taught him composition, and Antoine Dauvergne taught him the violin. He was a prolific composer of opéras-comiques and songs. He is now remembered for his four-volume Essai sur la musique ancienne and modern (1780)

a self-taught scholar and poet of the Baroque school, and Hieronymite nun of New Spain, known in her lifetime as "The Tenth Muse." Although she lived in a colonial era when Mexico was part of the Spanish Empire, she is considered today both a Mexican writer and a contributor to the Spanish Golden Age. She stands at the beginning of the history of Mexican lit...

a self-taught scholar and poet of the Baroque school, and Hieronymite nun of New Spain, known in her lifetime as "The Tenth Muse." Although she lived in a colonial era when Mexico was part of the Spanish Empire, she is considered today both a Mexican writer and a contributor to the Spanish Golden Age. She stands at the beginning of the history of Mexican literature in the Spanish language. In recognition, she is honored by official government recognition and is an inspiration to artists in the modern era.

a Swedish poet and singer. She was a favorite of the Swedish Queen, Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark. She was active as a poet at the royal court and was given much attention by her contemporaries. She participated at the amateur theatre of the royal court encouraged by the queen, Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark. In the winter of 1683-84, a group of female courtiers pe...

a Swedish poet and singer. She was a favorite of the Swedish Queen, Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark. She was active as a poet at the royal court and was given much attention by her contemporaries. She participated at the amateur theatre of the royal court encouraged by the queen, Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark. In the winter of 1683-84, a group of female courtiers performed the Swedish premier of Iphigénie by Jean Racine at court. This is regarded as a significant event as the first play performed by an all female cast in Sweden.

a Swedish writer, poet, lady-in-waiting and noblewoman. She received a cultivated education, along with her sister Ebba Maria De la Gardie. She wrote the French poem Portrait d’Ismène for Ulrika Eleonora, and the German–language psalm Weich, Falsche Welt. She encouraged poets and writers; she is remembered as benefactor and teacher of the ...

a Swedish writer, poet, lady-in-waiting and noblewoman. She received a cultivated education, along with her sister Ebba Maria De la Gardie. She wrote the French poem Portrait d’Ismène for Ulrika Eleonora, and the German–language psalm Weich, Falsche Welt. She encouraged poets and writers; she is remembered as benefactor and teacher of the poet and politician Samuel Triewald. In 1691, Johanna married her cousin, Count Erik Gustaf Stenbock. They lived in England until 1697, where she became popular at the English court of Queen Mary.

a colonel in the Mexican Army. Under General Antonio López de Santa Anna, de la Peña participated in the Battle of the Alamo. In 1955, a book of his memoirs of the battle was published. The memoirs are controversial in that they said that Davy Crockett did not...

a colonel in the Mexican Army. Under General Antonio López de Santa Anna, de la Peña participated in the Battle of the Alamo. In 1955, a book of his memoirs of the battle was published. The memoirs are controversial in that they said that Davy Crockett did not die fighting (as is the common belief), but instead surrendered (along with his Tennessee boys) during the battle of the Alamo and was later executed. Historians disagree on whether the memoirs are accurate.

the French judge of Bordeaux who conducted a massive witch-hunt in Labourd in 1609. In 1582 he was named judge in Bordeaux, and in 1608 King Henry IV commanded him to put an end to the practice of witchcraft in Labourd, in the French part of the Basque Country, whe...

the French judge of Bordeaux who conducted a massive witch-hunt in Labourd in 1609. In 1582 he was named judge in Bordeaux, and in 1608 King Henry IV commanded him to put an end to the practice of witchcraft in Labourd, in the French part of the Basque Country, where over four months he sentenced to death several dozen persons. He wrote three books on witchcraft, analysing the Sabbath, lycanthropy, and sexual relationships during the Sabbath.

a Novohispanic penologist who was an academician of the Real Academia Española de la Lengua from 1775 to 1820. The lawyer Acevedo published in 1770 a dissertation against torture, as being in conflict with Nature Rights and public decency within the Social Body. The lawyer politician from Zaragoza, Manuel de Roda y Arrieta, managed to get Charles III and h...

a Novohispanic penologist who was an academician of the Real Academia Española de la Lengua from 1775 to 1820. The lawyer Acevedo published in 1770 a dissertation against torture, as being in conflict with Nature Rights and public decency within the Social Body. The lawyer politician from Zaragoza, Manuel de Roda y Arrieta, managed to get Charles III and his Royal Council deliberating around changes into the Penal Legislation, whereby capital punishment and/or extensive terms rotting in prisons could better be modified to convicts performing useful works needed by the public interest.

a marshal of France. Montluc's reputation was made by his Commentaires de Messire Blaise de Montluc (Bordeaux, 1592), in which he described his fifty years of service (1521–1574). This book, the "soldier's Bible" (or "breviary," according to others), as Henry IV c...

a marshal of France. Montluc's reputation was made by his Commentaires de Messire Blaise de Montluc (Bordeaux, 1592), in which he described his fifty years of service (1521–1574). This book, the "soldier's Bible" (or "breviary," according to others), as Henry IV called it, is one of many books of memoirs produced by the gentry of France at that time. It is said to have been dictated, which may account for the style.

a lord in Plessis-Bourrot, squire and noble of the king of France, known for the translation of two works in French: the Celestine from Fernando de Rojas and of the Historia de vita et rebus gestis Scanderbegi, a chronic of the Kingdom of Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg from Marin Barleti. De Lavardin was active during 1575 and 1585. He is the brother of the theo...

a lord in Plessis-Bourrot, squire and noble of the king of France, known for the translation of two works in French: the Celestine from Fernando de Rojas and of the Historia de vita et rebus gestis Scanderbegi, a chronic of the Kingdom of Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg from Marin Barleti. De Lavardin was active during 1575 and 1585. He is the brother of the theologue and translator Jean de Lavardin, abbey of l'Estoile.

a French diplomat and writer, member of the scientific expedition of Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse (1 August 1785 – January 1788) and uncle of Ferdinand de Lesseps. By age 12 he spoke fluent Russian, German, Spanish and, of course, French. After studying at the Jesuit college of Versailles for five years, he returned to St. Petersburg in 1...

a French diplomat and writer, member of the scientific expedition of Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse (1 August 1785 – January 1788) and uncle of Ferdinand de Lesseps. By age 12 he spoke fluent Russian, German, Spanish and, of course, French. After studying at the Jesuit college of Versailles for five years, he returned to St. Petersburg in 1783. He was appointed Vice-Consul of France in Kronstadt and once had to intervene with the crew of the French ship Uranie of Dunkirk who had largely deserted.

a French medical doctor who practiced in several regions across Europe during the 17th century. Charles was the son of Jean Delorme (a professor at Montpellier University), who was the primary doctor to Marie de' Medici. This ultimately opened doors for Charles' medical career soon after he graduated from the University of Montpellier in 1607 at the age of 2...

a French medical doctor who practiced in several regions across Europe during the 17th century. Charles was the son of Jean Delorme (a professor at Montpellier University), who was the primary doctor to Marie de' Medici. This ultimately opened doors for Charles' medical career soon after he graduated from the University of Montpellier in 1607 at the age of 23. He first came to Paris after graduation to practice medicine under the watchful eye of his father, until he was ready to practice as a regular doctor on his own. There are no records of his marriages, except that he married for the third time at the age of 78. This wife died within a year.

a French buccaneer. In 1679 he embarked for Santo Domingo in search of fortune, but was unsuccessful, and joined the buccaneers under Laurens de Graaf, sailing from Petit-Goâve, 22 November 1684. He soon left de Graaf at the head of a band of his own, and in 1685 pillaged the town of El Realejo. In 1686 his band took part in the capture of Grenada, and, not...

a French buccaneer. In 1679 he embarked for Santo Domingo in search of fortune, but was unsuccessful, and joined the buccaneers under Laurens de Graaf, sailing from Petit-Goâve, 22 November 1684. He soon left de Graaf at the head of a band of his own, and in 1685 pillaged the town of El Realejo. In 1686 his band took part in the capture of Grenada, and, not finding the booty they expected, set fire to the city. After this Lussan separated from the English pirates, but he joined them again for the purpose of attacking Guayaquil, which they took with much booty. Lussan published Journal du voyage fait à la mer du Sud avec les flibustiers de l'Amérique.

one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance, known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre. His work is noted for its merging of casual anecdotes and autobiography with serious intellectual insight; his massive volume Essais (translated literally as "Attempts" or "Trials") contains some of the most influential essays ever writte...

one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance, known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre. His work is noted for its merging of casual anecdotes and autobiography with serious intellectual insight; his massive volume Essais (translated literally as "Attempts" or "Trials") contains some of the most influential essays ever written.

a French nobleman, novelist, poet, translator and dramatist. Montreux's vast corpus spans theater, the novel, the pastoral, history, poetry and spiritual reflection and he shows a pronounced preoccupation with moral questions (such as chastity). With Béroalde de Verville, Montreux represents a literature of transition from the Valois court (and the generati...

a French nobleman, novelist, poet, translator and dramatist. Montreux's vast corpus spans theater, the novel, the pastoral, history, poetry and spiritual reflection and he shows a pronounced preoccupation with moral questions (such as chastity). With Béroalde de Verville, Montreux represents a literature of transition from the Valois court (and the generation of "La Pléiade") to the Bourbon court of Henry IV and the baroque, and both of these authors attempted to compete with the translation of foreign masterpieces by the creation of original works in French.

a British mathematician and logician. He formulated De Morgan's laws and introduced the term mathematical induction, making its idea rigorous. De Morgan was a brilliant and witty writer, whether as a controversialist or as a correspondent. De Morgan later in his life became interested in the phenomena of spiritualism. In 1849 he had investigated clairvoyance...

a British mathematician and logician. He formulated De Morgan's laws and introduced the term mathematical induction, making its idea rigorous. De Morgan was a brilliant and witty writer, whether as a controversialist or as a correspondent. De Morgan later in his life became interested in the phenomena of spiritualism. In 1849 he had investigated clairvoyance and was impressed by the subject. He later carried out paranormal investigations in his own home with the medium Maria Hayden.

a French memoir writer. Some letters of hers are preserved, especially a curious correspondence with Anne, Duchess of Montpensier "La Grande Mademoiselle" on marriage, but her chief work is her Mémoires, which are in effect a history of Anne of Austria, written briefly till the date of Mme de Motteville's return to court, and then with fullness. They give a...

a French memoir writer. Some letters of hers are preserved, especially a curious correspondence with Anne, Duchess of Montpensier "La Grande Mademoiselle" on marriage, but her chief work is her Mémoires, which are in effect a history of Anne of Austria, written briefly till the date of Mme de Motteville's return to court, and then with fullness. They give a faithful picture of the life of the court at that time.

a Dutch philosopher, geographer and diplomat at the court of Frederick the Great of Prussia. He was a specialist in ethnologic studies as well, publishing a study of American Indians in French in 1768. Daniel Webb, an English scholar and translator, translated portions of de Pauw’s work into English for a public that was hungry for information regarding th...

a Dutch philosopher, geographer and diplomat at the court of Frederick the Great of Prussia. He was a specialist in ethnologic studies as well, publishing a study of American Indians in French in 1768. Daniel Webb, an English scholar and translator, translated portions of de Pauw’s work into English for a public that was hungry for information regarding the new continent of America. De Paauw had no hesitation in rejecting the observations of those with personal experience of the Americas if they differed from his preconceptions, as can be seen from his comments on the Aztec calendar.

a French poet. François de Porchères d'Arbaud was born on December 20, 1590 in Brignoles in the French department of Var. Hee went to Paris to study poetry under François de Malherbe, who left him half of his library in his will, the other half went to Racan. De Porchères d'Arbaud was the other of many works, of which others have since published in moder...

a French poet. François de Porchères d'Arbaud was born on December 20, 1590 in Brignoles in the French department of Var. Hee went to Paris to study poetry under François de Malherbe, who left him half of his library in his will, the other half went to Racan. De Porchères d'Arbaud was the other of many works, of which others have since published in modern anthologies. He was often confused with Honorat de Porchères Laugier, who was also a member of the Académie Française. In 1634, he became one of the first twenty members of the Académie française. Despite a pension of £600 that the Cardinal Richelieu bestowed upon him, he lived all of his life in relative poverty. De Porchères d'Arbaud died on May 5, 1640 in Burgundy, France.

a French poet. He is most notable for his sonnet on the beautiful eyes of Gabrielle d'Estrées and for being a founder member of the Académie française. He is sometimes called Honoré de Porchères Laugier. Honorat de Porchères Laugier began in literature with a prose work, The Camp of Place-Royale, which he published in 1612. His amorous poems inserted i...

a French poet. He is most notable for his sonnet on the beautiful eyes of Gabrielle d'Estrées and for being a founder member of the Académie française. He is sometimes called Honoré de Porchères Laugier. Honorat de Porchères Laugier began in literature with a prose work, The Camp of Place-Royale, which he published in 1612. His amorous poems inserted in the collections of the time, were remarkable for Valentin Conrart and his circle of friends, who invited him to be part of the academy they formed. On 4 December 1634, he was received in the new French Academy.

an English essayist, best known for his Confessions of an English Opium-Eater (1821). Many scholars suggest that in publishing this work De Quincey inaugurated the tradition of addiction literature in the West. De Quincey was a weak and sickly child. His youth was spent in solitude, and when his elder brother, William, came home, he wrought havoc in t...

an English essayist, best known for his Confessions of an English Opium-Eater (1821). Many scholars suggest that in publishing this work De Quincey inaugurated the tradition of addiction literature in the West. De Quincey was a weak and sickly child. His youth was spent in solitude, and when his elder brother, William, came home, he wrought havoc in the quiet surroundings. De Quincey's mother (who counted Hannah More amongst her friends) was a woman of strong character and intelligence, but seems to have inspired more awe than affection in her children.

a French aristocrat, revolutionary politician, philosopher and writer, famous for his libertine sexuality. His works include novels, short stories, plays, dialogues and political tracts; in his lifetime some were published under his own name, while others appeared anonymously and Sade denied being their author. De Sade is best known for his erotic works, whi...

a French aristocrat, revolutionary politician, philosopher and writer, famous for his libertine sexuality. His works include novels, short stories, plays, dialogues and political tracts; in his lifetime some were published under his own name, while others appeared anonymously and Sade denied being their author. De Sade is best known for his erotic works, which combined philosophical discourse with pornography, depicting sexual fantasies with an emphasis on violence, criminality and blasphemy against the Catholic Church. He was a proponent of extreme freedom, unrestrained by morality, religion or law. The words sadism and sadist are derived from his name.

a Bishop of Geneva and is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. He became noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to the religious divisions in his land resulting from the Protestant Reformation. He is known also for his writings on the topic of spiritual direction and spiritual formation, particularly the Introduction to the Devout Life ...

a Bishop of Geneva and is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. He became noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to the religious divisions in his land resulting from the Protestant Reformation. He is known also for his writings on the topic of spiritual direction and spiritual formation, particularly the Introduction to the Devout Life and the Treatise on the Love of God.

a French writer and lawyer from Paris, known as the founder of the first French literary and scientific journal - the Journal des sçavans (later renamed Journal des savants). De Sallo obtained classical education and was admitted to the Paris bar in 1652, although he later devoted himself to scholarly aspects of the law rather than active practice, serving ...

a French writer and lawyer from Paris, known as the founder of the first French literary and scientific journal - the Journal des sçavans (later renamed Journal des savants). De Sallo obtained classical education and was admitted to the Paris bar in 1652, although he later devoted himself to scholarly aspects of the law rather than active practice, serving also as a counsel in the French government. He belonged to the clique of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, minister of finance under Louis XIV, and had active contacts with other prominent European scholars.

a Spanish diplomat, and the first Western traveller to correctly identify the ruins of Takht-e Jamshid in Persia as the location of Persepolis, the ancient capital of the Achaemenid Empire and one of the great cities of antiquity. De Silva travelled extensively throughout Persia, visiting the cities of Shiraz, Qom and Isfahan among others. He wrote a full a...

a Spanish diplomat, and the first Western traveller to correctly identify the ruins of Takht-e Jamshid in Persia as the location of Persepolis, the ancient capital of the Achaemenid Empire and one of the great cities of antiquity. De Silva travelled extensively throughout Persia, visiting the cities of Shiraz, Qom and Isfahan among others. He wrote a full account of his travels under the title Totius legationis suae et Indicarum rerum Persidisque commentarii. De Silva's memoirs contain a great deal of detailed information relating to Persian geography, history and culture.

a French royal bastard, count of Auvergne, duke of Angoulême, and memoirist. Charles de Valois was the illegitimate son of Charles IX and Marie Touchet. In 1604 d'Entragues and he were arrested and condemned to death; at the same time the marchioness was condemned to perpetual imprisonment in a convent. She easily obtained pardon, and the sentence of death ...

a French royal bastard, count of Auvergne, duke of Angoulême, and memoirist. Charles de Valois was the illegitimate son of Charles IX and Marie Touchet. In 1604 d'Entragues and he were arrested and condemned to death; at the same time the marchioness was condemned to perpetual imprisonment in a convent. She easily obtained pardon, and the sentence of death against the other two was commuted into perpetual imprisonment. Charles remained in the Bastille for eleven years, from 1605 to 1616.

an English peer and courtier of the Elizabethan era. Oxford was heir to the second oldest earldom in the kingdom, a court favourite for a time, a sought-after patron of the arts, and noted by his contemporaries as a lyric poet and court playwright, but his reckless and volatile temperament precluded him from attaining any courtly or governmental responsibili...

an English peer and courtier of the Elizabethan era. Oxford was heir to the second oldest earldom in the kingdom, a court favourite for a time, a sought-after patron of the arts, and noted by his contemporaries as a lyric poet and court playwright, but his reckless and volatile temperament precluded him from attaining any courtly or governmental responsibility and contributed to the dissipation of his estate. He was among the first to compose love poetry at the Elizabethan court, and he was praised as a playwright, although no plays traditionally attributed to him survive.

a French Baroque poet and dramatist. De Viau's wrote satirical poems, sonnets, odes and elegies. His works include one play, Les Amours tragiques de Pyrame et Thisbé (performed in 1621), the tragic love story of Pyramus and Thisbe which ends in a double suicide. He wrote Fragment d'une histoire comique (English: Fragment of a Comic Novel, 1623), in which he...

a French Baroque poet and dramatist. De Viau's wrote satirical poems, sonnets, odes and elegies. His works include one play, Les Amours tragiques de Pyrame et Thisbé (performed in 1621), the tragic love story of Pyramus and Thisbe which ends in a double suicide. He wrote Fragment d'une histoire comique (English: Fragment of a Comic Novel, 1623), in which he expressed his literary tastes. He was not a supporter of "the metaphoric excess and lofty erudition" of his contemporaries.

a French poet and early leader of French Romanticism. He also produced novels, plays, and translations of Shakespeare. Unlike many of the French Romantics, Vigny was an army officer with conservative and consistently royalist views. Though he was promoted to first lieutenant in 1822 and to captain the following year, the military profession in time of peace ...

a French poet and early leader of French Romanticism. He also produced novels, plays, and translations of Shakespeare. Unlike many of the French Romantics, Vigny was an army officer with conservative and consistently royalist views. Though he was promoted to first lieutenant in 1822 and to captain the following year, the military profession in time of peace bored him. After taking several leaves of absence he abandoned military life in 1827, having already published his first poem Le Bal in 1820 and an ambitious narrative poem Éloa in 1824 on the popular romantic theme of the redemption of Satan.

a French writer of plays, novels and short fiction. Madame de Villedieu was prolific in the genre of "nouvelles historiques" and "nouvelles galantes" which began to appear in France in the 1660s. An interest in love, psychological analysis, moral dilemmas and social constraints permeated these relatively short novels. When the action was placed in an histori...

a French writer of plays, novels and short fiction. Madame de Villedieu was prolific in the genre of "nouvelles historiques" and "nouvelles galantes" which began to appear in France in the 1660s. An interest in love, psychological analysis, moral dilemmas and social constraints permeated these relatively short novels. When the action was placed in an historical setting, this was increasingly a setting in the recent past, and although still filled with anachronisms, these novels showed an interest in historical detail; these are generally called "nouvelles historiques".

a German poet, dramatist, librettist, composer and bass singer of the Baroque era. His 1657 songbook Aelbianische Musen-Lust was a large collection of musical settings of German strophic poetry, for solo voice. In 1680 the outbreak of plague caused Dedekind to flee Dresden for Meissen. In his last years he composed much less; his late work was almost entirel...

a German poet, dramatist, librettist, composer and bass singer of the Baroque era. His 1657 songbook Aelbianische Musen-Lust was a large collection of musical settings of German strophic poetry, for solo voice. In 1680 the outbreak of plague caused Dedekind to flee Dresden for Meissen. In his last years he composed much less; his late work was almost entirely sacred poetry.

an English mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, occult philosopher, imperialist, and adviser to Queen Elizabeth I. He devoted much of his life to the study of alchemy, divination, and Hermetic philosophy. One of the most learned men of his age, he had been invited to lecture on the geometry of Euclid at the University of Paris while still in his early twen...

an English mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, occult philosopher, imperialist, and adviser to Queen Elizabeth I. He devoted much of his life to the study of alchemy, divination, and Hermetic philosophy. One of the most learned men of his age, he had been invited to lecture on the geometry of Euclid at the University of Paris while still in his early twenties. His 1576 General and rare memorials pertayning to the Perfect Arte of Navigation, was the first volume in an unfinished series planned to advocate the rise of imperial expansion. He has often been associated with the Voynich manuscript.

an English trader, writer, journalist, pamphleteer, and spy, most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe. Defoe is notable for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel, as he helped to popularise the form in Britain and is among the founders of the English novel. He was a prolific and versatile writer, producing more than five hundred books, p...

an English trader, writer, journalist, pamphleteer, and spy, most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe. Defoe is notable for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel, as he helped to popularise the form in Britain and is among the founders of the English novel. He was a prolific and versatile writer, producing more than five hundred books, pamphlets, and journals on various topics, including politics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology, and the supernatural. He was also a pioneer of economic journalism.

an English Elizabethan dramatist and pamphleteer, a versatile and prolific writer, whose career spanned several decades and brought him into contact with many of the period's most famous dramatists. Dekker embarked on a career as a theatre writer in the middle 1590s. His handwriting is found in the manuscript of Sir more

an English Elizabethan dramatist and pamphleteer, a versatile and prolific writer, whose career spanned several decades and brought him into contact with many of the period's most famous dramatists. Dekker embarked on a career as a theatre writer in the middle 1590s. His handwriting is found in the manuscript of Sir Thomas More, though the date of his involvement is undetermined.

a Swedish feminist, writer and a teacher in French. She founded Svenska lärarinnors pensionsförening (Society for Retired Female Teachers), where she served as chairperson from its foundation in 1855 to 1859. Deland was a feminist, and became a pioneer as a woman's rights activist in Sweden at a point when no women's movement was organized in Sweden, a par...

a Swedish feminist, writer and a teacher in French. She founded Svenska lärarinnors pensionsförening (Society for Retired Female Teachers), where she served as chairperson from its foundation in 1855 to 1859. Deland was a feminist, and became a pioneer as a woman's rights activist in Sweden at a point when no women's movement was organized in Sweden, a part from the isolated example of Sophie Sager. In 1852, she raised a public debate about the fact that the state did not provide any pension for retired female teachers and governesses, who consequently often ended up at the poor house after retirement. In 1855, the stately retirement fund Svenska lärarinnors pensionsförening was created thanks to her efforts.

a French writer. Delandine was born in Lyon. A lawyer at the Parliament of Dijon and the Parliament of Paris, he made a brief political career during the French Revolution when he was elected to the Estates-General of 1789 as deputy of the Forez. He was imprisoned during the Reign of Terror because of his opposition to the Republicans. He survived and went o...

a French writer. Delandine was born in Lyon. A lawyer at the Parliament of Dijon and the Parliament of Paris, he made a brief political career during the French Revolution when he was elected to the Estates-General of 1789 as deputy of the Forez. He was imprisoned during the Reign of Terror because of his opposition to the Republicans. He survived and went on to become the director of the municipal library of Lyon.

a French playwright and librettist. A frequent collaborator of Eugène Scribe, Delavigne was involved in the creation of the libretti of two of the earliest grand operas, Daniel Auber's La muette de Portici (1828) and Giacomo Meyerbeer's Robert le di...

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a French playwright and librettist. A frequent collaborator of Eugène Scribe, Delavigne was involved in the creation of the libretti of two of the earliest grand operas, Daniel Auber's La muette de Portici (1828) and Giacomo Meyerbeer's Robert le diable (1831). Amongst his later libretti were those for Fromental Halévy's Charles VI (1843) (co-authored with his brother Casimir) and Charles Gounod's La nonne sanglante (1854).

a French playwright and theatre director. He wrote several comedies, alone (e.g. Le Fat en province ou Le plan de comédie, a 3-act comedy ; Inès et Pédrille ou La cousine supposée, a 3-act comedy ; Spectacle demandé ou Rien qu'en famille, a one-act divertissement "mêlée de couplets" ; Les Anglais supposés ou Lequel est mon gendre ?, at Théâtre de l...

a French playwright and theatre director. He wrote several comedies, alone (e.g. Le Fat en province ou Le plan de comédie, a 3-act comedy ; Inès et Pédrille ou La cousine supposée, a 3-act comedy ; Spectacle demandé ou Rien qu'en famille, a one-act divertissement "mêlée de couplets" ; Les Anglais supposés ou Lequel est mon gendre ?, at Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin, 1815), or in collaboration. He also wrote a novel, Un Ladre, récit d’un vieux professeur émérite (Paris, Lenormant, 1859), a touching and moral book whose excellent intentions excuse its implausibility.

a Spanish writer and editor of the Renaissance. Little is known about his life. He was born in Cordoba, Spain and, by uncertain reasons, he moved to Rome, where he became vicar and Italianized his surname to Delicado. After the sack of Rome, he went to Venice where he wrote his novel Portrait of Lozana: The Lusty Andalusian Woman (El retrato de la Loçana An...

a Spanish writer and editor of the Renaissance. Little is known about his life. He was born in Cordoba, Spain and, by uncertain reasons, he moved to Rome, where he became vicar and Italianized his surname to Delicado. After the sack of Rome, he went to Venice where he wrote his novel Portrait of Lozana: The Lusty Andalusian Woman (El retrato de la Loçana Andaluza, 1528), that continues on the lines of the novel in dialogue exemplified by Celestina. The book is a social and historical portrait of Rome and its dark side in the first years of the 16th century, and one of the first works of the picaresque novel.

an Italian scholar, polymath and playwright who lived in Naples at the time of the Renaissance, Scientific Revolution and Reformation. He spent the majority of his life on scientific endeavors. He benefited from an informal education of tutors and visits from renowned scholars. His most famous work, first published in 1558, is entitled Magia Naturalis ...

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an Italian scholar, polymath and playwright who lived in Naples at the time of the Renaissance, Scientific Revolution and Reformation. He spent the majority of his life on scientific endeavors. He benefited from an informal education of tutors and visits from renowned scholars. His most famous work, first published in 1558, is entitled Magia Naturalis (Natural Magic). In this book he covered a variety of the subjects he had investigated, including occult philosophy, astrology, alchemy, mathematics, meteorology, and natural philosophy. He was also referred to as "professor of secrets".

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an Italian composer, musicologist, and author who travelled throughout Asia during the Renaissance period. His travels took him to the Holy Land, the Middle East, Northern Africa, and as far as India. His early life was spent in the pursuit of literature and arms. He was a cultivated man, who knew Latin, Greek, classical mythology, and the Bible. He also bec...

an Italian composer, musicologist, and author who travelled throughout Asia during the Renaissance period. His travels took him to the Holy Land, the Middle East, Northern Africa, and as far as India. His early life was spent in the pursuit of literature and arms. He was a cultivated man, who knew Latin, Greek, classical mythology, and the Bible. He also became a member of the Roman Accademia degli Umoristi, and acquired some reputation as a versifier and rhetorician. When Pietro was disappointed in love and began to consider suicide, Mario Schipano, a professor of medicine in Naples, suggested the idea of travelling in the East. It was Schipano who received a sort of diary in letters from Pietro's travels.[

an English novelist and ballads. He began his working life as a silk-weaver perhaps in Norwich. He then moved to London. An entry in the parish register of St Giles-without-Cripplegate from 16 October 1586, records the baptism of his son Richard. In the course of the next ten years he is known to have written about fifty ballads, one-sheet stories and news s...

an English novelist and ballads. He began his working life as a silk-weaver perhaps in Norwich. He then moved to London. An entry in the parish register of St Giles-without-Cripplegate from 16 October 1586, records the baptism of his son Richard. In the course of the next ten years he is known to have written about fifty ballads, one-sheet stories and news sheets, some of which got him into trouble, and caused him to keep a low profile for a time. John Strype described him as "presumptuous", because the heroes and heroines of his works were clearly common people, and therefore in Strype's terms only suitable for comedy or farce.

a Russian poet and journalist who studied in the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum together with Alexander Pushkin, and Wilhelm Küchelbecker with whom he became close friends. Küchelbecker dedicated a poem ('O, Delvig') to him. Delvig commissioned a portrait of Pushki...

a Russian poet and journalist who studied in the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum together with Alexander Pushkin, and Wilhelm Küchelbecker with whom he became close friends. Küchelbecker dedicated a poem ('O, Delvig') to him. Delvig commissioned a portrait of Pushkin from Orest Kiprensky which Pushkin bought from Delvig's widow after his friend's death. In his poetry, Delvig upheld the waning traditions of Russian Neoclassicism. He became interested in Russian folklore and wrote numerous imitations of folk songs. Some of these were put to music by the composers Alexander Alyabyev and Mikhail Glinka.

a French author and politician. It was as a member of the Constitutional Committee that Démeunier had the biggest impact. He presented to the Assembly on behalf of the Committee a report (7 March 1791) on the need for the ministerial responsibility, and later declared support (26 August 1791) for the eligibility of the members of the royal family to hold el...

a French author and politician. It was as a member of the Constitutional Committee that Démeunier had the biggest impact. He presented to the Assembly on behalf of the Committee a report (7 March 1791) on the need for the ministerial responsibility, and later declared support (26 August 1791) for the eligibility of the members of the royal family to hold elective office. He would also promote the organization of the jury and the Court of Cassation.

a French writer. He falsely claimed to be a descendant of La Fontaine by his mother and Jean Racine by his father. Demoustier was born in Villers-Cotterêts. He worked as a lawyer, but later decided to become a writer. In 1786, he published the first part of Lettr...

a French writer. He falsely claimed to be a descendant of La Fontaine by his mother and Jean Racine by his father. Demoustier was born in Villers-Cotterêts. He worked as a lawyer, but later decided to become a writer. In 1786, he published the first part of Lettres à Emilie sur la mythologie. The sixth part was published in 1798. These works, alternating prose and madrigal-like verses, were very successful.

an Anglo-Irish poet and courtier. He served as Surveyor of the King's Works and is buried in Westminster Abbey. Denham began his literary career with a tragedy, The Sophy (1641), but his poem, Cooper's Hill (1642), is the work by which he is remembered. It is the first example in English of a poem devoted to local description, of the Thames Valley scenery ro...

an Anglo-Irish poet and courtier. He served as Surveyor of the King's Works and is buried in Westminster Abbey. Denham began his literary career with a tragedy, The Sophy (1641), but his poem, Cooper's Hill (1642), is the work by which he is remembered. It is the first example in English of a poem devoted to local description, of the Thames Valley scenery round his home at Egham in Surrey. Denham wrote many versions of this poem, reflecting the political and cultural upheavals of the Civil War.

an English physician. He was the second son of John Denman, an apothecary born at Bakewell, Derbyshire. After a career in naval medicine he made a considerable amount of money in midwifery. The phenomenon of Denman's spontaneous evolution, by which a spontaneous impaction of the shoulder of a foetus resolves a difficult transverse delivery during childbirth,...

an English physician. He was the second son of John Denman, an apothecary born at Bakewell, Derbyshire. After a career in naval medicine he made a considerable amount of money in midwifery. The phenomenon of Denman's spontaneous evolution, by which a spontaneous impaction of the shoulder of a foetus resolves a difficult transverse delivery during childbirth, is named after him. He used his authority to support inducing premature labour in cases of narrow pelvis and other conditions in England (where the mother's life is imperiled by delivery at the full-time).

an American author and journalist who was one of the foremost men of letters of the Federalist Era. A Federalist, Dennie is best remembered for his series of essays entitled The Lay Preacher and as the founding editor of Port Folio, a journal espousing classical republican values. Port Folio was the most highly regarded and successful literary publication of...

an American author and journalist who was one of the foremost men of letters of the Federalist Era. A Federalist, Dennie is best remembered for his series of essays entitled The Lay Preacher and as the founding editor of Port Folio, a journal espousing classical republican values. Port Folio was the most highly regarded and successful literary publication of its time, and the first important political and literary journal in the United States.

a poet and fisherman, pioneered Angling poetry in England. His only work The Secrets of Angling was the earliest English poetical treatise on fishing. John Dennys may have been an acquaintance of Shakespeare. His only work The Secrets of Angling was the earliest English poetical treatise on fishing. In it he wrote of a brook, River Boyd, formed from streams ...

a poet and fisherman, pioneered Angling poetry in England. His only work The Secrets of Angling was the earliest English poetical treatise on fishing. John Dennys may have been an acquaintance of Shakespeare. His only work The Secrets of Angling was the earliest English poetical treatise on fishing. In it he wrote of a brook, River Boyd, formed from streams in his hometown of Pucklechurch, which met downstream with the River Avon.A didactic pastoral poem in 3 books, totaling 151 verses each of 8 lines, in the style of Virgil's Georgics, it was published in 4 editions until 1652, examples of which are amongst the rarest books in existence.

an English Puritan cleric, known as an author and preacher. Dent served as a curate for three years to George Withers, at Danbury, Essex. He was on 17 December 1580 instituted to the rectory of South Shoebury, Essex, on the presentation of Robert Rich, 2nd Baron Rich. In 1582 he was one of the witnesses examined in support of charges brought against Robert W...

an English Puritan cleric, known as an author and preacher. Dent served as a curate for three years to George Withers, at Danbury, Essex. He was on 17 December 1580 instituted to the rectory of South Shoebury, Essex, on the presentation of Robert Rich, 2nd Baron Rich. In 1582 he was one of the witnesses examined in support of charges brought against Robert Wright, a Puritan minister. About 1584 Dent himself was in trouble with John Aylmer, his diocesan bishop, for refusing to wear the surplice and omitting the sign of the cross in baptism.

an English clergyman, natural theologian and natural philosopher. He produced the earliest, reasonably accurate estimate of the speed of sound. In 1696, he published his Artificial Clockmaker, which went through several editions. The best known of his subsequent works are Physico-Theology, published in 1713; Astro-Theology, 1714; and Christo-Theology, 1730. ...

an English clergyman, natural theologian and natural philosopher. He produced the earliest, reasonably accurate estimate of the speed of sound. In 1696, he published his Artificial Clockmaker, which went through several editions. The best known of his subsequent works are Physico-Theology, published in 1713; Astro-Theology, 1714; and Christo-Theology, 1730. All three of these books are teleological arguments for the being and attributes of God, and were used by William Paley nearly a century later. However, these books also include quantities of original scientific observations.