along with his older brother Morin, was a Portuguese Jewish merchant important in the early settlement of the Texan coast. João was born in Portugal but attended school in Paris, before moving to Brazil, the British West Indies, and finally New Orleans. Along with his brother, João provided the financing for the privateer Louis Michel Aury, who established...

along with his older brother Morin, was a Portuguese Jewish merchant important in the early settlement of the Texan coast. João was born in Portugal but attended school in Paris, before moving to Brazil, the British West Indies, and finally New Orleans. Along with his brother, João provided the financing for the privateer Louis Michel Aury, who established his base at the site of future Galveston in Spanish Texas, in 1816. The same year, Mexican revolutionary general Francisco Javier Mina visited and successfully encouraged Aury to join him in an invasion, which failed. Morin da Porta left Galveston and soon died, and João sold Aury's camp and supplies to Jean Lafitte, who relocated to Galveston from Matagorda Bay on 15 May 1817. A year later, João was appointed supercargo for trade with the Karankawa Indians. Lafitte left in 1820, and João later returned to New Orleans.

Having been compelled, as a Protestant, to leave France on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (18 Oct., 1685), he escaped into Holland. Deciding to become a British subject and to emigrate to America, he crossed to England and took the oath of allegiance to James II. He landed in New York, 7 June, 1686. His mother had given him, on his departure from Caen...

Having been compelled, as a Protestant, to leave France on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (18 Oct., 1685), he escaped into Holland. Deciding to become a British subject and to emigrate to America, he crossed to England and took the oath of allegiance to James II. He landed in New York, 7 June, 1686. His mother had given him, on his departure from Caen, a portion of the family jewels. He sold them for £300, became a merchant, and amassed a fortune of £100,000. He married Anne, second daughter of Stephanus van Cortlandt, 23 Jan., 1700. He took a prominent part in public affairs, representing the fourth ward of New York as alderman in 1691-'3, and was a member of assembly for twenty-four years.

a Dutch Beggars leader, known for his intake of Loevestein in 1570. As his profession, oxen buyer was reported. De Ruyter was a convinced Calvinist , and emerged as such in 1566-1567, when Calvinism in 's-Hertogenbosch came into being, as in many other places in the Netherlands, above ground. In February 1567 he took Anton van Bombergen to 's-Hertogenbosch, ...

a Dutch Beggars leader, known for his intake of Loevestein in 1570. As his profession, oxen buyer was reported. De Ruyter was a convinced Calvinist , and emerged as such in 1566-1567, when Calvinism in 's-Hertogenbosch came into being, as in many other places in the Netherlands, above ground. In February 1567 he took Anton van Bombergen to 's-Hertogenbosch, who founded a Calvinist government there, in which De Ruyter also had an important share.

an American merchant, politician, and diplomat, and a supporter of American independence. Deane served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, then as the first foreign diplomat from the United States to France. Near the end of the war, Congress charged Deane with financial impropriety, and the British intercepted and published some letters in which he ha...

an American merchant, politician, and diplomat, and a supporter of American independence. Deane served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, then as the first foreign diplomat from the United States to France. Near the end of the war, Congress charged Deane with financial impropriety, and the British intercepted and published some letters in which he had implied that the American cause was hopeless. After the war, Deane lived in Ghent and London and died under mysterious circumstances while attempting to return to America.

a German instrument maker at the University of Heidelberg who worked with Robert Bunsen. In 1855, Desaga perfected an earlier design of the laboratory burner by Michael Faraday into the Bunsen burner. Neither Desaga nor Bunsen patented the design, and many imitations were marketed. The Bunsen burner was essential to the invention of the spectroscope by Rober...

a German instrument maker at the University of Heidelberg who worked with Robert Bunsen. In 1855, Desaga perfected an earlier design of the laboratory burner by Michael Faraday into the Bunsen burner. Neither Desaga nor Bunsen patented the design, and many imitations were marketed. The Bunsen burner was essential to the invention of the spectroscope by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff. Peter Desaga's son, Carl Desaga, founded C. Desaga.

an American businessman noted for his writing and eccentricity. At the end of the American Revolutionary War, he bought large amounts of deprecated Continental currency that was worthless at the time. At war's end, the U.S. government made good on its notes at one percent of face value, while Massachusetts paid its own notes at par. His arbitrage enabled him...

an American businessman noted for his writing and eccentricity. At the end of the American Revolutionary War, he bought large amounts of deprecated Continental currency that was worthless at the time. At war's end, the U.S. government made good on its notes at one percent of face value, while Massachusetts paid its own notes at par. His arbitrage enabled him to amass a considerable profit. He built two ships and began an export business to the West Indies and Europe. At age 50, Dexter authored A Pickle for the Knowing Ones or Plain Truth in a Homespun Dress, in which he complained about politicians, the clergy, and his wife. The book contained 8,847 words and 33,864 letters, but without punctuation and with seemingly random capitalization.

an inventor, entrepreneur and the founder of what became the Dixon Ticonderoga Company, a well-known manufacturer of pencils in the United States. His fascination with new technologies led to many innovations such as a mirror for a camera that was the forerunner of the viewfinder, a patented double-crank steam engine, and a method of printing banknotes to th...

an inventor, entrepreneur and the founder of what became the Dixon Ticonderoga Company, a well-known manufacturer of pencils in the United States. His fascination with new technologies led to many innovations such as a mirror for a camera that was the forerunner of the viewfinder, a patented double-crank steam engine, and a method of printing banknotes to thwart counterfeiters. Most notably, Dixon manufactured the first wood and graphite pencil in the country.

the first American to successfully drill for oil. Edwin Drake was hired by the Seneca Oil Company to investigate suspected oil deposits in Titusville, Pennsylvania. James Townsend, President of the Seneca Oil Company, sent Drake to the site in the spring of 1858. The oil company chose the retired railway man partly because he had free use of the rail. Drake ...

the first American to successfully drill for oil. Edwin Drake was hired by the Seneca Oil Company to investigate suspected oil deposits in Titusville, Pennsylvania. James Townsend, President of the Seneca Oil Company, sent Drake to the site in the spring of 1858. The oil company chose the retired railway man partly because he had free use of the rail. Drake decided to drill in the manner of salt well drillers. He purchased a steam engine in Erie, Pennsylvania, to power the drill.

an Irish printer who printed the first copies of the United States Declaration of Independence and was one of the most successful Irish/American printers of his era. During the American Revolutionary War, Dunlap became an officer in the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, and saw action with George Washington at the battles of Trenton and Princeton. In 17...

an Irish printer who printed the first copies of the United States Declaration of Independence and was one of the most successful Irish/American printers of his era. During the American Revolutionary War, Dunlap became an officer in the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, and saw action with George Washington at the battles of Trenton and Princeton. In 1776, Dunlap secured a lucrative printing contract for the Continental Congress. Dunlap printed perhaps 200 broadsides, since known as the Dunlap broadsides, which were the first published versions of the Declaration.