Aaron
Aaron was the brother of Moses.
Ababdeh
The Ababdeh were (are?) a nomadic African tribe inhabiting Egypt between the Nile and the Red Sea.
Abandonee
Abbas
Abbasid
Abbassides
Abbess
Abbot
ABC Club
Abdul Azziz Ibn Saud
Abecedarian
Abel
Abel Tasman
Abencerrages
Aborigine
Abraham Bloemaart
Abraham Cowley
Absalom
Acacians
Accadians
Accountant
Achaeans
Acrobat
Actor
Adam Sedgwick
Adam Smith
Adamites
Adda
Adelaide Ristori
Adept
Admiral
Adolf Hitler
Aedh
Aelfric
Aequi
Aerians
Aesc
Aesop
Affonso de Albuquerque
Afghan
African
Aga
Ainos
Akawaios
Akkas
Alani
Alaric II
Albert Camus
Albert Einstein
Albert I
Albert II
Albert Michelson
Albert Moore
Albert Schweitzer
Alboin
Albrecht Durer
Albrecht Roon
Alcaeus
Alderman
Aldulf
Alefrid
Alessandro Scarlatti
Alessandro Volta
Alexander Glazunov
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Humboldt
Alexander I
Alexander II
Alexander III
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pushkin
Alexandra
Alexandre Dumas
Alexandre Vinet
Alexandre Wallon
Alfred
Alfred Adler
Alfred de Musset
Alfred Deakin
Alfred Housman
Alfred Nobel
Alfred Tennyson
Alfred Wallace
Alfwold
Algernon Swinburne
Algonkins
Ali Bey
Ali Pasha
Alicia Cockburn
Alighieri Dante
Allan Cunningham
Allan Dias
Aloys Senefelder
Alphonse Daudet
Alphwuld
Alred
Alric
Amalekites
Amati
Amedeo Modigliani
Amerigo Vespucci
Anacreon
Anatole France
Anaxagoras
Anders Celsius
Anders Zorn
Andre Gide
Andrea Amati
Andrea Del Sarto
Andrea Del Verrocchio
Andrea Mantegna
Andreas Vesalius
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Fisher
Andrew Marvell
Aneurin Bevan
Angelica Kauffman
Angles
Aniello Falcone
Anna
Anne
Anne Boleyn
Anne Hathaway
Anne of Cleves
Anselm Feuerbach
Anthony Cooper
Anthony Fokker
Anthony Leeuwenhoek
Anthony Trollope
Anthony Wedgwood Benn
Antoine Lavoisier
Antoine Watteau
Anton Chekhov
Anton Rubinstein
Antonin Dvorak
Antonio Allegri
Antonio Canaletto
Antonio Correggio
Antonio Diabelli
Antonio Pollaiuolo
Antonio Rosmini-Serbati
Antonio Stradivari
Apache
Arabs
Aram Khachaturyan
Arawaks
Arcangelo Corelli
Archibald Alison
Archibald Bower
Archibald Forbes
Archibald Wavell
Archimedes
Arecunas
Aristotle
Armagnacs
Armand Richelieu
Arminius Vambery
Arnold Bennett
Arnold Schonberg
Arnold Toynbee
Arthur
Arthur Miller
Arthur Rimbaud
Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Walkley
Arturo Toscanini
Asoka
Asser
Athelstan
Attila
Aubrey Beardsley
August Strindberg
Auguste Piccard
Auguste Rodin
Augustus Pugin
Aurangzeb
Aztec
Baber
Babi
Baden-Powell
Baggara
Baker
Baldred
Banneret
Banshee
Bantu
Barber
Bard
Barnabites
Baron
Baron Munchhausen
Baroness Orczy
Baronet
Barry Pain
Bartolome Murillo
Bastarnae
Batak
Beaker People
Beethoven
Bela Bartok
Bellmen
Bemba
Ben Jonson
Benito Mussolini
Benjamin Disraeli
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Jonson
Benjamin Rumford
Benjamin Waugh
Benvenuto Cellini
Beorna
Beornred
Beornwulf
Berber
Bernard Palissy
Bernard Vaughan
Berthulf
Bertrand Russel
Bertric
Betty Perske
Bizet
Black Baron
Blackfeet
Blaise Pascal
Blondel
Blue-stocking
Boers
Bogos
Boiars
Boii
Bonzes
Booker Washington
Bram Stoker
Bretwalda
Briton Riviere
Bromius
Bruce Lee
Bruce Smith
Buffalo Bill
Buonarroti Michelangelo
Burhred
Bushman
Bushranger
Caedwallo
Caewlin
Caligula
Caliph
Calvin Coolidge
Canute
Canute III
Canute IV
Canute the Pious
Canute V
Canute VI
Capetians
Captain
Captain Alfred Dreyfus
Captain James Cook
Cardinal Ercole Consalvi
Carel Fabritius
Carib
Carl Gustav Jung
Carl Rosa
Carl Sandburg
Carl Scheele
Carl Weber
Carlo Goldoni
Carloman II
Carmen Sylva
Carthusians
Cassivellaunus
Catherine of Aragon
Cecil Day Lewis
Cecil Rhodes
Celts
Cenred
Cenric
Centurion
Centwine
Cenulph
Cenwal
Ceolred
Ceolric
Ceolwulf
Ceolwulph
Ceorl
Cerdic
Cesar Franck
Chancellor
Charlemagne
Charles Babbage
Charles Best
Charles Conder
Charles Cornwallis
Charles Coulomb
Charles Darwin
Charles De Gaulle
Charles de Secondat Montesquieu
Charles Dickens
Charles Doughty
Charles Fourier
Charles Gounod
Charles I
Charles II
Charles Jeanneret
Charles Kingsley
Charles Lamb
Charles Leconte de Lisle
Charles Parnell
Charles Reade
Charles Saint-Beuve
Charles the Great
Charles Voysey
Charles X
Charlotte Corday
Cherokee
Chiang Kai-Shek
Childeric
Chippewa
Chris Stein
Christiaan Huygens
Christian I
Christian II
Christian III
Christian IV
Christian IX
Christian the Cruel
Christian V
Christian VI
Christian VII
Christian VIII
Christoph Von Gluck
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Fry
Christopher I
Christopher II
Christopher III
Christopher Isherwood
Christopher Marlowe
Cimabue
Cimbri
Cincinnatus
Cino da Pistoia
Ciro Ale'Gria
Clan-na-Gael
Claude Debussy
Claude Gelee
Claude Lorraine
Claude Monet
Claudio Monteverdi
Claudius Galen
Claudius I
Clearchus
Clement Burke
Cleopatra
Clerk of the Peace
Clodion the Hairy
Clovis
Clovis the Great
Cockney
Cognate
Cola di Rienzi
Colin
Colonel
Commissar
Common Serjeant
Compere
Conductor
Conelius Tacitus
Confucius
Conon
Conquistadores
Conrad I
Conrad II
Conrad III
Conrad IV
Consort
Constans I
Constans II
Constantine I
Constantine II
Constantine III
Constantius
Consul
Contras
Cooper
Cornelia
Cornelius Nepos
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Coroner
Correggio
Corsair
Corybantes
Cossack
Count Maeterlinck
Covenanter
Coventry Patmore
Creole
Cretin
Crida
Crimp
Croesus
Crofter
Crypto-Jews
Culdees
Curate
Custos Rotulorum
Cuthred
Cwichelm
Cymri
Cynegils
Cynewulf
Cynric
Cyrus
Cyrus the Great
Czechs
An abandonee is an underwriter to whom the salvage of a wreck is abandoned.
Abbas was the Uncle of Mohammed. He was born in 566 and died in 652.
An Abbasid was a member of a dynasty of caliphs who ruled in Baghdad from 750 until 1258. They claimed to be descended from Abbas.
The Abbassides were an Arabian dynasty, descendents of Mahomet's uncle, Abbas-Ben-Abdul-Motalleb. Thirty-seven abbasside caliphs reigned from 750 to 1258. They settled at Baghdad.
An Abbess is the female superior of a community of nuns.
An abbot is the superior of a community of monks.
The ABC Club was a name adopted by certain republican enthusiasts in Paris, professing to relieve the depressed. Their insurrection on the 5th of June 1832 was suppressed with bloodshed the next day. The events of the insurrection are described by Victor Hugo in ''Les Miserables''.
Abdul Azziz Ibn Saud was King of Saudi Arabia. He was born in 1880 in Central Arabia and died in 1953.
The Abecedarian were the followers of Nicholas Storck, a 16th century German Anabaptist. They were so called because they rejected all worldly knowledge including learning the alphabet.
In the bible, Abel was the second son of Adam. He was killed by his brother Cain. Abel was king of Denmark in 1250. He was killed in an expedition against the Frisons.
Abel Tasman was a Dutch explorer. He discovered Tasmania in 1642.
The Abencerrages were a Moorish tribe of Granada opposed to the Zegris. From 1480 to 1492 they constantly fought. They were exterminated by Boabdil.
An aborigine is a member of an indigenous people.
Abraham Bloemaart was a Dutch painter. He was born in 1565 and died in 1657.
Abraham Cowley was an English poet. He was born in 1618 and died in 1667. He was one of the metaphysical school of poets who followed John Donne in his use of far-fetched conceits. He was a royalist and secretary to the Queen and Lord Jermyn during their exile.
Absalom was the third and favourite son of David. He was killed leading a rebellion against his father.
The Acacians were followers of Acacius, bishop of Caesarea, in the 4th century, who held peculiar doctrines respecting the nature of Christ. The Acacians were partisans of Acacius, patriarch of Constantinople, promoter of the Henoticon.
The Accadians were the primitive inhabitants of Babylonia described in the cuneiform inscriptions.
An accountant is someone who keeps accounts.
The Achaeans were one of the four races into which the ancient Greeks were divided.
An acrobat is someone who performs daring gymnastics.
An actor is a dramatic performer. One who performs in plays.
Adam Sedgwick was an English geologist. He was born in 1785 and died in 1873. He mapped the rocks of the lake District in 1822.
Adam Smith was a Scottish economist. He was born in 1723 at Kirkcaldy and died in 1790. He wrote the first scientific work on the principles of economy, ''The Wealth of Nations''.
The Adamites were a Gnostic sect in Africa about 130, who appeared naked in their religious assemblies, asserting that if Adma had not sinned there would have been no marriages. Their chief was named Prodicus and they defied the elements, rejected prayer and said it was not necessary to confess Christ.
Adda was the eldest son of Ida and king of Bernicia in 560.
Adelaide Ristori was an Italian tragedy actress. She was born in 1822 and died in 1906. She wrote ''Studies and Memois''.
An adept is someone who is proficient at some thing.
Admiral is a rank in the navy.
Adolf Hitler was a German dictator. He was born in 1889 at Braunau and died in 1945 when he committed suicide. He was responsible for the Second World War and the murder of millions of Jews, Cripples, Homosexuals, Blacks, Gypsies and Communists throughout Europe.
Aedh was King of Scotland from 877 to 878.
Aelfric was a British ecclesiastical biographer. He was born in 955 and died in 1020. He wrote ''Lives of the Saints''.
The Aequi were an Italian race subdued by the Romans and their lands annexed between 471 and 302 BC.
The Aerians were followers of Aerius, a presbyter, in the 4th century, who held that there was no distinction between a bishop and a presbyter and that prayers should not be offered for the dead.
Aesc was king of the Heptarchy in 488. He was a son of Hengist. In honour of Aesc the kings of Kent were sometimes called Aescings.
Aesop was the author of fables about animals. He lived around 620 - 560 BC.
Affonso de Albuquerque was a Portuguese admiral. He was born in 1452 and died in 1515. He was viceroy of Portuguese West Africa in 1503.
An Afghan is an inhabitant of Afghanistan.
An African is an inhabitant of Africa.
The Aga was the title of the leader of the Ottoman empire.
The Ainos were the aboriginal inhabitants of Japan. They were a short race, averaging about 5 feet in height with black hair and typically hairy bodies. As recently as 1900 they inhabited the island of Yesso.
The Akawaios are a South American indian tribe still found in Guyana.
The Akkas are a dwarfish race found in Central Africa. They average 4.5 feet in height with brown skin, large heads and a projecting jaw. They are a hunting race, renowned for their skill with a bow and arrow.
The Alani (Alans) were a warlike Tartar tribe which migrated from Asia westwards at he time of the decline of the Roman empire. During the 5th century they merged with the Vandals.
Alaric II was King of the Visigoths from 484 until 507 when he was killed at the battle of Poictiers by the army of the Franks.
Albert Camus was a French writer. He was born in 1913 and died in 1959.
Albert Einstein was a German Swiss physicist, born in 1879, and died 1955.
Albert I was King of Belgium. He was born in 1875 and died in 1934.
Albert II was a Holy Roman emperor. He was born in 1397 and died in 1439. He was duke of Austria as Albert V and also crowned king of Hungary and Bohemia.
Albert Abraham Michelson was an American scientist. He was born in 1852 and died in 1931. He proved the existence of an all pervading ether and experimented to find out the speed of light.
Albert Joseph Moore was an English artist. He was born in 1841 and died in 1893.
Albert Schweitzer was an Austrian doctor, writer, and religious thinker. He was born in 1875 and died in 1964.
Alboin was King of the Lombards from 561. He died in 573 when he was assassinated at the orders of his wife Rosamond.
Albrecht Durer was a German painter and engraver. He was born in 1471 at Nuremberg and died in 1528.
Albrecht Theodor Count Von Roon was a Prussian soldier. He was born in 1803 and died in 1879. He was German minister of war from 1859 until 1873.
Alcaeus was a son of Perseus and Andromeda.
The Saxon ealdorman was next to the king, and frequently a viceroy; but after the settlement of the Danes the title was gradually displaced by that of earl. Aldermen in corporations are next in dignity to the mayor.
Aldulf was king of the East Angles in 664.
Alefrid was king of Northumberland in 685.
Alessandro Scarlatti was an Italian composer. He was born in 1659 and died in 1725. He founded modern Italian Opera.
Alessandro Volta was an Italian scientist. He was born in 1745 and died in 1827. He invented the voltaic cell. The electrical unit the volt is named after him.
Alexander Glazunov was a Russian composer. He was born in 1865 at St. Petersburg and died in 1936.
Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish inventor. He was born in Edinburgh in 1847 and died in 1922. He invented the telephone whilst working at a school for teachers of the deaf in Boston.
Alexander Humboldt was a German scientist and explorer. He was born in 1769 and died in 1859. He made several expeditions to South America and Central America.
Alexander I was King of Scotland from 1107 to 1124.
Alexander II was King of Scotland from 1214 to 1249.
Alexander III was King of Scotland from 1249 to 1286.
Alexander Pope was an English poet. He was born in London in 1688, dying in 1744. He is remembered for his satire.
Alexander Pushkin was a Russian poet. He was born at Moscow in 1799. He died in 1837 from wounds received duelling.
Queen Alexandra was the daughter of Christian IX of Denmark. She was born in 1844, dying in 1925. She married Edward VII in 1863 when he was the prince of Wales.
Alexandre Dumas was a French novelist and dramatist. He was born in 1802 and died in 1870. He wrote The Three Musketeers, The Count Of Monte Cristo and The Black Tulip.
Alexandre Rodolphe Vinet was a Swiss critic and theologian. He was born in 1797 and died in 1847. He advocated complete religious freedom and in 1845 founded the Swiss Free Church.
Alexandre Henri Wallon was a French historian and politician. He was born in 1812 and died in 1904.
Alfred was King of the west Saxons and King of England from 871 to 901.
Alfred Adler was an Austrian psychologist. He was born in 1870, dying in 1937. He put forward the theory of the inferiority complex.
Alfred de Musset was a French romantic poet. He was born in 1810 and died in 1857.
Alfred Deakin was an Australian politician. He was born in 1856 and died in 1919. He entered the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1878 and the federal Cabinet in 1901 and became Prime Minister of Australia in 1903, and was returned to office in 1905 to 1908 and 1909 to 1910. He was a racist, and insisted that Australia should be preserved for the white races.
Alfred Edward Housman was a British novelist. He was born in 1859 and died in 1936.
Alfred Bernhard Nobel was a Swedish engineer and the inventor of dynamite. He was born in 1833 at Stockholm and died in 1896. On his death he left money that annual prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and the cause of peace could be made (the Nobel prizes).
Alfred Tennyson was an English poet. He was born in 1809 and died in 1892.
Alfred Russel Wallace was an English naturalist. He was born in 1823 and died in 1913. He made important discoveries regarding the geographical distribution of animals and independantly of Darwin formulated the theory of natural selection.
Alfwold was king of Northumberland in 806.
Algernon Charles Swinburne was an English poet. He was born in 1837 and died in 1909.
The Algonkins are a family of North American Indians, they consisted of four groups: The Eastern group comprising the Massachusetts, Narragansets, Mohicans, Delewares and others; North Eastern group; Western group comprising the Miamis, Illinis and others; North Western group including the Ojibbewas.
Ali Bey was a ruler of Egypt. He was born in 1728 in the Caucasus and died in 1773. He was taken to Egypt and sold as a slave, but became virtual governor of Egypt.
Ali Pasha was an Albanian chief. He was born in 1741 and died in 1822.
Alicia Cockburn was a Scottish poet. She was born in 1713 and died in 1794.
Alighieri Dante was an Italian poet. He was born in 1265 at Florence and died in 1321.
Allan Cunningham was a Scottish poet. He was born in 1785 and died in 1842. He wrote a number of songs.
Allan Dias is bass player with Public Image Ltd
Aloys Senefelder was a German inventor.
Alphonse Daudet was a French novelist. He was born in 1840 at Nimes and died in 1897.
Alphwuld was king of the East Angles in 746.
Alred was king of Northumberland in 765. He was deposed.
Alric was a son of Wihtred and king of the Heptarchy in 760.
The Amalekites were descendants of Amalek, grandson of Esau, brother of Jacob, who attacked the Israelites in 1491 BC when perpetual war was denounced against them. They were subdued by Saul about 1079 BC, by David in 1058 BC and 1056 BC and by the Simeonites about 715 BC.
The Amatis were a family of celebrated violin makers of Cremona in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Amedeo Modigliani was an Italian painter. He was born in 1884 at Leghorn and died in 1920.
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer. He was born in 1454 and died in 1512. He discovered the Amazon River in 1499. The continent of America was named after him.
Anacreon was a Greek lyric poet. He was born in 569 BC and died in 475 BC
Anatole France was a French author. He was born in 1844 and died in 1924. He won the Nobel prize for literature in 1921.
Anaxagoras was an Ionian philosopher. He went to Athens in 464 BC and inspired Pericles and Euripides with his love of science. He was born in 488 BC and died in 428 BC.
Anders Celsius was a Swedish astronomer. He was born in 1701 and died in 1744. He invented the centigrade scale for measuring temperature.
Anders Leonhard Zorn was a Swedish artist. He was born in 1860, dying in 1920.
Andre Paul Guillaume Gide was a French writer. He was born in 1869 and died in 1951.
Andrea Amati was the founder of the Amati violin making business. He was born in 1540 and died in 1600.
Andrea Del Sarto was a Florentine artist born in 1487, he died in 1531. He was a pupil of Piero di Cosimo and influenced by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
Andrea del Verrocchio was an Italian sculptor, painter, silversmith and engineer. He was born in 1435 in Florence and died in 1488. He was a teacher of Leonardo da Vinci.
Andrea Mantegna was an Italian painter and engraver. He was born in 1431 and died in 1506.
Andreas Vesalius was a Belgian physician and founder of the science of anatomy. He was born in 1514 and died in 1564. He wrote ''On the Fabric of The Human Body''.
Andrew Carnegie was an American industrialist and philanthropist. He was born at Dunfermline in 1835 and died in 1919.
Andrew Fisher was an Australian politician. He was born in 1862 and died in 1928. He emigrated from Scotland and in 1893 entered the Queensland Parliament and the Commonwealth Parliament in 1900, going on to be Prime Minister three times.
Andrew Marvell was a poet. He was born in 1621, dying in 1678.
Aneurin Bevan was a British socialist politician. He was born in 1897, dying in 1960. He devised the national health service which came into operation in 1948.
Angelica Kauffman was a Swiss painter. She was born in 1741 and died in 1807.
The Angles were a Teutonic race which invaded Britain between the 5th and 7th centuries.
Aniello Falcone was an Italian painter of the Neapolitan school, renowned as a painter of battle scenes. He was born in 1600 and died in 1665.
Anna was king of the East Angles in 635.
Anne was Queen of England from 1702 to 1714. She was born in 1665 and died in 1714. She was a daughter of James II.
Anne Boleyn (Anne Bullen) was the second wife of Henry VIII. She was born in 1507 and died in 1536. She was an arrogant, flirty and voluptious woman, and the King, disapointed at her bearing him a daughter, rather than a son got tired of her and had her imprisoned in the Tower Of London on charges of immorality and subsequently beheaded on May 19th 1536 at Tower Green.
Anne Hathaway was reputedly the wife of Shakespeare. She was born in 1556 and died in 1623.
Anne of Cleves was the fourth wife of Henry VIII. She was born in 1515 the daughter of William, Duke of Juliers, leader of the German Protestants, and she died in 1557. She married Henry VIII in January 1540, however, Henry VIII finding her unattractive and regretting the German alliance had the marriage declared null in the following July.
Anselm Feuerbach was a German painter. He was born in 1829 and died in 1880. He worked at Paris under a pupil of Ingres, and later in Italy.
Anthony Ashley Cooper was an English philanthropist. He was born in 1801 and died in 1885.
Anthony Fokker was a Dutch airman and aeronautical engineer. He was born in 1860, dying in 1939.
Antony Van Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch scientist. He was born in 1632 and died in 1723. He was the first person to see and describe bacteria which he did using a self-made microscope.
Anthony Trollope was an English novelist. He was born in 1815 and died in 1852. He started life as a post-office clerk in 1834. His works include Barchester Towers, published in 1857.
Anthony Wedgwood Benn is a British labour MP. He was born in 1925. He is son of the 1st viscount of Stansgate. He was the 1st person to disclaim his title under the Peerage Act.
Antoine Laurent Lavoisier was a French scientist. He was born in 1743 at Paris and died in 1794. He proved the modern theory of combustion.
Antoine Watteau was a French painter and engraver. He was born in 1684 at Valenciennes and died in 1721.
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian writer born at Taganrog in 1860. He died in 1904.
Anton Grigorovich Rubinstein was a Russian composer and pianist. He was born in 1829, dying in 1894. He became a music teacher in Petrograd in 1848 where he founded the Russian Musical Society in 1861 and the Conservatoire in 1862.
Antonin Dvorak was a Czech composer. He was born in 1841 and died in 1904.
see "Correggio"
Antonio Canaletto was an Italian painter. He was born at Venice in 1697 and died in 1768. He painted scenes.
Antonio Allegri da Correggio was an Italian painter. He was born in 1494 at Correggio. He died in 1534. He painted the ecce homo.
Antonio Diabelli was an Austrian composer. He was born in 1781 near Salzburg and died in 1858.
Antonio Pollaiuolo was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor and painter. He was born in 1429 and died in 1498.
Antonio Rosmini-Serbati was an Italian philosopher. He was born at Rovereto in 1797 and died in 1855. He founded the Rosminians.
Antonio Stradivari was an Italian maker of violins. He was born at Cremona in 1644, dying in 1737. His violins are the finest ever made.
The apache are a tribe of Indians that live in Arizona.
The Arabs are a Semitic race of people who originally inhabited Saudi Arabia and the neighbouring countries.
Aram Khachaturyan is a Soviet composer. He was born in 1904 at Tiflis.
The Arawaks are a South American indian tribe still found in Guyana.
Arcangelo Corelli was an Italian composer. He was born in 1653, dying in 1713.
Archibald Alison was a Scottish theologian and writer on aesthetics. He was born in 1757 in Edinburgh and died in 1839.
Archibald Bower was a Scottish writer. He was born in 1686 and died in 1766. He wrote ''A History of The Popes'' which was remarkable for its zeal against the Popery.
Archibald Forbes was a was correspondent. He was born in 1838 and died in 1900. He was present at the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the Spanish Carlist War, the Russo-Turkish, the Afghanistan and Zululand campaigns. He published his memoirs and adventures in many books.
Archibald Percival Wavell was a British soldier. He was born in 1883 at Colchester and died in 1950. From 1943 until 1947 he was Viceroy of India.
Archimedes was a great ancient Greek mathematician.
The Arecunas are a South American indian tribe still found in Guyana.
Aristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher.
The Armagnacs were a Frebch political party, followers of the duke of Orleans. Some 3500 members of the party were massacred at Paris in June 1418 by their opponents, the followers of the duke of Burgundy.
Armand Duplessis Richelieu was a French churchman and statesman. He was born in 1585 in Paris and died in 1642. In 1624 he became minister of state to Louis XIII and dominated the weak King, ruling France himself.
Arminius Vambery was a Hungarian traveller and Orientalist. He was born in 1832 and died in 1913. He travelled through Armenia and Persia between 1861 and 1864 and was the Professor of Oriental languages at the University of Budapest until 1905.
Arnold Bennett was a British novelist. He was born at Hanley in Staffordshire in 1867, and died in 1931.
Arnold Schonberg was an Austrian composer. He was born in 1874 and died in 1951.
Arnold Toynbee was an English social reformer. He was born in 1852 and died in 1883. He is remembered for his attempts to ameliorate the conditions of the poor, especially of Whitechapel in East London where Toynbee Hall was erected in his memory.
King Arthur was the son of Uther Pendragon and ruled Britain around the 5th century.
Arthur Miller is an American playwright. He was born in 1915. He wrote Death of a Salesman.
Arthur Rimbaud was a Belgian poet. He was born in 1854 in the Ardennes and died in 1891.
Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher. He was born in 1788 at Danzig and died in 1860.
Arthur Bingham Walkley was an English author and journalist. He was born in 1855 and died in 1926. He was dramatic critic at the Times until 1819 when he retired.
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian musician. He was born in 1867 and died in 1957.
Asoka was an Indian emperor and upholder of Buddhism. He was born in 269 BC and died in 232 BC.
Asser was a Welsh monk who lived during the 9th century and is credited with writing about the life of King Alfred.
Athelstan succeeded Edward as King of England from 924 to 940.
Attila was King of the Huns. He was born in 406, dying in 453.
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley was a black-and-white decorative artist. He was born in 1872 and died in 1898.
August Strindberg was a Swedish writer. He was born in 1849 and died in 1912.
Auguste Piccard was a Belgian scientist. He was born in 1884 at Lutry and died in 1962.
Auguste Rodin was a French impressionist sculptor. He was born in 1840 and died in 1917.
Augustus Welby Pugin was an English architect. He was born in 1812 in London and died in 1852.
Aurangzeb was a Mogul emperor of India. He was born in 1618 and died in 1707.
The Aztecs were an American Indian tribe inhabiting Mexico.
Baber was the founder of the Mogul dynasty which ruled northern India for 300 years. He was born in 1483, dying in 1530.
The Babi are a Persian religious sect formed in 1843 by Bab Ed Din.
Baden-Powell was a British soldier. He was born in 1857. He died in 1941. He was the founder of the scouting movement.
The Baggara are a Muslim Bedouin people of the Nile Basin.
A baker is a person who manufacturers bread.
Baldred was king of the Heptarchy in 805. He was killed by Egbert, king of Wessex in 823 who took over the kingdom of Heptarchy.
A banneret is a dignity between baron and knight, which was anciently conferred by the king under the royal standard on the field of battle.
A banshee is a fairy who forewarns of death by wailing.
The Bantu are a wide-spread race in south Africa, which includes the Zulu, Matabele, Damaras and Mashonas. They were nicknamed Kaffirs (unbelievers) by Islamic traders to south Africa.
A barber is someone who shaves and cuts the hair of a client for business. In England, a barber was formerly also a surgeon, and they were called Barber-Surgeons. A London company of barbers was formed in 1308. The union of barbers and surgeons was dissolved in 1540 by an act of Henry VIII fwhich stated that; ''No person using any shaving or barbery in fLondon shall occupy any surgery, letting of blood, or other matter, except fonly drawing of teeth.''
A bard was a Celtic poet.
The Barnabites were an order of monks established in Milan about 1530 who were much engaged in instructing youth, relieving the sick and aged, and converting heretics.
Baron is the lowest rank in English peerage, although it was once the only rank. Its original name was Vavasour which the Saxons changed to Thane and the Normans to Baron.
Baron Munchhausen was a German soldier. He was born in 1720 and died in 1797. He is remembered for telling exaggerated tales about his adventures during the campaigns he served in. He is the feature of a book, The adventures of Baron Munchhausen written by Rudolph Raspe in 1785.
Baroness Emmusca Orczy was a Hungarian born novelist. She was born in 1865 and died in 1947. She is remembered for writing The Scarlet Pimpernel, which she wrote in 1905.
Baronet is the first in rank among the gentry, and the only knighthood that is hereditary. They were instituted by James I in 1611 as a result of the revellion in Ulster, it being required of a baronet on his creation, to pay into the exchequer as much as would maintain ''thirty soldiers three years at eightpence a day in the province of Ulster in Ireland.'' It was also required that a baronet should be a gentleman born, and have a clear estate of 1000 pounds per annum.
Barry Pain was an English journalist and humours author. He was born in 1867 and died in 1928. He became editor of ''To-day'' in 1897. Thomas Pain was an English author and agitator. He was born in 1737 and died in 1809. He published ''Common Sense'' in 1776 which advocated American Independence.
Bartolome Esteban Murillo was a Spanish painter. He was born in 1617 at Seville and died in 1682.
The Bastarnae were a warlike tribe in Podolia and Moldavia. They were hired by Perseus, king of Macedon, in his wars with Rome, 168 BC.
The Batak are a number of distinct but related peoples of northern Sumatra in Indonesia.
The Beaker People were people of Iberian origin who spread out over Europe in the 2nd millennium BC. They are believed to have built Stonehenge in England. They are called the Beaker People because their remains include earthenware beakers.
Beethoven was a German composer.
Bela Bartok was a Hungarian composer. He was born in 1881, dying in 1945.
Bellmen were appointed in London to proclaim the hour of the night before public clocks became general, and were numerous around 1556. They were to ring a bell at night and cry, ''Take care of your fire and candle, be charitable to the poor, and pray for the dead.''
The Bemba are an African people of northern Zambia.
Ben Jonson was a British poet and dramatist. He was born in 1573 and died in 1637. He wrote ''Song to Celia''.
Benito Mussolini was an Italian dictator. He was born in 1883 at Predappio and died in 1945 when he was executed by Italian Partisans. He founded the fascist movement in 1919 and sided with Hitler during the Second World War.
Benjamin Disraeli was a British statesman and writer. He was born in 1804, dying in 1881.
Benjamin Franklin was an American statesman and scientist. He was born in 1706 at Boston and died in 1790.
Benjamin Jonson was a rival poet and dramatist to Shakespeare. He was born in 1572 and died in 1637.
Benjamin Thompson Rumford was an Anglo-American scientist. He was born in 1753 in Massachusetts and died in 1814.
Benjamin Waugh was an English social reformer. He was born at Settle in Yorkshire in 1839 and died in 1908. He founded the London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
Benvenuto Cellini was a Florentine goldsmith and sculptor. He was born in 1500 and died in 1571.
Beorna was king of the East Angles in 749, reigning jointy with Ethelred and then solely in 758.
Beornred was king of Mercia in 755. He was slain.
Beornwulf was king of Mercia in 821. He was killed by his own subjects.
The Berbers are a race of people in north Africa.
Bernard Palissy was a French potter and glass painter. He discovered how to manufacture enamel. He was born in 1510 and died in 1589.
Bernard Vaughan was a Roman Catholic clergyman. He was born in 1847 and died in 1922. He was for eighteen years a distinguished worker in the religious and civic life of Manchester before transferring to London in 1901 where he continued his work.
Berthulf was king of Mercia in 838.
Bertrand Arthur William Russel was a British philosopher and mathematician. He was born in 1872 in Trelleck and died in 1970.
Bertric was king of the West Saxons in 784. he died after being posioned by a cup his queen had prepared for another.
see "Lauren Bacall"
Bizet was a French composer born in Paris in 1838. He died in 1875.
Black Baron was the alias of one Christopher Pile, an English man, who in the mid-1990's wrote a series of computer viruses employing an advanced polymorphic technique he called ''SMEG''. In all three variants of SMEG were developed and distributed; Pathogen, Queeg and Smeg 3.
The Blackfeet are a north American Indian tribe.
Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician.
Blondel was a French minstrel and poet of the 12th century. He is a legendary character, tales about him being recorded in ''Chronicles of Rheims''. One story tells how his master was taken prisoner, and Blondel trying to find him walked all Palestine and Germany singing his master's favourite song until at last the song was taken up and answered by the imprisoned master.
A Blue-stocking was a literary lady. The term was applied around the time of Dr Johnson when ladies would hold conversation with distinguished literary men. One of the men, Benjamin Stillingfleet, always wore blue stockings and his conversation was so prized at the meetings that in his absence the ladies would remark, ''we can do nothing without the blue-stockings'', and hence the meetings became known as blue-stocking clubs, and the ladies who attended them as blue-stockings.
The Boers were early Dutch colonists in South Africa.
The Bogos are a Hamitic people of Northern Syria.
The Boiars were an order of the Russian aristocracy next in rank to the ruling Princes. The order was abolished by Peter the Great.
The Boii were a Celtic people of northern Italy who were subdued by Scipio Nasica in 191 BC.
Bonzes was the name used by Europeans for Buddhist priests around 1900.
Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American Negro Educationist. He was born in 1858 and died in 1915. The son of a mulatto slave woman and a white man he became the principal of a school in Tuskegee, Alabama and acquired a reputation as an eloquent speaker. In 1892 he founded the Tuskegee Conference and organised the National Negro Business League in 1900. He wrote several books including an autobiography.
Bram Stoker was an Irish author. He was born in 1847, dying in 1912. He wrote the novel Dracula.
A Bretwalda was one of the kings of the Saxon heptarchy, chosen by the others as a leader in a war against their common enemies.
Briton Riviere was a British painter of animals. He was born in 1840 and died in 1920.
Bromius was another name for Dionysus.
Bruce Lee was the stage name of Lee Yuen Kam, a Chinese actor and expert in Kung Fu who popularised the martial arts in the west.
Bruce Smith is drum player with the rock group Public Image Ltd.
see "William Cody"
Buonarroti Michelangelo was an Italian painter. He was born in 1475 at Caprese and died in 1564. He painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Burhred was king of Mercia in 852.
The Bushman are an aboriginal people living in south Africa.
Bushrangers were Australian highwaymen, formerly escaped convicts.
Caedwallo was king of the West Saxons in 685. He went to Rome to expiate his deeds of blood and died there.
Caewlin was a son of Cynric and king of the West Saxons in 560. He died in 593.
Caligula was a Roman Emperor, alleged to be mad he was assassinated by a guard.
Caliph is the title of the civic and religious leader of Islam.
Calvin Coolidge was the 30th President of the USA. He was born in 1872 and died in 1933. As President, Coolidge opposed tariff revision and abstention from the League of Nations. He retired in 1929.
King Canute was a Viking King who ruled England from 1016 to 1035. He is buried at Winchester.
Canute III was a son of Hardicanute, the king of England, and king of Denmark in 1035.
Canute IV was king of Denmark in 1080.
see "Canute VI"
Canute V was king of Denmark in 1147, until a civil war in 1157.
Canute VI (Canute the Pious) was king of Denmark in 1182.
The Capetians were the third race of the kings of France, named from Hugo Capet, count of Paris and Orleans, who seized the throne on the death of Louis V, called the indolent, in 987.
Captain is a rank in the armed services.
Captain Alfred Dreyfus was a French officer falsely accused of espionage. He was born in 1859 and died in 1935.
Captain James Cook was an English sailor and explorer. In 1768 he sailed around the world. He discovered Easter island in 1772.
Cardinal Ercole Consalvi was an Italian Cardinal who conducted many negotiations between the Papacy and Revolutionary France. He was born in 1757 and died in 1824. He negotiated the Concordat with Napoleon in 1801. He was later dismissed and exiled under pressure from Napoleon, but resumed his position after the Battle of Waterloo.
Carel Fabritius was a Dutch painter. He was born in 1614 and died in 1654 when he was killed in an explosion at Delft. He was a pupil of Rembrandt.
The Caribs are a South American indian tribe still found in Guyana.
Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss scientist. He was born at Basle in 1875. He died in 1961. He is famous for developing a school of analytical psychology.
Carl August Nicholas Rosa was an operatic impresario. He was born in Hamburg in 1843 and died in 1889.
Carl Sandburg was an American poet. He was born in 1878 at Galesburg and died in 1969.
Carl Wilhelm Scheele was a Swedish chemist. He was born in 1742, dying in 1786. He discovered oxygen as did Priestly.
Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer. He was born in 1786 near Lubeck and died in 1826.
Carlo Goldoni was an Italian dramatist. He was born in 1707 at Venice and died in 1793 at Paris.
Carloman II was joint ruler of France together with Louis III in 879.
Carmen Sylva was the pen name of Queen Elizabeth of Romania.
The Carthusians were a religious order instituted by Saint Bruno in 1084.
Cassivellaunus was a British King who offered a valiant defence to Julius Caesar during his second invasion of 54 BC. However, he was forced to capitulate and promised to pay tribute to Caesar.
Catherine of Aragon was the first wife of Henry VIII. She was born in 1485 and died in 1536. She married Arthur, Prince of Wales when she was 16, and following his death she married his brother, Henry VIII whom she bore six children, of which only Mary I survived.
Cecil Day Lewis was an English poet and critic. He was born in 1904, dying in 1972. He was professor of poetry at oxford university. He became the poet laureate in 1968.
Cecil John Rhodes was a South African statesman. He was born in 1853 at Bishop's Stortford and died in 1902.
The Celts were tribes which came to Britain from central Europe in the late Bronze age and again in the Iron Age.
Cenred was king of Mercia in 704 until he became a monk at Rome.
Cenric was king of Northumberland in 716.
A centurion was an officer in the Roman army commanding 100 men.
Centwine was king of the West Saxons in 676. He ruled jointly with Escwine when Escwine was on his death bed.
Cenulph was king of Mercia in 794.
Cenwal was king of the West Saxons in 643.
Ceolred was king of Mercia in 709.
Ceolric was a nephew of Caewlin and king of the West Saxons in 591.
Ceolwulf was king of the West Saxons in 597.
Ceolwulf was king of Northumberland in 729. He died a monk.
Ceolwulf was king of Mercia in 819.
Ceolwulph was king of Mercia in 874 until he was deposed by the Danes in 877 and the kingdom then merged into the rest of Britain.
Ceorl was king of Mercia in 615.
Cerdic was king of the West Saxons in 519.
Cesar Auguste Franck was a French composer. He was born in 1822 at Liege and died in 1890. He wrote one symphony and organ music.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is a cabinet minister who looks after the nation's money. It is the oldest office in the British Government, dating back to the days of Henry I when the Chancellor sat at a table covered with a chequered cloth and received taxes collected by the sheriffs.
Charlemagne (Charles the Great) was king of France. He was born in 742 and died in 814. He extended the French empire into Italy.
Charles Babbage was a British mathematician. He designed an analytical engine which was the forerunner of the modern computer. He was born in 1801 and died in 1871.
Charles Herbert Best was a Canadian physiologist. He was born in 1899, dying in 1978. With Banting he discovered the use of insulin in treating diabetes.
Charles Conder was an English painter best known for his designs for fans. He was born in 1868 and died in 1909.
Charles Cornwallis was the first marquess of Cornwallis. He was born in 1738, dying in 1805. He commanded the British forces which surrendered to the Americans at Yorktown in 1781 and ended the American war of independence.
Charles Coulomb was a French physicist. He was born in 1736 and died in 1806. He studied the distribution of electrical charges. The unit of electrical charge, the coulomb, is named after him.
Charles Robert Darwin was an English naturalist. He was born in Shrewsbury in 1809, dying in 1882. He published his theory of evolution in a book entitled the origin of species in 1859.
Charles De Gaulle was a French soldier and statesman. He was born in 1890 and died in 1969. During the Second World War he was leader of the Free French Forces. In 1944 he led the liberation forces that entered Paris, and defeating the Communists who had stayed in France and fought the Nazis, became head of the provisional government.
Charles de Secondat Montesquieu was a French philosopher. He was born in 1689 and died in 1755.
Charles Dickens was a 19th century English novelist whose powerful imagery brought to public attention the terrible conditions endured by the poor.
Charles Montagu Doughty was an English writer and explorer. He was born in 1843 and died in 1926. His most important travels were to Arabia, venturing from Damascus to Jeddah with Bedouins and pilgrims.
Charles Fourier was a French socialist writer. He was born in 1772, dying in 1837.
Charles Francois Gounod was a French composer. He was born in 1818 at Paris and died in 1893.
Charles I was King of England from 1625 to 1649. He was born in 1600 and died in 1649.
Charles II was King of England from 1660 to 1685.
see "Le Corbusie"
Charles Kingsley was an English writer. He was born in 1819 at Holme and died in 1875. He wrote Westward Ho! and The Water Babies.
Charles Lamb was an English poet. He was born in 1775 at London and died in 1834. He wrote essays under the name of Elia.
Charles Marie Rene Leconte de Lisle was a French poet. He was born in 1818 and died in 1894.
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish nationalist politician. He was born in 1846 at Avondale and died in 1891.
Charles Reade was a British novelist and dramatist. He was born in 1814 at Ipsden and died in 1884. He wrote The Cloister and the Hearth.
Charles Augustin Saint-Beuve was a French critic and guide to the Romantic movement. He was born in 1804 at Boulogne and died in 1869. He started a new school of criticism based upon the study of history and of all sources of information bearing on his subject.
see "Charlemagne"
Charles Voysey was the founder of the Theistic Church. He was born in 1828 at London and died in 1912. He was ordained a clergyman of the Church of England, and deprived in 1871 as a consequence of certain publications which were judged to be heterodox.
Charles X was king of France. He was born in 1757 and died in 1836. He was deposed in 1830 and resided in Britain until 1832 when he moved to Hungary.
Charlotte Corday was a French revolutionary and the assassin of Marat. She was born in 1768 and died in 1793 when she was guillotined for the murder of Marat who she stabbed in his bath in July 1793, believing him to be a tyrant.
The Cherokee are a north American Indian tribe.
Chiang Kai-Shek was a Chinese political and military leader. He served with Sun Yat-Sen during the 1911 revolution and later became leader of the nationalist government. He opposed the communists and fled to Taiwan in 1950.
Childeric was king of France in 458.
Chippewa is another name for the Ojibway Indian tribe of North America.
Chris Stein was lead guitarist with the 70's punk rock band Blondie.
Christiaan Huygens was a Dutch scientist. He was born in 1629 and died in 1695. He invented the pendulum clock.
Christian I was king of Denmark in 1448, and elected king of Sweden in 1457.
Christian II was a son of John and king of Denmark in 1513. He caused all the Swedish nobility to be massacred and was dethroned in 1523 for his tyranny. He died in a dungeon in 1559.
Christian III was king of denmark and Norway in 1533.
Christian IV was king of Denmark and Norway in 1588.
Christian IX was king of Denmark in 1863.
see "Christian II"
Christian V was king of Denmark and Norway in 1670.
Christian VI was king of Denmark and Norway in 1730.
Christian VII was king of Denmark and Norway in 1766.
Christian VIII was king of Denmark in 1839.
Christoph Willibald Von Gluck was a German composer of operas. He was born in 1714 at Bavaria and died in 1787.
Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator. He was born in 1451 at Genoa and died in 1506. Inspired by the adventures of Marco Polo, Columbus sought a westerly route to the East. He discovered Cuba, the West Indies and the South American mainland.
Christopher Fry is an English dramatist. He was born in 1907.
Christopher I was king of Denmark in 1252. He was poisoned.
Christopher II was king of Denmark in 1320.
Christopher III was king of Denmark and Sweden in 1440.
Christopher Isherwood is an Anglo-American novelist and playwright. He was born in 1904.
Christopher Marlowe was an English dramatist. He was born in 1564 at Canterbury and died in 1593. He wrote ''Doctor Faustus''; ''The Jew of Malta''; ''Tamburlaine''.
Cimabue was an Italian painter. He was born in 1240 and died in 1302.
The Cimbri were a Teutonic race who first emerged in 113 BC when they defeated the Romans in Carinthia. They migrated to Gaul where they defeated the Roman consul in 109 BC and again in 105 BC at Orange. They invaded Spain and then with the assistance of other Teutonic tribes overran Gaul and attempted to invade Italy. They were defeated by the Romans at Aquae Sextiae in 102 BC and at Vercellae in 101 BC.
Cincinnatus was a Roman dictator. He was born in 520 BC and died in 440 BC. He held power on two occasions. Once for 14 days and then again for 12 days. During his periods in power he freed Rome from her enemies, and then returned to his farm refusing all rewards.
Cino da Pistoia was an Italian poet and jurist. He was born in 1270 and died in 1336.
Ciro Ale'Gria was a Peruvian novelist. He was born in 1900 and died in 1967. He was imprisoned and fled to Chile where he lived in exile.
Clan-na-Gael was an Irish-American secret society based in Chicago which played a prominent part in the home rule agitation of the 1880s.
Claude Achille Debussy was a French composer. He was born in 1862, dying in 1918. He was leader of the French impressionist school in music.
see "Claude Lorraine"
Claude Lorraine was a French landscape painter. He was born in 1600 at Lorraine and died in 1682. His real name was Claude Gelee. He lived most of his life in Rome.
Claude Monet was a French impressionist painter. He was born in 1840 and died in 1926.
Claudio Monteverdi was an Italian composer. He was born in 1567 at Cremona and died in 1643. He wrote a lot of church music.
Claudius Galen was an ancient medical writer. He was one of the founders of anatomy and the founder of vivisection.
Claudius I was born in 10 BC at Lyons and died in 54. He became emperor following the assassination of Caligula. He was murdered by his wife Agrippina so that her son, Nero could be emperor.
Clearchus was a Spartan general in the 5th century BC. His tyrannical rule of Byzantium resulted in his overthrow. He joined Cyrus' Persian army and assisted him against his brother. When Cyrus was killed at the battle of Cunaxa in 401 BC, Clearchus assumed command but was captured and killed by Artaxerxes.
Clement Burke was premier drummer with the 70's punk band Blondie. He also provided backing vocals for many tracks.
Cleopatra was a name of Egyptian queens. Cleopatra VI was the last Queen of Egypt. She was born in 69 BC of Macedonian descent and became joint ruler with her brother, Ptolemy XIV in 52 BC. Exiled by her brother she retired to Syria and secured the aid of Julius Caesar. Ptolemy XIV was killed and Cleopatra was made Queen whereupon she returned to Rome with Caesar as his mistress. On Caesar's death in 44 BC Cleopatra returned to Egypt and declared Caesarion, her son by Caesar, joint ruler. Mark Anthony now became her lover and put Caesarion to death. Cleopatra killed herself with the bite of an asp after failing to win favour with the new Roman Emperor Octavius and fearing capture.
A Clerk of the Peace is a county lawyer who gives advice to the Justices of the Peace and keeps records of his county.
Clodion the Hairy was king of the Salic Franks in 428.
Clovis was King of the Franks. He was born in 465 and died in 511. He defeated the Gallo-Romans near Soissons and the Alemanni near Cologne in 496.
Clovis the Great was king of France in 481, and the founder of the French monarchy.
Cockney is a term which was originally applied to the inhabitants of any town, and implied their ignorance of farming and agriculture. During the 17th century its use became limited to the inhabitants of London, and more recently to those born within the sound of the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow (Bow bells) in London. The cockney dialect is chiefly characterised by the substitution of f or v for th (eg brover for brother), of ah for ou (eg rahnd for round) and ou for o (nou for no) and also a tendency to nasalise many vowels. Other peculiarities are substituting a long i for a long a (eg lidy for lady) and oi for i (foin for fine) and the dropping or misplacement of the letter h ('e for he).
In Roman law, a cognate was a person related through male or female antecedents. In English and Scottish law, persons related on the mother's side only.
Cola di Rienzi was an Italian patriot. He was born in Rome in 1313. He led a popular uprising in 1347, reigned for seven months and then had to flee. He was eventually murdered in 1354.
Colin was King of Scotland from 967 to 971.
In the British Army, a Colonel is the commanding officer of a regiment, or an officer of similar rank on the general staff.
A Commissar is an administrative official in Russia. There are various ranks, the highest being in charge of a State department and corresponding to a British cabinet minister.
The Common Serjeant is an officer of the City of London who aids the Recorder at the Central Criminal Court, acts as judge at the Mayor's Court and legal adviser and counsel to the City Corporation, and performs certain functions at the election of city officers. The post is a Crown nomination and ranks next to that of the Recorder.
A compere is a host or master of ceremonies at a stage revue or television programme.
In music, a conductor is a musician who directs the performance of a piece of music.
Conelius Tacitus was a Roman historian. He was born in 55 and died in 120.
Confucius (K'ung Fu-tzu) was an ancient Chinese philosopher. He was born around 551 BC and died around 479 BC.
Conon was an Athenian general. He commanded the fleet of 413 BC which was intended to prevent the Corinthians from relieving Syracuse during their war with Athens.
Conquistadores was the name given to the Spanish conquerors of South America, and in particular to their more important leaders.
Conrad I was King of Germany in 911. He was killed in 918 while fighting the Hungarians.
Conrad II was King of Germany from 1024 until 1039. He tried to reform the country, repressing some of the more unpleasant aspects of the feudal system.
Conrad III was King of Germany from 1138 to 1152. He adopted the double headed eagle symbol which is still in use in Austria today.
Conrad IV was a German King. He was born in 1228 and died in 1254. He was King of the Romans in 1237 and Emperor in 1250. He opposed the Pope and opened war on the Archbishop of Mainz. After a campaign of dubious success he marched into Italy, where he died.
Consort is the term applied to the spouse of a reigning sovereign.
Constans I was ruler of Italy, Africa and West Illyricum. He was born in 320 BC, the son of Constantine the Great (Constantine I), and died in 350.
Constans II was a Roman Emperor or the East. He was born in 630 and died in 668. His reign was disturbed by frequent and disastrous Arab and Lombard invasions, by which Africa and large parts of Italy and Greece were lost.
Constantine I was King of Scotland from 863 to 877. Constantine The Great was a Roman emperor. He was born in 274, dying in 337. He was converted to Christianity and made it the state religion.
Constantine II was King of Scotland from 900 to 943.
Constantine III was King of Scotland from 995 to 997.
Constantius was a Roman Emperor. He was born in 250 and died in 306. He was successful as a military ruler of Dalmatia, and was appointed Caesar by the Emperor Maximian in 293. He died at York during a campaign against the Picts.
A consul is an official who looks after the trading interests of his country in foreign towns.
The contras are a right wing Nicaraguan guerrilla force.
A Cooper is a person whose trade is cooperage (making barrels etc.).
Cornelia was the daughter of Publius Scipio Africanus, and the wife of Sempronius Gracchus whom she married in 169 BC. She was renowned for her pride in her sons who were reformers.
Cornelius Nepos was a Roman historian. He was probably the author of Vitae excellentium imperatorum, and of the lives of Atticus and Cato.
Cornelius Vanderbilt was an American capitalist. He was born in 1794 and died in 1877. The son of a small farmer he began in business at the age of sixteen by ferrying passengers and goods between New York and Staten Island. He later became a successful boatbuilder and steamship owner and in 1863 engaged in railway ventures, in 1867 becomming President of the New York Central Railway.
A Coroner is a person who is appointed to enquire into the death of somebody who has died, or is thought to have died from unnatural causes.
Correggio was the name taken by Antonio Allegri from his birthplace near Modena. He was an Italian painter and was born in 1494 and died in 1534. His most important productions were the frescoes that he painted on the dome of the church of San Giovanni in Parma between 1521 and 1524.
The Corsairs were mediaeval pirates, whose particular base was the north coast of Africa, from which they plundered all Christian ships, especially the Spanish treasure ships from America.
The Corybantes were the Greek priests of Cybele. They celebrated her festival with wild orgies, beating upon drums and cymbals.
Originally the name Cossack was applied to any armed adventurer, later the name was applied to a certain section of the Russian people of mixed Tartar, Polish and Russian origin. In the Middle Ages they formed a separate community and were employed because of their military prowess by the Polish and Russian kings.
Count Maurice Maeterlinck was a Belgian writer and dramatist. He was born in 1862 at Ghent and died in 1949.
A Covenanter was a supporter of the Solemn League and Covenant, an anti-Catholic movement signed by Scottish Presbyterians and English Puritans.
Coventry Kersey Dighton Patmore was an English poet. He was born in 1823 and died in 1896.
Creole describes persons not of an aboriginal race born in the West Indies, parts of America, South America and other Spanish or French colonies. Creole does not imply mixed blood, but rather any person born in a place where his race is not indigenous.
A cretin is someone who suffers from the disease cretinism.
Crida was king of Mercia in 586.
A crimp was an agent for supplying seamen by decoy or other illegal means to merchant ships. Often a crimp would be a lodging-house keeper in a seaport.
Croesus was the last King of Lydia. He reigned from 560 BC until 546 BC, conquered Ionia and became an ally of Sparta. Croesus joined with Nabonidus of Babylon to oppose Cyrus of Persia, but was overthrown by him at Sardis.
A crofter is a peasant farmer of the Highlands of Scotland. They share certain rights of common pasture while owning arable land individually. Their rights cam be traced back to an early clan system.
Crypto-Jews (Marranos) were Jews who outwardly accepted Christianity in the face of the Spanish Inquisition while remaining Jews at heart and observing in secret all the ritual of Judaism.
The Culdees were a Celtic religious order known to have lived in Ireland, Scotland and Wales between the 9th and 14th centuries, but little else is known of them.
A curate was originally a clergyman in charge of a parish. (The term Curate means cure of souls). In England the title is given to a clergyman who assists the incumbent of a parish.
The Custos Rotulorum is the keeper of the records of an English county and is usually a person of rank, they are appointed by the Crown.
Cuthred was a brother of Ethelard and king of the West Saxons in 740.
Cuthred was king of the Heptarchy in 796.
Cwichelm was joint king of the West Saxons in 614.
The Cymri were the great Celtic family of people to which the Britons belonged and which came from Asia and occupied a large part of Europe about 1500 BC.
Cynegils was king of the West Saxons in 611 and joint king of the West Saxons, reigning jointly with his son Cwihelm in 614.
Cynewulf was a British poet. He lived during the 8th century and wrote ''Christ'' and ''Juliana''. Cynewulf was king of the west Saxons in 755. A noble youth of the line of Cerdic he was murdered.
Cynric (Kenric) was the son of Cerdic and king of the West Saxons in 534.
Cyrus was a Persian emperor. He was born in 559 BC, dying in 529 BC.
Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Persian Empire. Head of a Persian tribe he overthrew the Median Empire and became King of the Persians around 555 BC. He was a wise and tolerant ruler who released the Jews from Babylon and allowed them to rebuild Jerusalem.
The Czechs are the most westerly branch of the Slavic peoples. About 480 they migrated to Bohemia and Moravia.