People and Peoples (D-H)

People and Peoples (D-H)


Daci

see "Getae"

Daguerre

Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre was a French scientist. He was born in 1789 and died in 1851. He discovered the process of photography and invented the diorama.

Daimios

The Daimios were a class of feudal Lords in Japan. In 1871 they were deprived of their priviledges and jurisdiction and made official govenors for the state in districts they had previously held as feudal rulers.

Dalgarno

George Dalgarno was a Scottish educationalist. He was born in 1627 at Aberdeen and died in 1687. He wrote "Didascalocophus" which was a tutor for the deaf.

Dali

Salvador Dali is a Spanish painter. He was born in 1904. He is a surrealist painter.

Dalton

John Dalton was an English scientist. He was born in 1766, dying in 1844. He is famous for discovering atomic theory.

Dampier

William Dampier was an English explorer. He was born in 1652. He died in 1715.

Danebrog

Danebrog were an order of Danish knights instituted in 1219, and revived in 1693.

Dankalil

The Dankalil (singular Dankali) are (were?) a number of tribes that inhabited East Africa near the Red Sea. They were generally fishermen or cattle rearers and practised Islam.

Dante

Alighieri Dante was an Italian poet. He was born in 1265 at Florence and died in 1321.

Danton

George Jacques Danton was one of the leaders of the French revolution. He was born in 1759 and died in 1794.

Darius

Darius was the name of three Persian kings. Darius the Great reigned from 521BC until 486BC. He was defeated by the Greeks at Marathon.

Darlan

Jean Darlan was a French admiral. He was c-in-c of the French navy from 1939 until 1940. He took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk. He later became pro-German and was assassinated by a fellow Frenchman in 1942.

Darling

Grace Darling was born in 1815 at Bamborough and died in 1842. She was the daughter of a lighthouse keeper at Longstone. On September 7th 1838 she and her father rowed out to a rock and rescued nine survivors from the wreck of the Forfashire. For this she was awarded a gold medal by the Humane Society.

Darwin

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.

Daudet

Alphonse Daudet was a French novelist. He was born in 1840 at Nimes and died in 1897.

Daumier

Honore Daumier was a French painter and cartoonist. He was born in 1808 at Marseilles and died in 1879. He produced almost 4000 lithographs.

David

David was King of Scotland from 1124 to 1153. Jacques Louis David was a French historical painter. He was born in 1748 and died in 1825.

David II

David II was King of Scotland from 1329 to 1371.

Davy

Sir Humphrey Davy was an English scientist. He was born in 1778 at Penzance and died in 1829. He discovered the anaesthetic properties of laughing gas.

Dawber

Sir Guy Dawber was an English architect. He was born in 1861, dying in 1938. He did a lot of work to bring about the restoration of buildings throughout England.

Day Lewis

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.

Dayak

The Dayak are aboriginal people of Indonesian Borneo and Sarawak.

De Forest

Lee De Forest was an American inventor. He was born in 1873, dying in 1961. He was the first person to use alternating-current transmission. He improved the thermionic valve detector enabling wireless and sound films to be made.

De Gaulle

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.

De Quincey

Thomas De Quincey was an English writer. He was born in 1785 and died in 1859.

De Valera

Eamon De Valera is an Irish national leader. He commanded an insurgent battalion during the uprising og Easter 1916. He established the independant state of Eire in 1937.

Debussy

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.

Decemvirs

The Decemvirs were the 10 magistrates who had absolute authority in Ancient Rome.

Defoe

Daniel Defoe was an English political writer. He was born in 1660, dying in 1731. He is perhaps most famous for writing the novel robinson crusoe. He was imprisoned for writing the work the shortest way with dissenters.

Degas

Edgar Degas was a French painter. He was born in 1834 at Paris and died in 1917.

Dekker

Thomas Dekker was an English dramatist and writer. He was born in 1570 and died in 1641. He wrote plays which provide a view of contemporary life in London.

Delacroix

Ferdinand Victor Eugene Delacroix was a French historical painter. He was born in 1798 at Charenton and died in 1863.

Delambre

Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre was a French astronomer. He was born in 1749 in Amiens and died in 1822.

Delane

John Thaddeus Delane was editor of the Times newspaper. He was born in 1817 and died in 1879. He became editor in 1841 and remained until 1877. During his editorship the newspaper gained in influence and circulation.

Delavigne

Jean Francois Casimir Delavigne was a French poet and dramatist. He was born in 1793 at Havre and died in 1843.

Delaware Indians

The Delaware Indians were a North American tribe of Indians of the Algonquin family. They were so called Delaware because they lived on the Delaware river, although they called themselves Lenni Lenape.

Delibes

Leo Delibes was a French composer. He was born in 1836 and died in 1891.

Delius

Frederick Delius was an English composer. He was born in 1862 at Bradford and died in 1934. Despite becoming blind and paralysed at the age of fifty he continued to compose.

Dene

The Dene are a North American Indian tribe found in the Northwest Territories, Canada.

Descartes

Rene Descartes was a French mathematician and philosopher. He was born in 1596 and died in 1650. He invented Cartesian geometry.

Destri

James Destri played keyboards with the 70's punk rock band Blondie.

Devereux

Robert Devereux was the Second Earl Of Essex. An Elizabethan soldier and courtier he was born in 1566 at Herefordshire and died in 1601. He was a lover to Elizabeth I.

Diaghilev

Sergi Pavlovich Diaghilev was a Russian impressario. He was born in 1872 and died in 1929.

Dias

Allan Dias is bass player with Public Image Ltd

Diaz

Porfirio Diaz was a Mexican general and politician. He was born in 1830 and died in 1915. He was elected president in 1876.

Dickens

Charles Dickens was a 19th century English novelist whose powerful imagery brought to public attention the terrible conditions endured by the poor.

Diderot

Denis Diderot was a French philosopher, novelist, playwright and critic. He was born in 1713 and died in 1784.

Diggers

The diggers were a pacifist and radical sect of 17th century England.

Dike

Dike was the attendant of justice to Nemesis.

Diocletian

Diocletian was a Roman Emperor. He was born in 243 and died in 313. He was proclaimed Emperor by the troops at Chalcedon in 284.

Diogenes

Diogenes was a Greek philosopher. He was born in 412BC and died in 323BC.

Diplomat

A Diplomat is a person sent to a foreign country as one of the representatives of his country. Traditionally diplomats have spied on their host country.

Disney

Walt Disney was an American artist and film producer. He was born in 1901 and died in 1967. He is best remembered for his animations. His first successful animated film was Mickey Mouse which was released in 1928.

Disraeli

Benjamin Disraeli was a British statesman and writer. He was born in 1804, dying in 1881.

Donald

Donald was King of Scotland from 860 to 863.

Donald Bane

Donald Bane was King of Scotland during 1093.

Donald II

Donald II was King of Scotland from 878 to 889.

Donald Maclean

Donald Maclean was a British diplomat. He defected to the Russians with Guy Burgess in 1951.

Donatello

Donatello was an Italian opera composer. He was born in 1797 and died in 1848.

Donne

John Donne was an English poet. He was born in 1573 at London and died in 1631.

Dore

Paul Gustav Dore was a French artist. He was born in 1833 at Strasbourg and died in 1883.

Dostoievski

Fyodor Dostoievski was a Russian novelist. He was born in 1821 at Moscow and died in 1881. He studied military engineering before joining the army. He was arrested in 1849 for being a member of a socialist society and sentanced to four years in Siberia.

Douglas-Home

Sir Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home is a British Conservative statesman. He was educated at Eton and Oxford. He entered Parliament in 1931. In 1960 he became Foreign Secretary. In 1963 he became Prime Minister.

Dowland

Hohn Dowland was an English lutanist and song writer. He was born in 1563 and died in 1626.

Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a British author. He trained in medicine, but started writing to earn some money. He is best remembered for creating the character Sherlock Holmes.

Drake

Sir Francis Drake was an English seaman. He was born in 1545, dying in 1596.

Dreiser

Theodore Dreiser was an American writer born in 1871. He died in 1945.

Dreyfus

Captain Alfred Dreyfus was a French officer falsely accused of espionage. He was born in 1859 and died in 1935.

Druid

The druids were ancient celtic priests. Their group still exists today in secret, despite the existence of charlatan groups claiming to be druids.

Dryades

The dryades were nymphs of the woods and trees.

Dryden

Hohn Dryden was a Britsh poet. He was born in 1631 and died in 1700.

Duccio

Di Buoninsegna Duccio was an Italian painter. He was born in 1255 and died in 1319. He founded the Sienese school.

Duchamp

Marcel Duchamp was a French artist. He was born in 1887 and died in 1968.

Duell

William Duell was executed for murder at Tyburn in 1740, but whilst undergoing dissection at Surgeons' Hall he came back to life.

Duff

Duff was King of Scotland from 962 to 967.

Dufy

Raoul Dufy was a French painter. He was born in 1877 and died in 1953.

Dukas

Paul Dukas was a French composer. He was born in 1865 at Paris and died in 1935. His most popular work is the Sorcerer's Apprentice which was used by Walt Disney in his film Fantasia.

Duke

Duke is the highest title in English peerage.

Dumas

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.

Duncan

Duncan was King of Scotland from 1034 to 1040.

Duncan II

Duncan II was King of Scotland during 1093.

Duns Scotus

John Duns Scotus was a Scottish philosopher. He was born in 1265 at Roxburghshire and died in 1308.

Dunstan

Archbishop Dunstan was advisor to King edgar of England.

Duparc

Henri Duparc was a French composer. He was born in Paris in 1848. He died in 1933.

Durer

Albrecht Durer was a German painter and engraver. He was born in 1471 at Nuremburg and died in 1528.

Dvorak

Antonin Dvorak was a Czech composer. He was born in 1841 and died in 1904.

Dyck

Sir Antony Van Dyck was a Dutch artist. He was born in 1599 at Antwerp and died in 1641. He was an assistant to Rubens.

Eddington

Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington was a British astronomer and mathematician. He was born in 1882 at Kendal and died in 1944. He studied the internal constitution of stars.

Eddy

Mary Baker Eddy was the founder of the Christian Science Movement. She was born in 1821 and died in 1910.

Edgar

Edgar was King of England from 959 to 975. Edgar was King of Scotland from 1097 to 1107.

Edison

Thomas Alva Edison was an American scientist. He was born in 1847 and died in 1931. He invented the carbon filiament electric lamp and the phonograph.

Edmund

Edmund (the Elder) succeeded Athelstan as King of England from 940 to 946. Edmund (ironside) was a son of ethelred and King of England in 1016.

Edred

Edred succeeded Edmund as King of England from 946 to 955.

Edward

Edward (the Elder) was King of England from 901 to 924. Edward (the martyr) was son of edgar and succeeded him as King of England from 975 to 978. Edward (the confessor) was a son of ethelred and King of England from 1042 to 1066.

Edward I

Edward I was King of England from 1272 to 1307.

Edward II

Edward II was King of England from 1307 to 1327.

Edward III

Edward III was son of Edward II and King of England from 1327 to 1377.

Edward IV

Edward IV was King of England from 1461 to 1483.

Edward V

Edward V was King of England in 1483.

Edward VI

Edward VI was King of England from 1547 to 1553.

Edward VII

Edward VII was King of England from 1901 to 1910.

Edward VIII

Edward VIII was King of England in 1936.

Edwy

Edwy (son of Edmund the Elder) succeeded Edred as King of England from 955 to 959.

Egyptian

An Egyptian is an inhabitant of Egypt.

Ehrlich

Paul Ehrlich was a German bacteriologist. He was born in 1854 and died in 1915. He shared the Nobel prize for medicine in 1908 and invented Salvarsan.

Einstein

Albert Einstein was a German Swiss physicist, born in 1879, and died 1955.

Eisenhower

Dwight David Eisenhower was an American President and military leader. He was born in 1890 at Texas and died in 1969.

Electryon

Electryon was a son of Perseus and Andromeda.

Elgar

Sir Edward Elgar was an English composer. He was born in 1857 and died in 1934.

Eliot

George Eliot was the published name of Mary Ann Evans. She was a famous English novelist who wrote silas Marner and mill On the Floss.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth was queen of England. Born 1533, and died 1603 she was queen from 1558 to 1603.

Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II is the queen of England. She ascended the throne in 1952.

Empedocles

Empedocles was a Greek philosopher. He was born in 495BC at Sicily and died in 435BC. He advocated the experimental method in science.

Engels

Friedrich Engels was the co-founder with Karl Marx of scientific socialism. He was born in 1820 and died in 1895.

Epicurus

Epicurus was a Greek philosopher. He was born in 341BC on the island of Samos and died in 270BC. He opposed the teachings of Plato as mystical, stating that knowledge of the world could only come from the study of the behaviour of matter.

Epimetheus

Epimetheus was the brother of prometheus.

Epstein

Sir Jacob Epstein was an American born sculptor who lived in England. He was born in 1880 and died in 1959.

Erasmus

Desiderius Erasmus was a Dutch scholar. He was born in 1466 at Rotterdam and died in 1536. He wrote much about the Greek and Latin classics.

Eratosthenes

Eratosthenes was an ancient Greek geographer and mathematician.

Ethelred

Ethelred was a son of Edgar and succeeded Edward the martyr as King of England from 978 to 1016.

Euclid

Euclid was a Greek mathematician. His book the Elements of Geometry set down how geometry was to be taught for the next 2000 years. He was born in 365BC and died in 275BC.

Euripides

Euripides was a Greek dramatist. He was born in 480BC at Phyla on the island of Salamis and died in 406BC.

Evzone

An evzone is a member of a select Greek infantry regiment.

Eyck

Hubert Van Eyck was born in 1370 and died in 1426. With his brother Jan he founded the flemish school of painting. Jan Van Eyck was born in 1390 and died in 1441.

Fabius Maximus

Fabius Maximus was the Roman dictator who saved Rome from Hannibal by deliberately avoiding battle.

Falla

Manuel de Falla was a Spanish composer. He was born in 1876 at Cadiz and died in 1946.

Fama

Fama was an alternative name for Pheme.

Fantin-Latour

Henri Fantin-Latour was a French painter. He was born in 1836 at Grenoble and died in 1904.

Faraday

Michael Faraday was a British chemist. He was born in 1791. He died in 1867. He discovered electrical currents and invented the dynamo. The farad is named after him.

Faulkner

William Harrison Faulkner was an American author. He was born in 1897 and died in 1962.

Faure

Gabriel Urbain Faure was a French composer. He was born in 1845 at Parniers and died in 1924.

Fawkes

Guy Fawkes was the English conspirator who tried to blow up Parliament during the Gunpowder Plot in 1604. He was born in 1570 and died in 1606.

Feisal

Feisal was king of Iraq. He was born in 1885 and died in 1933. He was appointed king of Syria in 1920 but deposed shortly afterwards. In 1921 he was elected King of Iraq.

Fenian

The Fenians were an organization of Irish Americans formed in the middle of the 19th century to promote revolution and the overthrow of the English government in Ireland.

Fermat

Pierre de Fermat was a French mathematician. He was born in 1601 at Toulouse and died in 1665. His most important work was on the theory of numbers.

Fermi

Enrico Fermi was an Italian physicist. He was born in 1901 at Rome and died in 1954. He worked primarily in nuclear energy.

Fichte

Johann Gottlieb Fichte was a German philosopher. He was born in 1762 and died in 1814.

Field

John Field was an Irish composer. He was born in 1782 at Dublin and died in 1837. He gave his first public piano recital when he was nine.

Fielding

Henry Fielding was an English writer. He was born in 1707 near Glastonbury and died in 1754. He wrote the novel Tom Jones.

Fitzgerald

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was an American novelist. He was born in 1896 and died in 1940. He wrote The Great Gatsby.

Fizeau

A. H. L. Fizeau was a French physicist. He was born in 1819 at Paris and died in 1896. He measured the speed of light in 1849.

Flamsteed

John Flamsteed was an English astronomer. He was born in 1646 and died in 1719. He is remembered for cataloguing the stars.

Flaubert

Gustave Flaubert was a French novelist. He was born in 1821 and died in 1880. He had an unusual writing style in that he insisted that every word should be the most apt and every phrase exact. This meant it often took him a week to write one page.

Flecker

James Elroy Flecker was an English poet. He was born in 1884 at London and died in 1915.

Fleming

Sir Ambrose Fleming was an English scientist. He was born in 1849 and died in 1945. In 1904 he invented the thermionic valve.

Foch

Ferdinand Foch was a French soldier. He was born in 1851 at Tarbes and died in 1929. He became generalissimo of the Allied armies in 1918 and drove the Germans back during the Great War.

Fokker

Anthony Fokker was a Dutch airman and aeronautical engineer. He was born in 1860, dying in 1939.

Folc-mote

In Saxon England, a Folc-mote was an assembly of people to consult respecting public affairs.

Ford

Henry Ford was the founder of the Ford motor car company and the pioneer of the cheap motor car.

Forster

Edward Morgan Forster was an English novelist. He was born in 1879 and died in 1970. He wrote Howard's End and A Passage To India.

Foucault

Jean Bernard Leon Foucault was a French physicist. He was born in 1819, dying in 1868. He invented a pendulum to demonstrate the rotation of the earth by the rotation of its plane of oscillation.

Fouquet

Jean Fouquet was a French painter. He was born in 1420 at Tours and died in 1482. He was court painter to Charles VIII from 1475.

Fourier

Charles Fourier was a French socialist writer. He was born in 1772, dying in 1837.

Fox

George Fox was the founder of the Society Of Friends. He was born in 1624, dying in 1691. Charles James Fox was an English statesman. He was born in 1749 and died in 1806.

Fox Indians

The Fox Indians are a tribe of North American Indians belonging to the Algonquin family and found scattered over Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.

Fragonard

Jean Honore Fragonard was a French painter. He was born in 1732 and died in 1806.

France

Anatole France was a French author. He was born in 1844 and died in 1924. He won the Nobel prize for literature in 1921.

Franck

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.

Franco

General Francisco Franco was the dictator of Spain. He was born in 1892. He rose to power during the Spanish Civil War.

Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was an American statesman and scientist. He was born in 1706 at Boston and died in 1790.

Franks

The Franks were a Germanic tribe which overthrew the Romans in Gaul and gave origin to the name France for the area.

Fraunhofer

Joseph von Fraunhofer was a German physicist. He was born in 1787 at Strasbourg and died in 1826.

Frazer

Sir James George Frazer was a British scholar and anthropologist. He studied the religion and magic of primitive peoples, the findings of which he published in the book The Golden Bough. He was born in 1854 and died in 1941.

Frederick II

Frederick II (Frederick The Great) was King of Prussia. He was born in 1712 and died in 1786. He prefered the French way of life to the Prussian, and he improved the economy and conditions of his country.

Fremiet

Emmanuel Fremiet was a French sculptor. He was born in 1824 and died in 1910. His works include the statue of Ferdinand de Lesseps at the entrance to the Suez Canal.

Frere

Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere was the South African High Commissioner, whose abortive attempt to unite South Africa resulted in the Zulu War. He was born in 1815 and died in 1884.

Freshfield

Douglas William Freshfield was an English explorer and mountaineer. He was born in 1845. He was the first person to climb mount Kazbek.

Frisians

The Frisians were a Germanic tribe who lived between the Rhine and the Ems during Roman times. They were a peaceful tributary of Rome untill opression drove them to hostilities.

Frobisher

Sir Martin Frobisher was an English navigator. He was born in 1535 and died in 1594. He distinguished himself against the Spanish Armada, and was the first Englishman to attempt a North-west passage to Cathay.

Froding

Gustav Froding was a Swedish poet. He was born in 1860 and died in 1911.

Froebel

Friedrich Wilhelm August Froebel was a German educationalist. He was born in 1782 and died in 1852. He originated the kindergarten system of teaching young children.

Froissart

Jean Froissart was a French chronicler. He was born in 1333 at Valenciennes and died in 1405.

Frontenac

Louis de Baude Frontenac was a French colonial administrator. He was governor of Canada and conducted a campaign against the Iroquois in 1695. He was born in 1620 and died in 1698.

Frost

Robert Frost was an American poet. He was born in 1875 at San Fancisco and died in 1963.

Fry

Christopher Fry is an English dramatist. He was born in 1907.

Fulton

Robert Fulton was an American inventor. He was born in 1765 at Little Britain.

Furlani

The Furlani are inhabitants of Friuli, a once independant duchy at the head of the Adriatic, now part of Italy and Austria.

Fuseli

Henry Fuseli was a Swiss artist. He was born in 1741 at Zurich and died in 1825. He was a friend to William Blake, and was keeper of the Royal Academy from 1804 until 1825.

Gadhel

see "Gael"

Gael

Gael (Gadhel) is the name of the Celts inhabiting Scotland, Ireland and the Isle Of Man.

Gael Albinnich

Gael Albinnich are the Gael people of the Scottish Highlands.

Gael Erinnich

Gael Erinnich is the division of the Gael people living in Ireland.

Gagarin

Yuri Gagarin was a Russian cosmonaut and the first man to go into space in 1961.

Gainsborough

Thomas Gainsborough was an English painter. He was born in 1727 at Sudbury and died in 1788. He is remembered for his portraits and landscapes.

Galen

Claudius Galen was an ancient medical writer. He was one of the founders of anatomy and the founder of vivisection.

Galileo

Galileo was an Italian scientist. He was born in 1564, dying in 1642. He discovered the ring of saturn, jupiter's 4 major satellites and the sun's spots.

Gallas

The Gallas are a people of East Africa. They are tall, with dark brown skin, wiry bodies. Their nose is often straight or arched and they have moderate lips.

Galsworthy

John Galsworthy was a novelist. He was born in 1869, dying in 1933. He is famous for writing the forsyte saga.

Galt

John Galt was a Scottish author of stories dealing with Scottish life. He was born in 1779 and died in 1839.

Galton

Sir Francis Galton was an English anthropologist and eugenist. He made explorations in south west Africa. He established the theory of anticyclones in meterology. He was born in 1822 and died in 1911.

Galvani

Luigi Galvani was an Italian physiologist. He was born in 1737 and died in 1798. He made the first investigations into the action of electrical activity in the muscles of animals.

Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian national leader. He was born in 1869 and died in 1948. He sought Indian independance through non-violent civil disobedience which earned him great respect.

Ganymeda

Ganymeda is an alternative name for Hebe.

Ganymedes

Ganymedes was a son of the Trojan King Tros. He was carried off by Zeus and became the cup-bearer of the gods.

Garibaldi

Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian patriot and liberator. He was born in 1807 and died in 1882.

Garrick

David Garrick was an English actor. He was born in 1717 at Hereford and died in 1779.

Gaskell

Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell was an English novelist. She was born in 1810 and died in 1865.

Gauchos

The Gauchos are a native people of the Pampas of the La Plata countries in South America. They are descended from the Spanish invaders and are noted for their strong will, independence, horsemanship and skill with a lasso.

Gauguin

Paul Gauguin was a French painter. He was born in 1848 at Paris and died in 1903.

Gauss

Karl Friedrich Gauss was a German mathematician. He was born in 1777 at Brunswick and died in 1855. He demonstrated that a circle can be divided into 17 equal arcs by elementary geometry.

Gautier

Theophile Gautier was a French poet and novelist. He was born in 1811 at Tarbes and died in 1872.

Gay

John Gay was an English dramatist. He was born in 1685 at Barnstaple and died in 1732.

Gay-Lussac

Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac was a French scientist. He was born in 1778 at St. Leonard and died in 1850. He worked in the field of gases.

Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan was a Mongolian chieftain and warrior. He was born in 1162 and died in 1227. He conquered most of China, Turkistan and Afghanistan.

Genii

Genii is an alternative name for the daemons.

Genseric

Genseric was a Vandal king. He was invited to Africa in 429 by the Roman governor, Bonifactus. Genseric declared his independance, overthrew Bonifactus and in 455 took Rome.

George I

George I was King of England from 1714 to 1727.

George II

George II was a son of George I and King of England from 1727 to 1760.

George III

George III was King of England from 1760 to 1820.

George IV

George IV was King of England from 1820 to 1830.

George V

George V was King of England from 1910 to 1936.

George VI

George VI was King of England from 1936 to 1952.

Gericault

Theodore Gericault was a French painter. He was born in 1791 at Rouen and died in 1824. He introduced the idea of painting directly onto canvas.

German

Sir Edward German was an English composer. He was born in 1862 at Whitchurch and died in 1936. He produced light operas including Merrie England and Tom Jones.

Gershwin

George Gershwin was an American composer. He was born in 1898 at New York and died in 1937. He produced Porgy and Bess which was the first American folk opera.

Getae

The Getae (Daci) were an ancient people of Europe who lived at Thrace and then moved west to the north bank of the Danube where they became known by the Romans as the Daci.

Ghiberti

Lorenzo Ghiberti was a Florentine sculptor. He was born in 1378 and died in 1455.

Ghirlandaio

Domenico Ghirlandaio was a Florentine sculptor. He was born in 1449 and died in 1494.

Gibbon

Edward Gibbon was an English writer. He was born in 1737 at Putney and died in 1794. He wrote the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

Gibbons

Grinling Gibbons was an English woodcarver. He was born in 1648 at Rotterdam and died in 1720. Orlando Gibbons was an English composer. He was born in 1583 and died in 1625.

Gide

Andre Paul Guillaume Gide was a French writer. He was born in 1869 and died in 1951.

Gilbert

William Gilbert was an English physician and physicist. He was born in 1544 at Colchester and died in 1603. He coined the word electricity to describe the property of amber for attracting light objects. He also pioneered work into magnetism.

Gillray

James Gillray was an English artist and cariacturist. He was born in 1757 and died in 1815.

Giorgione

Giorgione was a Venetian painter. He was born in 1478 and died in 1510.

Giotto de Bondone

Giotto de Bondone was an Italian painter and architect. He was born in 1267 and died in 1337.

Giraudoux

Jean Giraudoux was a French poet, novelaist and playwright. He was born in 1882 and died in 1944.

Girolamo Savonarola

Girolamo Savonarola was an Italian religious and political reformer. He was born in 1452 and died in 1498.

Girtin

Thomas Girtin was an English watercolour artist. He was born in 1775 and died in 1802.

Gladiator

A gladiator was a Roman professional fighter. The first known instance of gladiators being exhibited was in 264BC by Marcus and Decimus Brutus at the funeral of their father.

Gladstone

William Ewart Gladstone was an English Liberal member of parliament. He was born in 1808 and died in 1898. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1852 until 1855 and Prime Minister from 1868 until 1874 and again from 1880 until 1885 and yet again from 1892 until 1894.

Glazunov

Alexander Glazunov was a Russian composer. He was born in 1865 at St. Petersburg and died in 1936.

Glinka

Mikhail Glinka was a Russian composer. He was born in 1803 at Smolensk and died in 1857.

Gluck

Christoph Willibald Von Gluck was a German composer of operas. He was born in 1714 at Bavaria and died in 1787.

Godwin

Godwin was Earl of the west saxons. He died in 1053. William Godwin was an English political writer and philosopher. He was born in 1756, dying in 1836.

Goebbels

Goebbels was the propaganda minister of the nazis.

Goethe

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe was a German poet. He was born in 1749 and died in 1832.

Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch painter. He was born in 1853 at Brabant and died in 1890 after shooting himself.

Gogol

Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol was a Russian novelist and dramatist. He was born in 1809 and died in 1852.

Golden Horde

The Golden Horde were originally a powerful Mongol tribe, the name however became applied to all followers of Gengis Khan and of his grandson, Batu.

Goldoni

Carlo Goldoni was an Italian dramatist. He was born in 1707 at venice and died in 1793 at Paris.

Goldsmith

Oliver Goldsmith was a journalist. He was born in 1728 at Ireland and died in 1774.

Gonds

The Gonds are the aboriginal, non-Aryan inhabitants of the old territorial division of India called Gondwana. They lost their independance in 1781 to the Mahrattas.

Gordon

General Charles George Gordon was an English military leader. He was born in 1833 at Woolwich and died in 1885 following his capture during the seige of Khartoum.

Gorky

Maxim Gorky was a Russian writer. He was born in 1868 and died in 1936.

Goths

The Goths (Visigoths) were an east Germanic people that settled near the black sea in the 2nd century ad.

Gounod

Charles Francois Gounod was a French composer. He was born in 1818 at Paris and died in 1893.

Goya

Francisco Jose de Goya Y Lucientes was a Spanish painter. He was born in 1746 and died in 1828.

Graces

Graces is an alternative name for the charites.

Graeae

The Graeae were three daughters of Phorcys and Ceto. They had only one eye and one tooth between them which they shared. Perseus forced them to tell him where he could find medusa by stealing their solitary eye and tooth.

Grahame

Kenneth Grahame was a Scottish author. He was born in 1859 and died in 1922. He wrote The Wind In The Willows.

Graves

Robert Ranke Graves was an English poet and novelist. He was born in 1895.

Gray

Thomas Gray was an English writer. He was born in 1716 at London and died in 1771.

Grecco

El Grecco (Domenico Theotocopouli) was a Spanish painter. He was born in 1541 and died in 1614.

Greek

A Greek is an inhabitant of Greece.

Greenaway

Kate Greenaway was an English artist and book-illustrator. She was born in 1846 and died in 1901.

Greene

Graham Greene is a British author. He was born in 1904. Robert Greene was an English dramatist and poet. He was born in 1558 and died in 1592.

Grenville

Sir Richard Grenville was an Elizabethan English seaman. He was born in 1541 and died in 1591. He commanded Raleigh's expedition to Virginia.

Grey

Edward Grey was a British statesman. He was born in 1862 and died in 1933. He was Foreign Secretary in 1905.

Grieg

Edward Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer. He was born in 1843 at Bergen and died in 1907.

Grimm

Jakob Ludwig Karl Grimm was a German philologist. He was born in 1785 and died in 1863. Wilhelm Karl Grimm was a German philologist. He was born in 1786 and died in 1859. Together with his brother Jakob they wrote a book of fairy tales.

Grunewald

Mathias Grunewald was a German religious painter. He was born in 1480 and died in 1530.

Guardi

Francesco Guardi was an Italian painter. He was born in 1712 at Venice and died in 1793.

Guericke

Otto von Guericke was a German physicist. He was born in 1602 at Magdeburg and died in 1686. He invented the air pump and demonstrated air pressure.

Gutenburg

Johann Gutenburg was a German printer. He was born in 1397 at Mainz and died in 1468. In 1454 he published the first bible using metal types.

Guy Burgess

Guy Francis DeMoncy Burgess was Executive Officer of the British Foreign Office. He defected to the Russians with Donald Maclean in 1951.

Guy Fawkes

Guy Fawkes was a Yorkshire catholic and one of the conspirators in the gunpowder plot. He was captured in the cellar of the houses of parliament, tried and executed. He was born in 1570, dying in 1606.

Gwynn

Nell Gwynn was an English actress and dancer. She was born in 1650 and died in 1687. She is remembered for her early career as an ornage seller outside the Drury Lane Theatre in London.

Haakon VII

Haakon VII was King of norway from 1905 to 1957. He was born in 1872, dying in 1957. He was a brave man who resisted the nazi occupation of norway during the second world war.

Hadley

George Hadley developed Halley's theory of trade winds by taking into account the earth's rotation and the displacement of air by tropical heat. He was born in 1685, dying in 1768.

Hadrian

Hadrian was a Roman emperor. He was born in 76, dying in 138. He visited England in 121 and built a protective wall to separate England from Scotland.

Haggard

Sir Henry Rider Haggard was an English novelist. He was born in 1856 and died in 1925. He wrote King Solomon's Mines.

Hahn

Otto Hahn was a German physical chemist who discovered nuclear fission. He was born in 1879 and died in 1968.

Haig

Douglas Haig was a British soldier. He was born in 1861 and died in 1928. He was commander-in-chief of the British troops in France during the Great War.

Haile Selassie

Haile Selassie was Emperor of Ethiopia and figure head of the Rastafarian movement, although he knew nothing about that! He was born in 1891.

Hakluyt

Richard Hakluyt was an English geographer. He was born in 1552 and died in 1616.

Halifax

Edward Halifax was a British statesman. He was born in 1881 and died in 1959. He was British Ambassador to the USA from 1940 until 1944.

Halley

Edmund Halley was Astronomer Royal from 1720. He was born in 1656 and died in 1742. He calculated the orbit of the comet named after him.

Hals

Franz Hals was a Dutch portrait painter. He was born in 1580 and died in 1666.

Hamilton

Mary Hamilton was tried in 1746 for marrying with her own sex.

Han

The Han are the majority ethnic group in China, numbering about 990 million. The Hans speak a wide variety of dialects of the same monosyllabic language, a member of the Sino-Tibetan family. Their religion combines Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and ancestor worship.

Handel

George Frederick Handel was an Anglo-German composer. He was born in 1685 and died in 1759.

Hannibal

Hannibal was a Carthaginian leader. He was born in 247BC and died in 183BC after taking poison to avoid capture by the Romans.

Hardicanute

Hardicanute was a son of Canute and King of England from 1040 to 1042.

Hardie

James Keir Hardie was a Britsih labour leader. He was born in 1856 and died in 1915. He founded the Independant Labour Party in 1893.

Hardy

Thomas Hardy was an English author. He was born in 1840 at Dorchester and died in 1928. He wrote The Mayor of Casterbridge.

Hargreaves

James Hargreaves was a Lancashire weaver who invented the spinning-jenny.

Harmonists

The Harmonists were a religious sect founded at Wurtemberg in 1788 by George and Frederick Rapp. They endeavoured to re-establish the social practices of the early christian church, practising celibacy and holding all goods in common. They were persecuted and so moved to America in 1805.

Harold

Harold was son of Canute and was King of England from 1035 to 1040.

Haroun-Al-Raschid

Haroun-Al-Raschid was Caliph of Baghdad. He was born in 764 and died in 809.

Harry

Deborah (Debbie) Harry was lead singer with the 70's punk band Blondie. An ex-prostitute she excited young male audiences with her silky voice and short skirts.

Harte

Francis Bret Harte was an American poet. He was born in 1836 and died in 1902.

Harvey

William Harvey was an English physician. He was born in 1578 at Folkestone and died in 1657. He discovered the circulation of the blood.

Hastings

Warren Hastings was governor general of India. He was born in 1732 and died in 1818. In 1788 he was tried for high crimes and misdemeanors. The trial lasted 7 years until he was acquitted in 1795.

Hathaway

Anne Hathaway was reputedly the wife of Shakespeare. She was born in 1556 and died in 1623.

Hausa

The Hausa are a Muslim people of north Nigeria.

Hawkins

Sir John Hawkins was an Elizabethan sailor. He was born in 1532 and died in 1595.

Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American writer. He was born in 1804 and died in 1864.

Haydn

Franz Joseph Haydn was an Austrian composer. He was born in 1732, dying in 1809.

Hazlitt

William Hazlitt was an English writer. He was born in 1778 at Maidstone and died in 1830.

Hegel

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was a German philosopher. He was born in 1770 at Stuttgart and died in 1831.

Heine

Heinrich Heine was a German lyric poet. He was born in 1797 at Dusseldorf and died in 1856.

Hellene

Hellene is an alternate name for a Greek.

Helmholtz

Hermann von Helmholtz was a German scientist. He was born in 1821 at Ptsdam and died in 1894. He discovered the law of the conservation of energy in 1847.

Helot

The helot were a class of slaves in ancient sparta.

Helvetii

The Helvetii were a people living in the area now called Switzerland around Roman times. They were persecuted by the Romans under Vitellius for refusing to acknowledge him as Emperor and were almost wiped out.

Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway was an American novelist. He was born in 1898 at Oak Park and died in 1961.

Henry

Henry was a son of William The Conqueror and King of England from 1101 to 1135.

Henry II

Henry II was King of England from 1154 to 1189.

Henry III

Henry III was King of England from 1216 to 1272.

Henry IV

Henry IV was King of England from 1399 to 1413.

Henry V

Henry V was King of England from 1413 to 1422.

Henry VI

Henry VI was son of Henry V and King of England from 1422 to 1461.

Henry VII

Henry VII was King of England from 1485 to 1509.

Henry VIII

Henry VIII was King of England from 1509 to 1547.

Herodotus

Herodotus was a Greek historian. He was born in 484BC and died in 420BC.

Herrick

Robert Herrick was an English poet. He was born in 1591 and died in 1674.

Herschel

Sir William Herschel was an anglo-German astronomer. He was born in 1738 and died in 1822. He discovered the planet Uranus.

Hertz

Heinrich Rudolf Hertz was a German physicist. He was born in 1857, dying in 1895. He confirmed maxwell's electromagnetic theory of waves and discovered information about their behaviour. The measurement of the frequency of radio waves is named after him.

Heruli

The Heruli were an ancient Germanic people, originally found on the northern shores of the Black sea. Under the leadership of Odoacer they helped in the overthrow of the Western Empire. Around the end of the 6th century they ceased to exist as a separate people.

Hesiod

Hesiod was a Greek poet who lived around 730BC.

Hesperides

The hesperides were daughters of Atlas and Hesperis.

Hildreth

Richard Hildreth was an American historian. He was born in 1807, dying in 1865. He wrote the history of the united states.

Hilliard

Nicholas Hilliard was an English artist. He was born in 1547 and died in 1619.

Hilton

James Hilton was an English writer. He was born in 1900. He wrote goodbye Mr Chips.

Hindemith

Paul Hindemith was a German composer. He was born in 1895.

Hindenburg

Paul von Hindenburg was a German soldier and the second president of the German Reich. He was born in 1847 and died in 1934.

Hipparchus

Hipparchus was a Greek astronomer. He was born in 190BC and died in 120BC. He compiled the first known star catalogue.

Hippocrates

Hippocrates was a Greek doctor. He was born in 460BC and died in 370BC. He established medicine as a science.

Hispanic

A Hispanic is a person of Latin American descent from the Spanish-speaking nations, either native-born or an immigrant.

Hitler

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 Wold War and the murder of millions of Jews, Cripples, Homosexuals, Blacks, Gypsies and Communists throughout Europe.

Hittites

The Hittites were a civilization in Syria and Asia Minor around 2000BC until 700BC.

Hmong

A Hmong is a member of a south east Asian highland people. They are predominantly hill farmers, rearing pigs and cultivating rice and grain, and many are involved in growing the opium poppy. Estimates of the size of the Hmong population vary between 1.5 million and 5 million, the greatest number being in China. Although traditional beliefs remain important, many have adopted Christianity. Their language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan family. The Hmong wear distinctive costumes and elaborate silver jewelry. They are relatively recent arrivals on the south east Asian peninsula, many having moved south in order to avoid harassment by Chinese emperors. Today the Hmong live in China (Guizhou, Yunnan, Hunan), Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

Hobbema

Meindert Hobbema was a Dutch artist. He was born in 1638 and died in 1709. He is remembered for his landscapes.

Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes was a British philosopher. He was born in 1588 at Malmesbury and died in 1679. He wrote Leviathan which was the first British political philosophy book.

Hoffmann

Ernst Theodor Hoffmann was a German writer and composer. He was born in 1776 and died in 1822.

Hogarth

William Hogarth was an English artist. He was born in 1697 at London and died in 1764.

Holbein

Hans Holbein was a German portrait and religious painter. He was born in 1497 at Augsburg and died in 1543.

Holinshed

Raphael Holinshed was an English chronicler. He lived in the 16th century and wrote The Chronicles Of England, Scotland and Ireland.

Holst

Gustav Holst was an English composer. He was born in 1874 at Cheltenham and died in 1934.

Homer

Homer was an ancient Greek poet.

Hooch

Pieter De Hooch was a Dutch painter. He was born in 1629 and died in 1680. He mainly painted pictures of bright domestic interiors.

Hood

Robin Hood was a legendary English folk hero who led a band of outlaws in Sherwood forest and opposed the tyranny and excessive taxes of King John. He is mentioned in the 14th century poem Piers Plowman. Thomas Hood was a British poet and humourist. He was born in 1799 and died in 1845.

Hopewell

Hopewell is a North American Indian agricultural culture of the central USA, dating from about 200. The Hopewell built burial mounds up to 12 m high and structures such as Serpent Mound in Ohio.

Hopi

The hopi are a north American Indian tribe living in Arizona.

Hopkins

Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins was a British scientist. He was born in 1861 and died in 1947. He discovered vitamins.

Horace

Quintus Horatius Flaccus Horace was a Roman lyric poet. He was born in 65BC at Venusia and died in 8BC.

Horace Saussure

Horace Saussure was a Swiss physicist born at Conches in 1740 he died in 1799. He invented the hygrometer.

Hottentot

The hottentot are a south African tribe.

Houdon

Jean-Antoine Houdon was a French sculptor. He was born in 1741 at Versailles and died in 1828.

Housman

Alfred Edward Housman was a British novelist. He was born in 1859 and died in 1936.

Hovas

The Hovas are a native race of Madagascar.

Hudson

Henry Hudson was an English sailor and explorer. He discovered the Hudson river and Hudson straight.

Hugo

Victor Marie Hugo was a French poet and novelist. He was born in 1802 at Besancon and died in 1885. His first poems were published in 1822.

Huguenots

The Huguenots were French protestants who suffered persecution from the Catholics for 200 years.

Hui

The Hui are one of the largest minority ethnic groups in China, numbering about 25 million. Members of the Hui live all over China, but are concentrated in the northern central region. They have been Muslims since the 10th century.

Humboldt

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.

Hume

David Hume was a British philosopher. He was born in 1711 at Edinburgh and died in 1776.

Hunt

William Holman Hunt was an English painter. He was born in 1827 at London and died in 1910.

Huron

Huron is a nickname for a member of a confederation of five Iroquoian North American Indian peoples living near lakes Huron, Erie, and Ontario in the 16th and 17th centuries. They were almost wiped out by the Iroquois. In the 17th century, surviving Hurons formed a group called Wyandot, some of whose descendants now live in Quebec and Oklahoma.

Huss

John Huss was a Bohemian religious reformer. He was born in 1369 and died in 1415.

Hutu

The Hutu are the majority ethnic group of both Burundi and Rwanda, numbering around 9,500,000. The Hutu tend to live as peasant farmers. Traditionally they have been dominated by the Tutsi minority; there is a long history of violent conflict between the two groups. The Hutu language belongs to the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family.

Huxley

Thomas Henry Huxley was an English biologist. He was born in 1825 at Ealing and died in 1895. He was an outspoken supporter of Darwin.

Huygens

Christiaan Huygens was a Dutch scientist. He was born in 1629 and died in 1695. He invented the pendulum clock.

Hycsos

The Hycsos (Hykshos) or Shepherd Kings, were wandering tribes of Semitic descent who conquered Egypt in 2100BC and were driven out some five hundred years later.

Hyder Ali

Hyder Ali was a distinguisged Indian Prince. He was born in 1728 to a general in the service of the Rajah of Mysore. He died in 1782 during a war with the British.

Hykshos

see "Hycsos"