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bittern

(Encyclopedia) bittern, common name for migratory marsh birds of the family Ardeidae (heron family). The American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), often called “stake driver” because of a territorial…

bee-eater

(Encyclopedia) bee-eater, any of the brightly colored, insect-eating birds of the family Meropidae. They range in length from 6 to 14 in. (15–36 cm). The plumage of many species is predominantly…

Sverdrup, Johan

(Encyclopedia) Sverdrup, JohanSverdrup, Johanyōhänˈ [key]Sverdrup, Johan svĕrˈdr&oobreve;p [key], 1816–92, Norwegian prime minister. As a member of the Storting (1851–84) and as prime minister (…

Taaffe, Eduard, Graf von

(Encyclopedia) Taaffe, Eduard, Graf vonTaaffe, Eduard, Graf vonāˈd&oomacr;ärt gräf fən täˈfə [key], 1833–95, Austrian premier (1868–70, 1879–93), of Irish descent. A childhood friend of Emperor…

Morse, Wayne Lyman

(Encyclopedia) Morse, Wayne Lyman, 1900–1974, U.S. Senator (1945–69), b. Madison, Wis. He was a professor of law and later dean at the Univ. of Oregon law school (1931–44) and gained a nationwide…

Landrum-Griffin Act

(Encyclopedia) Landrum-Griffin Act, 1959, passed by the U.S. Congress, officially known as the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. It resulted from hearings of the Senate committee on…

Christopher, Warren Minor

(Encyclopedia) Christopher, Warren Minor, 1925–2011, U.S. government official, b. Scranton, N.Dak. He studied law at Stanford (1946–49) and was a clerk to Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas (…

Cheves, Langdon

(Encyclopedia) Cheves, LangdonCheves, Langdonchĭˈvĭs [key], 1776–1857, American statesman, b. Abbeville District (now Abbeville co.), S.C. Admitted to the bar in 1797, he became one of the leading…

Durant, Thomas Clark

(Encyclopedia) Durant, Thomas Clark, 1820–85, American railroad builder, chief figure in the construction of the Union Pacific RR, b. Lee, Mass. He was successful in building railroads in the Midwest…

Russell, Lord William

(Encyclopedia) Russell, Lord William, 1639–83, English statesman; younger son of the 1st duke of Bedford. He entered Parliament in 1660. Contempt for the dissolute court and fear of Roman Catholicism…