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fugitive slave laws

(Encyclopedia) fugitive slave laws, in U.S. history, the federal acts of 1793 and 1850 providing for the return between states of escaped black slaves. Similar laws existing in both North and South…

Weed, Thurlow

(Encyclopedia) Weed, ThurlowWeed, Thurlowthûrˈlō [key], 1797–1882, American journalist and political leader, b. Cairo, N.Y. After working on various newspapers in W New York, Weed joined the…

Gwin, William McKendree

(Encyclopedia) Gwin, William McKendree, 1805–85, American politician, b. Sumner co., Tenn. He received (1828) a degree in medicine from Transylvania Univ. and practiced in Clinton, Miss., until 1833…

Jackson, Claiborne Fox

(Encyclopedia) Jackson, Claiborne Fox, 1806–62, governor of Missouri, b. Fleming co., Ky. In 1822 he moved to Missouri, where he practiced law. Speaker of the state legislature (1844–46), he later…

Wright, Elizur

(Encyclopedia) Wright, ElizurWright, Elizurĭlīˈzər [key], 1804–85, American actuary and antislavery leader, b. near Canaan, Conn., grad. Yale, 1826. He taught (1829–33) mathematics at Western Reserve…

Berdyaev, Nicholas

(Encyclopedia) Berdyaev, NicholasBerdyaev, Nicholasbĕrdyīˈəf [key], 1874–1948, Russian theologian and religious philosopher, b. Kiev. After an early period as a Marxist, Berdyaev became prominent in…

Brooke, Sir James

(Encyclopedia) Brooke, Sir James, 1803–68, rajah of Sarawak on Borneo, b. India, of English parents. After active service in Burma (1825–26), he retired (1830) from the army of the East India Company…

Wilson, Henry

(Encyclopedia) Wilson, Henry, 1812–75, American politician, Vice President of the United States (1873–75), b. Farmington, N.H. At 21 he legally changed his name from Jeremiah Jones Colbath, and as…

Tubman, William Vacanarat Shadrach

(Encyclopedia) Tubman, William Vacanarat Shadrach, 1895–1971, president of Liberia (1944–71). As a young man he was a lawyer, a collector of internal revenue, a teacher, and an officer of the…

Sower, Christopher

(Encyclopedia) Sower or Sauer, ChristopherSower or Sauer, Christopherboth: sōˈər, souˈ– [key], 1693–1758, American printer, b. Germany. In 1724, Sower came to America where he worked first as a…