Taylor, The Alphabet, I

16. Laughing Philosopher, The. A name given to Demo crit us of Abdera because he was said to laugh at the follies of mankind. Laugier (lō-zhyā), César de Belle cour, Comte de. Born at Porto Ferrajo, Elba, Oct. 5, 1789: died at Florence, March 25, 1871. An Italian general and man of letters. Lauingen (lou'ing-en). A town in Swabia and Neuburg, Bavaria, on the Danube 25 miles northwest of Augsburg: the birthplace of Albert us Magnus. Population (1890), 3,845. Laun (loun). A town in Bohemia, on the Eger 40 miles northwest of Prague. Population (1890), commune, 6,346. Launce (läns). A character in Shakspere's "Two Gentlemen of Verona," a servant of Proteus, noted for his remarks to his dog Crab. Launce lot. See Lance lot . Launces ton (läns'ton). A town in Cornwall, England, situated near the Tamar 20 miles north-northwest of Plymouth. It has a ruined castle. Population (1891), 4,345. Launces ton. The second largest town in Tasmania, situated in the northern part 105 miles north of Hobart. Population (1891), 17,208. Launfal (län'fal), Sir. A knight of the Round Table, in the Arthur i an cycle of romance. Thomas Chestre wrote a metrical romance with this title in the reign of Henry VI. See Vision of Sir Launfal . La Union (lä ö-nē-ōn'). A seaport in Salvador, Central America, situated on an arm of Fonseca Bay in lat. 13° 20′ N., long. 87° 51′ W. Population, about 2,000. Launitz (lou'nits), Eduard Schmidt von der. Born at Grobin, Courland, Ru ia, Nov. 23, 1796: died at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Dec. 12, 1869. A Ru o-German sculptor. Launitz, Robert Eberhard. Bornat Riga, Ru ia, Nov. 4, 1806: died at New York, Dec. 13, 1870. A Ru ian-American sculptor. Laupen (lou'pen). A town in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, situated at the junction of the Sense and Saane, 10 miles west-southwest of Bern. It was the scene of a victory of Bern over Fribourg and allies in 1339. Laura (la'rä; It. pron. lou'rä) (identified with Laure de Noves, later Madame de Sale). [L., 'a laurel'; It., etc., Laura , F. Laure .] Born 1308: died at Avignon, France, April 6, 1348. A French lady, beloved by Petrarch, and celebrated in his poems. When Petrarch first beheld her, on the sixth of April, 1327, Laura was in the church of Avignon. She was the daughter of Audibert de Noves, and wife of Hugues de Sale, both of Avignon. When she died of the plague, on the sixth of April, 1348, she had been the mother of eleven Sismondi, Lit. of South of Europe, I. 282. children. Laura Matilda. A writer of sentimental verse in Horace and James Smith's "Rejected Addre es." See Anna Matilda . Lauraguais (lō-rä-gā'). An ancient division of Langue doc, France, situated near Castelnau dary. It now forms parts of the departments of Aude, Tarn, and Haute-Garonne. Laurel (la'rel) Hill. A cemetery near Fair mount Park, Philadelphia. Laurence, Samuel. Born at Guild ford, Surrey, 1812: died at London, Feb. 28, 1884. An eminent English portrait-painter. Among his works are portraits of many men of letters, including Carlyle, Whewell, Browning, F. D. Maurice, Dickens, Sir Henry Laurens (la'rens), Henry. Born at Charleston, S. C., 1724: died there, Dec., 1792. An American statesman. He became a delegate to Congre in 1776; was president of Congre 1777-78; and was peace commi ioner at Paris in 1782. Laurens, John. Born at Charleston, S. C., 1753: killed at the Combahee, S. C., Aug. 27, 1782. An American soldier, son of Henry Laurens, distinguished for his gallantry in the Revolu tionary War. Laurent (lō-ron'), François. Born at Luxemburg, July 8, 1810: died at Bru els, Feb. 11, 1887. A Belgian historian, author of "Etudes sur l'his to ire de l'human ité" (1850-70), etc. Lauren tian (lâ-ren's hi-an) Mountains. A range of mountains in the Dominion of Canada, forming the watershed between the Hudson Bay and St. Lawrence River systems. Often referred to as the "Height of Land." Lauren tie (lō-ron-tē'), Pierre Sébastien. Born at Houga, Gers, France, Jan. 21, 1793: died at Paris, Feb. 9, 1876. A French historian and Legitimist journalist, author of "His to ire de France" (1841-43), etc. Laurentius Valla. See Valla , Laurentius . Lauren tum (la-ren'tum). In ancient geography, a city of Latium. Italy, situated near the coast, 16 miles southwest of Rome: the ancient capital of Latium. Lauria (lou'rē-ä). A town in the province of Potenza, Italy, situated in lat. 40° 2' N., long. 15° 49′ E. Population, about 11,000. Laurie (lou'ri). Robert. Born about 1755: died at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, May 19, 1836. An English mezzotint engraver. His name was variously written Lowery, Lowry, Lawrie, etc. Laurier (lo'ri-a), Sir Wilfrid. Born at St. Lin, Quebec, Nov. 20, 1841. A Canadian statesman. He was minister of inland revenue 1877-78; was appointed queen's counsel 1880; became leader of the Liberal party 1887; and is premier of Canada (1896-). He was knighted in 1897. Laurion (la'ri-on or lâ-ri'on), or Laurium (la'ri-um or la-ri'um). [Gr. Λαύριον , Λαύρειον .] A mountain at the southeastern extremity of Attica, Greece. It was celebrated in antiquity for its silver-mines. Recently its mines have been worked, and produce lead, zinc, etc. Laurvig (lour'vig), or Larvik (lär'vik). A seaport in the province of Jarlsberg-Laurvig, southern Norway, 63 miles south-southwest of Christiania, near the mouth of the Laagen on the Laurvig Fjord. Population (1891), 10,932. Lausanne (lo-zän'). of Vaud, Switzerland, situated near Lake Geneva in lat. 46° 32′ N., long. 6° 38′ E.: the Roman Lausonium. It is an educational and literary center, and has a museum and a picture-gallery. The cathedral, dating from the middle of the 13th century, is by far the finest medieval monument in Switzerland. The transepts have low, arcaded towers on the east side, and the façades The capital of the canton exhibit fine roses. There is a tower at the cro ing with a slender spire, and a fine tower on the south side of the west front, terminating in two tiers of arcades and angle-pinnacles. The sculptured portals also are fine. The interior is of great symmetry and beauty, with a noteworthy triforium, and contains many remarkable monuments, among them that of Victor A made us VIII. of Savoy. The length of the cathedral is 352 feet, length of transepts 150, height of vaulting 66. The admirable restoration was planned by Viollet-le-Duc. Lausanne was made the seat of a bish opric in the 6th century; was conquered by Bern in 1536; and became the capital of the canton of Léman in 1798, and of the canton of Vaud in 1803. Gibbon was a resident of the city. Population (1894), 36,121. Lausitz. See Lusatia . Lautaro (lou-tä'rō), or Latur (lä-tör'). Born Laveleye divi a was killed (Jan. 1, 1554), and during the next three years was the most noted and succe ful of the Indian leaders. He was eventually defeated and killed by Villagra at the battle of Mataquito. Lautaro's deeds are cele brated in the "Araucana" of Ercilla. Lautaro (lou-tä'rō) Society. [Sp. Sociedad de Lautaro .] A secret political society, originally established in various Spanish cities during the first years of the 19th century. It was affiliated with the Gran Reunion American a (which see), and had for its aim the emancipation of Spanish South America. The first American branch (called the Lautaro Lodge) was formed at Buenos Ayres, by San Martin and others, about July, 1812. In Jan., 1813, it obtained practical control of the government at Buenos Ayres, and during the succeeding nearly all political action on the patriot side. until about was the hidden moving spring of The Lodge of Lautaro was not a machine of government or of speculative propaganda, it was an engine of revolution, of war against a common enemy and of defense against internal dangers. Under its auspices was created the first popular a embly which gave form to the sovereignty of the people; to it was due that spirit of propaganda which characterized the Argentine revolution, and the maintenance of the alliance with Chile, which gave Mitre , The Emancipation of South America (Eng. trans. [of Pilling, 1893), pp. 48, 49. independence to half the continent. Lauter (lou'ter), F. Lutter (lü-tar'). A river in Germany, forming in part the boundary between the Rhine Palatinate and Alsace. It Joinst joins the Rhine 9 miles southwest of Karlsruhe. T Length, 51 miles. Lauterbrunnen (lou'ter-brön-nen). A valley and parish in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, 33 miles southeast of Bern. It is noted for Lavagna (lä-vän'yä). the Staubbach, Trümmelbach, and other falls. avagna (lä-vän'yä). A seaport in the province of Genoa, Italy, 22 miles east by south of Genoa. Population (1881), 3,751. Laval (lä-väl'). The capital of the department of Mayenne, France, on the Mayenne in lat. 48°5′ N., long. 0° 48′ W. It is noted for the manufac ture of ticking, and for its castle and cathedral. Formerly a barony, it was made a countship in 1429. Near it the Vendeans under La Rochejacquelein defeated the republicans Oct. 24-25, 1793. Population (1891), commune, 30,374. La Valette, Jean Parisot de. See Valette . Lavalle (lä-väl'yā), Juan. Born at Buenos Ayres, Oct. 16, 1797: a a inated at Jujuy, Oct. 9,1841. An Argent in i an general. He fought under San Martin in Chile and Peru, and against the Brazil i ans 1825-28. In Dec., 1828, he deposed and shot Dorrego, the Federalist governor of Buenos Ayres, and was himself governor for a year. Subsequently he was the leader of the opposition to Rosas, and in 1839, at the head of provincial forces, marched on Buenos Ayres; but after repeated defeats he was forced to fly to Jujuy. La Vallière (lä vä-lyar'), Françoise Louise de La Baume Le Blanc, Duche e de. Born at Tours, France, Aug. 7, 1644: died at Paris, June 6, 1710. A mistre of Louis XIV., whose at tention she attracted in 1661. She was created a duche in 1666, and retired to a convent in 1674, after having been superseded in the king's affections by the Marquise de Monte span. She is the reputed author of "Réflexions sur la miséricorde de Dieu " (1685). Laval-Montmorency (lä-väl'môn-mō-ron-sē'), François de. Born at Laval, France, March 23, 1622: died at Quebec, May, 1708. A French prelate in Canada. Lavater (lä'vä-ter), Johann Caspar. Born at Zurich, Nov. 15, 1741: died there, Jan. 2, 1801. A Swi poet and theologian, the founder of the so-called science of physiognomy. He studied theology at Zurich, where he subsequently lived as a clergyman, and where he died from the effects of a wound received from a French soldier at the capture of the city in 1799. As a poet he is chiefly known by his "Schweizerlieder" ("Swi Songs," 1767). "A us sich ten in die Ewigkeit" ("Looks into Eternity") appeared the following year. His principal work, in which he gives an account of his science of physiognomy and attempts its justification, is "Physiognomische Fragmente zur Beförderung der Menschenkenntni und Menschen lie be" ("Physiognomical Fragments for the Promotion of a Knowledge of Man and of Love of Man," 1775-78). Goethe contributed to it a chapter on the skulls of animals. His complete works were published 1836-38, in 6 volumes. Lavaur (lä-vor'). A cathedral town in the department of Tarn, France, situated on the Agout 20 miles east-northeast of Toulouse. It was the leading town of the Albigenses. Population (1891), commune, 6,477. La Vaux, or Lavaux (lä-vō'), G. Ryffthal (ref'täl). A district in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, north of the Lake of Geneva and east of Lausanne. Lavedan (läv-don'), Henri Léon Émile, Born at Orléans, April, 1859. A French litterateur, elected to the Academy in 1898. He writes for "La Vie Parisienne" under the name of Manche court, and is the author of comedies, tales, etc. nian Indian of Chile. He was the son of a chief; was captured bard he paning became to the governor Valdivia. in 1553, he joined his trymen, took part in the battle of Tucapel, in which Val. Born at Bruges, Belgium, April 5, 1822: died at Doyon, near Liège, Jan. 3, 1892. A Belgian political economist and political writer. Among his works are "De la propriété et de ses formes primi Laveleye tives" (1873), "Le parti clérical en Belgique" (1874), "Le protestant is me et le catholic is me" (1875), "Le social is me contempo rain" (1881), etc. Lavello (lä-vel'lo). A town in the province of Potenza, Italy, situated in lat. 41° 3′ N., long. 15° 46′ E. Population, about 6,000. La Vendée. See Vendée . Lavigerie (lä-vēzh-rē ́), Charles Martial Allemand. Born at Bayonne, Oct. 31, 1825: died at Algiers, Nov. 26, 1892. A French cardinal, chiefly known as an opponent of the slave-trade in Africa. He became bishop of Nancy in 1863, archbishop of Algiers and Carthage in 1867, and cardinal in 1882. La Villemarqué (lä vēl-mär-kā'), Vicomte de (Théodore Claude Henri Hersart). Born at Quimperlé, Finistère, France, 1815: died 1895. A French philologist, noted for works on the language and literature of Britt any. Lavinia (la-vin'i-ä). 1. In Roman legend, the daughter of Latin us and wife of Æneas. 2. The daughter of Titus Andronicus in Shakspere's (?) "Titus Andronicus." spere's (1) Lavinium (la-vin'i-um). In ancient geography, a city of Latium, Italy, 15 miles south of Rome. Lavoisier (lä-vwä-zya'), Antoine Laurent. Born at Paris, Aug. 16, 1743: guillotined at Paris, May 8, 1794. A celebrated chemist, the chief founder of modern chemistry, and the reformer of chemical nomenclature. He was the son of a tradesman, and was educated at the Collège Mazarin. In 1769 he was appointed farmer-general of the revenue, and in 1776 director of the government powder mills. In May, 1794, he was attacked in the Convention as an ex-farmer-general, and was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary tribunal. He overthrew the old "phlo gistic" chemistry. His chief work is "Traité élémentaire de chimie" (1789). Lavoro, Terra di. See Caserta . Law (la), Edmund. Born at Cartmel, Lancashire, June 6, 1703: died at Car lisle, Aug. 14, 1787. An English prelate (bishop of Car lisle) and theological and philosophical writer. Hewas made archdeacon of the diocese of Car lisle in 1743; master of Peter house in 1756; librarian of the University of Cambridge in 1760; Knight bridge profe or of moral philosophy in 1764; and bishop of Car lisle in 1768. He published an "Enquiry into the Idea of Space and Time" (1734), "Considerations on on the State of the World with Regard to the Theory of Religion" (1745), etc. Law, Edward. Born at Great Salkeld, Cumber land, Nov. 16, 1750: died at London, Dec. 13, 1818. A noted English jurist, son of Bishop Edmund Law. made Baron Ellen borough April 19, 1802. He graduated at Peter house, Cambridge, in 1771; was called to the bar June, 1780; was leading coun in its internal financial affairs. Meanwhile, in 1718, the "Banque Générale" had been transformed into the "Banque Royale," with Law as director-general and its notes guaranteed by the king. On Jan. 5, 1720, Law was made controller-general of finance, and on Feb. 23 the company and the bank were combined. Fora while the "System prospered, fortunes were made in speculation, and Law po e ed great power; but the overi ue of paper money and the hostile action of the government brought on the catastrophe, and in May, 1720, the "System" collapsed. cated. In Dec., 1720, however, he was invited by the czar Peter to take charge of the finances of Ru ia, but declined. Later (1721) he returned to England, remaining there until 1725, when he went to Italy. Law was driven from France and his estates were conf is Layamon Hornet he captured the British ship Peacock, Feb., 1813. He was defeated and mortally wounded as commander of the Chesapeake against the Shannon, June 1, 1813. See Chesapeake . Lawrence, John Laird Mair, Lord Lawrence. Born at Richmond, Yorkshire, England, March 4, 1811: died June 26, 1879. An English statesman and administrator in India, younger brother of Sir Henry M. Lawrence. He went to India in 1829; became one of the administrators of the Panjab 1849, chief commi ioner 1853, and governor-general of India 1863-69. The services which he rendered as governor of the Panjab, during the Sepoy mutiny, earned for him the title of "savior of India." Law, Thomas. Born at Cambridge, England, Lawrence, Slings by. A pseudonym of George Oct. 23, 1759: died at Washington, D. C., Oct., Henry Lewes. 1834. The seventh son of Edmund Law, bishop Lawrence, Stringer. Born at Here ford, March of Car lisle. He emigrated to America in 1793, became 6, 1697: died at London, Jan. 10, 1775. An a friend of Washington, and married, as his second wife, Eliza Parke Custis, granddaughter of Martha Washington. English soldier, distinguished by his services He wrote several works on financial topics. Law, William. Born at King's Cliffe, near Stamford, North amp tons hire, 1686: died there, April 9, 1761. An English controversial and devotional writer, a graduate of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and for a time tutor of Edward Gibbon, father of the historian: author of "A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life" (1728), etc. About 1740 he came under the influence of the mysticism of Jakob Böhme. Lawes (laz), Henry. Born at Dinton, Wilts hire, Dec. (?), 1595: died at London, Oct. 21, 1662. An English musician (a member of the king's band), composer of the music for Milton's "Comus" (1634), and of numerous songs and anthems. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. Lawes, William. Killed at the siege of Chester, Sept., 1645. An English composer, elder brother of Henry Lawes. He wrote the music for va- rio us masks, instrumental pieces, etc. Lawfeld (läw'feld). A village in the province of Limburg, Netherlands, near Maastricht. Here, July 2, 1747, the French under Marshal Saxe defeated the allies under the Duke of Cumber land. Lawgiver of Parna us, The. A nickname of Nicholas Boileau. Lawrence. See Laurence . Lawrence (lâ'rens). A city and the capital of Douglas County, Kansas, situated on the Kan- sas River 25 miles east by south of Topeka. It is a railway center, has flourishing manufactures and trade, and is the seat of the State University. It was founded by Free-Soil settlers in 1854, became an anti- slavery center, and was sacked and burned by Confederate cherry, India, Feb. 1, 1768; died at Paris, June 10, 1828. A French marshal and diplomatist. He served with distinction at Ragusa, Wagram, Bautzen, Leipsic, etc. Law (la), John. Born at Edinburgh, April, 1671: died at Venice, March 21, 1729. A celebrated financier and projector of commercial schemes, the son of a goldsmith and banker. In April, 1694, he killed "Beau" (Edward) Wilson in a duel in London and was condemned to death, but escaped to the Continent where for a time he led a roving life, largely that of a gam- and the power of receivers-general, thus becoming supreme both in the American and Asiatic commerce of France and Lawrence. A city and one of the capitals of E ex County, Ma achusetts, situated on the Merrimac 25 miles north of Boston. It was made a city in 1853, and is one of the leading manufacturing cities