Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Laplace, Pierre Simon, marquis de pyĕr sēmôNˈ märkēˈ də läpläsˈ [key], 1749–1827, French astronomer and mathematician. At 18 he went to Paris, proved his gift for mathematical analysis to...

(Encyclopedia) Carrier, Jean Baptiste zhäN bätēstˈ kärēāˈ [key], 1756–94, French Revolutionary. An extreme Jacobin, he demanded the establishment of a revolutionary tribunal, and, as a revolutionary repres...

(Encyclopedia) Kléber, Jean Baptiste zhäN bätēstˈ klābĕrˈ [key], 1753–1800, French general, b. Strasbourg. A trained architect, he attended military school in Munich and served in the Austrian army from 17...

(Encyclopedia) Talon, Jean Baptiste zhäN bätēstˈ tälôNˈ [key], 1625?–1694, intendant of New France, b. France. He entered French administrative service c.1653. In his short tenure (1665–68, 1670–72) as ...

(Encyclopedia) Nollet, Jean Antoine zhäN äNtwänˈ nôlāˈ [key], 1700–1770, French clergyman, experimental physicist, and leading member of the Paris Academy of Science. He constructed one of the first electro...

(Encyclopedia) Gresset, Jean Baptiste Louis zhäN bätēstˈ lwē grĕsāˈ [key], 1709–77, French poet and dramatist. He was the author of a mock epic, Vairvert (1734), and of a successful comedy, Le Méchant (17...

(Encyclopedia) Rotrou, Jean de zhäN də rôtro͞oˈ [key], 1609–50, French dramatist. One of the Cinq auteurs, five playwrights commissioned by Cardinal Richelieu, Rotrou wrote many plays, including the noble and...

(Encyclopedia) Marchand, Jean Baptiste zhäN bätēstˈ märshäNˈ [key], 1863–1934, French explorer and general. Sent to Africa (1897) to establish French control of the headwaters of the White Nile, Marchand le...

(Encyclopedia) Jourdan, Jean Baptiste zhäN bätēstˈ zho͞ordäNˈ [key], 1762–1833, marshal of France. He fought in the American Revolution, and in the French Revolutionary Wars he commanded the Army of the Nor...

(Encyclopedia) Chaptal, Jean Antoine zhäN äNtwänˈ shäptälˈ [key], 1756–1832, French chemist, industrialist, and statesman. He became (1781) professor of chemistry at Montpellier, and during the Revolution h...