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Murray, Sir James
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(1837-1915)
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Scottish
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Lexicographer. He created the Oxford Dictionary, a treasure for lovers of the English language.
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1
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Mussolini, Benito
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(1883-1945)
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1
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Mutsuhito
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(1852-1912)
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1
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Myers, F. W. H.
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(1843-1901)
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1
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Myrdal, Alva
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(1902-86)
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2
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Myrdal, Gunnar
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(1898-1987)
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2
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Nader, Ralph
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(1934- )
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2
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Nagarjuna
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(c.150-c.250)
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2
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Nagel, Ernest
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(19011985)
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1
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Nagy, Imre
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(1895-1958)
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1
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Naidu, Sarojini
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(1879-1949)
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2
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Najibullah, Mohammed
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(1947- )
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1
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Nanak
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(1469-1539)
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3
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Napoleon I
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(1769-1821)
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French
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General, emperor. A cynic, master of the cool appraisal of human nature, he ultimately fell victim to his own self-glorification.
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3
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Nash, Ogden
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(1902-1971)
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1
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Nash, Richard
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(1674-1762)
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1
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Nashe, Thomas
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(1567-1601)
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1
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Nasser, Gamal
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(1918-1970)
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Egyptian
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Prime minister, president. He became a symbol of Arab nationalism.
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1
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Nast, Conde
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(1873-1942)
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American
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Publisher. Through Vogue, Vanity Fair, and House and Garden, he greatly influenced taste.
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1
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Nation, Carry
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(1846-1911)
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2
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Nebuchadnezzar II
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(c.630-562 BCE)
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Babylonian
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King. He conquered the Jews and took them into captivity in Babylon.
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1
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Necker, Jacques
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(1732-1804)
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1
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Nefertiti
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(14th-c Bc)
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1
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Nehemiah
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(5th-c Bc)
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1
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Nehru, Jawaharlal
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(1889-1964)
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Indian
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First prime minister of independent India. He was a committed socialist and also led the non-aligned nations during the Cold War.
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1
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Nehru, Motilal
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(1861-1931)
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1
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Neill, A. S.
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(1883-1973)
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2
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Neisser, Ulric
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(1928- )
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1
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Nelson, Horatio
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(1758-1805)
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English
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Admiral. He was the nemesis of Napoleon, an exemplar of bravery, and a defier of social convention.
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1
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Nero
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(37-68)
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2
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Nerva, Marcus
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(c.32-98)
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Roman
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Emperor. He became a symbol of benign despotism.
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1
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Nestorius
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(?-c.451)
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2
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Neurath, Otto
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(1882-1945)
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2
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Newman, John
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(1801-90)
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1
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Newton, Isaac
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(1642-1727)
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2
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Ngugi wa Thiong'o
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(1938- )
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1
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Nicholas of Cusa
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(1401-64)
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1
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Nicholas, St.
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(4th-c)
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2
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Nicias
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(?-413 BCE)
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Greek
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Political and military leader. Ambitious but vain and incompetent, he led the Athenians in their disastrous campaign against Syracuse.
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1
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Nicolson, Harold (Sir)
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(1886-1968)
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English
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Diplomat, politician, writer. Like Channon's, his diaries recorded British social and political life before, during, and after World War II.
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3
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Nicolson, Sir Harold
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(1886-1968)
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1
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Nidetch, Jean
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(1923- )
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American
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Founder of Weight Watchers. Is slimming a way to be healthy or an unhealthy obsession?
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1
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Niebuhr, H. Richard
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(1894-1962)
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1
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Niebuhr, Reinhold
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(1892-1971)
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1
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Nietzsche, Friedrich
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(1844-1900)
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3
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Nightingale, Florence
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(1820-1910)
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3
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Nijinsky, Vaslav
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(1890-1950)
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Russian
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Dancer, choreographer. He was a figure of fantasy, a leading modernist, and eventually came to exemplify madness in art.
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3
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Nilsen, Dennis
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(1948- )
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English
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Murderer.
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1
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Nin, Anais
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(1903-1977)
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2
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Niven, David
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(1909-1983)
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English
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Actor. He became a symbol of British elegance and fine manners.
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1
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Nixon, Richard
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(1913-94)
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2
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Nkrumah, Kwame
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(1909-72)
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1
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Noah
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( )
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2
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Nobel, Alfred
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(1833-1896)
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Swedish
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Chemist, explosives manufacturer, creator of Nobel prizes. He left a mixed legacy.
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1
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Nobunaga, Oda
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(1534-82)
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1
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Noriega, Manuel
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(1939- )
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Panamanian
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Soldier, dictator. He was a drug dealer as well, unwisely challenged the U.S. government, and was captured by U.S. troops.
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1
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Norton, Caroline
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(1808-77)
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1
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Norton, Charles
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(1828-1908)
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1
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Nostradamus
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(1503-1566)
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1
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Novalis
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(1772-1801)
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1
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Nunn, Henry
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(1878-1980)
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American
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Shoe manufacturer. Pioneer of a shorter work week and better employee benefits, he also wrote books on improving employer/worker relations. Ironically, given his use of leather to make shoes, he was also an unethical vegetarian.
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1
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Nureyev, Rudolf
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(1938-1993)
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Russian
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Ballet dancer. He fled Russia, protested against Communism, and also led a bohemian life.
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1
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Nyerere, Julius
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(1922- )
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1
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Oakeshott, Michael
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(1901-1990)
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1
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Oakley, Annie
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(1860-1926)
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American
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Rodeo star, sharp-shooter. She was the girl who could outdo men at their own games.
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1
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Oates, Lawrence
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(1880-1912)
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2
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Oates, Titus
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(1649-1705)
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1
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O'Bryan, William
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(1778-1868)
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1
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Ochino, Bernardino
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(1487-1564)
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1
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O'Connell, Daniel
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(1775-1847)
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1
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O'Connor, Flannery
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(1925-1964)
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2
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O'Higgins, Bernardo
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(1778-1842)
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Chilean
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Revolutionary. He was the founding father of Chile.
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1
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Olcott, Henry
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(1832-1907)
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1
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Oldcastle, Sir John
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(c.1378-1417)
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1
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Olga, St.
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(c.890-969)
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1
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Olivier, Laurence Baron
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(1907-1989)
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English
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Actor, director. He exemplified fine acting and high culture in the theater.
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1
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Omar
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(c.581-644)
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1
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Omar Khayyam
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(c.1050-c.1122) Poet, mathematician, astronomer
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1
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Onassis, Aristotle
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(1906-1975)
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Greek
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Ship owner. He married President Kennedy's widow and came to symbolize the businessman as international adventurer.
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1
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Onassis, Jacqueline
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(1929-94)
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2
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Onzy, Emma, Baroness
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(1865-1947)
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1
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Origen
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(c.185-c.254)
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2
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Orleans, Louis
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(1747-93)
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1
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Ortega y Gasset, Jose
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(1883-1955)
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1
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Ortega, Daniel
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(1945- )
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Nicaraguan
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President. He was a Communist revolutionary and foe of the U.S.
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1
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Orton, Joe
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(1933-67)
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2
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Orwell, George
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(1903-1950)
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2
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Osborn, Henry
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(1857-1935)
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1
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Osceola
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(c.18oo-38)
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1
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Ossietzky, Carl von
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(1888-1938)
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1
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Oswald, Lee Harvey
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(1939-1963)
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1
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Ovid
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(43 BCE-17)
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1
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Owen, Robert
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(1771-1858)
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2
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Owen, Robert Dale
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(1801-77)
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2
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Owen, Wilfred
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(1893-1918)
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1
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Owens, Jesse
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(1913-80)
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2
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Pachomius, St.
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(4th-c)
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1
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Packard, David
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(1912-1996)
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American
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Co-founder of Hewlett-Packard. He became a symbol of entrepreneurship out of a garage, of the "high tech" revolution in the U.S., and of an approach to business that emphasized character and decency.
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1
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Pahlavi, Mohammad
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(1919-1980)
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Iranian
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Shah. Whether held back by U.S. President Jimmy Carter or reluctant on his own, his refusal to use harsh repression cost him his throne.
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1
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Paine, Thomas
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(1737-1809)
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2
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Palach, Jan
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(1948-1969)
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Czechoslovakian
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Student and political protestor. He burned himself to protest the 1968 Russian invasion.
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1
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