Volume 1

Universal pronouncing dictionary of biography and mythology / by Joseph Thomas.

  • Joseph Thomas
Date:
1911, ©1908
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Universal pronouncing dictionary of biography and mythology / by Joseph Thomas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1409/1486 (page 1391)
    work ot ransoming Christian captives from among the Moors. He several times visited the Moorish countries. Died December 21, 1213. John Frederick [Ger. Johann Friedrich, yo'hin freed'riK] L of Saxony, surnamed the Magnanimous, was a son of the Elector John the Constant, whom he succeeded in 1532. Having joined the Protestant League of Schmalkalden, he was taken prisoner at the battle of Muhlberg, but was released through the intervention of his cousin, Maurice of Saxony. Died in 1554. See Ersch und Gruber, “Allgemeine Encyklopaedie;” Caspar Sagittarius, “ Historia Joannis Friderici Electoris,” etc., 1678; C. Buder, “Nachricht von der Kurfiirst Johann Friedrich’s zu Sach¬ sen,” 1755. John Frederick II., Duke of Saxony, and a son of the preceding, was born in 1529. He began to reign in 1554. Died in 1595. John George [Ger. Johann Georg, yo'hSn ga'oRG] I., Elector of Saxony, born in 1585, began to reign in 1611. During the Thirty Years’ war his course was vacillating, alternately favouring the cause of the emperor and of the Protestant allies. In 1635 he made a disad¬ vantageous peace with Ferdinand II. Died in 1656. See Karl August Muller, “ Kurfiirst Johann Georg I., seine Familie,” etc.. 1838; Seeligmann, “ Dissertatio de Vita Joannie Georgii I.,” 1676. John George II., Elector of Saxony, born in 1613, began to reign in 1656, and distinguished himself as a legislator. Died in 1680. See Stockmann, “Programma: Elector Joannes Georgius II. Saxonias et Lusatias Legislator,” 1789. John of Antioch, or John the Scholastic, [Lat. Johan'nes Antioche'nus, or Tohan'nes Scholas'ti- cus; Fr. Jean d’Antioche, zhbN dSN'te-osh',] a Greek canonist, born at Antioch, became Patriarch of Constan¬ tinople in 565 A.D. He published a collection of canons. Died in 578. (See Malala.) John of Bologna. See Bologna. John of Damascus. See Damascenus. John of Gaunt or Ghent, Duke of Lancaster, a younger son of Edward III. King of England, was born in 1340. His birthplace, Ghent, in Flanders, then called in English Gaunt, (after the French Gand,) gave him the designation by which he is generally known. He served in early youth under his eldest brother Edward the Black Prince in the French wars, where he gained great dis¬ tinction for his skill and bravery. He married Constance, a natural daughter of Peter the Cruel, King of Castile and Leon, and, on the death of that monarch, laid claim to tne sovereignty of those kingdoms, but was defeated by Henry of Trastamara. He subsequently gave his daughter in marriage to the heir-apparent of the crowns of Castile and Leon, upon which he resigned his own claims. His third wife was a sister-in-law of the poet Chaucer, to whom he proved a liberal patron. Died in 1399. His son, surnamed Bolingbroke, afterwards ascended the throne of England, with the title of Henry IV. John of God, Saint. See Dieu, de, (Jean.) John of Leyden, sometimes called Johann Bock- elson or Beccold, a notorious fanatic, born at Leyden in 1510. Having joined the Anabaptists, he associated himself with Matthys, and with his followers took pos¬ session of the city of Munster. After committing the reatest excesses and cruelties, he was taken prisoner y the Bishop of Munster, and executed in 1536. See Jochmus, “ Geschichte der Miinsterschen WiedertSufer Robertson, “ History of Charles V.,” book v.; C. A. Vulpius, “Johann von Leyden,” 1793; J. C. Wallmann, “Johann von Ley¬ den,” 1844; Ersch und Gruber, “Allgemeine Encyklopaedie.” John the Baptist, [Fr. Jean Baptiste, zhfiN bfp'- tfest'; It Giovanni Battista, jo-vin'nee bit-tis'ti,] son of Zacharias, a Jewish priest, and his wife Elisabeth. It was foretold of him that he should come in the spirit and power of Elias, to prepare the way of the Lord. (Luke i. 17.) Our Saviour also said that no prophet was greater than John the Baptist. (Luke vii. 28.) He began to preach and to baptize in the desert country through which the Jordan flowed. It was here that Jesus received baptism and was proclaimed by him as the promised Messiah. He was subsequently cast into prison, and beheaded by the order of Herod. See Mark vi. 16-30. Johnes, jSnz, ? (Thomas,) an English scholar and I bibliomaniac, born at Ludlow, in Shropshire, in 1748. j He was twice elected a member of Parliament. He translated Froissart’s “Chronicle,” and other literary works, from the French. Died in 1816. Johns, (John,) D.D., an American bishop, born in Newcastle, Delaware, July io, 1796. He graduated at Princeton College in 1815, took orders in the Episcopal Church, was appointed Assistant Bishop of Virginia in 1842, and in 1862 succeeded Bishop Meade as diocesan. He was for some time president of William and Mary College, and of the Theological Seminary of Virginia. Died April 5, 1876. John'spn, (Alexander B.,) an author and banker, born in Gosport, England, in 1786. He settled in Utica, New York, in 1801, and engaged in banking operations in that town. He devoted his leisure to the study of the nature of human knowledge, or ideas irrespective of the words by which they are expressed. The results of his investigation are his “ Philosophy of Human Know¬ ledge, or a Treatise on Language,” (1*828,) a “ Treatise on Language, or the Relation which Words bear to Things,” (1836,) and other publications on the same subject. His “Physiology of the Senses” (1856) was highly com¬ mended by the “Westminster Review.” He also pub lished a “Treatise on Banking.” Died Sept. 9, 1867. John'son, (Andrew,) the seventeenth President ot the United States, was born at Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1808. He learned the trade of a tailor, which he fol¬ lowed for many years at Greenville, Tennessee. He was self-educated, and, it is said, never attended any school In 1828 he was elected alderman, and in 1830 mayor, of Greenville. After he had served several terms in the legislature of Tennessee, he was elected a member of Congress by the Democrats in 1843, ar>d continued in that body for ten years. He was chosen Governor of Tennessee in 1853, and again in 1855. In 1857 he was elected a United States Senator for six years. Having taken a decided stand against the disunion movement in i860 and 1861, he was appointed Military Governor of Tennessee by President Lincoln in 1862. He was elected Vice-President of the United States by the Republicans in November, 1864, and, on the death of Mr. Lincoln, became President in April, 1865. On his accession to office he displayed at first a spirit of great severity against the rebels, but soon afterwards adopted a line of policy in relation to the reconstruction of the seceded States which was very favourable to them. His policy, which tended to restore the domination of the secession¬ ists and to reduce the freedmen again to many of the evils of slavery, was rejected by a majority of Congress; and a violent contest ensued between that body and the President, who vetoed numerous acts passed by Con¬ gress for the reconstruction of the Southern States, etc. His vetoes, however, were overruled by a majority of two-thirds in each House, and the policy of Congress prevailed. In the course of a tour from Washington to Chicago, in 1866, he made many undignified political speeches, which rendered him very unpopular, and in the next elections his opponents, the Radicals, obtained large and increased majorities. He opposed impartial suffrage, recommended repudiation, and co-operated with the Democratic party. He pardoned a large number of counterfeiters. In August, 1867, he suspended Mr. Stanton, secretary of war, and appointed General Grant secretary ad interim. The Senate of the United States reinstated Mr. Stanton in January, 1868, and President Johnson quai relied with General Grant because he gave up the war office to Mr. Stanton. Great excitement was produced by the attempt of the President to remove Mr. Stanton in February, and he was impeached of high crimes and misdemeanours by a large majority of the House of Representatives. Among the crimes charged against him was the violation of the “Act regulating the Tenure of certain Civil Offices,” by the removal of Mr. Stanton without the consent of tne Senate, The trial before the Senate began about March 13, and ended, May 26, in his acquittal. Thirty-five Senators voted that he was guilty, and nineteen voted not guilty. Among the latter were seven Republicans. Died July 31, 1875. See “Life of Andrew Johnson,” New York, 1866.