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.

    1440/1486 (page 1422)
    Karsch, kaRsh, or Karschin, kaRsh'In, (Anna Luise,) a German poetess, whose original name was Durbach, was born near Schwiebus in 1722. After living a long time in poverty and obscurity, she visited Berlin, where she was patronized by Gleim and Men¬ delssohn. Her “Select Poems,” published in 1764, were very favourably received, and procured for her the title of “the German Sappho.” Died in 1791. See L. von Kleuke, “ Lebenslauf der Karschin,” 179a; Hir- sching, “ Historisch-literarisches Handbuch.” Kars'lake, (Sir John Burgess,) Q.C., an English lawyer and statesman, born at Bencham, nea’r Croydon, in 1821. In 1867 he became a member of the House of Commons, and in the same year was appointed solicitor- general, in which capacity he also acted for a time under Disraeli in 1874, but was compelled to resign on account of failing sight. Died in London, October 4, 1881. Karsten, kaR'sten, (Dietrich Ludwig Gustav,) a German mineralogist, born at Biitzow in 1768. He wrote many able treatises on mineralogy. Died in 1810. See Leopold von Buch, “Lobrede auf Karsten,” in the “Ab- handlungen der Berliner Akademie,” 1814; “Nouvelle Biographic CWn^rale.” Karsten, (Franz Christian Lorenz,) a German agriculturist and writer, an uncle of the preceding, was born at Biitzow in 1751 ; died in 1829. Karsten, (Karl Johann Bernhard,) an eminent Prussian mineralogist, son of the preceding, was born at Biitzow in 1782. He was appointed privy councillor of mines in the ministry of the interior in 1819. He pub¬ lished a treatise “ On the Carbonaceous Substances of the Mineral Kingdom,” (1826,) a “ System of Metallurgy,” (5 vols., 1832,) a “Philosophy of Chemistry,” (1843,) and other important works. In his peculiar department of science Karsten occupied the highest rank. Died in 1853. See Brockhaus, “ Conversations-Lexikon.” Kctrtik&ya, ktR-tl-ka'ya, written less correctly Car- ticeya or Cartikiya, otherwise named Skan'da, a son of Siva and Parvati, and brother of Ganesa, is the Hindoo god of war and commander of the celestial armies. He is sometimes called AgnibhOs or Agnibhu'va, (“born of Agni” or Fire,) Srimana, and many other names. One of his greatest exploits was the destruction of the mighty giant Tripurasura, who had acquired 9uch power that Indra and the other gods trembled for their dominion. See Moor’s “ Hindu Pantheon.” Kartikiya. See Kartikeya. Kashyapa. See Kasyapa. Kassiopeia. See Cassiopeia. Kas'spn, (John Adams,) an American statesman, born near Burlington, Vermont, January 11, 1822. He raduated at the University of Vermont in 1842, and ecame a lawyer. Having removed to Iowa, he was made first assistant postmaster-general under President Lincoln in 1861, was United States postal commissioner to Europe, and signed postal conventions with nearly every important nation in Europe, was a Republican member of the Thirty-Eighth, Thirty-Ninth, Forty-Third, Forty-Fourth, Forty-Seventh, and Forty-Eighth Con¬ gresses, and served as United States envoy and minister to Austria-Hungary, 1877-81. He went to Germany as United States minister in 1884. Kastner or Kaestner, k&st'n^r, (Abraham Gott- HELF,) an eminent German mathematician, astronomer, and poet, born at Leipsic in September, 1719. He be¬ came assistant professor of mathematics at Leipsic in 1746, and obtained the chair of mathematics and physics at Gottingen in 1756. In 1762 he succeeded Tobias Mayer as director of the Observatory at Gottingen. He wrote, besides numerous works on mathematics and astronomy, and witty epigrams, a “ History of Mathe¬ matics from the Revival of Science to the End of the Eighteenth Century,” (in German, 4 vols., 1796-1800.) Died in June, 1800. See “Vita Kaestneri,” by himself, Leipsic, 1787; Kirsten, “De A. G. Kaestnero,” 1787; C. G. Hbyne, “ Elogium Kaestneri,” 1801; “Nouvelle Biograpnie G^n^rale.” chemistry and medicine at Erlangen. He wrote, among other treatises, “Outlines of Physics and Chemistry,” (1821,) and a “Manual of Meteorology,” (3 vols., 1823- 30.) Died in 1857. KSs'yS-p5 or CasyapS, (modern Hindoo pron. kus'ya-pa,) [etymology obscure; perhaps from the San¬ scrit kas or kaf, to “shine,”] written also Kashyapa and Kapyapa, in the Hindoo mythology, the name of a celebrated sage (Rishi) or demi-god, the father (by Aditi) of the Suras, including Indra, and (by Diti) of the Asuras, or giants. See Moor, “Hindu Pantheon;” Monibr Williams, “Transla¬ tion of SakoontalS,” (by KalidAsa.) Kflsyapa, kis'ya-pa, called also Kan'3-d&, a cele¬ brated Hindoo sage or philosopher, was a son of the preceding, and was one of the greatest of Hindoo logicians. He founded the atomistic philosophy called “ vaiseshika.” Kate, Ten, tfin kl't^h, (Jan Jakob Lodewyk,) a Dutch clergyman, born at the Hague, December 23, 1819. He was educated at Utrecht, and became a pastor at Amsterdam. Besides eight volumes of poems, largely religious, he published many translations from foreign languages, and a number of scientific works having a religious tone. Kate, Ten, tSn kl'teh, (Lambert,) a Dutch clergyman, who lived about 1720. He is known for his valuable grammar of the Dutch language, (Amsterdam, 1723.) He also wrote “ On the Connection between the Gothic and Dutch Languages,” and a “Life of Jesus Christ” See Sax, “ Onomasticon.” Ka'ter, (Henry,) F.R.S., a skilful mathematician, born in Bristol, England, in 1777, was educated in the Royal Military College in Sandhurst. He was distin¬ guished for his investigations of the principles of reflect¬ ing telescopes; for his experiments to determine the exact length of the seconds-pendulum ; for his important advice and improvements on measures and weights ; and especially for his invention of the floating collimator, an instrument for adjusting the telescope. In 1814, when the emperor Alexander of Russia visited England, Kater was decorated by him with the order of Saint Anne. He wrote several mathematical treatises. Died in 1835. Katona, kot'o-noh, (Stephen,) an eminent Hungarian scholar and historian, was born at Papa in 1732, and became a Jesuit at the age of eighteen. He afterwards filled the chairs of poetry, rhetoric, and history in the University of Buda. Died in 1811. His chief produc¬ tion is a History of Hungary, written in Latin, (“ Historis critica Regum Stirpis Austriacae,” 41 vols., 1795 et seq.) This is regarded as the most valuable and accurate work upon the subject It closes with the year 1801. Katona was also the author of several other historical works, in the Latin and Hungarian languages. See G. Fej£r, “Memoria S. Katonae,” 1812. Katt, von, fon kit, a Prussian officer, born in 1681, was an intimate friend of Prince Frederick, afterwards Frederick the Great. For having aided him in his attempt to escape to England, Katt was executed before the prison-windows of the prince, in 1730. Kauer, kow'^r, (Ferdinand,) a German musical com¬ poser, born in Moravia in 1751. His works, amounting in all to nearly two hundred, consist of church music, operas, symphonies, concertos, etc. Died in 1831. Kauffmann, kowPmln, ( Maria Angelica, ) the daughter of a portrait-painter, was born at Coire, in Switzerland, about 1741. After studying painting in Italy, she went under the patronage of Lady Wentworth to England, where in a short time she gained consider¬ able celebrity in her art. Her popularity was probably as much due to her accomplished manners and her supe¬ rior education as to any excellence which she possessed as an artist In 1781 she was married to Antonio Zucchi, a Venetian painter, whom she accompanied to Italy in the following year. She still retained her maiden name of Kauffmann. Died at Rome in 1807. See G. de Rossi, “Vita di Angelica Kauffmann,” 1810; A. Fr. L£on de Wailly, “Angelica Kauffmann,” Paris, a vols., 1838; Konijnbnburg, “ Kunstverdiensten van A. Kaufimann en Raphael,” 1810; “Nouveile Biographie G^n^rale.” Kastner, kist'n$r, (Karl Wilhelm Gottlob,) a German physician and naturalist, born at Greifenberg, in Pomerania, in 1783. In 1821 he was professor of Kaufmann, kowf min, (Johann Gottfried,) a Ger