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KAHN, Otto Hermann (1867-1934). American financier. Joined the firm of Kuhn Loeb & co. in1896, took up railway development with the Harrimans and acquired a large fortune. In 1917 he became an American citizen. He possessed a magnificent art collection, and was a financial supporter of the Metropolitan Opera House.
KALERGIS, Demetrios (1803-67). Greek statesman. Came to the forefront in the Greet War of Independence and led an uprising against King Otto in 1843. Exiled in 1845, recalled in 1854, becoming minister of war. Resigned in 1855 to become minister in Paris, 1861 and helped through diplomacy to bring Prince George of Denmark to the Greek throne.
KALIDASA. Indian poet. (c.4-6th Centuries). Wrote 2 love dramas, Sakuntula and Vikramorvasi. Malavikagnimitra also attributred to him. The poem Meghaduta is regarded as the most masterly. He wrote in Sanskrit.
KALISCH, Marcus (1828-85). German scholar. He was tutor to the Rothschild family and while employed by them wrote his critical study of the Old Testament. He also wrote Path and Goal, a summary of the ideal aims of all the great religions. He is regarded as the founder of Old Testament criticism.
KALNOKY, Gustav Siegmund, Count (1832-98). Austro-Hungarian statesman. Entered the Austrian diplomatic service in 1854, serving in Munich and Berlin before becoming secretary to the London embassy in 1860-70, Minister at Copenhagen, 1874-79, foreign minister 1881. He was largely responsible for the triple alliance of Austria, Germany and Italy in 1882.
KAMES, Henry Home, Lord (1696-1782). Scottish philosopher. Became an advocate in 1724. He became judge of the court of session in 1752 when he took the title of Lord Kames, and was promoted to lord of justiciary in 1763. He made his reputation as a philosopher with his essays on the principles of Morality and Natural Religion in 1751, and Elements of Criticism in 1762.
KAMMERER, Paul (1880-1926). Austrian biologist. He was professor of heredity at Moscow. He claimed to have proved the doctrine of the inheritance of acquired characters. His publication of these facts was doubted, raising a bitter controversary.
KANARIS, Constantine (1760-1877). Greek patriot. Joined the national party in 1822. He terrorised the Turks by attacking their fleet with fire ships 4 times in 1822-24. He helped depose Otto from the throne of Greece and was prime minister under his successor George, 1864-65.
KANE, Elisha Kent (1820-57). American explorer. He was assistant-surgeon with the U.S. navy after graduation. Acompanied Grinnell's expedition to rescue Sir John Franklin in 1850. In 1853 he commanded an expedition north to the Smith Sound, discovering the Humboldt Glacier, and reached Cape Constitution in 1854.
K'ANG HSI (d.1772). Chinese emperor. Came to the throne in 1662. An enlightened mnonarch he did much to restore peace in his country and to strengthen the central government. He concluded the first treaty with a European power, Russia in 1689. He was a general of note, beating the Elents, and conquering Tibet. An excellent scholar, science, art and literature flourished under his rule.
KANISHKA. Tatar king of Kabul and Kashmire in the 2nd century A.D. he adopted Buddhism as the official religion building many fine temples, and having 3 treatises on the Canon written out, probably in Sanskrit. This resulted in the abandonment of Pali as the written language of India.
KANT Immanuel (1724-1804) German Philosopher. Showed abilities as a classical scholar but after entering university in 1740 became more interested in physics and mathematics. He predicted the existence of Uranus before it was discovered by Herschel . He was reduced to poverty in 1746 with the death of his father and earned a living as a private tutor. In 1755 a friend supported him enabling him to complete his studies. In 1766 he was made underlibrarian of the university at Konigsberg, and in 1770 he was appointed to the chair of philosophy. He published Dreams of a visionary, 1766 and De Mundo Sensibilis, 1770. The Critique of Pure Reason in 1781 made him famous. this was followed by Prolegomena, Metaphysik of Ethics and Metaphysik of Nature in 1786. His teachings were adopted in most universities. The Critique of Practical Reason came out in 1788 and The Critique of Judgement in 1790. His prestige was so high that the Prussian governtment undertook the expenses of his court. In 1792 he had a clash with the Prussian government over his religious writings and was told that they were unorthodox. He did not write again on the subject until after the death of Frederick William II in 1797. He retired in the same year.
KANTEMIR, Demetrius (1673-1723). Prince of Moldavia. Elected prince in 1710. Having taken the side of the Russians against Turkey to free his country from Turkish rule in 1711, he left his country after the russian defeat and retired to St. Petersburg. There he became one of the founders of the Academy and wrote historical and other works, including a History of the Growth and Decay of the Ottoman Empire. He was Russian ambassador in London 1730-38 and Paris 1738-44.
KAPP, Gisbert (1842-1922) Austro-German engineer. He studied in Zurich and worked in England in 1875 as an electrical engineer. In 1894 he settled in Berlin as a lecturer and consulting engineer. He was professor of electrical engineering in Birmingham in 1904-18. He evolved a dynamo, designed power stations, was an expert on the theory of electrical currents and made improvements in electrical testing methods.
KAPP, Wolfgang (1868-1922) German politician. Entered the Prussian civil service in 1886 and founded the East Prussian agricultural credit institute. He led the political atttach on Bethmann-Hollweg in 1917 and founded the German people's party. In 1920 he seized the government offices in Berlin with General Luttwitz and announced he was "chancellor of the Reich". The Kapp Putsch failed with a general strike, and Kapp fled to Sweden. He was arrested on his return in 1922 but died suddenly.
KAPTEYN, Jacobus Cornelius (1851-1922) Dutch astronomer. He was astronomer at Leiden in 1875 and professor of astronomy at Fgroningen, 1878. With Sir David Gill he carried out the star catalogue of the southern hemisphere , being responsible for the measurements and calculations from photographs taken by Gill. His work on stellar parallaxes led to great advances in the knowledge of the structure of the universe.
KARAGEORGE (1752-1817) Serbian leader. George Petrovitch was the son of a peasant and earned the name of Karageorge, Black George, through his morose disposition. He fought in the Austrian army against Turkey in 1788-91. He was elected leader of the Serbs in the revolt against Turkey in 1804. Within 4 years nearly the whole country was freed from the Turkish yoke. He was proclaimed hereditary chief of the Serbs, the first native ruler since 1380.In the fighting between the Russians and the Turks in 1809-12 the Serbs helped the Russians. After the Treaty of Bukarest 1812 the Serbs were crushed by Turkey and Karageorge fled to Austria. Coming back in 1817 he was betrayed and was murdered while he slept. He was the founder of the Karageorgevitch dynasty.
KARAJITCH, Vuk Stepanovitch (1787-1864). Serbian scholar. He became a teacher and was involved in the Serbian rising against the Turks 1804-13. Fleeing to Vienna, he met the Slavonic scholar Kipitar, at whose instance he began his life work of compiling a Serbian grammar and lexicon and collecting the national songs and poems in the vernacular. His Serbian folksongs and Serbian grammar were published in 1814, his Serbian dictionary in 1818, and greatly enlarged in 1852. He virtually revived and reformed the language and literature of his country.
KARAMZIN, Nicholas Michailovitch (1765-1826) Russian historian. As a young man he traveled through Europe. Returning to Moscow in 1791 he edited The Moscow Journal, to which he contributed Letters of a Russian Traveller, later published as Travels from Moscow. In it he also published several of his novels, including Poor Liza, which was much influenced by Rousseau. He became famous for his General History of Russia. Appointed imperial historiographer in 1803. Published his Memoir on Ancient and Modern Russia in 1811.
KARLFELDT, Erik Axel (1864-1931). Swedish lyricist. He became a member of the Swedish Academy in 1904. His first volume of lyrics appeared in 1895. He attempted to rediscover the spirit of his country and its ancient peasantry. He was awarded the Nobel prize for literature posthumously in 1931.
KAROLYI, Aloys, Count (1825-89). Austro-Hungarian diplomat. He conducted the prelimninary negotiations after the Austro-Prussian war of 1866, became ambassador to Germany in 1871, played a prominent part as a plenipotentiary at the Congress of Berlin 1878, and became ambassador to London in the same year, remaining there until 1888. He played a prominent part in 19th century European affairs.
KARR, Jean Baptiste Alphonse (1808-90). French novelist and journalist. He became a school-teacher. After achieving popularity with an autobiographical novel, Sous les tilleuls, 1832, he wrote many other works of fiction, including Genevieve, 1838. He became editor in chief of Le fFgaro, 1839, and founded in 1848 Le Journal. He retired to Nice in 1855. A love of gardening inspired his Voyage autour demon Jardin in 1845. He published his reminiscences Livre de Bord in 1879-80.
KATER, Henry (1777-1835). British scientist. He entered the army and went to India, and there worked on a number of trigonometrical surveys. Retiring in 1814, he took part in the survey of Great Britain 1821-23. He is remembered for the series of important experiments on the seconds' pendulum, 1818-19, for which he was awarded the Copley medal of the Royal Society.
KATO, Takaaki, Viscount (1860-1926). Japanese statesman. He became secretary to the minister of foreign affairs, 1888-90. He was director of the taxation Bureau, 1891-94, and was minister to Great Britain, 1894-99. Foreign minister in Japan in 1900 and 1906, he was appointed ambassador to Great Britain in 1908, resigning in 1913. He was again foreign minister, 1913, and in 1914-15. Created visscount, he was premier in 1924.
KATSURA, Taro, Prince (1847-1913]. Japanese statesman. He distinguished himself during the civil war of 1867. Having studied military science in Germany, he was appointed Vice-minister of war in 1886. Serving with distinction in the war with China in 1894, he was made a visscount for his services. Minister of war, 1898-1900, he was premier during the Russian war, but resigned after the conclusion of the peace of Portsmouth, 1906. He brought about the entente of 1902, and the treaty of 1905 with Great Britain. He was premier again 1908-11, and for 2 months in 1913, and was made a prince in 1911.
KAUFFMAN, Angelica (1741-1807). Anglo-Swiss painter. She acquired the rudiments of art from her father, a painter. From 1760 she studied at various centes in Italy, and in 1763 went to Rome, where she devoted herself largely to history and allegory. She worked in London, 1766-81, being elected in 1768 one of the 36 foundation members of the R.A., to which she regularly contributed. Leaving London in 1781, she married Antonio Zucchi, a Venetian painter and A.R.A., and settled in Rome until her death. Working in conjunction with the broth3rs Adam, she was responsible for the mural decorations of many of their noteworthy mansions and also for the small plaques which ornament their furniture.
KAUFMANN, Constantine Von (1818-82). Russian soldier. He entered the army as an engineer, and in 1867 became governor of Turkestan. Realising the vulnerability of India from the north west, Kaufmann, without official support from his government, captured Samarkand, 1868, Khiva, 1873, annexed Khokand, 1875, and finally, in 1878, did much to provoke Afghanistan to war with Britain. He was still enlarging Russia's territories when he died suddenly in 1882.
KAULBACH, Wilhelm von (1804-74). German painter. He studied at Dusseldorf, becoming a member of the Neo-Classical school. Well known for his vast and pretentious historical works, such as the Battle of the Huns, 1834-37, and his Destruction of Jerusalem under Titus 1839, he was appointed in 1849 director of the academy of Munich. His best work is in his illustrations to Shakespeare, Goethe, and Schiller. His son Hermann (1846-1909), nephew Friedrich (1822-1903), and grand-nephew, Friedrich August (1850-1920) were all also well-known painters in their own country.
KAUNITZ-RIETBURG, Wenzel Anton Dominic, Prince von (1711-94). Austrian statesman. He entered the diplomatic service, and was minister at Turin, 1742-44. Representing Austria at the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748, he devoted himself thereafter to securing an alliance with France and Austria against Prussia. The most influential adviser of Maria Theresa, he was in many ways the direct forerunner of Metternich, and greatly strengthened Austria's situation.
KAVANAGH, Arthur MacMorrough (1831-89). Irish politician. Although being born with only rudimentary arms and legs, he lived an active life. He rode and hunted and shot, took a leading part in local affairs, and was a Conservative M.P., 1866-80. Kavanagh was an Irish privy councillor.
KAY, John (b. 1704) English inventor. He patented in 1733 the fly-shuttle. In spite of its instantaneous success Kay did not profit. He was attacked by workers who feared for their livelihood, and the manufacturers stole the invention, paying him nothing. He died in poverty in France.
KAY, John (1742-1826). Scottish caricaturist. He became a barber, but in 1785 he opened a shop in Edinburgh, where he sold his own etchings of portraits he had drawn. From long practice he acquired a knack of catching likeness and character. His fame rests upon the posthumous edition of his plates, 1837-38 entitled A Series of Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings.
KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH, Sir James Phillips (1804-77). English reformer. He became a doctor and, in 1839, secretary to the committee for the administration of the Government grant for public education. With E.C. Tufnell he founded in 1840 at Battersea the first training college for school teachers. He was made a baronet in 1849.
KEAN, Charles John (1811-68). British actor. The second son of Edmund Kean, he played Iago to the Othello of his father at Covent Garden in the latter's fatal performance, 1833. He made his first appearance as young Norval in Douglas at Drury Lane, 1827, and his last as Louis XI at the Theatre Royal, Liverpool, 1867. He married in 1842, Ellen Tree (1805-80). She made her first public appearance at Covent Garden, 1823, as Olivia in TwelfthNight, toured the USA 1836-39, and took part in her husband's Shakespearian revivals at the Princess's. She also created the parts of Mariana, and the Countess in Sheridan Knowles two plays; The Wife and Love; and played Romeo to Fanny Kemble's Juliet. One of the leading actresses in her day she retired in 1868
KEAN, Edmund, (1787-1833). the Son of Anne Carey, an actress and the granddaughter of Henry Carey, his father probably being an architect's clerk named Kean. His characters suffered much from his mother's neglect of him in his childhood, and he became uncontrollable. Adopted by various benefactors, he ran away from them all, once to sea, and later to a theatre, where he played children's parts and appeared as a ventriloquist and circus acrobat, having both legs broken in a tumbling feat. On one occasion, he recited before George III at Windsor. By 1807 he had advanced sufficiently in his profession to act opposite Mrs. Siddons, and in 1808 he married Mary Chambers, (Dded 1849), a Waterford actress. Eventually he attracted the notice of the stage manager of Drury Lane Theatre, who offered him a three years engagement. On his arrival in London, his refusal to appear in a secondary part annoyed the management, but his debut in the part of Shylock 1814, was memorable for the tremendous ovation from his audience. Success also attended his appearances as Richard III, Hamlet, Othello, Leae, and Macbeth. He achieved great popularity as Sir Giles Overreach in Massinger's comedy A Neew Way to Pay Old Debts, and as Young Norval in Sheridan's Pizarro. He visited the USA in 1820 and 1825. Taken ill, at Drury Lane during a performance of Othello he was removed to his house at Richmond, where he died.
KEATE, John (1773-1852). English schoolmaster. he was educated at Eton and Cambridge, and having entered holy orders, became a master at his old school. In 1809 he was appointed headmaster, and in his 25 years of office did much to improve conditions. He is chiefly remembered for his addiction to flogging, it being recorded that on one day he flogged 80 boys. Rector of Hartley Westpall from 1824.
KEATING, Joseph (1871-1934). British author. He worked as a young man in a colliery, and in 1901 published his first novel, Son of Judith. Later works included the novels Marriage Contract, 1914, and The Exploited Woman, 1923; a play, Peggy and Her Husband, 1914, founded upon a novel; and an Autobiography, 1915.
KEATS, John, (1795-1821) English poet. The eldest of five children John was sent to John Clarke's school at Enfield. He lost his father in 1804 and his mother in 1810. He was apprenticed by trustee to a surgeon and in 1815 moved to London, where having passed his examination he attended lectures at Guy's Hospital. In 1816 he was appointed Dresser at Guy's but having the necessary means, and having made the acquaintance of various poet, he abandoned surgery for literature. Through the kindness of Leigh Hunt several sonnets by him appeared in the Examiner. His first volume, Poem's, 1817 did not do well. Further poems did not do well either. Exposure during a walking tour in Scotland and the strain of nursing his brother Thomas who died in 1818, led to a breakdown in his health which was aggravated by his love for Miss Fanny Brawne. Their love story was unhappy because they could not marry. In 1820 there appeared the unfinished Hyperion; Lamia; The Eve of S. Agnes; the Eve of S. Mark; On Indolence; the splended odes To anutumn, to a Nightingale, and On a Grecian Urn; and the superb ballad La Belle Dame sans Merci. By this time consumption had taken hold. In 1820 accompanied by his friend Joseph Severn, he went to Italy where he died in Rome in 1821.
KEBLE, John (1792-1866). British divine he became a fellow of Oriel, Oxford. Ordained 1815, in 1816 he became curate of two parishes near his native place at Fairford, Gloucestershire, and published anonymously his most famous work The Christian Year, in 1827. His hymns Sun of My Soul, and Thou Saviour Dear, and the Voice that Breathed o'er Eden, are well-known. Keble was Professor of poetry at Oxford, 1831-1841, lectures which he delivered being published in Latin in 1841, and translated in 1910. The Oxford Movement had its origin in a sermon on National Apostasy preached by him at Oxford in 1833. He contributed seven to the series of tracts for The Times in which the movement found expression. From 1836 to his death Keble was vicar of Hursley, near Winchester, with which place his name if closely asociated. He published Lyra Innocentium; Thoughts in Verse on Children, in 1846, and died at Bournemouth.
KEEN, William Williams (1837-1932) American surgeon. He became an Army surgeon in 1861, and in 1866 went into practice in Philadelphia. He served in the Spanish war and the Great War, in the latter his system for nerve wounds was universally adopted.A world-famous brain surgeon he was equally well known for his operations the most celebrated of which was on President Cleveland in 1893 in which Keen removed the left upper jaw and substituted one of rubber with absolute success.
KEISER, Reinhard (1674-1739) German composer. In 1692 he had his opera Basileus produced in Brunswick. He later moved to Hamburg, where in 1697 Irene was produced, the first of 116 operas composed there. Each of these had 40 to 50 arias, which shows his musical ability. He was court musician at Copenhagen.
KEITH. name of a powerful Scottish family. Sir Robert Keith (d.1346) one of the family's earliest notable members was appointed by charter about 1309 to the office of marischal of Scotland. He fought at Bannockburn, and was killed at Neville's Cross, 1346. The post of marischal became hereditary in the family, a member of which in 1458was raised to the peerage as earl marischal. George Keith, the 5th earl marischall (C.1553-1623), was the founder of Marischal College, Aberdeen, 1593. The office ceased to exist after the attainder in 1716 of George Keith the 10th earl marischal. The latter's younger brother was Francis James Edward Keith known as Marshal Keith.
KEITH, George Keith Elphinstone, Viscount (1746-1823). British Sailer. He entered the Navy in 1761 and was in the service of the East India Company 1767. He was elected M.P. for Dumbartonshire, 1780, and distinguished himself at Toulon 1793. Dispatched in command of the expedition which captured Cape Town, in 1796 he defeated the Dutch fleet, and was made an Irish Baron in 1797. Successfully dealing with the mutiny at Spithead, 1797, he was sent to the Mediterranean 1798 where he took part in the attack on Egypt. Given a peerage of the U.K., and promoted Admiral in 1801, he was commander-in-chief in the North Sea in 1803, in the Channel in 1812 and two years later was made a Viscount.