Derby, Earl of. 1799-1869. English Prime Minister 1852, 58, 66. Abolition of slavery.

Dervish. Friar of Islam religion. Often mystic.

Desaix, Louis. 1768-1800. French general. Killed at Marengo.

Desargues, Girard. 1591-1661. French geometrician.

Descartes, René. 1596-1650. French Rationalist philosopher, physician, mathematician. Cartesian coordinates. Discourse on Method 1637. “Cogito ergo sum”-I think, therefore I am. Analytical Geometry 1636. Meditations 1641. Principia Philosophica 1645.

Desert Storm. 1991. Gulf War.

Desiderius. Last Lombard king 757-74. Defeated by Charlemagne.

DeSmet, Pierre. 1801-73. French missionary to US. Mediator between settlers, Indians.

Desmoulins, Camille. 1760-94. French journalist, lawyer and conventionnel. Speech inspired the storming of the Bastille. Executed as Moderate.

Despard, Edward. 1751-1803. 1802 Plot to assassinate George III.

Despenser, Hugh le. 1261-1326 The Elder; -1326 The Younger. Advised/controlled Edward II. Executed by Mortimer and Isabella.

DesPrés, Josquin. c1440-c1521. Franco-Flemish contrapuntal composer. Motets, chansons.

Dessalines, Jacques. c1758-1806. Cruel ex-slave Emperor of Haiti 1804-.

Détente. 1969-79. Relaxation of Cold War tensions between SALT and Afghanistan Invasion.

Determinism. All events pre-determined. No free will. Hobbes.

Dettingen, Battle. 1743. English defeat French in War of Austrian Succession.

Deucalion. Greek mythological equivalent of Noah.

Deulino, Truce. 1618-32. Russian Time of Troubles. Suspended Polish intervention.

Deuteronomic Reform. c621BC. Religious reforms in Judah. Josiah.

Deuteronomy. 5th Book of Bible. Includes 10 Commandments and other laws. Law code found c622BC in Temple of Jerusalem.

Devil’s Island. French Guiana. South American penal colony 1854-1946.

Devil’s Parliament. 1459. Held at Coventry.

Devolution, War of. 1667-8. French fail to sieze Spanish Netherlands for Marie-Thérèse vs Charles II. Triple Alliance. Aix-la-Chapelle.

Dewar, James. 1842-1923. Scottish physicist: liquified helium1898, vacuum flask. Abel.

Dewey, George. 1837-1917. US admiral in Spanish-American War.

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