Vulgate. 405. Official Latin translation of Bible by St Jerome. First printed 1455.

Walpole, Horace. 1717-97. English writer, connoisseur. First Gothic Romance. Castle of Otranto 1765.

Walpole, Robert. 1676-1745. English Whig. First Prime Minister 1721-42. Free trade and peace.

Walter, Hubert. -1205. English Archbishop of Canterbury. Ransomed Richard I, 1193. First Income Tax. Governed during king’s absences.

Washington, George. 1732-99. American Revolution commander, First US President.

Weather Forecasts. 1860. First regularly issued by British Admiralty Office.

Webb, Matthew. 1848-83. English. First to swim across English Channel, 1875.

Weizmann, Chaim. 1874-1952. Russian/Polish Zionist. First President of Israel 1949-52.

Westminster, Statute of. 1275,85,90. First reference to Great Council of England as Parliament. Reformed civil and criminal law. Legal protection for poor. 1931. British affirmation of autonomous dominion of British Empire countries. Established British Commonwealth.

Whitby, Synod. 664. Settled dispute, favoring Roman over Celtic church. Defined Easter date as first Sunday after full moon after vernal equinox. March 22 to April 25. Wilfrid.

White Mountain, Battle. 1620. First battle of Thirty Years War. Catholic League defeats Bohemian nobles.

Whittle, Frank. 1903-96. British. Invented jet aircraft 1930 First flown 1941.

Whymper, Edward. 1840-1911. English climber. First to climb Matterhorn, 1865.

Winchester. 972 First royal standard units of measure.

Windows. 12C Glass first used. 14C Mullioned (divided into panes). Tudor introduced bay and oriel. 18C curved bow windows.

Witte, Sergei. 1849-1915. Russian finance minister 1892-1903. Trans-Siberian Railway. Capitalistic policies. First Prime Minister 1905-6.

Woodhull, Victoria. 1838-1927. US reformer. First female presidential candidate 1872. Suffrage, free love advocate.

World War I. 1914-18. Allies-France, British Empire, Russia, Italy, US(1917-) vs Central Powers-Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire. Caused by Nationalist movements, Balkan instability, trade rivalry, alliances. 30M casualties. First tanks, chemical, planes, submarines. Ended Russian, Ottoman, Austria-Hungarian Empires.

Wright, Wilbur. 1867-1912, Orville. 1871-1948. Aviation pioneer. First sustained controlled heavier than air flight, 1903.

Wyclif(fe), John. c1330-84. English religious reformer. Lollard leader. Advocated religion from within rather than mechanical practice. Began First English translation of bible.

Wyoming. 1869 First US territory to give women vote. 1925 First US woman governor.

Xavier, St. Francis. 1506-52. One of First Jesuits. Apostle to Asia 1540-.

Yourcenar, Marguerite. 1903-87. French writer; First woman in Académie Française.

Ypres, Battles. 1914,15,17,18. German First use of poison gas, 1915.

Yü the Great. -2197BC. Legendary founder of First Chinese dynasty, Hsia.

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