Westinghouse, George. 1846-1914. US inventor/manufacturer. AC electricity distribution 1885.

Westphalia, Peace of. 1648. Conclusion of the Thirty Years War between Germany, France, and Sweden and Spanish-Dutch 80 Years War. Formal recognition of Swiss independence. Dutch independence. HRE weakened. Religious toleration. Confirmed Augsburg.

Wheel. 1535-1827. Form of torture originating in Germany.

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 Lotus Rebellion. 1796-1804. China. Buddhists vs Manchu. Suppressed. Showed Ch’ing decline.

Whitman, Walt. 1819-92. US freedom poet: Leaves of Grass 1855. Democratic Vistas 1871.

Wieland, Christoph. 1733-1813. German Rococo poet. Oberon 1780.

Wiesel, Elie. 1928-. Romanian Holocaust victim, author. After the Darkness 2002. Foundation for Humanity. .

Wilfrid, St. 634-709. Bishop of York 665-. Urged Roman usages at Whitby Synod.

Wilkes, Charles. 1798-1877. US Commander, Antarctic explorer. Caused Trent Affair.

William I. (Wilhelm) 1797-1888. Hohenzollern King of Prussia 1861-. German Empire. 1871-. Supportedf Bismarck vs Austria and France.

William I. The Conqueror. c1027-87. Norman conquest of England, 1066. Defeated Harold II at Hastings. Ordered Domesday Survey 1085. Built Tower of London 1086. Imported feudal system.

William II. (Wilhelm). 1859-1941. German Emperor 1888-1918. Dismissed Bismarck. Sought world leadership. Precipitated WWI. Abdicated. -“I rule by God’s grace”.

Wilson, Woodrow. 1856-1924. US president 1913-21. Idealist. Advocated League of Nations. Prohibition. Women’s vote. Attempted to mediate WWI 1917.

Winckelmann, Johann. 1717-68. German archeologist, art historian. History of Art of Antiquity 1764. Modern archeology.

Winckler, Hugo. 1863-1913. German archaeologist. Discovered Hittite cuneiform tablets.

Winterhalter, Franz-Xaver. 1805-73. German royal portrait painter. Empress Eugénie 1854.

Wissman, Hermann von. 1853-1905. German explorer of Upper Congo.

Witt, Johan de. 1625-72. Dutch statesman. Rebuilt navy. Led Dutch Wars. Triple Alliance 1668. Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. Killed by Orangist mob.

Wittstock, Battle. 1636. Sweden defeats Holy Roman Empire in Thirty Years War.

Wöhler, Friedrich. 1800-82. German. Synthesized urea 1828. Aluminum 1827.

Wolf, Hugo. 1860-1903. Austrian poet/song writer. Subtle interweaving of piano and vocal based on German, Spanish, Italian poems.

Wolfram von Eschenbach. 1170-1220. German lyric poet. Parsifal 1202.

Wordsworth, William. 1770-1850. English Romantic lyric ballad Lake Poet. “Nature’s Priest”.

World Court. 1899 Permanent Court of Arbitration. 1921 Hague Conference created Permanent Court of International Justice. 1945 International Court of Justice.

33 more results ...