Kandinsky, Wassily. 1866-1944. Russian/French. First pure nonfigurative abstract painter. Influenced by Anthroposophy. Blaue Reiter 1903.

Kaunda, Kenneth. 1924-. Zambia. First president 1964-.

Kenyatta, Jomo. 1894-1978. Kenya. First president 1964-.

King William’s War. 1689-97. Britain vs France in North America. War of Grand Alliance. First French-Indian War.

Korolyov, Sergei. 1906-66. Russian scientist. Designed first satellite, first spacecraft.

Kublai Khan. 1215-94. First Mongol Emperor. Conquered China. Established Yüan dynasty.

Kyd, Thomas. 1558-94. English playwright. First ‘revenge’ play: The Spanish Tragedy 1592.

Labour Party. 1888 Scotland. 1890 NZ. 1891 Australia. 1900 Britain. 1930 Israel. Founded by unions, Fabians for democratic change towards socialism. First UK MPs elected 1906. First UK Labour government 1924.

LaCierva y Codorniu, Juan de. 1895-1936. Spanish. Invented autogiro 1923. First vertical take-off 1934.

LaFayette, Marie. 1634-93. First psychological novelist. Princess of Cleves 1678.

Laurier, Wilfrid. 1841-1919. First French-Canadian Prime Minister 1896-1911. Liberal. Boer War.

Law Commission Act. 1965. First codification of English common law.

Layamon. c1200. English poet. First mention of King Arthur, Lear, Merlin.

LeBougre, Robert. First Inquisitor of HRE, appointed by Gregory IX 1231.

Lee Kuan Yew. 1923-. First Singapore Prime Minister 1965-90.

Leeuwenhoek, Antony van. 1632-1723. Dutch. First to describe bacteria 1680, protozoa, corpuscles, spermatazoa 1675.

Leopold I. 1790-1865. First King of Belgians 1831-. Maintained neutrality.

Lhato Nyan-tsen. First king of Tibet.

Li Yüan. 566-635. First Tang Emperor of China 618-27. Led revolt 617, aided by Turks.

Libraries. 1700BC Chaldean. 540BC Athens. 284BC Alexandria. 167 Rome. 355 Constantinople. 1446 Vatican. 1520 Paris. 1757 British Museum. 1598 Oxford Bodleian. 1653 Manchester, First free public. 1800 US Library of Congress.

Lie, Trygve. 1896-1968. Norwegian. First UN Secretary General, 1946-52.

Lindbergh, Charles. 1902-74. US aviator: first solo non-stop flight across Atlantic, 1927.

Lippershey, Hans. 1570-1619. Dutch. First telescope, 1608.

London Company. 1606. Establishd first permanent English settlement in N America at Jamestown, VA.

London Treaty. 1674 Holland, England end War. 1824 Netherlands, Britain for control of Malaya. 1827 Britain, France, Russia to force mediation on Turkey/Greek freedom fighters. 1831 Belgian War of Independence. 1832 Britain, France, Bavaria made Otto I, King of Greece. 1852 Danish Succession. 1867 Luxembourg independence granted. 1871 Ended neutrality of Black Sea. 1913 Ended first Balkan War. 1915 (Secret) Britain-France-Russia grant concessions to Italy for joining WWI allies. Revealed by Bolsheviks 1918.

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