Land, Edwin. 1909-91. US inventor of Polaroid filter 1932, camera 1947, range-finder, anti-aircraft sights during WWII.

Landowski, Paul. 1875-1961. Sculptor: St. Genevieve on Tournelle Bridge, Paris, 1928; la Réformation, Geneva, 1912-18.

Langhans, Carl. 1732-1808. German architect. Brandenburg Gate 1789.

Langton, Stephen. 1151-1228. Archbishop of Canterbury. Encouraged Magna Carta.

Langtry, Lily. 1853-1929. English beauty/actress. Favourite of Edward VII as Prince of Wales.

Lansbury, George. 1859-1940. British Labour MP. Women’s suffrage. Pacifist, opposed to WWI.

Larousse, Pierre. 1817-75. French lexicographer. Great Universal Dictionary of the XIXth Century 1866-76.

Lateran Councils. Roman Catholic church councils. 1123,39 vs Schism of Arnold of Brescia. 1179 Crusade vs Albigens. 1215 Crusade. 1512-17 Reform.

Lateran Synod. 1059. Papal election procedure.

Latimer, Hugh. 1485-1555. English Protestant Reformation churchman. Executed by Mary I.

La Tour, Maurice de. 1704-88. French portraitist. Influenced by Caravaggio.

Laud, William. 1573-1645. Archbishop of Canterbury, 1633-45. Supported Charles I. Beheaded.

Laudon, Gideon. 1717-90. Estonian/Austrian Hapsburg field marshal in Seven Years War.

Laurens, Henry. 1724-92. US President of Continental Congress 1777-8. Captured by British. Exchanged for Cornwallis.

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

Lausanne, Peace. 1923. Greco-Turkish War. Resettlement of 1.35M Greeks, 430K Turks.

Lausanne, Treaty. 1912. Turkey cedes Tripoli to Italy after Italo-Turkish War. 1932. Ended German WWI reparations despite US rejection.

Lavalleja, Juan. 1784-1853. Uruguay revolutionary. Led 33 Immortals. Independence from Brazil.

La Voisin. Burned at the stake for selling “inheritance powder” (poison), 1680. Poisons Affair.

Lawrence, Thomas (of Arabia). 1888-1935. English writer, officer. Led Arabs against Turks, 1914-18: Seven Pillars of Wisdom 1926.

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

Leacock, Stephen. 1869-1944. Canadian humourist. Nonsense Novels 1911.

League of Nations. 1920-46. Versailles. For everlasting peace. Idea of US, who did not join. Germany 1926-33. Maximum 63 nations. Failed 1931 when Japan attacked Manchuria. USSR expelled1939. Dissolved 1946. Mandates.

Leary, Timothy. 1920-96. Harvard professor who urged students to “turn on” with LSD, 1964.

Lebrun, Albert. 1871-1950. French president 1931-40. Surrendered to Pétain.

1048 more results ...