LaFontaine, Jean de. 1621-95. French poet. Fables 1668-94.

Laforgue, Jules. 1860-1887. French symbolist poet. Invented verse libre. Les Complaintes 1885.

Lagos, Battle. 1759. British navy stops French invasion of England.

Lagrange, Louis. 1736-1813. French mathematician. Analysis of mechanical systems. Celestial mechanics.

Laissez-Faire. Motto of 19C liberals calling for free markets and trade. Smith. “Laissez-faire, laissez-passer, laissez-aller”-Legendre 1680.

Lake Poets. 19C. Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey of English Lake District.

Lamb, Charles. 1775-1834. English poet and essayist. Essays of Elia 1820-33.

Lame Duck. Non-reelected office holder in office awaiting successor.

Lamia. Greek female demon, killed and ate children.

Lamian War. 323-322BC. Greek city-states rebel vs Macedonian rule. Defeated by Antipater.

Lammenais, Félicité de. 1782-1854. French RC priest. Liberal writer influenced Christian Democrats. Paroles d’un Croyant 1833.

Lancaster, Thomas, Earl of. c1277-1322. English. Led barons vs Edward II. Beheaded.

Lancelot. Knight of King Arthur’s Round Table. Guinevere’s lover. Galahad’s father.

Land League. 1879. Irish association to reduce rents. Agitated for Home Rule. Parnell.

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

Langland, William. 1330-1400. English Christian allegorical poet. Piers Ploughman 1362.

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

Lao-tzu. =Old Philosopher. 604-531BC. Legendary Chinese philosopher. Founded Taoism. The Way of Life.

Laocoön. Trojan priest, distrusted Trojan Horse. Killed with sons by serpents.

Laos. 14C Buddhist Lan Xang. 18C Vientiane(C)/ Luang Prabang(N)/ Champassak(S). 19C Siam. 1893 French protectorate. 1942 Japanese occupy. 1946 French. 1953 Independent...civil wars. 1975 Lao People’s Democratic Republic. 1991 New Constitution and freedoms.

Laplace, Pierre. 1749-1827. French mathematician, astronomer. Celestial mechanics 1779-1825. Solar system origin from condensed gas.

Lapua. 1929-32. Finnish-Estonian Fascist movement. Failed putsch, 1932.

Largo Caballero, Francisco. 1869-1946. Spanish socialist Prime Minister, 1936-7. Radical polemics led to Civil War.

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

La Salle, Robert. 1643-87. French explorer of Louisiana, Mississippi 1682.

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