Pretorius, Marthinus. 1819-1901. First president of South African Republic 1857-71, president. Orange Free State 1859-64.

Pythagoras. c582-500BC. Greek philosopher: numbers are key to understanding the universe. Founded first school of higher learning at Crotona, Italy.

Quantum Theory. Energy levels are discontinuous. Foundation of modern physics. Planck 1900. Bohr.

Quasimodo, Salvatore. 1901-68. Italian humanist Hermetic poet: La Vita non e sogno. Oboe Somerso 1932.

Quezon, Manuel. 1878-1944. First Philippine president 1935-.

Quirinus. Roman god of war. Romulus deified.

Rabin, Yitzhak. 1992-95. Israeli statesman. Military leader, Six Day War. PM 74-77, 92-95. Peace negotiater.

RákóczI II, Ferenc. 1676-1735. Transylvanian prince. Led Hungarian Uprising 1703.

Rákosi, Mátyás. 1892-1971. Stalinist Hungarian leader 1945-56. Fled before 1956 uprising.

Raman, C.V. 1888-1970. Indian physicist. Raman effect: wavelength shift of deflected light.

Ramanuja. 1017-1137. Hindu leader of Vaishnava sect.

Ramsay, William. 1852-1916. English chemist: discovered helium 1895; neon, krypton, xenon 1898.

Rasmussen, Knud. 1879-1933. Danish arctic explorer.

Rayleigh, Lord. 1842-1919. English physicist, wave theorist.

Regiomontanus. 1436-76. German astronomer. First modern exposition of trigonometry. Decimals 1467.

Regium Donum. 1690~1869. Grant from monarch to Nonconformist ministers in Britain.

Ribbentrop, Joachim von. 1893-1946. German Nazi foreign minister 1933-45. Hanged at Nuremberg.

Rickover, Hyman. 1900-86. US Admiral. “Father of nuclear submarine”.

Rights, Bill of. 1791. First 10 amendments to US constitution. Freedom of religion, right to due process, counsel, bear arms, no self incrimination, cruel or unusual punishment, etc.

Ringling, John. 1866-1936. Circus impressario 1884. Bought Barnum and Bailey 1907.

Robbins, Frederick. 1916-. US physician. Discovered polio virus with Enders, Weller.

Rœntgen, Konrad. 1845-1923. German physicist, discovered X-rays 1895.

Roosevelt, Theodore. 1858-1919. US president 1901-9 after McKinley assassination. Founded Bull Moose Party 1912. Led Rough Riders. Panama Canal Zone.

Root, Elihu. 1845-1937. US internationalist statesman. Agreements with Japan, Britain, Latin America. Disarmament Conference.

Ross, Ronald. 1857-1932. British discoverer of malaria parasite.

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