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

Legal Tender Act. 1862. US authorizes paper money without gold backing.

Leninism. Applied Dialectical Materialism. World Proletariat Revolution. Dictatorship of the Proletariat, then transition to Communism. Authoritarian conspiratorial elite conscious of imperative of history. “Freedom in discussion-unity in action”.

Leo VI. 866-912. Byzantine Emperor. Compiled Basilica legal code.

Leo XIII. 1810-1903. Pope 1878-. Rerum Novarum 1891: right to private property. Ended opposition to scientific progress. Longest papal rule.

Leonardo da Vinci. 1452-1519. Florentine painter, writer, sculptor, scientist. Prototypical Renaissance Man. Sfumato. Laws of Flight. Adoration of Magi 1479. Last Supper 1495. Mona Lisa 1503. Parachute 1480.

Leoncavello, Ruggero. 1857-1919. Italian opera composer. I Pagliacci 1892.

Leonidas. King of Sparta. Killed resisting Persians at Thermopylae, 480BC.

Leopold and Loeb. 1924. Wealthy, intellectual partners ‘perfect’ murder of Bobby Franks leads to life imprisonment. Darrow plea avoids execution.

Leopold II. 1747-92. Holy Roman Emperor 1790-. “Enlightened despot”. Liberal reforms. Declaration of Pillnitz for absolutism.

Levi, Primo. 1919-87. Italian writer. Survival in Auschwitz 1947. Periodic Table 1975.

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

Liberalism, Economic. 19C. Striving for personal profits and liberty. Manchester School. Cobden.

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

Lloyd Webber, Andrew. 1948-. British composer of popular musicals. Jesus Christ, Superstar 1971. Evita 1978. Cats 1981. Phantom of the Opera.

Locke, John. 1632-1704. English philosopher. Empiricism-all knowledge is derived from experience: On Civil Government 1689. Essay Concerning Human Understanding 1690. ‘Sound mind in a sound body’. Evil brings pain, Good brings pleasure. Advocated separation of legislature from executive, as applied in Britain and US. Natural rights (property, pursuit of happiness, religion) influenced US Constitution, led to Enlightenment. Philosophical basis of French and American Revolutions. Epistemological foundations of modern Science.

LogicalPositivism. 1920s. Philosophy. Only experimentally verifiable scientific truth counts. Vienna Circle. Wittgenstein.

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

London Gazette. 1665. Oldest publishing newspaper. Official government organ.

Lothair I. 795-855. Carolingian Emperor, 840-. Failed attempt to reunite empire.

Louis I. 778-840. Charlemagne’s son. Last Emperor of unified Carolingian Empire 814~. Twice deposed and restored.

Louis IV. c1283-1347. German king 1314-. Holy Roman Emperor, 1328-. German electors overrule Pope to make him Emperor.

Louis XV Style. 1715-74. Superior craftsmanship. Rococo decoration. Boucher.

Louvois, Marquis de. 1639-91. Louis XIV War Minister. Reformed army. Enforced Nantes revocation. Supervised construction of Invalides, Vendôme.

Lowell, Percival. 1855-1916. US astronomer. Predicted Pluto 1905 (erroneously). PL of Pluto name after him. Studied Mars’ “canals” 1906. Schiaparelli.

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