Simenon, Georges. 1903-89. Belgian writer of political and detective novels. Commissaire Maigret.

Sinclair, Upton. 1878-1968. US novelist, Muckraker. Jungle 1906.

Spanish Marriages, Affair of. 1846. Isabella’s sister, heir marries French prince, despite Spanish assurances, causing English/French rift.

St Médard Convulsionnaires. Believers in miraculous cures at St. Médard cemetery forbidden by Louis XV in 1732: “By Order of the King, Let God No Miracle Perform in this Place!”

Stair, First earl. 1648-1707. Scottish under-secretary of state to William III. Approved Glencoe Massacre.

Stavisky Affair. 1933-4. French scandal. Fraudulent bonds sold. Belief in government corruption causes riots.

Strasbourg Oath. 842. Charles II, Louis II oppose Lothair I. Earliest example of written French.

Suzerainty. Authority over a state’s foreign affairs by another state.

Taira. 9C-1185. Powerful Japanese samurai clan..

Taxation. On Income 1193. On Cooking Oil: 1000BC Egypt. Foreigners: 400BC Greece. Imports 1CBC Rome. Property: 453BC Greece, 1642 England. Sales: 49BC Rome. 1973 UK VAT. Inheritance: 23BC Rome. Salt: 1286-1790 France. Hair Powder: 1795-1869 Hearths: 1663-89. Cards: 1615. Whiskey. Eisphora. Boadicea. Godiva. Danegeld. Domesday Book. Tithes.

Taylor, Maxwell. 1901-87. US WWII air commander.

Ten Years’ War. 1868-78. Failed Cuban rebellion vs Spain. Virginius Affair.

Thackeray, William. 1811-1863. English novelist. Vanity Fair 1849. Sentimental and cynical moralist.

Titania. Queen of the fairies.

Trent Affair. 1861. US sieze British mail ship in Civil War, remove two Confederate commissioners.

Truman, Harry S. 1884-1972. US president, 1945-53. Decided to drop A-Bomb. Potsdam. NATO. Korean War. Taft-Hartley. Fair Deal.

Vairagin. Hindu ascetic worshippers of Vishnu.

Virginius Affair. 1873. Spain siezes US flagged Cuban ship, Virginius. Executes 53 for smuggling arms to Cuba during Ten Years War. Indemnity paid to US, Great Britain.

Voltaire, François. 1694-1778. French philosopher vs tyranny, bigotry, cruelty. Challenged accepted beliefs. Quotations became revolutionary slogans. Lettres Philosophique 1734. Candide 1758.

Wairau Affray. 1843. Maori kill 22 English Settlers in New Zealand. Maori Wars.

Whittle, Frank. 1903-96. British. Invented jet aircraft 1930 First flown 1941.

Wilkes, Charles. 1798-1877. US Commander, Antarctic explorer. Caused Trent Affair.

Wright, Wilbur. 1867-1912, Orville. 1871-1948. Aviation pioneer. First sustained controlled heavier than air flight, 1903.

XYZ Affair. 1797. US attack French ships after refusing to bribe ministers. Settled 1800. French Revolutionary Wars.

Yeats, William. 1865-1939. Irish nationalist poet/dramatist: Wild Swans 1917. Deirdre. Tower 1928. Winding Stair 1933. Modernism.

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