Edward G. Budd, Sr (1870 - 1946)

Businessman. Founded the various Budd manufacturing companies in the late 1800’s. His son, Edward Jr., took over the firms from his father, and was one of the main driving forces in the promotion of the light rail vehicle (LRV), which is widely used in the Orient and decreases the use of locomotives.  Family links:  Spouse: […]

Anna Akhmatova (1889 - 1966)

Poet. She is considered by many to be the greatest woman poet in Russian Literature. Born Anna Gorenko into an upper-class family in Odessa, Ukraine, she spent most of her life in Saint Petersburg, the city with which she is most closely identified.  Precocious in her studies, she excelled in languages and began writing verse […]

Bella Akhmadulina (1937 - 2010)

Poetess. She created several well received collections of verse which often dealt with the mundane events of everyday life while trying to avoid the political difficulties of writing in the Soviet Union. Born Izabella Akhatovna Akhmadulina, she was raised initially in Moscow then lived with her family in Kazan during World War II; starting to […]

Harrison Ainsworth (1805 - 1882)

Author.  Born on King Street, Manchester, he was educated at the Manchester Grammar School and, at the age of sixteen, was articled to a solicitor. In 1824 his father died, and he went to London to study at the Inner Temple. In 1826 he married daughter of a publisher who was also the Manager of […]

Alfred Ainger (1837 - 1904)

Author, Religious Leader.  Born in London, England in the family of an architect, he was educated , at King’s College, where he experienced the influence of John Frederick Denison Maurice, one of the principal theologians of his time.  The sudden death of his father made it imperative that he enter a profession in which he […]

Conrad Aiken (1889 - 1973)

Author, Editor. His writings often deal with identity and changing perceptions, reflecting his profound interest in psychology. He won the 1930 Pulitzer Prize for his “Selected Poems” (1929) and the National Book Award for “Collected Poems” (1953). Conrad Potter Aiken was born in Savannah, Georgia. When he was 11 his father killed his mother and […]

Shmuel Yosef Agnon (1888 - 1970)

Author. He was awarded Nobel Prize for literature in 1966 co-jointly with Swedish poet Nelly Sachs. He wrote such works as “Upon the Handle of the Lock,” “Days of Awe,” and “Bridal Canopy.”  Family links:  Spouse:  Esther Elsa Marx Agnon (1889 – 1973)* *Calculated relationship

James Agee (1909 - 1955)

Author, Motion Picture Screenwriter. He wrote the books, “A Death In The Family” (1957), which was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1958 and adapted for the stage as “All The Way Home” (1960), and “Let Us Now Praise Famous Men.” He wrote the film scripts for the motion pictures “Face To Face” (1952), “The […]

Agathon (1970 - 1970)

Playwright, Composer. A master of Ancient Greek tragedy, he lived from approximately 448 BC to 400 BC. Agathon was once mentioned with the “Big Three” of that genre,  Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, but virtually all of his work is lost. We learn of his importance in the development of drama through the writings of others, […]

Alexander Afinogenov (1904 - 1941)

Playwright. One of the more talented Soviet playwrights to emerge in the years before World War II, he managed to retain his individuality in the face of Stalinist repression. Alexander Nikolayevich Afinogenov was born in Skopin, Russia, and raised in Yaroslavl. He had an early interest in literature, turning out three books of poetry while […]

Aeschylus (1970 - 1970)

Playwright, Director, Composer. One of the three giants of Ancient Greek drama, along with Sophocles and Euripides. He lived from 525 to 456 BC. Aeschylus has been called “The Father of Tragedy” for his fundamental innovations in writing and stagecraft. Of his estimated 90 plays, only seven have come down to us complete and his […]

Endre Ady (1877 - 1919)

Poet, Journalist. He was known as the “Founder of Modern Hungarian Lyric Poetry”.  Family links:  Spouse:  Csinszka Ady* *Calculated relationship

Theodor W. Adorno (1903 - 1969)

Philosopher. He wrote on Sociology and Musicology. Among his works are “The Culture Industry,” “Aesthetic Teory,” “Critical Models, “Philosophie der neuen Musik,” “Klangfiguren,” “Aspekte der Hegel’schen Philosophie,” and a book about composer Gustav Mahler. His last work was “Minima Morialia.” (bio by: José L Bernabé Tronchoni)  Family links:  Spouse:  Margarete Karplus Adorno (1902 – 1993)* […]

Olle Adolphson (1934 - 2004)

Composer. He was one of Sweden´s most celebrated composers and singer, and was known for renewing of the old Swedish song-tradition “visa”. He studied guitar in Spain, and subsequently made his debut, with the collection of songs “Aubade” (1956). Some of his most beloved songs were made in collaboration with lyricist Beppe Wolgers, for instance […]

Julius Ochs Adler (1892 - 1955)

United States Army General, Journalist. The nephew of “New York Times” Adolph Ochs, was mentored by his uncle, and attended Princeton University. He served in the United States Army during World War I as a Major and battalion commander in the 306th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division. He fought on the Western Front in France, […]

George Ade (1866 - 1944)

Author, Playwright, Humorist. His best known book is “Fables in Slang.” Three of his plays ran simultaneously in New York City, New York. He was the brother-in-law of Indiana Governor Warren T. McCray.  Family links:  Parents:  John Ade (1828 – 1914)  Adeline Wardell Bush Ade (1833 – 1907)  Siblings:  Anna L. Randall (1852 – 1926)* […]

Joseph Addison (1672 - 1719)

Playwright, Stateman. He is best remembered for his fictional play “Cato, a Tragedy,” based on the last days of Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis (or Cato the Younger), the renowned Roman statesman and politician. He was born in Milston, Wiltshire, England, the oldest son of a minister and received his education at Charterhouse School at Godalming, […]

George Adamski (1891 - 1965)

Author. George was born in Poland and emigrated to America when he was two. He  was a soldier in the 13th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (K Troop) fighting at the Mexican border during the Pancho Villa Expedition. In 1917 he married Mary Shimbersky. She died in 1954; they had no children. Following his marriage George moved […]

William Taylor Adams (1822 - 1897)

Author. He gained popularity in the 19th century for his works for young boys and girls written under the pseudonym “Oliver Optic”. He published 126 books and over 1,000 short stories under the alias.  Family links:  Children:  Emma Louisa Adams White (1857 – 1884)* *Calculated relationship

Sarah Flower Adams (1805 - 1848)

Poet. Born in Old Harlow, Essex, in England. The youngest daughter of Benjamin Flower, a newspaper editor. During the years 1832 to 1835 Sarah became a contributor to the pages of the Monthly Repository, then edited by Mr. W. Johnson Fox, and contributed to by John Stuart Mill, Crabb Robinson, Robert Browning, R. H. Horne, […]

James Truslow Adams (1878 - 1949)

Historian. He graduated from Yale University in 1900, served in the United States Army during World War I as an intelligence officer, and on the staff of the United States delegation at the post-War Versailles Peace Conference. After the war he began writing, and won a Pulitzer Prize for hiw work “The Founding of New […]

Henry Brooks Adams (1838 - 1918)

Author, Historian.  Born in Boston, Massachusetts  to one of America’s most prominent families, his father was American Diplomat and scholar  Charles Francis Adams, his grandfather was 6th United States President John Quincy Adams, and his great-grandfather was 2nd United States President John Adams. He graduated from Harvard University in 1858 and later attended lectures at […]

Avery Brundage (1887 - 1975)

Olympics Games Official. He served as President of the International Olympic Committee, serving in that role from 1952 to 1972. The only American to hold the office, he was a track and field athlete, competing with the United States team during the 1912 Stockholm, Sweden games. In 1972 he made the controversial decision to continue […]

Harriet Stratemeyer Adams (1893 - 1982)

Author. The daughter of American publisher and author Edward Stratemeyer, she was the author of several books for young children and teens. Writing for the Stratemeyer Syndicate, the book publishing firm founded by her father, she contributed stories in the “Nancy Drew” series under the firm’s blanket pseudonym ‘Carolyn Keene’. She also contributed stories in […]

Eli Metcalfe Bruce (1828 - 1866)

Civil War CSA Congressman. He was a wealthy Kentucky businessman who applied his fortunes to supplying the Confederacy with much-needed military goods by running the Northern blockade during the War Between the States. He served in the Confederate Congress, and also used his fortunes to help destitute Confederate soldiers, civilians, and veterans. After the war […]

Hannah Adams (1755 - 1831)

Author. She wrote a number of works on religious themes, including “Alphabetical Compendium of the Various Sects Which Have Appeared from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Present Day,” “A Summary History of New England,” “History of the Jews” and “Letters on the Gospels.”  Family links:  Parents:  Thomas Adams (1725 – 1812)  Elizabeth […]

Edward West “Daddy” Browning (1874 - 1934)

American Folk Figure, Businessman. A millionaire real estate magnate, he the center of a hugely sensational scandal in the 1920s involving his marriage to 15 year old Frances Belle Heenan. The news media at the time dubbed her “Peaches” to his “Daddy” (a nicknamed he received early in life; he was 52 years old).  Family […]

Douglas Noel Adams (1952 - 2001)

Author. Born in Cambridge, England, he was educated at Brentwood School, Essex and went on to St. John’s College in Cambridge where he first earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1974 and later gained a Masters degree in English literature. He is best known as the creator of the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” series, […]

James Joseph “J.J.” Brown (1855 - 1922)

Businessman. Although known today as the husband of “Unsinkable Molly Brown” Margaret Brown of “RMS Titanic” disaster fame, he was one of the wealthiest men in the United States from his days as a gold mine owner of the Colorado gold and silver booms of the 19th century.  Family links:  Spouse:  Margaret Brown (1868 – […]

Charles Francis Adams, Sr (1807 - 1886)

US Congressman, US Diplomat.  The son of 6th United States President John Quincy Adams and grandson of 2nd United States President John Adams, he spent much of his early life traveling with his parents in Europe.  He returned in his adolescence to attend school in Boston, Massachusetts, graduating from Harvard University in 1825. He was […]