Latin League, an alliance of Latin communities that formed in opposition to Etruscan Rome at the end of the 6th century bc. By that time the Etruscan rulers of Rome had established a de facto hegemony over the Latin communities south of the Tiber River, a situation accepted in Rome’s treaty with

Latin literature, the body of writings in Latin, primarily produced during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, when Latin was a spoken language. When Rome fell, Latin remained the literary language of the Western medieval world until it was superseded by the Romance languages it had generated

bimetallism: …Italy, and Switzerland formed the Latin Monetary Union in 1865. The union established a mint ratio between the two metals and provided for use of the same standard units and issuance of coins. The system was undermined by the monetary manipulations of Italy and Greece (which had been admitted later)…

Paris: Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter: South of the city centre are the quintessential Left Bank neighbourhoods known as Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin). The boulevard Saint-Germain itself begins at the National Assembly building, curving eastward to join the river again at the Sully Bridge. A little…

Grammy Award: …the Recording Academy) or the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (LARAS; commonly called the Latin Recording Academy) to recognize achievement in the music industry. Winners are selected from more than 25 fields, which cover such genres as pop, rock, rap, R&B, country, reggae, classical,

jus Latii, in the Roman Republic and the Empire, certain rights and privileges, amounting to qualified citizenship, of a person who was not a Roman citizen. The rights were originally held only by the Latins, or inhabitants of Latium (the region around Rome), but they were later granted to other

classical scholarship: Latin scholarship: From the beginning, Roman scholarship imitated Greek: Hellenistic techniques were applied to the treatment of Latin texts, and Latin grammar adopted Greek categories and terminology. Learned Greeks such as Tyrannion, Alexander Polyhistor, and Parthenius were brought to Rome as…

Demetrius Cydones: Attracted to Latin Scholasticism, he made Greek translations of the major works of Western writers, including tracts by St. Augustine of Hippo (5th century) and St. Thomas Aquinas’s Summa theologiae. By 1365 he had made a profession of faith in the Latin church.

education: Higher education: …other hand, many schools of grammar or rhetoric acquired the character of public institutions supported (as in the Hellenic world) either by private foundations or by a municipal budget. In effect, it was always the city that was responsible for education. The liberal central government of the high empire, anxious…

combinatorics: Latin squares and the packing problem: A Latin square of order k is defined as a k × k square grid, the k2 cells of which are occupied by k distinct symbols of a set X = 1, 2, . . .,…

Praeneste: …with Rome; defeated in the Latin War (340–338), it lost part of its territory and became Rome’s ally. After 90 bc it received Roman citizenship and became a municipium. In the civil wars the younger Marius was blockaded in the town by the Sullans (82 bc), who took the city,…

Stephen Fry: …he wrote his first play, Latin! or, Tobacco and Boys, a satirical tale of a pederastic prep-school teacher. The following year the play was performed (not without controversy) at the Fringe festival in Edinburgh, a venue that became a regular showcase for Fry’s early creative activity. During his third year…

Latin-Faliscan languages, language group proposed by some scholars to be included in the Italic branch of Indo-European languages. The group includes Latin, which emanated from Rome, and Faliscan, spoken in the Falerii district in southeastern Etruria. Closely related to Latin, Faliscan is known

Latina, city, Lazio (Latium) regione, south-central Italy, 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Rome. Built in 1932 as the first centre of the newly reclaimed Agro Pontino (see Pontine Marshes), it became the provincial capital when Latina province was formed from Roma province in 1934. Both the town and

South Asian arts: Medieval temple architecture: North Indian style: …two basic types are called latina and phāmsanā. Curvilinear in outline, the latina is composed of a series of superimposed horizontal roof slabs and has offsets called latās. The edges of the śikhara are interrupted at intervals with grooved discs, each one demarcating a “story.” The surface of the entire…

Roman road system: …(Conca del Fucino); and the Via Latina, running southeast and joining the Via Appia near Capua. Their numerous feeder roads extending far into the Roman provinces led to the proverb “All roads lead to Rome.”

Roman law: The law of persons: Noncitizens could be either Latini, inhabitants of Roman settlements that had the rights of members of the original Latin League, or peregrini, who were members of foreign communities or of those territories governed but not absorbed by Rome. The great extension of the citizenship by the emperor Caracalla in…

Brunetto Latini was a Florentine scholar who helped disseminate ideas that were fundamental to the development of early Italian poetry. He was a member of the Guelph party and a leading figure in the political life of Florence. After the defeat of the Guelphs at Montaperti (1260), Latini went into

Sabellic dialects: …and Sabini are sometimes called Latinian.

Hispanic Americans, people living in the United States who are descendants of Spanish-speaking peoples. Since most Hispanics trace their ancestry to Latin America, they are also often called Latinos. Hispanics make up the largest ethnic minority in the United States, forming more than one-sixth of

Interlingua, simplified form of Latin intended for use as an international second language. Interlingua was originally developed in 1903 by the Italian mathematician Giuseppe Peano, but lack of clarity as to what parts of Latin were to be retained and what were to be discarded led to numerous

public opinion: Regional and global surveys: The Latinobarometer, based in Chile, publishes an annual study of attitudes toward democracy, trust in institutions, and other topical issues pertaining to Latin American countries. Similar comparative regional barometer surveys have been undertaken in eastern Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. The International Social Survey…

You could say that Latinos in the United States have been betting on the numbers. In the decades leading up to the 2010 census, countless politicos, academics, community organizers, and others in the Latino community predicted that a swelling population and growing prominence would bring power and

Zoltán Huszárik: …of Hungarian cinema’s best-known actors, Zoltán Latinovics, who delivered a particularly memorable performance. The film was well received by audiences and critics alike, which helped make it possible for Huszárik to make the short films Capriccio, Amerigo Tot, Tisztelet az öregasszonyoknak, and A piacere (“As You Like It”). In 1979…

Latinus, in Roman legend, king of the aborigines in Latium and eponymous hero of the Latin race. The Greek poet Hesiod (7th century bc), in Theogony, calls him the son of the Greek hero Odysseus and the enchantress Circe. The Roman poet Virgil, in the Aeneid, makes him the son of the Roman god

Latinx, gender-neutral term referring to someone living in the United States who was born in or has ancestors from Latin America; it is an alternative to the masculine (Latino) and feminine (Latina) forms. The word came into usage in the early 21st century as more people rejected binary

Chinese languages: The 20th century: …rival Communist effort known as Latinxua, or Latinization of 1930, fared no better. An attempt to simplify the language by reducing the number of characters to about 1,000 failed because it did not solve the problems of creating a corresponding “basic Chinese” that could profitably be written by the reduced…

latissimus dorsi, widest and most powerful muscle of the back. It is a large, flat, triangular muscle covering the lower back. It arises from the lower half of the vertebral column and iliac crest (hipbone) and tapers to a rounded tendon inserted at (attached to) the front of the upper part of the

latite, extrusive igneous rock very abundant in western North America. Usually coloured white, yellowish, pinkish, or gray, it is the volcanic equivalent of monzonite (q.v.). Latites contain plagioclase feldspar (andesine or oligoclase) as large, single crystals (phenocrysts) in a fine-grained

latitude and longitude, in cartography, a coordinate system used to determine and describe the position of any place on Earth’s surface. Latitude is a measurement of a location north or south of the Equator. In contrast, longitude is a measurement of location east or west of the prime meridian at

mathematics: The universities: …quantification of qualities, the so-called latitude of forms, began to be discussed at about this time in Paris and in Merton College. Various Aristotelian qualities (e.g., heat, density, and velocity) were assigned an intensity and extension, which were sometimes represented by the height and bases (respectively) of a geometric figure.…

biogeographic region: Components of species diversity: species richness and relative abundance: The most obvious gradient is latitudinal: there are more species in the tropics than in the temperate or polar zones. Ecological factors commonly are used to account for this gradation. Higher temperatures, greater climate predictability, and longer growing seasons all conspire to create a more inviting habitat, permitting a greater…

latitudinarian, any of the 17th-century Anglican clerics whose beliefs and practices were viewed by conservatives as unorthodox or, at best, heterodox. After first being applied to the Cambridge Platonists, the term was later used to categorize churchmen who depended upon reason to establish the

Latium, ancient area in west-central Italy, originally limited to the territory around the Alban Hills, but extending by about 500 bce south of the Tiber River as far as the promontory of Mount Circeo. It was bounded on the northwest by Etruria, on the southeast by Campania, on the east by Samnium,

jus Latii: …pattern, the language, and the law of Latins. Their demand for Roman citizenship quickly became a political issue in Rome and was granted in 49 by Julius Caesar and Augustus to many native communities in the western provinces, and the process went on until Vespasian gave it to all the…

Leto, in classical mythology, a Titan, the daughter of Coeus and Phoebe, and mother of the god Apollo and the goddess Artemis. The chief places of her legend were Delos and Delphi. Leto, pregnant by Zeus, sought a place of refuge to be delivered. She finally reached the barren isle of Delos, which,

laterite, soil layer that is rich in iron oxide and derived from a wide variety of rocks weathering under strongly oxidizing and leaching conditions. It forms in tropical and subtropical regions where the climate is humid. Lateritic soils may contain clay minerals; but they tend to be silica-poor,

Bruno Latour was a French sociologist and anthropologist known for his innovative and iconoclastic work in the study of science and technology in society. Latour’s early studies were in philosophy and theology, but his interests expanded to include anthropology and the philosophy of science and

Maurice-Quentin de La Tour was a pastelist whose animated and sharply characterized portraits made him one of the most successful and imitated portraitists of 18th-century France. Early in his youth La Tour went to Paris, where he entered the studio of the Flemish painter Jacques Spoede. He then

Pierre-André Latreille was a French zoologist and Roman Catholic priest, often considered to be the father of modern entomology. He was responsible for the first detailed classification of crustaceans and insects. Although he was a devoted student of natural history, Latreille was educated for the

Westmoreland: …Lower Burrell, Murrysville, Monessen, and Latrobe, which was officially recognized by the National Football League in 1946 as the birthplace of professional football in 1895.

Latrobe Valley: The Latrobe River rises in the Eastern Highlands near Mount Baw Baw in the Gippsland district. Flowing in a southeasterly direction, it passes the cities of Moe and Yallourn, where it turns to flow almost directly east, past Traralgon. The Latrobe is joined by its main…

Latrobe Valley, river valley in southeastern Victoria, Australia. It is one of the most important economic areas in the state. The Latrobe River rises in the Eastern Highlands near Mount Baw Baw in the Gippsland district. Flowing in a southeasterly direction, it passes the cities of Moe and

Benjamin Latrobe was a British-born architect and civil engineer who established architecture as a profession in the United States. Latrobe was the most original proponent of the Greek Revival style in American building. Latrobe attended the Moravian college at Niesky, Saxony, and traveled in

Benjamin Latrobe was a British-born architect and civil engineer who established architecture as a profession in the United States. Latrobe was the most original proponent of the Greek Revival style in American building. Latrobe attended the Moravian college at Niesky, Saxony, and traveled in

Wilsons Promontory: …interior; its highest point is Mount Latrobe, at 2,475 feet (754 metres). There is a lighthouse at its southern tip. The vegetative cover, which tends toward the xerophytic (i.e., adapted to a dry climate) on the west, is periodically swept by fires.

black widow, (genus Latrodectus), any of about 30 species of comb-footed spiders distinguished by an hourglass-shaped marking on the abdomen and known for the venomous bite of the females. Black widows are found throughout much of the world and are so named for the female’s habit of eating the male

black widow: Major species: …South American black widow (L. curacaviensis), whose geographic range encompasses the Lesser Antilles and South America, lives under logs, debris, and trash and frequents stone fireplaces. The brown widow (L. geometricus) is thought to have evolved in Africa, but the first specimen described came from South America. It is…

black widow: Major species: hystrix, L. dahli, and the white widow spider (L. pallidus) are found in southern Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia, whereas the range of the European black widow, or karakurt (L. tredecimguttatus), extends from the western Mediterranean region to Central Asia.

black widow: Major species: bishopi), and brown widow (L. geometricus), an invasive species. In the northern part of its range, L. mactans is found most often in brush piles and near dwellings. In the southeastern United States, however, it lives on the ground. L. hesperus is found in western North America.

redback, (Latrodectus hasselti), species of black widow spider that is native to Australia, the females of which are venomous and distinguished by an orange or red stripe on the back of the abdomen. Taxonomy See also list of arachnids. The body color of males and females typically is brownish or

black widow: Major species: Elsewhere, L. hystrix, L. dahli, and the white widow spider (L. pallidus) are found in southern Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia, whereas the range of the European black widow, or karakurt (L. tredecimguttatus), extends from the western Mediterranean region to Central Asia.

black widow: Major species: The southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans) is the most common species of black widow in North America. The female is shiny black and usually has a reddish to yellow hourglass design on the underside of the spherical abdomen. Sometimes two small triangles, instead of a complete hourglass, are present.…

black widow: Major species: …the white widow spider (L. pallidus) are found in southern Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia, whereas the range of the European black widow, or karakurt (L. tredecimguttatus), extends from the western Mediterranean region to Central Asia.

Latvia: Finance: …adopted its own currency, the lats. On January 1, 2014, Latvia adopted the euro as its official currency. The Central Bank of the Republic of Latvia is the centre of the banking system. There is a stock exchange in Riga. In the middle of the first decade of the 2000s,…

Kristin Hunter Lattany was an American novelist who examined black life and race relations in the United States in both children’s stories and works for adults. Lattany began writing for The Pittsburgh Courier, an important African American newspaper, when she was 14 and continued until the year

Kristin Hunter Lattany was an American novelist who examined black life and race relations in the United States in both children’s stories and works for adults. Lattany began writing for The Pittsburgh Courier, an important African American newspaper, when she was 14 and continued until the year

Olivia Newton-John: Career: She married American actor Matt Lattanzi in 1984 (they later divorced) and became a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme. Warm and Tender (1989), an album dedicated to her daughter, featured soothing music for infants as well as inserts on ways to protect the environment.

Micronesian culture: Settlement patterns and housing: The so-called latte stones of this area—paired rows of large stone pillars with capstones—are thought to have been the foundations of raised houses. Latte stones can be quite tall: the quarries in which they were fashioned indicate that some were 20 feet (6 metres) tall or more,…

Hagåtña: Close by is Latte Stone Park, with latte stones (pillars that supported houses of the prehistoric Latte culture). Tamuning, just northeast of Hagåtña, and Piti, to the southwest, have become major business centres at the expense of the capital. Hagåtña usually enjoys a mild climate but is often…

horse brass: Before 1830 latten, an alloy of brass, was used, the pierced design being cut by hand. Most of the later varieties are of cast brass, sometimes plated. Many were produced in Walsall and Birmingham, particularly in the latter half of the 19th century. Over 1,000 different designs…

Latter Rain revival, early name for the Pentecostal movement within U.S. Protestantism; it began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Tennessee and North Carolina and took its name from the “latter rain” referred to in Joel 2:23. The Bible passage states that the former (fall) rain and

Thomas Carlyle: London: His next important work was Latter-Day Pamphlets (1850), in which the savage side of his nature was particularly prominent. In the essay on model prisons, for instance, he tried to persuade the public that the most brutal and useless sections of the population were being coddled in the new prisons…

Césare Mansueto Giulio Lattes was a Brazilian physicist who, with American physicist Eugene Gardner at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1948 confirmed the existence of heavy and light mesons formed during the bombardment of carbon nuclei with alpha particles. Lattes studied at the

crystal: Structures of metals: The most common lattice structures for metals are those obtained by stacking the atomic spheres into the most compact arrangement. There are two such possible periodic arrangements. In each, the first layer has the atoms packed into a plane-triangular lattice in which every atom has six immediate neighbours.…

axis: …and their lengths are called lattice constants. The relative lengths of these edges and the angles between them place the solid into one of the seven crystal systems. (See crystal.) The position of an atom within a unit cell is given in terms of the crystallographic axes, and planes in…

basketry: Lattice construction: In lattice construction a frame made of two or three layers of passive standards is bound together by wrapping the intersections with a thread. The ways of intertwining hardly vary at all and the commonest is also the simplest: the threads are wrapped…

lattice energy, the energy needed to completely separate an ionic solid, such as common table salt, into gaseous ions (also the energy released in the reverse process). Lattice energy is usually measured in kilojoules per mole (1 mole = 6.0221367 ¥ 1023). For each particular solid, the lattice

spectroscopy: X-ray optics: …wavelengths are comparable to the lattice spacings in analyzing crystals, the radiation can be “Bragg reflected” from the crystal: each crystal plane acts as a weakly reflecting surface, but if the angle of incidence θ and crystal spacing d satisfy the Bragg condition, 2d sin θ = nλ, where λ…

superconductivity: Discovery: …the crystal structure, called the lattice vibrations. In 1953, in an analysis of the thermal conductivity of superconductors, it was recognized that the distribution of energies of the free electrons in a superconductor is not uniform but has a separation called the energy gap.

glassware: Venice and the façon de Venise: …threads for decorative purposes (latticinio). This form of decoration became progressively more complex; opaque threads were embedded in a matrix of clear glass and then twisted into cables, which were themselves used to build up the wall of a vessel. The height of complexity was reached when a bulb…

Owen Lattimore was an American sinologist, a victim of McCarthyism in the 1950s. The brother of poet Richmond Lattimore, Owen Lattimore spent much of his childhood in China, where his father was a teacher. From 1926 he was engaged in research and writing, traveling throughout Mongolia, Sinkiang,

Richmond Lattimore was an American poet and translator renowned for his disciplined yet poetic translations of Greek classics. Lattimore graduated from Dartmouth in 1926 and from the University of Oxford in 1932. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois (1935). While in college,

Richmond Lattimore was an American poet and translator renowned for his disciplined yet poetic translations of Greek classics. Lattimore graduated from Dartmouth in 1926 and from the University of Oxford in 1932. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois (1935). While in college,

Jean de Lattre de Tassigny was a French army officer and posthumous marshal of France who became one of the leading military figures in the French forces under General Charles de Gaulle during World War II. He was also the most successful French commander of the First Indochina War (1946–54). After

Jean de Lattre de Tassigny was a French army officer and posthumous marshal of France who became one of the leading military figures in the French forces under General Charles de Gaulle during World War II. He was also the most successful French commander of the First Indochina War (1946–54). After

Federico Fellini: Early life and influences: … [1950; The Path of Hope]), Alberto Lattuada (Senza pietà [1948; Without Pity]), and Luigi Comencini (Persiane chiuse [1951; Behind Closed Shutters]); he was uncredited on the latter film. In addition, Fellini contributed to Rossellini’s Paisà (1946; Paisan) and Il miracolo (1948; “The Miracle”, an episode of the film L’amore), in…

Lotuxo, people of South Sudan, living near Torit, who speak an Eastern Sudanic language of the Nilo-Saharan language family. They grow millet, corn (maize), peanuts (groundnuts), and tobacco and raise herds of cattle. The Lotuxo live in large, fortified villages, often with several hundred huts and

ellipse: …the minor axis is a latus rectum (literally, “straight side”).

Latvia, country of northeastern Europe and the middle of the three Baltic states. Latvia, which was occupied and annexed by the U.S.S.R. in June 1940, declared its independence on August 21, 1991. The U.S.S.R. recognized its sovereignty on September 6, and United Nations membership followed shortly

national flag consisting of a crimson field (background) divided horizontally by a narrow white stripe. The flag’s width-to-length ratio is 1 to 2.The basic design of the flag was used by a Latvian militia unit in 1279, as is attested in a 14th-century manuscript known as the Livländische

history of Latvia, a survey of the important events and people in the history of Latvia from ancient times to the present. The Latvians constitute a prominent division of the ancient group of peoples known as the Balts. The first historically documented connection between the Balts and the

Latvia, country of northeastern Europe and the middle of the three Baltic states. Latvia, which was occupied and annexed by the U.S.S.R. in June 1940, declared its independence on August 21, 1991. The U.S.S.R. recognized its sovereignty on September 6, and United Nations membership followed shortly

Latvia: Ethnic groups, languages, and religion: …Soviet occupation in 1940, ethnic Latvians constituted about three-fourths of the country’s population. Today they make up about three-fifths of the population, and Russians account for about one-fourth. There are small groups of Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles, Lithuanians, and others. The official language of Latvia is Latvian; however, nearly one-third of…

Latvian language, East Baltic language spoken primarily in Latvia, where it has been the official language since 1918. It belongs to the Baltic branch of the Indo-European family of languages. (See Baltic languages.) In the late 20th century Latvian was spoken by about 1.5 million people. The

Latvian literature, body of writings in the Latvian language. Latvia’s loss of political independence in the 13th century prevented a natural evolution of its literature out of folk poetry. Much of Latvian literature is an attempt to reestablish this connection. Written literature came late,

Latvian language, East Baltic language spoken primarily in Latvia, where it has been the official language since 1918. It belongs to the Baltic branch of the Indo-European family of languages. (See Baltic languages.) In the late 20th century Latvian was spoken by about 1.5 million people. The

Latvia, country of northeastern Europe and the middle of the three Baltic states. Latvia, which was occupied and annexed by the U.S.S.R. in June 1940, declared its independence on August 21, 1991. The U.S.S.R. recognized its sovereignty on September 6, and United Nations membership followed shortly

Latvia, country of northeastern Europe and the middle of the three Baltic states. Latvia, which was occupied and annexed by the U.S.S.R. in June 1940, declared its independence on August 21, 1991. The U.S.S.R. recognized its sovereignty on September 6, and United Nations membership followed shortly

Larisa Latynina is a Soviet gymnast who was the first woman athlete to win nine Olympic gold medals and was one of the most decorated competitors in the history of the Games. At the 1956 Games in Melbourne, Australia, Latynina, who was educated at the Kyiv State Institute of Physical Culture, won

Larisa Latynina is a Soviet gymnast who was the first woman athlete to win nine Olympic gold medals and was one of the most decorated competitors in the history of the Games. At the 1956 Games in Melbourne, Australia, Latynina, who was educated at the Kyiv State Institute of Physical Culture, won

children’s literature: Overview: ” In 1923 Marie-Thérèse Latzarus tolled the passing bell in La littérature enfantine en France dans la seconde moitié du XIXe siècle (Paris; Les Presses Universitaires de France): “Children’s literature, more’s the pity, is dying.” And in 1937, in their introduction to Beaux livres, belles histoires, the compilers…

Lau Group, island cluster of Fiji in the South Pacific Ocean, east of the Koro Sea. Mainly composed of limestone, the 57 islands and islets cover a land area of 188 square miles (487 square km) and are scattered over 44,000 square miles (114,000 square km) of the South Pacific. The chief island is

Lau Group, island cluster of Fiji in the South Pacific Ocean, east of the Koro Sea. Mainly composed of limestone, the 57 islands and islets cover a land area of 188 square miles (487 square km) and are scattered over 44,000 square miles (114,000 square km) of the South Pacific. The chief island is

Lau v. Nichols, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on January 21, 1974, ruled (9–0) that, under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a California school district receiving federal funds must provide non-English-speaking students with instruction in the English language to ensure that they receive an

Samoa: European influence: …led by the orator chief Lauaki Namulau’ulu. The matai were dissatisfied with the German governor’s attempts to change the fa’a Samoa and centralize all authority in his hands. After the governor called in warships, Lauaki and nine of his leading supporters surrendered, whereupon they were tried and exiled to Saipan…

pottery: Tin-glazed ware: “Leaf and strapwork” (Laub-und-Bandelwerk) was a much used type of motif, and excellent work was done by A.F. von Löwenfinck (who is known particularly for his work on porcelain) and Joseph Philipp Danhofer. Perhaps the finest 18th-century faience was made by the factory at Höchst, near Mainz, which…

submarine: Toward diesel-electric power: …was the Narval, designed by Maxime Laubeuf, a marine engineer in the navy. Launched in 1899, the Narval was a double-hulled craft, 111.5 feet long, propelled on the surface by a steam engine and by electric motors when submerged. The ballast tanks were located between the double hulls, a concept…

Georg Joachim Rheticus was an Austrian-born astronomer and mathematician who was among the first to adopt and spread the heliocentric theory of Nicolaus Copernicus. In 1536 Rheticus was appointed to a chair of mathematics and astronomy at the University of Wittenberg. Intrigued by the news of the

William Laud was the archbishop of Canterbury (1633–45) and religious adviser to King Charles I of Great Britain. His persecution of Puritans and other religious dissidents resulted in his trial and execution by the House of Commons. Laud was the son of a prominent clothier. From Reading Grammar