Single-source entries: J (17)

John Hircanus

son of Simon Maccabæus, whom he succeeded as high priest and prince of the Jews 135 b. c.; died after a reign of 29 years, distinguished by his victories and reforms, 106 b. c.

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John of Austria

or DON JOHN, a Spanish soldier; the natural son of the Emperor Charles V.; born in Ratisbon, Bavaria, Feb. 24, 1547. He was brought up in such ignorance of his birth that, till summoned by Philip II., his brother, to Spain to whom Charles had revealed the fact on his death bed-and there acknowledged as the emperor's son, he had been in total darkness as to who his parents were. His first most illustrious triumph was a victory over the Turkish galleys in the Gulf of Lepanto, in which the Ottomans lost 30,000 men; he next invaded Tunis, and in 1576 was sent by Philip as governor of the Low Countries, then in open revolt, under command of the Prince of Orange and the Archduke Matthias; here, in a succession of splendid victories, he so reduced his antagonists, that the country must soon have submitted and returned to its allegiance, had he not been, unfortunately for the duration of the Spanish rule, suddenly carried off by poison, near Namur, Belgium, Oct. 1, 1578.

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John of Gaunt

DUKE OF LAN- CASTER, 3rd son of Edward III.; born married Blanche, heiress of the duchy of. Lancaster, and himself was created duke in 1362. Three years after her death he married in 1372 Constance, and assumed the title of King of Castile, though the country and crown were seized and held by Henry of Trastamare. The military expeditions which John organized against his rival all proved un- Successful. Toward the close of his aged father's reign John gradually became the most influential personage in the realm. The young King Richard contrived to send him away on an expedition for the recovery of his crown in Spain. On this occasion John concluded a definite peace with Henry of Trastamare, in virtue of which John's daughter Catharine should succeed as queen of Castile. On his return to England after three years' absence he was able to reconcile the young king to his (John's) brother Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester. After this Richard II. seems to have reposed more confidence in John, for he made him Duke of Aquitaine and intrusted him with several embassies to France. But John of Gaunt gradually ceased to be a factor in English politics and died in London, England, Feb. 3, economics at Leland Stanford University, 1399. JOHN THE BAPTIST. See JOHN.

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John's

EVE OF ST., one of the most joyous festivals of Christendom during the Middle Ages, celebrated on Midsummer Eve. Fires were kindled chiefly in the streets and market places of the towns; sometimes they were blessed by the parish priest, but as a rule they were secular in their character. The young people leaped over the flames, or ver th threw flowers and garlands into them, rlanda int with merry songs, and dances. In Engdances. land the people on the Eve of St. John's Eve of went into the woods and gathered boughs which were placed over their doors, to 02 make good the prophecy respecting the Baptist, that many should rejoice in his ould birth. It was a lingering belief of the eri Irish peasantry that the souls of all the people on this night leave their bodies leave and wander to their ultimate place of ultizan death by land or sea.

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Johnson City

a city of Tennessee in Washington co. It is on the Southern, the Carolina, Clinchfield, and Ohio, and the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina railroads. It is well known as a summer resort, having a beautiful situation in the midst of mountain scenery. It has a Soldiers Home and the East Tennessee State Normal School. There is also a public library and other public buildings. The city has manufactures of wood, iron, cigars, furniture, etc. Pop. (1910) 8,502; (1920) 12,442.

a city of New York, in Broome co. Until 1916 it was known Lestershire. It is on the Susquehanna river, and on the Erie and the Delaware, Lackawanna , and Western railroads. Its industries include the manufacture of boots and shoes, cameras, furniture, etc. Pop. (1910 ) 3,775; (1920) 8,587.

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Johnson, Sir William

Sir William (1715-1774), a famous colonist of New York . He was a native of Ireland. In 1738 he established himself on a tract of land in the Mohawk Valley, about twenty-five miles from Schenectady. He settled colonists on his estate and opened up an extensive trade with the Indians. The six nations of the Mohawk family became so impressed with his fairness that they adopted him as a member of their tribe. In the war which followed with France they were held by his influence on the British side. They followed his lead in the operations against Crown Point and against Dieskau at Lake George. He took part in the expedition against Ticonderoga, received the surrender of Fort Niagara, was present at the capture of Montreal, and saw the surrender of all Canada. At the conclusion of the war the British Parliament gave him a grant of $25,000 and a large tract of land on the northern side of the Mohawk where the town of Johnstown, named in his honor, now stands. He was a noted man in his day. He lived in baronial style in a large wooden mansion, where he dispensed hospitality to native and white men alike with princely liberality. He started the business of glove making. He introduced sheep and blooded horses into the Mohawk Valley.

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Johnston, Mary

Mary (1870-), an American novelist. She is a native of Virginia. She published her first story, Prisoners of Hope: A Tale of Colonial Virginia, in 1898. It was a striking success and has been followed by To Have and to Hold and Audrey and Sir Mortimer, all of a historical nature.

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Johnstone

a city of Scotland in Renfrewshire. It has important manufactures of paper, shoes, iron, machinery, etc. Pop. about 12,000.

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Johnstown

a city in Cambria co., Pa.; on the Conemaugh river and Stony creek, and on the Pennsylvania and the Baltimore and Ohio railroads; 78 miles E. of Pittsburgh. It contains the great Cambria iron and steel plant, wire, tin- , plate wall-paper, paint, cement, fire brick, and leather and woolen manufactories; is the mining, lumbering, stone working, farming, and manufacturing trade center for a region having a population of 225,000; is the seat of Cambria and Johnstown Memorial Hospitals; and has National and other banks, electric light and street railroad plants, daily, weekly, and monthly periodicals. On May 31, 1889, the city was the scene of a terrible disaster caused by the breaking of the dam across the South Fork of the Conemaugh river, at a point 10 miles E. of the city. The entire valley was in a few minutes devastated and the city of Johnstown and its surrounding villages were practically swept away. Pop. ( 1910) 55,482; (1920) 67,327.

a city and county-seat Fulton of co., N. Y.; on Cayadutta creek, and on the Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville railroad; 48 miles N. W. of Albany. There are electric lights street railroads, high school, grist mills and and extensive manufactures of gloves and mittens. It has several savings banks, daily, weekly and monthly periodicals. Pop. (1910) 10,447; (1920) 10,908.

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