Radowitz
JOSEPH VON, a Prussian statesman; born in Blankenburg, Feb. 6, 1797; entered the Westphalian army in 1813. After the peace of 1815 he taught in the military school of Cassel; but in 1823 he entered the Prussian service, and in 1830 became chief of the general staff of artillery. In 1836 Radowitz was sent as Prussian military commissioner to the German Diet at Frankfort, and held diplomatic posts. He was the confidant and adviser of King Frederick William IV. After the revolution of 1848 the endeavors of Prussia to give a constitution to Germany, by means of the alliance of the three kings, was principally his work. He wrote several works, mainly political, and died Dec. 25, 1853.
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Radzivil
or RADZIWILL, the name of an ancient Polish family of Lithuania, which commenced to figure in history in the 14th century. Nicholas Radzivil, the first of the name, was created by Jagellon, Grand-Duke of Lithuania, palatine of Wilna. The most_celebrated of his brated of his descendants were: NICH- OLAS, palatine of Wilna and governor of Livonia, under Sigismund Augustus, King of Poland. He signalized himself by his valor against the Teutonic order in 1557, and against the Russians, whom, in 1565, he completely defeated. He abjured the Catholic for the Protestant religion. Born about 1500. He died in 1567. CHARLES RADZIVIL, palatine of Wilna. Nominated, in 1762, governor of Lithuania, by Augustus III., King of Poland, he energetically combated Russian influence; but, not succeeding in preventing the dismemberment of his native country, he went into exile. He died in 1790.
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Raeburn
SIR HENRY, a Scotch painter; born in Edinburgh, Scotland, March 4, 1756. Bound apprentice to a goldsmith, he was no sooner free than he devoted himself to portrait painting. In Having 1787, he established himself in Edinburgh, and soon rose to the head of his the profession in Scotland. He was knight- Rad- ed by George IV., in 1822, and died in well Edinburgh, July 8, 1823.
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Raff
JOACHIM, a German composer; born in Lachen, on Lake Zurich, May 27, 1822. He began life as a schoolmaster, but encouraged by Mendelssohn, he devoted himself to music. From 1850 to 1856 he lived near Liszt in Weimar, then taught music as Wiesbaden till 1877; and from that year till his death, June 24, 1882, he was director of the musical conservatory at Frankfort-on- Main. He published more than 200 musical productions. The symphonies "Leonore" and "In the Forest" are reputed his best works.
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Raffia
raf'fi-a, a Madagascar palm. The tough, stringy raffia of commerce is a fiber stripped from the under side of the leaves. It is twisted into skeins and baled for export. It turns brown in drying. Raffia is used by the natives in weaving matting and cloth. Hats are made of it in England. On account of its softness, strength, and durability, gardeners prefer raffia for tying tender plants to stakes or trellises. It is much used in the vineyards of Europe. It is an excellent wrapping for grafting. Raffia weaving has become a favorite kindergarten occupation in American schools. See Ramie ; Hemp ; Sisal ; Manila
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Raffle
. See Lottery
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Raffles
SIR THOMAS STAM- FORD, an English naturalist; born at sea, July 5, 1781. He entered the East India Company's civil service, and in 1811, on the reduction of Java by the British, he was made lieutenant-governor of the island. In this post he continued till 1816, when he returned to England with an extensive collection of the productions, etc., of the Eastern Archipelago. The year following appeared his "History of Java." Having been appointed to the lieutenant-governorship of Bencoolen, Sumatra, he went out in 1818 to fill this post ; founded the settlement of Singapore, and returned to Europe in 1824. He died July 5, 1826.
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Rafflesia
named after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the typical genus of Rafflesiaceæ. The first and finest species discovered was R. arnoldi, found by Raffles and Dr. Arnold in Su 1818. The flower (there is no stem) is Sumatra in more than a yard across . an RAFFLESIACEÆ, rafflesiads; order of rhizogens. Stemless plants, having flowers immersed among scales, and growing directly from the surface of leaves. Perianth globose or campanulate, superior, limb five-parted, the throat surrounded by calli either distinct or constituting a ring. Column salvershaped, or globose, with a row of anthers one or many-celled. Ovary inferior, one-celled, with parietal rietal placentæ, and many seeds; fruit indehiscent. Parasites from the East Indies and South America. Known genera five, species 16.
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Raft
a sort of float or framework, consisting of logs or other pieces of timber fastened together side by side, for convenience in transporting them down rivers, across harbors , etc. Also a floating structure made and used in the emergency of shipwreck . Rafts are made of materials usually accessible on shipboard, spars lashed together by ropes, the flotative power being increased by empty casks lashed in the structure. When made and furnished as a part of a ship's equipment they are constructed with pontoons , and provided with stanchions and ropes, which form a protection against persons falling or being washed overboard . Such a raft is carried in a collapsed condition for compact stowage, and is launched in that less bulky condition; after it is in the water it is brought into working shape by the purchases. chases. Also more readily a large collection of timber and fallen trees, which, floating down the great rivers of the western United States are arrested in their downward course by flats or shallow places, where they accumulate, and sometimes block up the river for miles.
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Rafter
in building, one of the pieces of timber which follow the slope of the roof, and to which are secured the laths into which the shingle or slate nails are driven. Rafters, though all performing the same general duty, have specific names according to their particular functions; as hip-rafter, jack-rafter, etc.
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Ragatz
a spa of Switzerland, in the S. E. corner of the canton of St. Vol. VII-Cyc Gall, 68 miles S. E. of Zurich and 13 N. by W. of Chur (Coire), at the mouth of the ravine leading to Pfäfers, from which town it gets its healing waters by long. Schelling, the German philosomeans of a pipe (1838-1840) 2½ miles pher, is buried in the parish churchyard.
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