Wright (WILBUR an American inventor)
WILBUR, an American inventor, brother of ORVILLE WRIGHT (q. v.), born in Millville, Ind., in 1867. The work of the two brothers is so closely associated that it is impossible to relate it separately. He went with his brother to France in 1908, where he won the Michelin prize for sustained flight. During the Hudson-Fulton celebration he flew from Governor's Island to the Hudson river, which was considered a remarkable feat in those days. He received a gold medal from the French Academy of Sciences in 1909. He died in 1912. For a detailed account of the WILBUR WRIGHT Wright brothers in the perfection of the aeroplane, see AERONAUTICS.
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Writing
. See Alphabet ; Hieroglyphics ; Pen ; Paper ; Papyrus ; Book , etc.
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Wryneck
a climbing bird allied to the woodpeckers. It takes its name from the peculiar manner in which it customarily twists the neck and turns the head or eye. There are several species. The common wryneck of Europe has toes like those of the woodpecker, two pointing forward and two pointing backward. The bill is straight and hard, suitable for rapping on the bark of trees. The tongue is long, and is capable of being extended to snap up insects. The wryneck nests in Northern Europe and migrates to southern climes for the winter. In England it goes by a number of common names, as cuckoo's fool, long-tongue, emmet hunter, cuckoo's messenger, and the like. Although a climber and in other respects quite like the woodpecker the wryneck does not use its tail as a prop.
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Wu Ting-Fang
a Chinese diplomatist; born in Hsin-hui, district of Kwangtung, China; studied Chinese literature and classics together with English in Canton, and took a law course in England in 1874-1877. On his return to China he directed the construction of the first railroad in his native land; was the first secretary of the Chinese commission to negotiate with Japan in 1895; and was afterward a plenipotentiary to ratify the treaty. He was appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the United States, Peru, and Spain in May, 1897. While residing in Washington he became very popular. In 1900 the degree of LL. D. was conferred on him by the University of Pennsylvania. He was the author of numerous articles on China in American magazines. He took a prominent part in the revolution which overthrew the Manchu dynasty, and was active in the political movements of the following years.
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Wyandotte
a city of Michigan, in Wayne co., on the Detroit river and on the Michigan Southern, the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, the Grand Trunk, and the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton railroads. It is an important industrial center and has manufactures of chemicals, salt, iron, steel ships, trunks, lumber, gasoline engines, automobiles, etc. There are a public library and a hospital. Pop. (1910) 8,287; (1920) 13,851.
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Wyandotte Cave
a natural cavern. It is an underground washout in the limestone rock of Crawford County, Indiana. Its passages have been explored for a distance of twenty-three miles. One chamber is 200 feet high and 300 broad. This cave ranks next to Mammoth Cave in size and interest. See Mammoth Cave
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Wyatt
SIR THOMAS, surnamed THE YOUNGER (to distinguish him from the preceding, of whom he was the only son), an English soldier; born about 1520. After a wild and riotous youth, he raised a body of men at his own expense, and did good service at the siege of Landrecies (1544), displaying considerable military talent; and he continued in honorable service on the Continent till 1550. In 1554, when the Spanish match was in agitation, Wyatt, in co-operation with Lady Jane Grey's father, led the Kentish men to Southwark, after gaining considerable successes over the royalists; but failing to capture Ludgate, he became separated from the main body of his followers, was taken prisoner, and soon after executed in London, April 11, 1554.
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Wyatt, Sir Thomas
Sir Thomas (1503-1542), an English poet. He was born at Kent. He was graduated from Cambridge in 1518. After traveling on the continent he returned to England where he was well received at court owing to the influence of his father, who had been in favor with Henry VII and was none the less so with Henry VIII. Wyatt's wit and poetic gifts, his polished manners and many accomplishments, made him well fitted to succeed. He was, moreover, a man of skill in the management of affairs, as well as of the strictest integrity. He was intrusted with several diplomatic missions by Henry VIII and was knighted by him in 1536. Wyatt was a student of foreign literature and had cultivated the art of verse making from his youth. His name is associated with that of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, in connection with the sonnet, a form of poetry which these two poets are said to have brought to England from Italy. Wyatt's poems were not published during his lifetime. In Tottel's Miscellany, published in 1557, ninety-six poems are assigned to him. Thirty-one sonnets by Wyatt are extant.
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Wych Hazel
a shrub or small tree native to eastern North America . See Witch Hazel
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Wycherly, William
William (1640-1716), an English dramatist. He was a native of Shropshire. He was educated in France and at Oxford University, expecting to practice law. He gave little attention to his profession, however, being fond of a gay life of fashion. His first comedy, Love in a Wood, was published in 1671. Others were The Gentleman Dancing-master, The Country Wife, and The Plain Dealer. In 1680 he married a countess who died and left him her property. He got into trouble about the title and was imprisoned for seven years. James II released him finally, paying his debts and bestowing a pension on him because of his comedy, The Plain Dealer, which greatly pleased the monarch. Wycherly lost his pension at the time of the Revolution, and, although he received an inheritance from his father, he was in constant difficulties until a few days before his death, when he married a young woman with a small fortune. While Wycherly's comedies won him considerable fame, they are so low and vulgar as to be now considered almost unreadable.
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