Portal:Biography

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The Biography Portal

Biography (from the Greek words bios (βιος), meaning 'life', and graphein, meaning 'to write') is a genre of literature or film which presents a relatively full account of the most interesting and important events of a notable person's life. While a biography may focus on a fictional person, the term usually refers to non-fiction works. As opposed to summaries of people's lives, such as profiles or curriculum vitae, a biography is a continuous narrative which interprets and explains the person's character, personality, and social context.

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Featured biography

Rhys ap Gruffydd (1132 – 28 April 1197) was the ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales. He is commonly known as The Lord Rhys, in Welsh Yr Arglwydd Rhys, but this title may not have been used in his lifetime. He usually used the title "Prince of Deheubarth" or "Prince of South Wales", but two documents have been preserved in which he uses the title "Prince of Wales" or "Prince of the Welsh". Rhys was one of the most successful and powerful Welsh princes, and after the death of Owain Gwynedd of Gwynedd in 1170 was the dominant power in Wales.

Rhys's grandfather, Rhys ap Tewdwr, was king of Deheubarth, and was killed at Brecon in 1093 by Bernard de Neufmarche. Following his death, most of Deheubarth was taken over by the Normans. Rhys's father, Gruffydd ap Rhys, was eventually able to become ruler of a small portion, and more territory was won back by Rhys's older brothers after Gruffydd's death. Rhys became ruler of Deheubarth in 1155. He was forced to submit to King Henry II of England in 1158. Henry invaded Deheubarth in 1163, stripped Rhys of all his lands and took him prisoner. A few weeks later he was released and given back a small part of his holdings. Rhys made an alliance with Owain Gwynedd and after the failure of another invasion of Wales by Henry in 1165 was able to win back most of his lands.

In 1171 Rhys made peace with King Henry and was confirmed in possession of his recent conquests as well as being named Justiciar of South Wales. He maintained good relations with King Henry until the latter's death in 1189. Following Henry's death Rhys revolted against Richard I and attacked the Norman lordships surrounding his territory, capturing a number of castles. In his later years Rhys had trouble keeping control of his sons, particularly Maelgwn and Gruffydd, who maintained a feud with each other. Rhys launched his last campaign against the Normans in 1196 and captured a number of castles. The following year he died unexpectedly and was buried in St David's Cathedral. (Read more...)

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Selected portrait

Walt Whitman (born Walter Whitman) (May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist, journalist, and humanist born in West Hills, Huntington on Long Island in New York. His most famous works are the poetry collections Leaves of Grass and Drum-Taps. (read more...)

Photo credit: George C. Cox (1887), Source: Library of Congress.

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Did you know...

• ...that former child actor Richard Eyer, who played the boy who runs "afowl" of the goose in William Wyler's 1956 film Friendly Persuasion, is now an elementary school teacher in Bishop, California?
• ...that 1985 NCAA hurdling champion Thomas Wilcher won the Michigan High School Athletic Association team track & field championship three consecutive times, both as an athlete and a coach?
• ...that after winning three medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics as a 16-year-old, Anita Nall retired from competitive swimming in 2000 due to chronic fatigue syndrome?

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See also: Biographies of living persons

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On this day - May 17

Births

• 1682 - Bartholomew Roberts, AKA Black Bart, notorious Welsh pirate (d. 1722)
• 1749 - Edward Jenner, English medical researcher (d. 1823) (pictured)
• 1873 - Henri Barbusse, French novelist and journalist (d. 1935)
• 1873 - Dorothy Richardson, English writer (d. 1957)
• 1936 - Dennis Hopper, American actor and director
• 1961 - Enya, Irish singer and songwriter

Deaths

• 1510 - Sandro Botticelli, Italian painter (b. 1445)
• 1829 - John Jay, first Chief Justice of the United States (b. 1745)
• 1838 - Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, French diplomat (b. 1754)
• 1875 - John C. Breckinridge, Vice President of the United States (b. 1821)
• 1886 - John Deere, American blacksmith and manufacturer (b. 1804)
• 1947 - George William Forbes, Prime Minister of New Zealand (b. 1869)
• 1992 - Lawrence Welk, American musician (b. 1903)

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