Physicist and mathematician, born Paris, France, 1774; died there, 1862. In 1800 he obtained the chair of mathematical physics in the College de France, and subsequently was engaged in the standardization of the length of the meter. He discovered the laws of rotary polarization by crystalline bodies, and advocated the corpuscular theory of light.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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