Biographies

Prem Rawat — teacher of inner peace and founder of The Prem Rawat Foundation Prem Rawat Profile of Prem Rawat, an Indian-born speaker and teacher of inner peace who shares a practice he calls 'self‑knowledge' and leads humanitarian and peace-oriented initiatives.

Premiership of Dean Barrow (Belize, 2008–2020) Premiership of Dean Barrow Overview of Dean Barrow's tenure as Prime Minister of Belize (2008–2020): elections, policies, economic and security issues, international diplomacy, controversies and legacy.

Prempeh I, Asantehene of the Kingdom of Ashanti Prempeh I Otumfuo Nana Prempeh I (1870–1931), thirteenth Asantehene; resisted British annexation, was exiled to the Seychelles (1896–1924), returned to Kumasi and guided the monarchy through…

Prescott Bush (1895–1972) — American Banker and U.S. Senator Prescott Bush Prescott Bush was a Connecticut Republican, banker and U.S. senator (1952–1963). He worked in investment banking, served in public office, and was patriarch of the Bush political f…

Presidency of Abraham Lincoln Overview of Abraham Lincoln's presidency (1861–1865): leadership during the Civil War, expansion of executive power, the Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, assassinatio…

Presidency of Donald Trump Overview of Donald Trump's presidency (2017–2021), its major policies, personnel and controversies, domestic and foreign actions, and its political and historical significance.

President of Indonesia The President of Indonesia is the nation's head of state and government under the 1945 Constitution; the office carries executive authority, command of the armed forces, and signif…

President of Turkmenistan The President of Turkmenistan is the republic's head of state, head of government and chief executive, commander‑in‑chief, and chair of the Cabinet. The office has dominated Turkme…

Pricilla de Oliveira Azevedo — Brazilian police officer and 2012 Women of Courage honoree Pricilla de Oliveira Azevedo Profile of Pricilla de Oliveira Azevedo, a Brazilian police officer recognized in 2012 with the U.S. State Department’s International Women of Courage Award for leadership in publi…

Pridi Banomyong: Thai Statesman, Legal Reformer and Institutional Founder Pridi Banomyong Pridi Banomyong (1900–1983) was a leading figure in Thailand’s 1932 transition to constitutional rule, serving as prime minister and regent and founding Thammasat University and th…

Primo Levi (1919–1987) Primo Levi Italian Jewish chemist and writer, Auschwitz survivor and author of If This Is a Man and The Periodic Table, known for lucid memoirs and essays on memory, morality and the human co…

Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark (1882–1944) Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark Greek and Danish prince of the House of Glücksburg; army officer, father of Prince Philip, and a figure who experienced exile after the Greco-Turkish War. He connected European roy…

Prince Andrew, Duke of York British royal, second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip; former naval officer and public representative who later stepped back from official duties amid controversy.

Prince Benedetto, Duke of Chablais (1741–1808) Prince Benedetto, Duke of Chablais Prince Benedetto of Savoy, Duke of Chablais (1741–1808), a younger son of Charles Emmanuel III, served as a Sardinian military leader, owned the Palazzo Chiablese in Turin, and lef…

Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands: life, public role, and legacy Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands Prince Bernhard (1911–2004) was the prince consort of Queen Juliana, a wartime figure, conservation advocate and controversial public personality in Dutch 20th-century history.

Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland Swedish prince (born 1979), son of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia; Duke of Värmland, member of the Swedish royal family, husband of Sofia, and father of three sons.

Prince Chichibu (Yasuhito): life, roles, and legacy Prince Chichibu Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu (1902–1953), second son of Emperor Taishō and younger brother of Emperor Shōwa; noted imperial patron, English speaker, and public figure involved in post…

Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany (Edward Augustus) Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany British prince (1739–1767), youngest brother of King George III, created Duke of York and Albany and heir presumptive until the birth of his nephew in 1762; died young and left no…

Prince Frederick (Frederick William, 1750–1765) Prince Frederick of Great Britain Prince Frederick William (1750–1765), a grandson of George II and the youngest brother of King George III, who died in adolescence and left little direct historical impact.

Prince Ioann Konstantinovich of Russia Russian prince (1886–1918), eldest son of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich; remembered for piety and gentle character, married to Princess Helen of Serbia, killed during the u…

Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern German prince of the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen line (1932–2016), husband of Princess Birgitta of Sweden, son of Frederick, Prince of Hohenzollern, and Princess Margarete Karola of S…

Prince Frederick Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld German prince and Habsburg field marshal (1737–1815) who led campaigns in the Ottoman and French Revolutionary wars, remembered for victories at Rymnik and Neerwinden and for his l…

Princess Adrienne, Duchess of Blekinge Princess Adrienne of Sweden (born 9 March 2018), Duchess of Blekinge, is the daughter of Princess Madeleine and Christopher O'Neill and a member of the Swedish royal family.

Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy British royal and first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, born 25 Dec 1936. A working member of the royal family, long-serving patron of charities and public figure; married to Sir Ang…

Princess Anne of England (1637–1640) Princess Anne of England Princess Anne, daughter of Charles I and Henrietta Maria, was born at St James's Palace in 1637 and died in childhood at Richmond Palace in 1640; she was buried at Westminster Abbe…

Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom Youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (1857–1944). Lifelong companion to her mother, wife of Prince Henry of Battenberg, and custodian of Victoria's private papers and…

Princess Chichibu (Setsuko): imperial life, public service, and international engagement Princess Chichibu Biography of Princess Chichibu (Setsuko), wife of Prince Chichibu, her background, public health leadership, international cultural roles, and lasting legacy in Japan and abroad.

Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom (1770–1840) Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom Daughter of King George III and Queen Charlotte, Princess Elizabeth (1770–1840) was a British royal who married the Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg in 1818; she had no children and live…

Princess Helen of Serbia (Jelena Petrovna) Princess Helen of Serbia Princess Helen (Jelena) of Serbia (1884–1962), daughter of King Peter I, lived at the intersection of Serbian, Montenegrin and Russian royal circles and later testified about a gir…

Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge (1833–1897) Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge British princess and Duchess of Teck; granddaughter of George III, mother of Queen Mary (Mary of Teck) and ancestor of 20th‑century British monarchs; noted for charitable work and…

Princess Peach (Mario series character) Princess Peach Princess Peach is a recurring character in Nintendo’s Mario franchise. She rules the Mushroom Kingdom, often appears as a captive but is playable in many titles and spin-offs; know…

Princess Taiping — Tang dynasty political figure and royal princess Princess Taiping Princess Taiping, daughter of Emperor Gaozong and Wu Zetian, was a dominant political figure in late 7th–early 8th century China, central to palace factions, coups, and the restora…

Princeton Lyman (1935–2018) Princeton Lyman Princeton Lyman was an American career diplomat known for his leadership on African affairs, including ambassadorships to Nigeria and South Africa and service as Assistant Secretar…

Principal Seymour Skinner — Head of Springfield Elementary (The Simpsons) Principal Skinner Fictional principal of Springfield Elementary from The Simpsons, voiced by Harry Shearer; later identified in one episode as Armin Tamzarian. Known for strictness, awkwardness and…

Priscilla Cooper Tyler Elizabeth Priscilla Cooper Tyler (1816–1889) served as acting First Lady for President John Tyler (1842–1844). Formerly a stage actress, she was a White House hostess and a promine…

Priscilla Lane (1915–1995) Priscilla Lane American film actress and member of the Lane Sisters, known for roles in Four Daughters, The Roaring Twenties and Arsenic and Old Lace; active mainly in the 1930s–1940s.

Priyan (Indian cinematographer) Priyan Priyan (April 1964 – 9 November 2017) was an Indian cinematographer known for his work in Tamil-language cinema. He shot a range of popular films across genres and is remembered fo…

Procopius of Caesarea: Sixth‑Century Historian of the Justinian Era Procopius Procopius of Caesarea (c. 500–c. 565) was a leading Eastern Roman scholar and eyewitness historian who chronicled Justinian’s wars, building projects, and court intrigues in three…

Prosper Ego (1927–2015) Prosper Ego Dutch activist and writer; founder and long-time leader of the Oud-Strijders Legioen (Former Warriors Legion), known for veteran advocacy and conservative political activism in the…

Prospero Grech — Maltese Augustinian theologian and cardinal Prosper Grech Maltese Augustinian friar and patristics scholar who co-founded the Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome; elevated to the cardinalate by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.

Prosper Mérimée 19th-century French writer, historian and monument preservationist, best known for the novella "Carmen," which inspired Bizet's opera, and for his work safeguarding France's histor…

Province of Biella — overview, geography, history and culture Province of Biella A concise encyclopedia entry on the Province of Biella in Piedmont, Italy: geography, history, economy, cultural highlights and notable sites including the Sanctuary of Oropa.

Pseudonym: definition, types, history, uses and legal points Pseudonym A clear, concise encyclopedia entry on pseudonyms: what they are, common forms (pen names, stage names, aliases), historical origin, reasons for use, legal and cultural considerati…

Pua Magasiva: Samoan-born New Zealand Actor and Broadcaster Pua Magasiva Actor and radio presenter from Samoa who became widely known in New Zealand for Power Rangers Ninja Storm and Shortland Street; remembered for contributions to Pasifika representat…

Publius Ovidius Naso (Ovid) — Roman poet of love, myth and exile Publius Ovidius Naso Publius Ovidius Naso (Ovid), born 43 BC in Sulmo, was a leading Roman poet whose works—Metamorphoses, Amores, Ars Amatoria and exile poems—shaped classical and later European liter…

Publius Quinctilius Varus, Roman governor defeated at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest Publius Quinctilius Varus Publius Quinctilius Varus (46 BC–AD 9), Roman politician and governor whose ambush by Arminius at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest annihilated three legions and halted Rome’s advance…

Pumpsie Green Elijah Jerry "Pumpsie" Green (1933–2019) was an American Major League Baseball infielder, best known as the first Black player to appear for the Boston Red Sox and a member of the…

Punathil Kunjabdulla: Malayalam novelist, poet and physician (1940–2017) Punathil Kunjabdulla Malayalam modernist writer and medical doctor Punathil Kunjabdulla (1940–2017) is remembered for the award‑winning novel Smarakasilakal and his candid, iconoclastic contributions t…