Montaigne \mo n -'ten y ,\ English \man-'tan\, Michel (Eyquem) de
(b. Feb. 28, 1533, Chateau de Montaigne, near Bordeaux, France—d. Sept. 23, 1592, Chateau de Montaigne) French courtier and author. Born into the minor nobility, Montaigne received an excellent Classical educa¬ tion (speaking only Latin up to age 6) before studying law and serving as counselor at the Bordeaux Parliament. There he met the lawyer Eti¬ enne de La Boetie, with whom he formed an extraordinary friendship; the void left by La Boetie’s death in 1563 likely led Montaigne to begin his writing career. He retired to his chateau in 1571 to work on his Essais (1580, 1588), a series of short prose reflections on many subjects that form
Jean Mortenson (b. June 1,
Marilyn Monroe.
BROWN BROTHERS
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one of the most captivating and intimate self-portraits ever written. At once deeply critical of his time and deeply involved in its struggles, he sought understanding through self-examination, which he developed into a description of the human condition and an ethic of authenticity, self¬ acceptance, and tolerance. Though most of his later years were devoted to writing, he occasionally served as mediator in episodes of religious conflict in his region and beyond, and served as mayor of Bordeaux dur¬ ing the troubled period 1581-85. See also essay.
Montale \mon-'ta-la\, Eugenio (b. Oct. 12, 1896, Genoa, Italy—d. Sept. 12, 1981, Milan) Italian poet, prose writer, editor, and translator. Montale began his literary activities after World War I, cofounding a jour¬ nal, writing for other journals, and serving as a library director in Flo¬ rence. His first book of poems. Cuttlefish Bones (1925), expressed the bitter pessimism of the postwar period. He was identified with Hermeticism in the 1930s and ’40s, and his works became progressively introverted and obscure. With The Storm and Other Poems (1956) his writing showed the increasing skill, warmth, and directness characteristic of his late period. His stories and sketches were collected in The Butterfly ofDinard (1956). He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1975.
Montalembert \mo n -ta-la n -'ber\, Charles (-Forbes-Rene), count de (b. April 15, 1810, London, Eng.—d. March 13, 1870, Paris, France) French politician and historian. He began his political career as a journalist for several Catholic journals, became a leader of the liberal Roman Catholics in the July monarchy, and was a member of the House of Peers (1835-48). A champion of civil and religious liberties, he opposed Napoleon Ill’s policies after 1851. He wrote such historical works as The Catholic Interest in the 19th Century (1852), The Political Future of England (1856), and Monks of the West (1863-77).
Montana State (pop., 2000: 902,195), northwestern U.S. Bordered by Canada and the U.S. states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho, it covers 147,046 sq mi (380,849 sq km); its capital is Helena. Montana straddles the Great Plains to the east and the Rocky Mountains to the west. Unique among the states, its rivers flow into three of the con¬ tinent’s primary watersheds: the Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, and Hud¬ son Bay. At the time of European settlement the region was inhabited by various Indian tribes, including the Cheyenne, Blackfoot, Nez Perce, and Crow. Most of Montana was obtained by the U.S. through the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The western part was disputed until 1846, when Brit¬ ain relinquished its claim to the area. The Lewis and Clark Expedition explored Montana in 1804-06. St. Mary’s Mission, established in 1841 by Roman Catholic missionaries, became the first permanent town as Stevensville. Gold was discovered in the early 1860s; grazing of cattle and sheep was introduced later that decade, leading to bitter battles with the Indians, whose hunting grounds were destroyed. Montana Territory was established in 1864. Though the U.S. troops of George Armstrong Custer were defeated and slain at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, the Indians ceased fighting in 1877 and were placed on reservations. Montana became the 41st state in 1889. Vast deposits of copper were found in the 1890s, and mining was the economic mainstay for almost a century. The state’s economy now emphasizes tourism.
Montana, Joe in full Joseph Clifford Montana, Jr. (b. June 11, 1956, New Eagle, Pa., U.S.) U.S. football quarterback. He played for the University of Notre Dame, leading his team to the national championship in 1977. Playing with the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1993, he led the team to Super Bowl championships in 1982, 1985, 1989, and 1990. He maintained one of the highest passing-completion rates in the NFL, with a career average of 63.2. His career totals for passes completed (3,409), yards passing (40,551), and touchdown passes (273) are among the highest on record. He finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs (1993-95) and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
Montand \m6 n -'ta n \, Yves orig. Ivo Livi (b. Oct. 13, 1921, Monsum- mano Alto, Italy—d. Nov. 9, 1991, Senlis, France) Italian-born French actor and singer. Raised in Marseille, he was the protege of the famous chanteuse Edith Piaf in the late 1940s. He married the actress Simone Signoret (1921-85) in 1951. International renown came with his appear¬ ance in the film Wages of Fear (1953). In Hollywood he starred opposite Marilyn Monroe in Let’s Make Love (1960), and their romantic affair was widely publicized. His later films included Z (1969), Jean de Florette, and Manon of the Spring (both 1987). For most of his life he was known as a supporter of left-wing causes. He enjoyed great success as a singer, especially in France.
Montanes \,mon-tan-'yas\, Juan (de) Martinez (b. March 16, 1568, Alcala la Real, Jaen, Spain—d. June 18, 1649, Sevilla) Spanish sculptor. After studying in Granada, he established his studio in Sevilla (Seville) and was instrumental in the transition from Mannerism to the Baroque. He became known as el dios de la madera (“the god of wood”) because of his great skill at wood carving. His output and influence over 50 years were enormous. Montanes is remembered for his wood altars and altar figures covered with polished gold and coloured paint, which are realistic yet idealized. His work influenced not only the sculptors and altar makers of Spain and Latin America but also the Spanish painters of his century.
Montanism Vman-to-.ni-zonA Heretical Christian movement founded in ad 156 by Montanus. Having converted to Christianity, Montanus fell into a trance and began to prophesy. Others joined him, and the move¬ ment spread through Asia Minor. The Montanists held that the Holy Spirit was speaking through Montanus and that the Second Coming was immi¬ nent. The bishops of Asia Minor excommunicated the Montanists (c. 177), but the movement continued in the East as a separate sect; it also flour¬ ished in Carthage, where its most illustrious convert was Tertullian. It had almost died out by the 5th-6th century, though some remnants survived into the 9th century.
Montcalm \mant-'kalm\ (de Saint-Veran), Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Grozon, marquis de (b. Feb. 28, 1712, Chateau de Candiac, France—d. Sept. 14, 1759, Quebec) French military leader. He joined the French army at age 12 and fought in several European con¬ flicts. In 1756 he was placed in command of French troops in North America, but his commission excluded most military resources in Canada. He forced the British to surrender their post at Oswego and captured Fort William Henry (1757). At the Battle of Ticonderoga (1758), he repulsed an attack by 15,000 British troops with a force of just 3,800 men. Pro¬ moted to lieutenant general, he received authority over military affairs in Canada. In 1759 a British force of 8,500 troops under Gen. James Wolfe marched on Quebec; in the ensuing Battle of Quebec, Montcalm fought with conspicuous gallantry and was mortally wounded.