Ramsey

3929

Randolph

 

sity College, London. Although Ramsay's
first work was in organic chemistry, he soon
turned his attention to what was then a
new branch of the subject—physical chemis-
try—and became its leading exponent in
Great Britain. In 1893 Lord Rayleigh's dis-
covery of a difference between the density of
the nitrogen obtained from the atmosphere
and that from chemical compounds, led
Ramsay to investigate the matter, which
ended in his discovery, jointly with Ray-
leigh, of the element argon, a gas of hitherto
unknown properties. Pursuing his investiga-
tions, he afterward isolated four more gase-
ous elements—helium, xenon, krypton, and
neon. Possessed of great powers as a teacher,
and of a personality that infected with en-
thusiasm, he founded a school of workers
that produced a mass of interesting results.
He was awarded (1904) the Nobel prize in
chemistry,
Ramsey, Alexander (1815-1903), Ameri-
can politician, born near Harrisburg, Pa. He
was the first territorial governor of Minn, in
1849-53- He became mayor of St. Paul in
1855; was governor of Minn, during 1859-
63, and was U. S. Senator. In 1879 ^ne suc-
ceeded George W. McCrary as Secretary of
War; during 1882-84 he was chairman of
the Utah commission.
Ranee, Armand Jean le Boutnillier de
(1626-1700), founder of the Trappists, born
of a noble family of Paris, was a great fa-
vorite at court, but retired to the abbey of
La Trappc, where he instituted the severe
discipline for which that monastery is cele-
brated,
Ranch, or Range, the unenclosed area on
which cattle and sheep arc grazed in the
Western states of the U. S., the graziers and
their assistants being known as ranchmen,
ranchers, rangers, and cowboys. Ordinarily
the term ranch is used lo designate privately
owned land, with the stock-yords, buildings,
etc., while range denotes grazing grounds in
general. Ranching is associated with Texas,
Kansas, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming,
Colorado, Montana, Idaho, California, and
Oregon. The enormous ranges of Argentina
and Uruguay and the 'stations* of Australia
are corresponding institutions. See T. Roose-
velt's Ranch Life and the Bunting Trail
(1889).
Rancidity, the change that takes place in
the 'non-drying* oils and fats when they are
exposed to air and light. The change is rec-
ognized by the development of an objection-

able smell and taste, due to the formation of
free fatty acids.
Rand, Benjamin, author (1856-1934),
born in Canning, Nova Scotia, was educated
at Acadia College, Harvard U., and Heidel-
berg U. He is emeritus librarian of philoso-
phy at Harvard U., and among other works
has written, Bibliography of Economics,
(1895), Modern Classical Philosophers
(1907), Locke's Essay (1931), Berkeley's Am-
erican Sojourn (1932).
Rand, The, popular name of the rich gold-
mining district of the Witwatersrand, w. of
Johannesburg, Transvaal Colony, British S*
Africa, Discovered in 1884, the Rand mines
had, when the war broke out in 1899, an out-
put of 4,256,800 oz. in the year.
Randall, Alexander Williams (1819-
72), American politician, born in Ames,
Montgomery co., N. Y. He moved with his
father to Waukesha, Wis. In 1855 was ap-
pointed judge of the Milwaukee circuit
court; in 1857 and 1859 was elected gov-
ernor. He was minister to Italy in 1861, first
assistant postmaster-general in 1862, and
postmaster-general in 1866, and held the last-
mentioned office until the close of Johnson's
administration.
Randall, James Ryder (1839-1908), Am-
erican journalist and poet, born at Balti-
more. The attack on the Massachusetts and
Pennsylvania troops in Baltimore on April
19, 1861, inspired his poem, 'Maryland, My
Maryland/ which, set to music, has beer
called "The Marseillaise of the South.' Ran-
dall wrote several other war songs. In 1865
he joined the staff of the Augusta (Ga.)
Constitutionalist, and in 1866 became its
editor-in-chief. In 1905 he became editor
of the New Orleans Morning Star.
Randall, Samuel Jackson (1828-90),
American politician, born in Philadelphia. He
served in the Civil War; was elected to Con-
gress as a Democrat in 1862, and served con-
tinuously from 1863 until his death in 1890.
Randolph, Edmund Jennings (1753-
1813), American statesman, born in Wil*
liamsburg, Va. In 1786 he succeeded Patrick
Henry as governor of Virginia, holding that
office until 1788. He was a member of the
Virginia constitutional convention of 1776
and of the Continental Congress during
1779-82, He became the first attorney-gen-
eral under the new government and succeed-
ed Jefferson as secretary of state in 1794.
Randolph, Isham (1848-1920), American
engineer, was a member of the Board of the