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VILLARD 220 VILLEHARDOUIN VILLARD, HENRY, an American capitalist; born in Spire, Gei-many, April 11, 1835; received a good education; re- moved to the United States in 1853_; and engaged in newspaper work in Chicago. In 1859, as a correspondent for the Cin- cinnati "Commercial," he was sent to the Colorado gold region; and during the Civil War was a correspondent in Washington, D. C, for Eastern and Western papers. In 1873, as agent for German stockholders, he bought the Ore- gon and California railroad and the Ore- gon Steamship companies. In 1875 with C. S. Greeley he was made receiver of the Kansas Pacific railroad. He next formed the Oregon and Transcontinental Company, which afterward controlled the Oregon Railv/ay and Navigation Company and the Northern Company. In 1881-1884 he was president of the North- ern Pacific, and in 1889-1893 was chair- man of the board of directors. In 1890 he purchased the Edison Machine Works in Schenectady, N. Y., and the Edison Lamp works in Newark, N. J., and from these organized the Edison General Electric Company, of which he was pres- ident for two years. He made liberal donations to charitable, educational, and religious enterprises, and published "The Pike's Peak Gold Regions." He died in Dobbs Ferry, N. Y., Nov. 11, 1900. VILLARD, OSWALD GARRISON, an American writer and editor, born at Wiesbaden, Germany, in 1872. He was a grandson of William Lloyd Garrison, was educated at Harvard University, and received honorary degrees from Washington and Lee University and from Lafayette College. From 1894 to 1896 he was assistant in United States History at Harvard, from 1896 to 1897 a reporter on the Philadelphia "Press"; and from 1897 to 1918 an editorial writer and president of the New York "Evening Post." After selling this newspaper, he became editor and owner of the New York "Nation." He was president of the board of the Manassas (Va.) In- dustrial School. Besides numerous maga- zine articles he wrote "John Brown — a Biography Fifty Years After" (1910) ; "Germany Embattled" (1915). VILLARI, PASQUALE, an Italian historian; born in Naples, Italy, in 1827. His principal works are: "History of Girolamo Savonarola and his Times" (1859-1861); "Niccolo Machiavelli and his Times" (1877-1882); "Ancient Leg- ends and Traditions Illustrating the Divine Comedy" (1865) ; "Essays Criti- cal, Historical, and Literary" (1868) ; "Teaching History" (1869) ; "The School and the Social Question in Italy" (1872). He died in 1914. VILLARS, CLAUDE LOUIS HEC- TOR, DUG DE, a French military officer; born in Moulins, France, May 8, 1653. He early distinguished himself under Turenne, Cond^, and Luxembourg, and was created mai'echal de camp in 1690, and lieutenant-general in 1693. In the wars of the Spanish succession he was sent to co-operate with the Elector of Bavaria. He defeated Prince Louis of Baden at Friedlingen, Oct. 14, 1702, for which he received the marshal's baton; and having joined the elector he defeated the Prince of Baden at Hochstadt, Sept. 21, 1703. His success in dealing with the insurrection of the Camisards obtained for him the title of duke (1705). Hav- ing been sent to defend the frontier against Marlborough, he forced the for- midable lines of Stollhofen, near Strass- burg, and penetrated far into Germany (1705-1707). In 1709 he replaced Ven- dome in Flanders, and fought the battle of Malplaquet against Marlborough and Eugene, in which he was seriously wounded. In 1712 he defeated the allies at Denain, took Marchiennes, and re- lieved Landrecy. After the peace of Utrecht he opposed Eugene with unin- terrupted success, and negotiated with him the peace of Rastadt, March 7, 1714. On the renewal of the war with Austria in 1733 he was sent to Italy at the head of an army, with the title of Marshal- General of France. After a successful campaign, he died in Turin, Italy, June 14, 1734. VILLARSIA, a ^enus of plants of th© natural order Gentnanaceie, the species of which are widely distributed over the world, and are either aquatic or marsh plants, with entire leaves and yellow flow- ers. V. (Limnantheirmm) nymphoides is a native of England, but rare; it is more common in many parts of Europe, from Denmark to the Mediterranean, and is very abundant in Holland, often cover- ing large tracts of the canals with its beautiful flowers and leaves. V. indica is regarded as a valuable medicine in India, being given internally to persons bitten by cobra. Several species from south Africa and Australia are culti- vated in British aquariums for the beauty of their flowers. VILLEHARDOUIN, GEOFFROI DE, a French chronicler; born in the family chateau near Bar-sur-Aube, about 1160. In 1180 he succeeded his father Guil- laume as Marshal of Champagne under Thibaut, brother of Henri II. of France, and in 1201 he was one of the ambassa- dors despatched to Venice to make ar- rangements for the transport of the forces for the fourth crusade. On his return he found Thibaut dangerously ill,