Mikhail Zagoskin

Mikhail Zagoskin, a Russian author, born in the government of Penza in 1789, died in Moscow in July, 1852. He served in the campaign of 1812, was afterward connected with the imperial library at St. Petersburg, in 1820 became director of the theatre at Moscow, and in 1842 was made keeper of the armory in the Kremlin. He wrote 17 comedies, of which the most important are: "Mr. BoganotoiJ, or the Country Gentleman in the Metropolis;" "Boganototf the Second, or the Metropolitan in the Country;" " A Romance on the High Road;" and "The Journey Abroad." His novel Yuri Miloslavski (3 vols., Moscow, 1829) gave him a high reputation. It was translated into English as " The Young Muscovite, or the Poles in Russia" (London, 1834). None of his many later novels attained such success. He published three or four volumes of essays under the title Moskva i Moskvitchi.

Miklos Zrinyi

Miklos Zrinyi, count, a Hungarian soldier, born in 1518, killed at Sziget, near the Drave, Sept. 7,1566. When only 12 years old, Charles V. gave him a gold chain for his conduct during the siege of Vienna. He afterward became ban of Croatia, and at the siege of Sziget with 3,000 men he resisted Solyman the Magnificent and Mohammed Sokolovich, his grand vizier, at the head of 65,000 men, for more than a month. After the Turks had taken the city, Zrinyi, setting it on fire, threw himself into the castle, and there maintained the defence, fighting day and night, and refusing to surrender though Solyman threatened to kill his son, whom he pretended to have in his power. Solyman died of rage, but Sokolovich kept up the siege, and during the final assault the defenders, reduced to 600, rushed forth and fell fighting. In this siege the Turks lost more than 20,000 men.

Milam

Milam, a central county of Texas, bordered N. E. by the Brazos river, intersected by Little river, and drained by its tributaries the San Gabriel, Brushy creek, and others; area, 1,048 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 8,984, of whom 2,977 were colored. The surface is generally rolling, in some places hilly and broken, and the soil is mostly fertile. The chief productions in 1870 were 201,117 bushels of Indian corn, 21,391 of sweet potatoes, 21,881 lbs. of wool, 37,549 of butter, and 5,143 bales of cotton. There were 4,543 horses, 4,106 milch cows, 24,706 other cattle, 6,498 sheep, and 16,672 swine. Capital, Cameron.

Miles Darden

Miles Darden, probably the largest man on record, born in North Carolina in 1798, died in Henderson co., Tenn., Jan. 23, 1857. He was 7 ft. 6 in. high, and in 1845 weighed 871 lbs. At his death his weight was a little over 1,000 lbs. Until 1853 he was active and lively, and able to labor, but from that time was obliged to stay at home, or be hauled about in a two-horse wagon. In 1839 his coat was buttoned around three men, each weighing more than 200 lbs., who walked together in it across the square at Lexington. His coffin was 8 ft. long, 35 in. deep, 32 in. across the breast, 18 across the head, and 14 across the feet.