[Camden, William], a learned English antiquary, the first and most famous born in London; second master, and eventually head-master in Westminster School, during which time he gave proof of his antiquarian knowledge, which led to his appointment as Clarencieux king-at-arms; author of "Britannia," a historical and topographical account of the British Isles, his most widely known work, and "Annals of Elizabeth's Reign," both, as all the rest of his works, written in Latin; he has been surnamed the Strabo and the Pausanias of England (1551-1623).
[Camelot], a place in Somerset, where, it is presumed, King Arthur held his court, and where entrenchments of an old town are still to be seen.
[Camenæ], in the Roman mythology a set of nymphs endowed with semi-prophetic powers, and sometimes identified with the Muses.
[Cameo], a precious stone cut in relief; consists generally of two or three different colours, the upper cut in relief and the under forming the ground.
[Camera Lucida], an optical instrument or contrivance, by means of which the image of an object may be made to appear on a light or white surface.
[Camera Obscura], an optical contrivance, by means of which the images of external objects are exhibited distinctly on a surface in the focus of the lens.
[Camerarius], a distinguished scholar, born at Bamberg; active as a German Reformer; played a prominent part in the religious struggles of his time; friend and biographer of Melanchthon; collaborated with him in drawing up the Augsburg Confession (1500-1574).
[Cameron, John], a learned divine, born in Glasgow, who held several professorial appointments on the Continent; was for a time Principal of Glasgow University; his knowledge was so extensive that he was styled a "walking library," but he fell in disfavour with the people for his doctrine of passive obedience, and he died of a wound inflicted by an opponent of his views (1579-1625).
[Cameron, Richard], a Scotch Covenanter of the 17th century, born in Falkland, Fife; a ringleader of the persecuted Presbyterians, took to arms along with sixty others in defence of his rights; was surprised by a body of dragoons at [Airds Moss] (q. v.), and after a brave fight slain, his head and hands cut off, and fixed on the Netherbow Port, at the head of the Canongate, Edinburgh, in 1680.
[Cameron, Verney Lovett], African explorer, born near Weymouth; traversed Africa all the way from east to west (1873-75); he was on the track of important discoveries, but his explorations were cut short by the natives; wrote "Across Africa" (1844-1894).