LOSSING, BENSON JOHN, an Amer ican historian; born in Beekman, Dutchess co., N. Y., Feb. 12, 1813. He published "Pictorial Field-Books" of the Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War, the first in 1850-1852 (2 vols.), the second in 1868, the third 1866-1869 (3 vols.). He was a wood engraver, and himself made the engrav ings for the works, the scenic ones large ly from sketches on the spots. He wrote also "Lives of the Presidents of the United States" (1847) ; "Biographies of Eminent Americans" (1855) ; "Cyclope dia of United States History" (1881, re vised and enlarged to 10 vols., by George J. Hagar 1901) ; "History of New York City" (1884) ; "The Empire State" (1887) ; etc. He died near Dover Plains, N. Y., June 3, 1891.
LOT (16) (Latin Oltis), one of the largest tributaries of the Garonne in southern France, rising in the Cevennes, flowing in a generally W. direction, being known at first as the Olt, through the departments of Lozere, Aveyron, Lot, and Lot-et-Garonne, and joining the Ga ronne from the right at Aiguillon, after a course of nearly 300 miles, nearly two thirds being navigable.
LOT, a department in the S. of France, formed out of parts of the old province Df Guienne, and comprising the arron lissements of Cahors, Gourdon, and Figeac, watered by the Dordogne and the Lot; area 2,017 square miles; pop.,
about 220,000. The E. districts are invaded by the Causses plateaus of the Cevennes; the valleys fertile; wheat, maize, tobacco, fruits, chestnuts, and especially wine are the more important products. Sheep-breeding is largely carried on. Milling, tanning, flax mills, and the manufacture of woolens are the only branches of industry. Capital, Cahors.
LOT, according to the Book of Genesis, the son of Haran, and nephew of Abra ham, by whom he was brought up. He afterward settled at Sodom, where he was taken prisoner by the King of Edom, but rescued by Abraham. When Sodom was about to be destroyed, two angels came to Lot and obliged him to quit the place with his wife and daughters, when the former, for looking back, was turned into a pillar of salt. By his daughters he became the father of two sons, named Moab and Ammon, from whom sprung the Moabites and Ammonites.