The first five editions of The Columbia Encyclopedia were published in 1935, 1950, 1963, 1975, and 1993. All editions owe a debt of gratitude to Clark Fisher Ansley, the editor of the first edition,…
(Encyclopedia) Peter, two letters of the New Testament, classified among the Catholic (or General) Epistles. Each opens with a statement of authorship by the apostle St. Peter. First Peter, the…
(Encyclopedia) Lefort, FrançoisLefort, FrançoisfräNswäˈ ləfôrˈ [key], 1656–99, Swiss soldier of fortune in Russian service, b. Geneva. He was one of the early boon companions of Peter I (Peter the…
(Encyclopedia) Alexis (Aleksey Petrovich)Alexisəlyĭksyāˈ pētrôˈvĭch [key], 1690–1718, Russian czarevich; son of Peter I (Peter the Great) by his first wife, and father of Peter II. Opposing his…
(Encyclopedia) Ogdensburg, city (1990 pop. 13,521), St. Lawrence co., N N.Y., on the St. Lawrence River at the mouth of the Oswegatchie, in a resort area, opposite Prescott, Ont. (with which it is…
(Encyclopedia) Catherine I, 1683?–1727, czarina of Russia (1725–27). Of Livonian peasant origin, Martha Skavronskaya was a domestic when she was captured (1702) by Russian soldiers. As mistress of…
(Encyclopedia) Rideau CanalRideau Canalrēdōˈ, rēˈdō [key], 126 mi (203 km) long, S Ont., Canada, connecting the Ottawa River at Ottawa with Lake Ontario at Kingston. The canal, which has 47 locks,…
(Encyclopedia) Verga, GiovanniVerga, Giovannijōvänˈnē vĕrˈgä [key], 1840–1922, Italian novelist, b. Sicily. He abandoned the study of law for literature and wrote several novels of passion in the…
