Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Dunbar, William, American scientist

(Encyclopedia)Dunbar, William, 1749–1810, American scientist in the old Southwest, b. near Elgin, Scotland. He came to America in 1771. Commissioned by President Jefferson to investigate the Ouachita and Red Rive...

Alamán, Lucas

(Encyclopedia)Alamán, Lucas lo͞oˈkäs älämänˈ [key], 1792–1853, Mexican historian and statesman. As deputy to the Spanish Cortes, he failed to win a hearing for the insurgents in Mexico. Returning to Mexic...

Adam and Eve, Life of

(Encyclopedia)Adam and Eve, Life of, early Jewish work included in the collection known as the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. It was probably written in Hebrew between 100 b.c. and a.d. 100. Based on the Old Testame...

Polygnotus

(Encyclopedia)Polygnotus pŏlˌĭgnōˈtəs [key], fl. c.460 b.c.–447 b.c., Greek painter, b. Thasos. He later became an Athenian citizen. He painted the Capture of Troy and Descent of Odysseus to Hades in the Cn...

Rutledge, Edward

(Encyclopedia)Rutledge, Edward, 1749–1800, political leader in the American Revolution, signer of the Declaration of Independence, b. Charleston, S.C.; brother of John Rutledge. He studied law at the Middle Templ...

Tyler

(Encyclopedia)Tyler, city (1990 pop. 75,450), seat of Smith co., E Tex.; inc. 1850. In the heart of the rich East Texas oil field, Tyler has refineries and other oil-based industries. The administrative headquarter...

Boston ivy

(Encyclopedia)Boston ivy or Japanese ivy, tall-climbing woody vine (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) from East Asia, one of the most popular of city wall coverings. Of the same genus as the Virginia creeper and sometim...

Soubise, Benjamin de Rohan, seigneur de

(Encyclopedia)Soubise, Benjamin de Rohan, seigneur de bäNzhämăNˈ də rōäNˈ sānyûrˈ də so͞obēzˈ [key], 1583–1642, French Protestant general. He fought under Maurice of Nassau in the Netherlands and s...

Swansea, town, United States

(Encyclopedia)Swansea swŏnˈzē [key], town (1990 est. pop. 15,500), Bristol co., SE Mass., a suburb of Fall River, on an inlet of Mount Hope Bay; founded 1667, inc. 1785. Once a vast farmland, it has become chief...

Börne, Karl Ludwig

(Encyclopedia)Börne, Karl Ludwig lo͝otˈvĭkh börˈnə [key], 1786–1837, German journalist, of Jewish origin. His original name was Löb Baruch. He studied medicine and political science and held office in Fra...