Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Young, Charles Augustus

(Encyclopedia)Young, Charles Augustus, 1834–1908, American astronomer, b. Hanover, N.H., grad. Dartmouth, 1853. He discovered the reversing layer of the solar atmosphere and proved the gaseous nature of the sun's...

Worth, Charles Frederick

(Encyclopedia)Worth, Charles Frederick, 1825–95, French and British fashion designer. He was the founder of the Maison Worth in Paris and London, the longest running fashion dynasty, and the arbiter of women's fa...

Wuorinen, Charles Peter

(Encyclopedia)Wuorinen, Charles Peter wûrˈĭnən [key], 1938–2020, American composer, conductor, and pianist, b. New York City. Wuorinen studied at Columbia (B.A., 1961; M.A., 1963) and taught there, at the Man...

Wurtz, Charles Adolphe

(Encyclopedia)Wurtz, Charles Adolphe shärl ädôlfˈ vürts [key], 1817–84, French chemist. He was professor at the Sorbonne (1852–75), at the Faculty of Medicine, Paris (1853–75), and at the Faculty of Scie...

Wentworth, William Charles

(Encyclopedia)Wentworth, William Charles, 1793?–1872, Australian statesman. His exploration (1813) of the Blue Mts. in Australia revealed vast pasturelands in the western part of the continent. In 1816 he went to...

Wheatstone, Sir Charles

(Encyclopedia)Wheatstone, Sir Charles hwētˈstōn, –stən [key], 1802–75, English physicist and inventor. He was professor at King's College, London, from 1834. A pioneer in telegraphy, he was coinventor with ...

Whitaker, Charles Harris

(Encyclopedia)Whitaker, Charles Harris hwĭtˈəkər [key], 1872–1938, American architect and author, b. Rhode Island, studied art abroad. Editor (1913–27) of the journal of the American Institute of Architects...

Wagley, Charles Walter

(Encyclopedia)Wagley, Charles Walter wăgˈlē [key], 1913–91, American anthropologist, b. Clarksville, Tex., grad. Columbia (Ph.D., 1941). He began teaching at Columbia in 1940, serving as professor from 1953 to...

Benchley, Robert Charles

(Encyclopedia)Benchley, Robert Charles, 1889–1945, American humorist, b. Worcester, Mass., grad. Harvard, 1912. He was drama critic of Life (1920–29) and of the New Yorker (1929–40). Benchley was known for a ...

Cadman, Charles Wakefield

(Encyclopedia)Cadman, Charles Wakefield, 1881–1946, American composer, b. Johnstown, Pa. Although he is known to the public principally for two songs—From the Land of the Sky-blue Water, based on Native America...