Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Charles the Bold

(Encyclopedia)Charles the Bold, 1433–77, last reigning duke of Burgundy (1467–77), son and successor of Philip the Good. As the count of Charolais before his accession, he opposed the growing power of King Loui...

linoleum

(Encyclopedia)linoleum lĭnōˈlēəm [key], resilient floor or wall covering made of burlap, canvas, or felt, surfaced with a composition of wood flour, oxidized linseed oil, gums or other ingredients, and colorin...

Maupertuis, Pierre Louis Moreau de

(Encyclopedia)Maupertuis, Pierre Louis Moreau de pyĕr lwē môrōˈ də mōpĕrtüēˈ [key], 1698–1759, French mathematician and astronomer. For his skillful support of Newton's theory he was admitted to the Ro...

Meaux

(Encyclopedia)Meaux mō [key], city (1990 pop. 49,409), Seine-et-Marne dept., N France, in Brie, on the Marne River. It is an industrial center where metals, flour, chemicals, and foodstuffs are produced. An episco...

Kramer, Jack

(Encyclopedia)Kramer, Jack (John Albert Kramer), 1921–2009, American tennis player, b. Las Vegas, Nev. He excelled at tennis while still in high school. Kramer and Frederick (Ted) Schroeder won the U.S. national ...

Hart, Albert Bushnell

(Encyclopedia)Hart, Albert Bushnell, 1854–1943, American historian, b. Clarksville, Greene co., Pa. He began teaching history at Harvard in 1883, became a full professor in 1897, and from 1910 until his retiremen...

Hassam, Childe

(Encyclopedia)Hassam, Childe (Frederick Childe Hassam) chīld hăsˈəm [key], 1859–1935, American painter and printmaker, b. Boston, studied in Paris. With their flickering light and airy palette, Hassam's sprig...

Hagerstown

(Encyclopedia)Hagerstown hāˈgərztounˌ [key], city (2020 pop. 43,527), seat of Washington co., NW Md., on ...

George William

(Encyclopedia)George William, 1597–1640, elector of Brandenburg (1619–40). Mild and irresolute, he was a Calvinist, yet he ruled a Lutheran people. He failed to turn the strategic position of Brandenburg to adv...

Fletcher, Alice Cunningham

(Encyclopedia)Fletcher, Alice Cunningham, 1838–1923, American anthropologist, b. Havana, Cuba. Originally interested in archaeology, she turned to the study of the Plains tribes. After studying informally with Fr...

Browse by Subject