Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Auchinleck, Sir Claude John Eyre

(Encyclopedia)Auchinleck, Sir Claude John Eyre âr ôˌkĭnlĕkˈ, ôˌkhĭn– [key], 1884–1981, British field marshal. In World War II he commanded briefly (1940) at Narvik, Norway, then in building defenses in...

National Theatre of Great Britain

(Encyclopedia)National Theatre of Great Britain: see Royal National Theatre. ...

Belt, Great, and Little Belt

(Encyclopedia)Belt, Great, and Little Belt, straits: see Store Bælt and Lille Bælt, straits, Denmark. ...

Roches, Peter des

(Encyclopedia)Roches, Peter des dā rōsh [key], d. 1238, English churchman and statesman, b. Poitou. A chamberlain under Richard I of England, then entered the service of King John, who gave him rich estates and m...

Davies, Sir Louis Henry

(Encyclopedia)Davies, Sir Louis Henry dāˈvĭs [key], 1845–1924, Canadian jurist, b. Charlottetown, P.E.I. While a member of the provincial legislature (1872–79), he also served (1876–79) as prime minister o...

Moos, Ludwig von

(Encyclopedia)Moos, Ludwig von lo͝otˈvĭkh fən mo͞os [key], 1910–90, Swiss political leader. Entering politics in his native town of Sachseln, he served (1941–46) as its president. He was later a government...

Coke, Sir Edward

(Encyclopedia)Coke, Sir Edward ko͝ok [key], 1552–1634, English jurist, one of the most eminent in the history of English law. He entered Parliament in 1589 and rose rapidly, becoming solicitor general and speake...

Gibson, John, American frontiersman

(Encyclopedia)Gibson, John, 1740–1822, American frontiersman, b. Lancaster, Pa. After taking part in the capture (1758) of Fort Duquesne (renamed Fort Pitt) in the French and Indian War, he became a trader with t...

John the Baptist, Saint

(Encyclopedia)John the Baptist, Saint, d. c.a.d. 28–a.d. 30, Jewish prophet, considered by Christians to be the forerunner of Jesus. He was the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, who was also a kinswoman of Mary, th...

Jaluit

(Encyclopedia)Jaluit jäˈlo͞oĭt [key], atoll, c.40 mi (60 km) long and c.20 mi (30 km) wide, central Pacific, one of the Ralik Chain in the U.S. Marshall Islands. It comprises some 85 islets, of which Jaluit Isl...