Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Prime, Samuel Irenaeus

(Encyclopedia)Prime, Samuel Irenaeus, 1812–85, American Presbyterian clergyman and editor, b. Ballston Spa, N.Y. After holding pastorates at Ballston Spa and Matteawan, N.Y., he became assistant editor (1840–49...

Brooks, Preston Smith

(Encyclopedia)Brooks, Preston Smith, 1819–57, U.S. Congressman (1852–57), b. Edgefield District, S.C. A lawyer and the nephew of Senator Andrew Pickens Butler, he is remembered as the man who in 1856 caned Char...

Wheatley, Henry Benjamin

(Encyclopedia)Wheatley, Henry Benjamin, 1838–1917, English bibliographer and antiquarian, a founder of the Early English Text Society and of the Index Society. Wheatley's work on the indexing of books, How to Mak...

Samuel, Herbert Louis Samuel, 1st Viscount

(Encyclopedia)Samuel, Herbert Louis Samuel, 1st Viscount, 1870–1963, British statesman. Entering Parliament as a Liberal in 1902, he was postmaster general (1910–14, 1915–16) and home secretary (1916). He los...

Johnson, Samuel, American clergyman, educator, and philosopher

(Encyclopedia)Johnson, Samuel, 1696–1772, American clergyman, educator, and philosopher, b. Guilford, Conn., grad. Collegiate School (now Yale), 1714; father of William Samuel Johnson. He became a Congregationali...

Derby, English horse race

(Encyclopedia)Derby dûrˈbē [key], held each year since 1875 at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky., have been named for the English classic. ...

Day, John, English printer

(Encyclopedia)Day, John, 1522–84, English printer. At his London shop Day designed and made type for himself, but not for sale. His types included musical notes and the first Anglo-Saxon type. He printed the firs...

Day, John, English dramatist

(Encyclopedia)Day, John, 1574?–1640?, English dramatist. Educated at Cambridge, he was one of Philip Henslowe's group of playwrights, collaborating with Thomas Dekker, Henry Chettle, and others. The allegorical m...

English units of measurement

(Encyclopedia)English units of measurement, principal system of weights and measures used in a few nations, the only major industrial one being the United States. It actually consists of two related systems—the U...

Ireland, John, English composer

(Encyclopedia)Ireland, John, 1879–1962, English composer. Inspired by visits to the Channel Islands, he wrote music of a simple, rugged beauty. His many songs include the cycle Songs of a Wayfarer (1903) and Sea ...