Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

489 results found

Grove, Andy

(Encyclopedia)Grove, Andy (Andrew Stephen Grove) [key], 1936–2016, American computer-industry executive, b. Budapest, Hungary, as András István Gróf, immigrated to the United States 1957, Ph.D. Univ. of Calif...

Jackson, Ketanji Onyika Brown

(Encyclopedia)Jackson, Ketanji Onyika Brown, American lawyer, jurist, and Supreme Court Justice, b. Washington, D.C., 1970; grad. Harvard-Radcliff (B.A., cum laud...

Algerine War

(Encyclopedia)Algerine War ălˈjərēnˌ [key], early 19th-century conflict between Algiers and the United States. The Tripolitan War (1801–5) had brought a temporary halt to the pirate activities of the Barbary...

Peter Damian, Saint

(Encyclopedia)Peter Damian, Saint dāˈmēən [key], Ital. Pietro Damiani, 1007?–1072, Italian reformer, Doctor of the Church, b. Ravenna. He became a Camaldolese monk at Fonte-Avellino (near Gubbio) and because ...

Orkhan

(Encyclopedia)Orkhan ôr-khänˈ [key], 1288?–1362?, Ottoman sultan (1326–1362?), son and successor of Osman I as leader of the Ottoman Turks. He defeated Byzantine Emperor Andronicus III and conquered large pa...

Borden, Gail

(Encyclopedia)Borden, Gail, 1801–74, American dairyman, surveyor, and inventor, b. Norwich, N.Y. He was for several years a deputy surveyor in Mississippi; afterward he joined the colony of Stephen F. Austin in T...

Hamilton, Alexander

(Encyclopedia)Hamilton, Alexander, 1755–1804, American statesman, b. Nevis, in the West Indies. By 1780 Hamilton had outlined a plan of government with a strong central authority to replace the weak system of t...

paleontology

(Encyclopedia)paleontology pāˌlēəntŏlˈəjē [key] [Gr.,= study of early beings], science of the life of past geologic periods based on fossil remains. Knowledge of the existence of fossils dates back at least...

King, Rufus

(Encyclopedia)King, Rufus, 1755–1827, American political leader, b. Scarboro, Maine (then a district of Massachusetts). He served briefly in the American Revolution and practiced law in Massachusetts before servi...

Mühlenberg, Heinrich Melchior

(Encyclopedia)Mühlenberg, Heinrich Melchior myo͞oˈlənbûrg [key], 1746–1807, American clergyman, Revolutionary officer, and legislator, eldest son of Heinrich, was born in Trappe, Pa., and studied at Halle. A...

Browse by Subject