Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Fauquier, Francis

(Encyclopedia)Fauquier, Francis fôkērˈ [key], c.1704–1768, acting royal governor of Virginia (1758–68). He came to the colony as lieutenant governor in 1758, and in the absence of the governors—the earl of...

Ferrar, Nicholas

(Encyclopedia)Ferrar, Nicholas fĕrˈər [key], 1592–1637, English theologian. He was associated (1618–23) with the Virginia Company and, with his brother John, played a notable role in its affairs. He retired ...

Schlesinger, James Rodney

(Encyclopedia)Schlesinger, James Rodney, 1929–2014, U.S. secretary of defense (1973–75) and secretary of energy (1977–79), b. New York City. After graduating from Harvard (A.B., 1950; A.M., 1952; Ph.D., 1956)...

Rogers, Lindsay

(Encyclopedia)Rogers, Lindsay, 1891–1970, American political scientist, b. Baltimore, grad. Johns Hopkins (B.A., 1912; Ph.D., 1915). He was (1914–15) a fellow in political science at Johns Hopkins before becomi...

Shelby, Isaac

(Encyclopedia)Shelby, Isaac, 1750–1826, American frontiersman, b. Washington co. (then part of Frederick co.), Md. Around 1773 he settled in the Holston River country in what is now E Tennessee. In the American R...

Volunteers of America

(Encyclopedia)Volunteers of America, national nondenominational organization providing a wide variety of human services as part of a Christian ministry of service. Founded (1896) by Ballington and Maud Booth (see B...

Boyd, Alan Stephenson

(Encyclopedia)Boyd, Alan Stephenson, 1922–2020, U.S. government official, first secretary of transportation (1967–69), b. Jacksonville, Fla. After serving in the Army Air Forces in World War II, he graduated fr...

tendril

(Encyclopedia)tendril, slender, sensitive structure of many climbing plants that by a response to contact (see auxin) supports the plant. Tendrils are modified stems, leaves, or leaf parts or roots. Most young tend...

Cayce, Edgar

(Encyclopedia)Cayce, Edgar kās [key], 1877–1945, American folk healer, b. Hopkinsville, Ky. A popularizer of the idea of reincarnation, he was active as a “psychic diagnostician” between 1901 and 1944, perfo...

Lake City

(Encyclopedia)Lake City, town (1990 pop. 10,005), seat of Columbia co., N Fla.; inc. 1921. It was founded in the 1830s as a military post. Lake City is located in a farm and cattle area and produces tobacco, lumber...

Browse by Subject