Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Alanbrooke, Alan Francis Brooke, 1st Viscount

(Encyclopedia)Alanbrooke, Alan Francis Brooke, 1st Viscount ălˈənbro͝okˌ [key], 1883–1963, British general. He entered the field artillery in 1902 and served with distinction during World War I. In the 1930s...

Ems dispatch

(Encyclopedia)Ems dispatch, 1870, communication between King William of Prussia (later German Emperor William I) and his premier, Otto von Bismarck. In June, 1870, the throne of Spain was offered to Prince Leopold ...

excess profits tax

(Encyclopedia)excess profits tax, levy on any profit above a standard level. Chiefly a wartime phenomenon, it is intended to increase revenue during periods of distress and to prevent businessmen from taking unfair...

Hirota, Koki

(Encyclopedia)Hirota, Koki kōˈkē hēˈrōtä [key], 1878–1948, Japanese statesman. He graduated from the law school of Tokyo Univ. A career diplomat, he served as ambassador to Russia (1930–32) and as foreig...

Hamilton, Sir Ian Standish Monteith

(Encyclopedia)Hamilton, Sir Ian Standish Monteith ēˈən, mŏn-tēthˈ [key], 1853–1947, British general. He served in many campaigns in Asia and Africa, distinguishing himself in the South African War (1899–1...

Hazen, William Babcock

(Encyclopedia)Hazen, William Babcock, 1830–87, American general, b. West Hartford, near Hartford, Vt. In the Civil War he fought at Shiloh, Perryville, and Murfreesboro, and in the Chattanooga campaign. Promoted ...

Galliffet, Gaston Alexandre Auguste, marquis de

(Encyclopedia)Galliffet, Gaston Alexandre Auguste, marquis de gästôNˈ älĕksäNˈdrə ōgüstˈ märkēˈ də gälēfāˈ [key], 1830–1909, French general. He served in the Crimean War, in colonial campaigns,...

Montes, Ismael

(Encyclopedia)Montes, Ismael ēsmäēlˈ mōnˈtās [key], 1861–1933, Bolivian statesman, president of Bolivia (1904–9, 1913–17). He interrupted the study of law in 1879 to fight against Chile in the War of t...

Nimitz, Chester William

(Encyclopedia)Nimitz, Chester William nĭmˈĭts [key], 1885–1966, American admiral, b. Fredericksburg, Tex. A graduate of Annapolis, he was chief of staff to the commander of the submarine force of the Atlantic ...

Neto, Agostinho

(Encyclopedia)Neto, Agostinho əgo͞oshtēnˈyo͞o nāˈto͞o [key], 1927–79, first president of independent Angola. A Portuguese-educated physician and poet, he founded the Popular Movement for the Liberation of...