Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Williams, William, American political leader

(Encyclopedia)Williams, William, 1731–1811, political leader in the American Revolution, signer of the Declaration of Independence, b. Lebanon, Conn. He served in the French and Indian War and held many public of...

Yates, Richard, American political leader

(Encyclopedia)Yates, Richard, 1815–73, American political leader, b. Warsaw, Ky. He studied law and became a lawyer and Whig politician in Jacksonville, Ill. A state legislator (1842–46, 1848–50) and U.S. Con...

Taylor, John, American political philosopher

(Encyclopedia)Taylor, John, 1753–1824, American political philosopher. Known as John Taylor of Caroline, he was born in Virginia, probably in Caroline co., where he later lived at “Hazlewood.” Orphaned at 10,...

Brasidas

(Encyclopedia)Brasidas brăˈsĭdəs [key], d. 422 b.c., Spartan general in the Peloponnesian War. In 424 b.c. he saved Mégara from Athenian attack, and then conducted an able campaign in Thrace, capturing Amphipo...

Agatharchus

(Encyclopedia)Agatharchus ăgˌəthärˈkəs [key], fl. 5th cent. b.c., Greek painter of the Athenian school, b. Samos. He is credited by Vitruvius with important discoveries in application of shading and perspecti...

Praesepe

(Encyclopedia)Praesepe prēsēˈpē [key] [Lat.,=manger], open star cluster in the constellation Cancer; cataloged as M44 or NGC 2632. It was first recorded by Hipparchus (c.150 b.c.). The cluster is often called t...

Cratinus

(Encyclopedia)Cratinus krətīˈnəs [key], d. c.419 b.c., Athenian comic dramatist. He won the prize at the Athenian drama contest when Aristophanes competed with The Clouds and was regarded with Aristophanes and ...

Dion of Syracuse

(Encyclopedia)Dion of Syracuse dīˈən [key], 409?–354? b.c., Sicilian Greek political leader, brother-in-law of Dionysius the Elder, tyrant of Syracuse. He became interested in philosophy through his acquaintan...

Alcibiades

(Encyclopedia)Alcibiades ălsĭbīˈədēz [key], c.450–404 b.c., Athenian statesman and general. Of the family of Alcmaeonidae, he was a ward of Pericles and was for many years a devoted attendant of Socrates. H...

Phrynichus, fl. 430 b.c., Athenian comic poet

(Encyclopedia)Phrynichus, fl. 430 b.c., Athenian comic poet. Fragments of his works, of the Old Comedy, survive.