Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Stone, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Stone, Thomas, 1743–87, political leader in the American Revolution, signer of the Declaration of Independence, b. Charles co., Md. A lawyer, he was (1775–78) a delegate to the Continental Congres...

Spithead

(Encyclopedia)Spithead, eastern part of the channel between Hampshire, England, and the Isle of Wight. In 1797 a celebrated wartime mutiny occurred in the fleet stationed at Spithead: the crews sent the officers as...

Barère de Vieuzac, Bertrand

(Encyclopedia)Barère de Vieuzac, Bertrand bĕrträNˈ bärĕrˈ də vyözäkˈ [key], 1755–1841, French revolutionary. A member of the Revolutionary National Assembly and of the Convention, he moved from a moder...

Iliescu, Ion

(Encyclopedia)Iliescu, Ion, 1930–, Romanian political leader, president of Romania (1990–96, 2000–2004). A member of the Communist party from 1953, he held a series of party posts before he was elected a memb...

Shelepin, Aleksandr

(Encyclopedia)Shelepin, Aleksandr əlyĭksänˈdər shĕlĕˈpĭn [key], 1918–94, political leader in the Soviet Union. Active in the Young Communist League from the early 1940s, he later became its head (1952–...

Mennonites

(Encyclopedia)Mennonites mĕnˈnənīts [key], descendants of the Dutch and Swiss evangelical Anabaptists of the 16th cent. The name Mennonite is derived from Menno Simons (c.1496–1561), Dutch reformer and org...

cabinet

(Encyclopedia)cabinet, group of advisers to the head of the state who themselves are usually the heads of the administrative government departments. The nature of the cabinet differs widely in various countries. In...

Fillmore, Millard

(Encyclopedia)Fillmore, Millard, 1800–1874, 13th President of the United States (July, 1850–Mar., 1853), b. Locke (now Summer Hill), N.Y. Because he was compelled to work at odd jobs at an early age to earn a l...

Hukbalahap

(Encyclopedia)Hukbalahap (Huk) ho͝okˌbälähäpˈ [key], Communist-led guerrilla movement in the Philippines. It developed during World War II as a guerrilla army to fight the Japanese; the name is a contraction ...

Turner, Ted

(Encyclopedia)Turner, Ted (Robert Edward Turner 3d), 1938–, American television network executive, b. Cincinnati. After inheriting his father's billboard company, he founded (1976) a television station, WTBS, and...