Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Gay, John

(Encyclopedia)Gay, John, 1685–1732, English playwright and poet, b. Barnstaple, Devon. Educated at the local grammar school, he was apprenticed to a silk mercer for a brief time before commencing his literary car...

Gay, Delphine

(Encyclopedia)Gay, Delphine: see Girardin, Delphine Gay de. ...

gay-feather

(Encyclopedia)gay-feather: see blazing star.

gay-rights movement

(Encyclopedia)gay-rights movement, organized efforts to end the criminalization of homosexuality and protect the civil rights of homosexuals. While there was some organized activity on behalf of the rights of homos...

Gay, Sidney Howard

(Encyclopedia)Gay, Sidney Howard, 1814–88, American abolitionist and publisher, b. Hingham, Mass. Following several failed business ventures, he was drawn to the work of the abolitionists and moved to New York Ci...

Gay-Lussac, Joseph Louis

(Encyclopedia)Gay-Lussac, Joseph Louis zhôzĕfˈ lwē gā-lüsäkˈ [key], 1778–1850, French chemist and physicist. He was professor in Paris at the Sorbonne, at the Polytechnic School, and at the Jardin des Pla...

Girardin, Delphine Gay de

(Encyclopedia)Girardin, Delphine Gay de dĕlfēnˈ gā də zhērärdăNˈ [key], 1804–55, French writer; wife of Émile de Girardin. She wrote patriotic poems and, under the pseudonym Vicomte Charles de Launay, w...

Rich, John

(Encyclopedia)Rich, John, 1692–1761, English actor-manager. Rich introduced pantomime to England, himself playing (1717–60) the role of Harlequin in annual performances. His successful production of John Gay's ...

Baylor, Elgin Gay

(Encyclopedia) Baylor, Elgin Gay, 1934-2021, American basketball player, b. Washington, D.C. After playing basketball in high school, Baylor played for the College o...

Browse by Subject