Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Hamer, Fannie Lou

(Encyclopedia)Hamer, Fannie Lou, 1917–1977, U.S. voting rights activist and civil rights leader, b. Montgomery County, Miss. Fannie Lou Hamer was the first woman fr...

Arnold, Benedict

(Encyclopedia)Arnold, Benedict, 1741–1801, American Revolutionary general and traitor, b. Norwich, Conn. As a youth he served for a time in the colonial militia in the French and Indian Wars. He later became a pr...

Golden Rule

(Encyclopedia)Golden Rule, in the New Testament, saying of Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew he says, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” The Gospe...

Malachy, Saint

(Encyclopedia)Malachy, Saint mălˈəkē [key], 1095–1148, Irish churchman, reformer of the church in Ireland. His Irish name was Máel Máedoc ua Morgair. He was assistant to Cellach (Celsus), bishop of Armagh, ...

World War II

(Encyclopedia)World War II, 1939–45, worldwide conflict involving every major power in the world. The two sides were generally known as the Allies and the Axis. Although hostilities came to an end in Sept...

Kiyoura, Keigo

(Encyclopedia)Kiyoura, Keigo, 1850–1942, Japanese government official and political leader. He joined the ministry of justice in 1876 and participated in the drafting of new legal codes for Japan. He held several...

Stone, Nicholas

(Encyclopedia)Stone, Nicholas, 1586–1647, English sculptor and mason, b. Devonshire. He rose to a position of highest importance as a decorative sculptor, working after designs by Inigo Jones. His independent pro...

McClure Strait

(Encyclopedia)McClure Strait, arm of the Beaufort Sea, c.170 mi (270 km) long and 60 mi (100 km) wide, Northwest Territories, Canada. It extends W from Viscount Melville Sound, between Melville and Eglinton islands...

Ville-sous-La-Ferté

(Encyclopedia)Ville-sous-La-Ferté vēl-so͞o-lä-fĕrtāˈ [key], village (1993 est. pop. 1,455), NE France. It is famous for its nearby abbey (now a prison) of Clairvaux, founded (1115) by St. Bernard of Clairvau...

Wall Street

(Encyclopedia)Wall Street, narrow street in the lower part of Manhattan island, New York City, extending E from Broadway to the East River. It is the center of one of the greatest financial districts in the world, ...

Browse by Subject