Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Morris, Roger

(Encyclopedia)Morris, Roger, 1727–94, Loyalist in the American Revolution, b. Yorkshire, England. He came (1755) to America as aide-de-camp to Gen. Edward Braddock and fought under James Wolfe at Quebec. After hi...

Foxborough

(Encyclopedia)Foxborough or Foxboro, town (2020 pop. 6,296), Norfolk co., SE Mass.; settled 1704, inc. 1778. During the Revolutionary War cann...

Basildon

(Encyclopedia)Basildon băˈzəldən [key], city and district, Essex, E England. The southern portion is Ba...

Sutton Coldfield

(Encyclopedia)Sutton Coldfield, city (1991 pop. 102,572), Birmingham metropolitan district, central England. The city is a residential suburb of Birmingham with a metal products industry and a large television tran...

Billings, William

(Encyclopedia)Billings, William, 1746–1800, American hymn composer, b. Boston. A tanner by trade, he was one of the earliest American-born composers. He wrote popular hymns and sacred choruses of great vitality u...

Hatfield

(Encyclopedia)Hatfield, town, Hertfordshire, SE England. Hatfield was designated one of the new towns in 1948 to alleviate overpopulation in London. The plans for thi...

Grace, William Russell

(Encyclopedia)Grace, William Russell, 1832–1904, American financier, b. Queenstown, Ireland. He was in business in England and Peru before establishing (1865) W. R. Grace & Company in New York City. After Per...

Thomas, Robert Bailey

(Encyclopedia)Thomas, Robert Bailey, 1766–1846, American journalist, b. Grafton, Mass. He was the founder and long-time editor (1792–1846) of The Farmer's Almanac[k] (later The Old Farmer's Almanac[k]). The wor...

Stevens, Abel

(Encyclopedia)Stevens, Abel, 1815–97, American clergyman, noted as the historian of Methodism, b. Philadephia, studied Wesleyan Univ. He became (1834) a member of the New England Methodist Conference, and filled ...

Tennent, Gilbert

(Encyclopedia)Tennent, Gilbert, 1703–64, American Presbyterian clergyman, leading preacher of the Great Awakening, b. Ireland; son of William Tennent. He moved with his parents to Pennsylvania c.1718. Installed a...