Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Otway, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Otway, Thomas, 1652–85, English dramatist, educated at Winchester and at Oxford. After failing as an actor, Otway wrote his first play, Alcibiades, produced in 1675. Later plays include the rhymed h...

Bach, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Bach, Thomas, 1953–, German sports executive, b. Würzberg. A lawyer and businessman, he won a gold medal in team fencing representing West Germany in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Bach served as pres...

Dolomieu, Déodat Guy Silvain Tancrède Gratet de

(Encyclopedia)Dolomieu, Déodat Guy Silvain Tancrède Gratet de dāôdäˈ gē sēlvăNˈ täNkrĕdˈ grätāˈ də dôlômyöˈ [key], 1750–1801, French geologist. He contributed to the study of volcanic geology...

Warwick, Guy de Beauchamp, earl of

(Encyclopedia)Warwick, Guy de Beauchamp, earl of bēˈchəm, wŏrˈĭk [key], d. 1315, English nobleman. He was active in Edward I's campaigns in Scotland. A leading opponent of Piers Gaveston, he became (1310) one...

Boyd, Ernest

(Encyclopedia)Boyd, Ernest, 1887–1946, American critic and author, b. Dubin, Ireland. In the British consular service, he resigned in 1920 and settled in New York City, where he became an important literary figur...

Johnson, Sir John

(Encyclopedia)Johnson, Sir John, 1742–1830, Loyalist leader in the American Revolution, b. Mohawk valley, N.Y.; son of Sir William Johnson. He fought against the Native Americans in Pontiac's Conspiracy and was o...

Hanks, Tom

(Encyclopedia)Hanks, Tom, 1956–, American film actor, b. Concord, Calif., as Thomas Jeffrey Hanks. In 1980 he acted in his first film, and in 1980–82 he co-starred in a television sitcom. Hanks subsequently app...

Hattin, Battle of

(Encyclopedia)Hattin, Battle of hättēnˈ [key], battle on July 4, 1187, in N Palestine, where Saladin's Muslim forces defeated the Christian armies of Guy de Lusignan. When Saladin attacked Tiberias in July, 1187...

Baldwin IV, Latin king of Jerusalem

(Encyclopedia)Baldwin IV (Baldwin the Leper), c.1161–1185, Latin king of Jerusalem (1174–85), son and successor of Amalric I. Raymond, count of Tripoli, was regent from 1174 to 1176. Baldwin was constantly enga...

Browse by Subject