Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Rawlins, John Aaron

(Encyclopedia)Rawlins, John Aaron, 1831–69, Union general in the American Civil War, b. Galena, Ill. Admitted to the bar in 1854, he practiced law in Galena. In 1861 he joined the Union army at the request of his...

Washburne, Elihu Benjamin

(Encyclopedia)Washburne, Elihu Benjamin, 1816–87, American politician and diplomat, b. Livermore, Maine. Admitted to the bar in Massachusetts, he opened (1840) his law practice in Galena, Ill. As a U.S. Represent...

Van Der Zee, James

(Encyclopedia)Van Der Zee, James, 1886–1983, American photographer, b. Lenox, Mass. The son of Ulysses S. Grant's maid and butler, Van Der Zee opened his first studio in Harlem, New York City, in 1915. For 60 yea...

Yates, Richard, American political leader

(Encyclopedia)Yates, Richard, 1815–73, American political leader, b. Warsaw, Ky. He studied law and became a lawyer and Whig politician in Jacksonville, Ill. A state legislator (1842–46, 1848–50) and U.S. Con...

McPherson, James Birdseye

(Encyclopedia)McPherson, James Birdseye, 1828–64, Union general in the American Civil War, b. Sandusky co., Ohio. After teaching (1853–54) at West Point, he worked on various engineering projects. In the Civil ...

Pemberton, John Clifford

(Encyclopedia)Pemberton, John Clifford, 1814–81, Confederate general in the American Civil War, b. Philadelphia. He served in the Seminole and Mexican wars and at various frontier posts. He resigned from the U.S....

Colfax, Schuyler

(Encyclopedia)Colfax, Schuyler skīˈlər kōlˈfăks [key], 1823–85, Vice President of the United States (1869–73), b. New York City. He moved in boyhood to Indiana. First a Whig editor, he later helped to org...

Thomas, George Henry

(Encyclopedia)Thomas, George Henry, 1816–70, Union general in the American Civil War, b. Southampton co., Va. He served in the Seminole War and in the Mexican War. Later he taught at West Point and served in Texa...

McClernand, John Alexander

(Encyclopedia)McClernand, John Alexander, 1812–1900, Union general in the American Civil War, b. Breckinridge co., Ky. He was admitted (1832) to the Illinois bar and sat as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Represe...

Appomattox

(Encyclopedia)Appomattox ăpəmătˈəks [key], town (2020 pop. 16,119), seat of Appomattox co., central Va.; inc. 1925. Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union general U...