Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Perkin, Sir William Henry

(Encyclopedia)Perkin, Sir William Henry, 1838–1907, English chemist. In 1856 he discovered the first aniline dye (aniline purple, known as mauve and mauveine); by founding a factory to make it, Perkin established...

Van Druten, John William

(Encyclopedia)Van Druten, John William văn dro͞oˈtən [key], 1901–57, English dramatist. His best-known plays, primarily light comedies, include Old Acquaintance (1940), The Voice of the Turtle (1943), I Remem...

Bayliss, Sir William Maddock

(Encyclopedia)Bayliss, Sir William Maddock bāˈlĭs [key], 1860–1924, English physiologist. At University College, London, he investigated the mechanism of heart action, circulation, and digestion. With E. H. St...

Gaul, Alfred Robert

(Encyclopedia)Gaul, Alfred Robert gôl [key], 1837–1913, English composer. He wrote numerous cantatas, of which The Holy City (1882) is most famous. ...

Blow, John

(Encyclopedia)Blow, John, 1649–1708, English composer. He was organist and choirmaster at Westminster Abbey and the Chapel Royal and the teacher of Henry Purcell. He wrote more than 100 anthems and 10 sacred serv...

Tallis, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Tallis or Tallys, Thomas, c.1510–1585, English composer, who served the royal household, from c.1537 to his death, as organist. He wrote principally Latin motets (of which Spem in alium, in 40 parts...

Cremer, Sir William Randal

(Encyclopedia)Cremer, Sir William Randal krēˈmər [key], 1828–1908, English pacifist. At first active in trade unionism, he gradually expanded his work and interests, becoming one of the most active advocates o...

Campion, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Campion or Campian, Thomas, 1567–1620, English poet, composer, and lutenist, a physician by profession. Campion wrote lyric poems that he and other composers set to music. His graceful, simple lute ...

Amundsen Sea

(Encyclopedia)Amundsen Sea, arm of the S Pacific Ocean, W Antarctica, bordered by Thurston Island and Cape Dart. Off the coast of Marie Byrd Land, the sea was named after Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. ...

Amundsen, Roald

(Encyclopedia)Amundsen, Roald (Roald Engelbregt Grauning Amundsen) rōˈäl äˈmo͝onsən [key], 1872–1928, Norwegian polar explorer; the first person to reach the South Pole. He served (1897–99) as first mate...

Browse by Subject