Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Hardin, John Wesley

(Encyclopedia)Hardin, John Wesley, 1853–95, American desperado, b. Bonham, Tex. In the lawless violence of the frontier the boy early became a gambler and a gunman, but was able by his shooting skill and the help...

Flinders, Matthew

(Encyclopedia)Flinders, Matthew, 1774–1814, English naval captain and hydrographer, noted for his charting and coast surveys of Australia and Tasmania. From 1795 to 1799 and again from 1801 to 1803 he made valuab...

Hyde, Douglas

(Encyclopedia)Hyde, Douglas, 1860–1949, Irish scholar and political leader. He was largely responsible for the revival of the Irish language and literature through his founding of the Gaelic League in 1893. After...

Hunter, William

(Encyclopedia)Hunter, William, 1718–83, Scottish physician. He was famous as a lecturer, as London's leading obstetrician, as professor of anatomy and later president of the Royal Academy of Arts, and as head of ...

Dix, Morgan

(Encyclopedia)Dix, Morgan, 1827–1908, American Episcopal clergyman, b. New York City; son of John A. Dix. He was rector of Trinity Church in New York City from 1862 to 1908. Among his writings are Memoirs of John...

Dow, Neal

(Encyclopedia)Dow, Neal, 1804–97, American prohibitionist, b. Portland, Maine. He helped organize the Maine Temperance Union in 1838 and prepared (1851) the famous “Maine Law,” which superseded the less rigid...

Daudet, Léon

(Encyclopedia)Daudet, Léon, 1867–1942, French author, most famous for his biting criticism of the Third Republic, and of democracy in general as editor of the right-wing daily Action Française with Charles Maur...

Crabtree, Lotta

(Encyclopedia)Crabtree, Lotta, 1847–1924, American actress, b. New York City. A protégée of Lola Montez, she became, while still a child, a favorite in California mining camps with her sprightly singing, dancin...

Corwin, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Corwin, Thomas, 1794–1865, American politician, b. Bourbon co., Ky. A lawyer, he was an Ohio legislator in the 1820s, a U.S. Representative (1831–40), and governor of Ohio (1840–42). In the U.S....

Davis, Rebecca Harding

(Encyclopedia)Davis, Rebecca Harding, 1831–1910, American novelist, b. Washington, Pa.; mother of Richard Harding Davis. Her early nonfiction pieces, particularly those collected under the title Life in the Iron ...