Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Roses, Wars of the

(Encyclopedia)Roses, Wars of the, traditional name given to the intermittent struggle (1455–85) for the throne of England between the noble houses of York (whose badge was a white rose) and Lancaster (later assoc...

Burnet, William, 1730–91, political leader in the American Revolution

(Encyclopedia)Burnet, William, 1730–91, political leader in the American Revolution, b. near the present Elizabeth, N.J.; father of David G. Burnet. A physician practicing in Newark, Burnet was chairman of the Re...

Riel, Louis

(Encyclopedia)Riel, Louis lwē rēĕlˈ [key], 1844–85, Canadian insurgent, leader of two rebellions, b. Manitoba, of French and Métis parentage. In 1869–70 he led the rebels of the Red River settlements, main...

food adulteration

(Encyclopedia)food adulteration, act of intentionally debasing the quality of food offered for sale either by the admixture or substitution of inferior substances or by the removal of some valuable ingredient. The ...

Fair Oaks, American Civil War battle

(Encyclopedia)Fair Oaks: see Peninsular campaign. ...

Greensboro

(Encyclopedia)Greensboro. <1> City (2020 pop. 3,648), seat of Greene co., Ga.; inc. 1803 (town); 1855 (city). Founded in 1780, the town lies approx. halfway ...

Javits, Jacob Koppel

(Encyclopedia)Javits, Jacob Koppel, 1904–86, American political leader, b. New York City, LL.B., New York Univ., 1927. He and his brother, Benjamin A. Javits (1894–1973), developed a flourishing legal practice....

selective service

(Encyclopedia)selective service, in U.S. history, term for conscription. Conscription was established (1863) in the U.S. Civil War, but proved unpopular (see draft riots). The law authorized release from service to...

Guernica

(Encyclopedia)Guernica gārnēˈkä [key], officially Gernika-Lumo, historic town, Bizkaia (Vizcaya or Biscay) ...

Gordon, Bruce S.

(Encyclopedia)Gordon, Bruce S., 1946–, African-American business executive and civil-rights leader, b. Camden, N.J.; grad. Gettysburg College (B.A., 1968), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.S., 1988). Gord...