Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Sheridan, Philip Henry

(Encyclopedia)Sheridan, Philip Henry, 1831–88, Union general in the American Civil War, b. Albany, N.Y. Although not a brilliant general, Sheridan's flair for leadership and his ready fighting ability made him th...

band

(Encyclopedia)band, in music, a group of musicians playing principally on wind and percussion instruments, usually outdoors. Prior to the 18th cent., the term band was frequently applied in a generic sense to cover...

foreign aid

(Encyclopedia)foreign aid, economic, military, technical, and financial assistance given on an international, and usually intergovernmental level. U.S. foreign aid programs have included at least three different ob...

Nepos, Julius

(Encyclopedia)Nepos, Julius, d. 480, Roman emperor of the West (474–80). The military governor of Dalmatia, he was appointed emperor of the West by Leo I, emperor of the East. A year later he was deposed by Orest...

Nike

(Encyclopedia)Nike nīˈkē [key], in Greek religion and mythology, goddess of victory, daughter of Pallas and Styx. Often an attendant of Zeus or Athena, she also presided over all contests, athletic as well as mi...

Letcher, John

(Encyclopedia)Letcher, John, 1813–84, American politician, b. Lexington, Va. He studied law and practiced at Lexington, where he also edited the Jacksonian Democrat Valley Star. In Congress (1851–59), he was kn...

Lever, Charles James

(Encyclopedia)Lever, Charles James lēˈvər [key], 1806–72, Irish novelist. He began his career as a practicing physician. His early novels appeared periodically in the Dublin University Magazine, whose editorsh...

Macapá

(Encyclopedia)Macapá məkəpäˈ [key], city (1996 pop. 214,197), capital of Amapá state, extreme N Brazil, on the Amazon River. Mining is central to its economy. It exports tin iron, gold, and manganese, as well...

Meulen, Adam Frans van der

(Encyclopedia)Meulen, Adam Frans van der äˈdäm fräns vän dĕr mölˈən [key], c.1632–1690, Flemish painter of battle scenes and portraits. He was invited to Paris c.1665 and accompanied Louis XIV on militar...

Mouzinho de Albuquerque, Joaquim

(Encyclopedia)Mouzinho de Albuquerque, Joaquim zhwäkēmˈ mōzēˈnyō ᵺĭ älˌbəkĕrˈkə [key], 1855–1902, Portuguese military commander and administrator in Mozambique. As governor of the district of Gaza...