Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Figueiredo, João Baptista de Oliveira

(Encyclopedia)Figueiredo, João Baptista de Oliveira fēgārädō [key], 1918–99, Brazilian general and politician, president of Brazil (1979–85). He was named (1974) to head the national intelligence service a...

Belidor, Bernard Forest de

(Encyclopedia)Belidor, Bernard Forest de bĕrnärˈ fôrĕˈ də bālēdôrˈ [key], 1693–1761, French engineer. He wrote numerous books dealing with mathematics, artillery, and hydraulic, civil, and military eng...

Ogier the Dane

(Encyclopedia)Ogier the Dane ōˈjēər, ōzhyāˈ [key], in the chansons de geste, a paladin of Charlemagne. Although his military feats save emperor and kingdom, he is for a time at odds with Charlemagne. In some...

Gastonia

(Encyclopedia)Gastonia găstōˈnēə [key], city (2020 pop. 80,411), seat of Gaston co., SW N.C.; inc. 1877. ...

Humbert I

(Encyclopedia)Humbert I, 1844–1900, king of Italy (1878–1900), son and successor of Victor Emmanuel II. A soldier by training, Humbert showed interest primarily in military affairs and foreign policy, and early...

Dufour, Guillaume Henri

(Encyclopedia)Dufour, Guillaume Henri gēyōmˈ äNrēˈ düfo͞orˈ [key], 1787–1875, Swiss general. He served in the French army under Napoleon I, and in 1847 he led the Swiss federal forces to victory against ...

tambourine

(Encyclopedia)tambourine tămˌbərēnˈ [key], musical instrument of the percussion family, having a narrow circular frame and a single parchment drumhead, with metal plates or jingles set in the frame. The ancien...

Agricola

(Encyclopedia)Agricola (Cneius Julius Agricola) nēˈəs, əgrĭkˈələ [key], c.a.d. 40–a.d. 93, Roman general, conqueror of Britain. After a distinguished military and political career (partly in Britain), he ...

Wilson, James Grant

(Encyclopedia)Wilson, James Grant, 1832–1914, American biographer and man of letters, b. Scotland. He was brought to the United States in 1833. After journalistic work in Chicago and service in the Union army in ...

Barak, Ehud

(Encyclopedia)Barak, Ehud āˈkho͞od bäräkˈ [key], 1942–, Israeli military and political leader, prime minister of Israel (1999–2001). The son of East European immigrants in Palestine, he was born Ehud Brog...