Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Cosby, Bill (William Henry Cosby, Jr.) kŏzˈbē [key], 1937–, American actor and comedian, b. Philadelphia. He became known as a comedian and was subsequently the first African-American actor to st...

(Encyclopedia) Russell, Lillian, 1861–1922, American singer and actress, b. Clinton, Iowa. Her original name was Helen Louise Leonard. She first appeared in light opera in 1879. In the early 1880s her introduction...

(Encyclopedia) Belichick, Bill (William Stephen Belichick), 1952–, American professional football coach, b. Nashville, Tenn. The son of a college coach, he played football at Wesleyan Univ. He held various coachin...

(Encyclopedia) force bill, popular name for several laws in U.S. history, notably the act of Mar. 2, 1833, and the Reconstruction acts of May 31, 1870; Feb. 28, 1871; and Apr. 20, 1871. The first force bill, passed ...

(Encyclopedia) Conwell, Russell Herman, 1843–1925, American Baptist minister and lecturer, b. Worthington, Mass. After practicing law, he was ordained (1879) and went to Philadelphia as a minister. He was founder ...

(Encyclopedia) Bedford, Francis Russell, 2d earl of: see Russell, family. ...

(Encyclopedia) bill of exchange: see draft.

(Encyclopedia) Boston Port Bill: see Intolerable Acts. ...

(Encyclopedia) Shoemaker, Bill (William Lee Shoemaker), 1931–2003, American jockey, b. Fabens, Tex. A schoolboy wrestler and Golden Gloves boxer, he became a jockey and won his first race at age 18. The former all...

(Encyclopedia) English, Bill (Simon William English), 1961–, New Zealand political leader. First elected to parliament in 1990, English held several ministerial positions and served as leader of the National party...