Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Jamnitzer, Jamitzer, or Gemniczer, Wenzel vĕnˈtsəl yämˈnĭtsər, yäˈmĭtsər, gĕmˈnĭtsər [key], 1508–85, leading member of a German family of goldsmiths and engravers. Born in Vienna, he ...

(Encyclopedia) Keokuk kēˈəkək [key], c.1780–1848, Native American, chief of the Sac and Fox, b. near present-day Rock Island, Ill. When Black Hawk supported the British in the War of 1812, Keokuk refused to jo...

(Encyclopedia) Pratt, Orson, 1811–81, Mormon apostle, b. Hartford, N.Y.; brother of Parley Parker Pratt. He joined (1830) the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and became (1835) an apostle. An eloquent s...

(Encyclopedia) vigil vĭjˈəl [key] [Lat.,=watch], in Christian calendars, eve of a feast, a day of penitential preparation. In ancient times worshipers gathered for vespers before a great feast and then waited out...

(Encyclopedia) White, Sir George Stuart, 1835–1912, British field marshal. He first achieved distinction in the Afghan War of 1878–80. In Myanmar (1885–87), where he was knighted in 1886, in Baluchistan (1889�...

(Encyclopedia) Sainte Anne, Lac, lake, 21 sq mi (54.5 sq km), central Alta., Canada, west of Edmonton. It has a maximum depth of 30 ft (9 m). The village of Lac Ste Anne, on the lake's south shore, was the site of t...

(Encyclopedia) Ramelli, Agostino ägōstēˈnō rämĕlˈlē [key], c.1531–c.1600, Italian engineer who served in the armies of the marquis de Marignan and of the duc d'Anjou (later Henry III of France). His book,...

(Encyclopedia) Red Rock chicken, the only chicken still popular to any large extent in the United States today for both meat and eggs. It resulted from a cross between a Rhode Island Red male and a Plymouth Rock fem...

(Encyclopedia) Sestos sĕsˈtŏs [key], ancient town on the Thracian shore of the Hellespont (now Dardanelles) opposite Abydos (in present-day Turkey). It was the scene of the story of Hero and Leander. It was there...

(Encyclopedia) Buena Vista, battle of, military engagement in the Mexican War, fought Feb. 22–23, 1847. The battle site was just S of Saltillo, Coahuila, in Mexico. Gen. Zachary Taylor, disobeying orders from the ...