Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Bentham, George bĕnˈthəm [key], 1800–1884, one of the greatest of English systematic botanists; nephew of Jeremy Bentham. He wrote Handbook of British Flora (1858) and, with W. J. Hooker, Genera ...

(Encyclopedia) John George, 1585–1656, elector of Saxony (1611–56). A drunkard, he nonetheless ruled the leading German Protestant state during the Thirty Years War. He vacillated in his policy between support o...

(Encyclopedia) Mansfield, Katherine, 1888–1923, British author, b. New Zealand, regarded as one of the masters of the short story. Her original name was Kathleen Beauchamp. A talented cellist, she did not turn to ...

(Encyclopedia) George Junior Republic, any of several communities founded by the American philanthropist William Reuben George (1866–1936) for neglected and maladjusted adolescents. The first (1895) was at Freevil...

(Encyclopedia) Walker, Madam C. J., 1867–1919, African-American entrepeneur, b. Delta, La., as Sarah Breedlove. Thought to be America's first black female millionaire, this daughter of ex-slaves was orphaned at 7,...

(Encyclopedia) Lewes, George Henry lo͞oˈĭs [key], 1817–78, English critic and author. As editor of the Leader (1850–54) and of the Fortnightly Review (1865–66), Lewes distinguished himself as a critic. Infl...

(Encyclopedia) Barrington, George bârˈĭngtən [key], 1755–c.1804, notorious English pickpocket, b. Ireland. His family name was Waldron. Arriving in London in 1773, he became a professional pickpocket and, obta...

(Encyclopedia) George of Podebrad pôdˈyĕbrät [key], 1420–71, king of Bohemia (1458–71). A Bohemian nobleman, he became leader of the Utraquists, or the moderate Hussites, in the wars between Hussites and Cat...

(Encyclopedia) Kondylis, George kônᵺēˈlĭs [key], 1879–1936, Greek general and statesman. He fought in the Balkan Wars and at Salonica in World War I. Entering politics in the turbulent postwar years, he serv...

(Encyclopedia) Read, George, 1733–98, American jurist, signer of the Declaration of Independence, b. near Northeast, Cecil co., Md. He was admitted to the bar in 1753 and later (1763–74) was attorney general of ...