Baillie, Joanna
Joanna (1762-1851), a Scottish poet born on the banks of the Clyde. The greater part of her life was spent in a cottage at Hampstead, on the outskirts of London. She was a warm friend of Sir Walter Scott. We omit the particulars of not a mean literary career in order to give her Scotch Fisherman's Song entire: O swiftly glides the bonny boat Just parted from the shore, And to the fishers' chorus-note Soft moves the dripping oar. Their toils are borne with lightsome cheer; And ever may they speed, Who feeble age and helpmates dear And tender bairnies feed. We cast our lines in Largo Bay; Our nets are floating wide; Our bonny boat, with yielding sway, Rocks lightly on the tide. And happy prove our daily lots Upon the summer sea, And blest on land our kindly cots, Where all our treasures be!
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Bainbridge, William
William (1774-1833), an American naval officer , a native of Princeton, New Jersey . He was connected with the payment of tribute to the dey of Algiers, and commanded the frigate Philadelphia that went aground in the war with Tripoli. He was held a prisoner until the conclusion of peace in 1805. During the War of 1812 he had the good fortune to command the Constitution in its famous fight with the Java, in which it earned the name of Old Ironsides. See Old Ironsides; Holmes 2026 Editor's Note: Bainbridge commanded the USS Constitution — 'Old Ironsides' — in its famous victory over HMS Java. That ship still floats in Boston Harbor, the oldest commissioned warship afloat anywhere in the world, saved from scrapping in 1830 partly by Oliver Wendell Holmes's protest poem 'Old Ironsides.' (Ed: BR 2026-06-19)
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Baird, Spencer Fullerton
Spencer Fullerton (1823-1887), a noted American naturalist. He was born at Reading, Connecticut. He held various positions in connection with the Smithsonian Institution , becoming its secretary in 1878. His writings on North American reptiles, birds, mammals, and fishes are standard works of reference in the department of natural history. Few men have been privileged to handle so much material new to science. Few men have had as adequate facilities, and few have done their work with equal enthusiasm and fidelity. Much credit for the success of the Smithsonian and its standing in the scientific world is due to Professor Baird. See Smithsonian 2026 Editor's Note: Baird transformed the young Smithsonian into a great museum, amassing the specimen collections that anchor American natural history to this day, and founded the U.S. Fish Commission that pioneered fisheries science. A dozen animals bear his name, from Baird's sparrow to Baird's beaked whale. (Ed: BR 2026-07-10)
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Baja
an Italian seaport town, W. of Naples. It is the ancient Balae.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Baja
a market town of Hungary, near the Danube, 90 miles S. of Pest. It is celebrated for its annual swine fair, and its trade in grain and wine. Pop. about 22,500.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bakel
a town with a strong fort, in the E. of the French colony of Senegal, on the left bank of the Senegal river. Pop . about 2,000.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Baker
MOUNT, an occasionally active volcano in Whatcom co., Wash., belonging to the Cascade Range; very active in 1880; elevation, 10,827 feet.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Baker
SIR BENJAMIN, an English engineer, born near Bath, in 1840. In 1877 he superintended the removal of Cleopatra's Needle from Egypt to London. In conjunction with Sir John Fowler he drew the plans for the great bridge over the Firth of Forth. He also did important work in connection with the Assouan dam, the Blackwall tunnel, the Tower Bridge (London) and the (London) Metropolitan Railway System. He has written numerous scientific treatises , including "Long Span Iron Bridges," "Suspension Versus Cantiliver Bridges," "The Strength of Beams," and " Transportation and Re-erection of Cleopatra's Needle." He died in 1917.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Baker
RAY STANNARD. During the American State Department, and afterward accompanied President Wilson to Europe as head of the press bureau. His subsequent publications include: "What Wilson Did at Paris" (1920) and "Wood- (1922). row Wilson and World Settlement"
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Baker (City of Oregon the countyseat)
a city of Oregon, the countyseat of Baker co., on the Powder river and on the line of the Oregon Railroad and avigation Company. It is the center of an important mining region and has also an extensive trade in lumber, wool, live stock, and mineral products. The surrounding country produces agricultural products in large quantities. There is an opera house, a Masonic temple, a hospital, and other public buildings. Pop. (1910) 6,742; (1920) 7,729.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Baker (II)
RAY STANNARD, an Mich., in 1870. After graduating from the Michigan Agricultural College in 1889, and carrying on special studies in law and literature at the University of work and was for several years assistant Michigan, he engaged in newspaper editor of " McClure's Magazine," from 1906 to 1915, and was one of the editors of the " American Magazine." He wrote the government in American cities and a series of articles on the corruption of did much to bring about improved conditions in municipal government. His published writings include "Following the Color Line" (1908); "New Ideals in Healing" (1909); "The Spiritual Unrest" (1910). Under the pen name of David Grayson he wrote "Adventures in Contentment" (1907); "Adventures in Friendship" (1910); "Great Possessions" (1917).
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Baker (III)
SIR SAMUEL WHITE, an English traveler, born in 1821. He resided some years in Ceylon, and, in 1861, began his African travels, which lasted several years, in the upper Nile regions, and resulted, among other discoveries, in that of Albert Nyanza Lake in 1864, and of the exit of the White Nile from it. Upon his return to England he was knighted. In 1869 he returned to Africa as head of an expedition sent by the Khedive of Egypt to annex and open up to trade a large part of the newly explored country, being raised to the dignity of Pasha. He returned in 1873, having finished his work. His writings include "Eight Years' Wanderings in Ceylon," "The Albert Nyanza, etc.," "The Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia," "Ismailia: a Narrative of the Expedition to Central Africa," "Cyprus as I saw it in 1879," "Cast Up by the Sea" (1869). He died Dec. 30, 1893.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia