London, University of Federation of more than 50 British institu¬ tions of higher learning, located primarily in London, England. It was established by liberals and religious dissenters in 1828, and it accepted for enrollment Roman Catholics, Jews, and other non-Anglicans. The first two colleges were University College and King’s College. From 1849 a student enrolled in any university in the British Empire could be awarded a University of London degree after examination. By the early 20th cen¬ tury many institutions had become affiliated with the university, includ¬ ing Bedford College, the first British university to grant degrees to women; the London School of Economics and Political Science, now an internationally renowned centre for the social sciences; and three other institutions that later became the Imperial College of Science and Tech¬ nology.
London Bridge Any of several successive structures spanning the River Thames. The Old London Bridge of nursery-rhyme fame was built by Peter of Colechurch between 1176 and 1209, replacing an earlier tim¬ ber bridge. Because of obstructions encountered in building the coffer¬ dams, the arch spans varied from 15 to 34 ft (4.6-10.4 m); the uneven construction resulted in frequent need for repair, but the bridge survived more than 600 years. Its roadway was loaded with a jumble of houses and shops, many projecting out over the river. It was demolished and replaced in the 1820s by New London Bridge, designed and built by John Rennie, Sr. (1761-1821), and his son John Rennie, Jr. (1794-1874). In the 1960s it was again replaced; the old masonry facing was dismantled and reerected at Lake Havasu City, Ariz., as a tourist attraction.
London Naval Conference (Jan. 21-April 22, 1930) Conference held in London to discuss naval disarmament and review the treaties of the Washington Conference. Representatives of Britain, the U.S., France, Italy, and Japan agreed to regulate submarine warfare and to place limits on new construction of cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and other war¬ ships. A treaty limiting battleship size was not signed, and the treaties renewed in 1935 were canceled on the outbreak of World War II.
London Stock Exchange London marketplace for securities. It was formed in 1773 by a group of stockbrokers who had been doing business informally in local coffeehouses. In 1801 its members raised money for construction of a building in Bartholomew Lane; they established rules for the exchange the following year. In 1973 the London Stock Exchange merged with several regional British stock exchanges. In 1991 the exchange replaced its governing council with a board of directors, and it became a public limited company.
Londonderry locally and historically Derry District (pop., 2001: 105,066), northwestern Northern Ireland. It is also the name of a former traditional county, colonized by the English in 1609; the 1973 adminis¬ trative reorganization broke up the county into several districts, includ¬ ing Londonderry. Bordered by the Irish republic and Lough Foyle, it is centred around the seaport city of Londonderry. In 1969 the old city and the adjacent area were merged administratively, and in 1973 it became one of Northern Ireland’s 26 districts.
Londonderry locally and historically Derry Seaport (pop., 1995 est.: 77,000) and district seat of Londonderry, Northern Ireland. St. Columba established a monastery there in the 6th century, but the settlement was repeatedly destroyed by Norse invaders. In 1600 an English force seized the city; shortly thereafter James I of England granted the city to the citi¬ zens of London, who brought in Protestant settlers, and it was then that it became officially known as Londonderry. Growth of the modern city dates from the 1850s, when linen shirt making became important, and clothing manufacture remains a major industry. Home to two cathedrals, Anglican and Roman Catholic, it has been the site of terrorist violence. Steeped in the region’s political turmoil, controversy surrounds the city’s name. The British government officially refers to the city and district as Londonderry City, but since 1984 the nationalist-controlled city council has called itself the Derry City Council.
Long, Huey (Pierce) (b. Aug. 30, 1893, near Winnfield, La., U.S.—d. Sept. 10, 1935, Baton Rouge, La.) U.S. politician. Despite an impover¬ ished background, he managed to obtain enough formal schooling to pass the bar in 1915. Politically ambitious, he was elected state railroad com-
Jack London writing The Sea Wolf,
JACK LONDON STATE HISTORIC PARK
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missioner at 25. His call for state regulation of the utilities and his attacks on the Standard Oil Com¬ pany won him widespread popular¬ ity. As governor (1928-31) of Louisiana, he became nationally famous for his fiery oratory and unconventional behaviour, and his nickname, “Kingfish,” became widely known. He implemented public works projects and education reform but used autocratic methods to control the state government.
Elected to the U.S. Senate (1932—
35), he sought national power with a Share-the-Wealth program. In 1935 he was assassinated by Carl A.
Weiss, whose father Long had vili¬ fied. His brother Earl K. Long (1895-1960) later served as gover¬ nor (1939-40, 1948-52, 1956-60).
Long Beach City (pop., 2000: 461,522), southwestern California, U.S. The site was originally an Indian trading camp, and Spanish ranches were located there in the 18th century. Laid out as Willmore City in 1880 and incorporated in 1888, it was renamed for its 8.5-mi (13.5-km) beach. The discovery of oil nearby in 1921 led to rapid growth. An earthquake in 1933 caused extensive damage. It is connected to the Los Angeles harbour by the Cerritos Channel. The British ocean liner Queen Mary has been moored in the harbour since 1969.
long-distance running In track and field, any foot race over 5,000 m in length. Marathons and cross-country running are also considered long-distance events. Women rarely ran in races beyond 3,000 m until the late 20th century.
Long Island Island (pop., 2000: 7,448,618), southeastern New York, U.S., lying between Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. It has four counties: Kings, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk. Kings County (the borough of Brooklyn) and Queens County (the borough of Queens) form part of New York City. At its western end it is separated from the Bronx and Man¬ hattan by the East River and from Staten Island by the Narrows. It is 118 mi (190 km) long, 12-23 mi (19-37 km) wide, and has an area of 1,401 sq mi (3,629 sq km). Its eastern portion has many beaches; it serves as a recreation area for New York City. Its southern shore, lined by sand spits (see Fire Island), shelters several bays, including Jamaica Bay. Originally inhabited by Indians (mostly Delaware), it was included in a grant to the Plymouth Co. It was settled by Dutch and English, but the whole island became part of the British colony of New York in 1664. It was the site of the Battle of Long Island (Aug. 27, 1776), an American defeat in the American Revolution.
Long Island Sound Body of water between the southern shore of Connecticut and the northern shore of Long Island, New York, U.S. It connects with the East River and with Block Island Sound. Covering 1,180 sq mi (3,056 sq km), it is 90 mi (145 km) long and 3-20 mi (5-32 km) wide. Its shores have many residential communities and summer resorts.
long jump or broad jump Track-and-field sport consisting of a hori¬ zontal jump for distance. It was formerly performed from both standing and running starts, as separate events, but the standing long jump is no longer included in major competitions. The running long jump was an event in the Olympic Games of 708 bc and in the modern Games from 1896. In 1948 the women’s long jump became an Olympic event.
Long March (1934-35) Trek of 6,000 mi (10,000 km) by Chinese Communists, resulting in the relocation of their revolutionary base from southeastern China to northwestern China and the emergence of Mao Zedong as their undisputed leader. Having withstood four of Chiang Kai- shek’s campaigns against their base area, the Communists were nearly defeated by his fifth attack. The remaining 85,000 troops broke through Nationalist lines and fled first westward under Zhu De and then north under Mao. By the time Mao arrived at Shaanxi, he was followed by only about 8,000 survivors, most of the rest having been killed by fighting, disease, and starvation (among the casualties were Mao’s two children and a