following bishop of Winchester. His nephew Henry V. sent him ambassador to France, and in 1417 he went into the Holy Land. He was one of the godfathers and guardians to Henry VI., in whose reign he again discharged the office of chancellor, but was deprived of the seals, owing to the fierce contentions between him and Humphrey duke of Gloucester. In 1426 he received a cardinal's hat, with the dignity of papal legate; which latter office, however, he was prohibited from exercising by royal mandate. The new cardinal raised men for a crusade against the Hussites of Bohemia, from whence he was recalled by the pope; and in 1430 he crowned Henry VI. at Paris. After a very active life he died at Winchester in 1447, and his remains were interred in that cathedral. The character drawn of him by Shakspeare is enjust to his memory; for though ambitious and turbulent, he was generous; and the hospital of St. Cross, with other charities, show that he had a very munificent disposition. Brog. Brit.

BEAUFORT (Margaret), countess of Richmond and Derby, was the only daughter and beiress of John Beaufort duke of Somerset. She was born at Bletsoe, in Bedfordshire, in 1441. At the age of sixteen she married Edmund, earl of Richmond, by whom she had only one child, who became Henry VII. On the death of her first husband she married Henry Stafford, son of the duke of Buck. gham, by whom she had no issue. Becomwidow again she married Thomas lord Stanley, who was created earl of Derby in 1485, and who also died before her in 1504. Lady Margaret was an accomplished woman, and published "The Mirroure of Golde for the sinfull Soule;" she also translated from the French the fourth book of Gerson's or Kempis's "Imitation of Christ" and a letter to her son is printed in Howard's Correspondence. She also made the orders for great estates of ladies and noble women; but she has perpetuated her name principally by her foundations of Christ's and St. John's Colleges, Cambridge, with a divinity professorship richly endowed. Her other charities were equally liberal. She died in 1509, and was buried in the chapel of Henry VII. at Westminster. - Ibid.

BEAUFORT (Louis d'), a learned writer, who died at Maestricht in 1795. He was fellow of the Royal Society of London, and wrote the History of Germanicus; Dissertation upon the Uncertainty of the First Five Ages of the Roman Republic; His. tory of the Roman Republic, or Plan of the ancient Government of Rome. Nouv. Dict. Hist. BEAULIEU. BEAUMARCHAIS (Peter Augustin Caron de, a French dramatic writer, was born at Paris in 1732. He was bred to his father's business, which was that of a watchmaker; and at the age of twenty-one, young Beau

See Pontault.

marchais invented an improvement in the art, which being contested by another person, was decided in the favour of the former, on a reference to the Academy of Sciences. He was also well skilled in music, particularly on the harp, which recommended him to the daughters of Louis XV., whom he instructed on that instrument, and thus laid the foundation of his fortune. He lost two wives, and then gained three considerable causes; his papers on which excited great attention. He was afterwards engaged in a variety of pursuits and speculations, many of which were of a commercial character, and proved disastrous. After dissipating his fortune in projects, he died of an apoplexy, in 1799. His works are 1. Memoires contre les Sieurs de Goetzman, &c. 2. Me. moire en reponse a celui de G. Kornmann. 3. Eugenie, a drama. 4. Les deux Amis. 5. Le Barbier de Seville. 6. Le mariage de Figaro. 7. Tarare, an opera. Mère coupable. 9. Memoire en reponse au Manifeste du roi d'Angleterre. 10. Memoires a Lecointre de Versailles. - Biog. Moderne.

8. La

BEAUME (Antony), a French chemist, was born at Senlis in 1728. He was bred to the profession of pharmacy, and settled at Paris as an apothecary, in 1752. In 1775, he was chosen a member of the Academy of Sciences; and afterwards of the National Institute. He died in 1805. His works are 1. Plan d'un cours de chimie experimentale et raisonnée, 8vo. 2. Dissertation sur l'Ether, 12mo. 3. Elemens de Pharmacie theorique et pratique. 4. Manual de chimie, 12mo. 5. Memoire sur les Argiles, ou recherches sur la nature des terres les plus propres a l'agriculture, et sur les moyens de fertiliser celles qui sont steriles, 8vo. 6. Chimie experimentale et raisonnée, 3 vols. 8vo. Dict. Hist.

BEAUMELLE (Laurence Angliviel de la), a French writer, was born in the diocese of Allais in 1727, and died at Paris in 1773. He was for some time professor of belles lettres in Denmark, which country not agreeing with his constitution, he left it with the title of privy counsellor, and a pension. On his arrival at Paris in 1753, he was sent to the Bastille, for some reflections contained in a work which he published, entitled, "Mes Pensées." On regaining his liberty, he printed the Memoirs of Maintenon, which giving fresh offence, occasioned his re-commitment to that prison. After obtaining his release, he went to live in the country, and married a lady of fortune. In 1772, he was appointed librarian to the king, but died of a dropsy the year following. His other works are-1. A Defence of Montesquieu's Esprit des Loix. 2. Letters to M. Voltaire, containing severe remarks on his Age of Louis XIV., which brought on a sharp controversy between these two writers. 3. Pensées de Senéque. 4. Commentaire sur la He left also some Henriade, 2 vols. 8vo.

BEAUMONT (Sir John), son of Francis Beaumont, a judge of the common pleas, was born at Grace-Dieu, in Leicestershire, in 1582, and educated at Oxford, from whence he removed to one of the inns of court. In 1626 he was created a baronet by king Charles I., and died in 1628. He wrote-1. The Crown of Thorns, a poem. 2. Bosworth Field, a poem, and other pieces, which were collected and published after his death by his son. — Wood.

BEAUMONT (Francis), third son of the judge, was born at Grace-Dieu in 1586; and educated with his two brothers Henry and John, at Broadgate's Hall, now Pembroke college, Oxford. It is observable that there were four Francis Beaumonts of this family, all living in 1615, of whom three were poets, the master of the Charter-house, the dramatic writer, and a Jesuit. The subject of this article became a student in the Inner Temple, and his "Mask of the Inner Temple and Gray's Inn," was acted and published in 1612. At what time his intimacy with Fletcher began is uncertain, but the date of their first play is 1607. Aubrey says, "There was a wonderful consimility of fancy between Mr. Francis Beaumont and Mr. John Fletcher, which caused that dearness of friendship between them. They lived together on the Bank-side, not far from the playhouse, both bachelors, had one bench in the house between them, which they did so admire; and the same clothes, &c." Mr. Beaumont married Ursula, daughter and co-heir of Henry Isley, of Sundridge in Kent, by whom he had two daughters. He died in 1616, and was buried in Westminsterabbey. The first edition of his poems appeared in 1640, 4to. His dramatic works are so interwoven with those of Fletcher, as not to be distinguished. — Biog. Dram.

BEAUMONT (Joseph), an English divine, was of the same family with the preceding; but was born at Hadleigh, in Suffolk, in 1615. At the age of sixteen, he went to Peter-house, Cambridge, where he took his degrees, and obtained a fellowship, of which he was deprived for his loyalty in the civil war. He then retired to his native place, and afterwards to Tatingston, with his wife, who was step-daughter of his patron Dr. Wren, bishop of Ely. At the Restoration, he recovered his preferments, was made chaplain in ordinary, and obtained the degree of doctor in divinity by mandamus. In 1663 he was appointed master of Jesus-college, from whence, the year following, he removed to Peter-house; with which headship he held the chair of divinity. He died in 1699. His works are-1. Psyche, a poem, folio, 1648; and again with additions, in 1702. 2. Poems in English and Latin, with remarks on the Epistle to the Colossians, 4to., 1749.Jacob's Lives of the Poets.

BEAUMONT (Elie de), a French advocate, was born at Carentan in 1732. He distinguished himself greatly by his exertions in behalf of the unfortunate family of John Calas, for whom he drew up an admirable memoir, which was attended with success. He died in 1785. His lady, who died two years before him, wrote an epistolary novel under the title of the Marquis de Roselle.Dict. Hist. BEAUMONT.

See Perefixe.

BEAUNE (Florimond de), a French mathematician, was born at Blois in 1601. He studied the law and became counsellor of the presidial court of his native city, where he died in 1652. He was the friend of Des Cartes, and invented many astronomical instruments, besides discovering a problem that bears his name, consisting in the construction of a curve, by peculiar properties. — Moreri.

BEAURAIN (John de), geographer to Louis XV., was born at Aix in 1697, and died in 1771. He constructed a number of charts, and published a topographical and military description of the campaigns of Flanders from 1690 to 1694, 3 vols. folio. His son, the chevalier de Beaurain, was also an excellent military draughtsman, and published "Cartes des Campagnes de Grande Conde, fol. 1774;" which were followed by those of Turenne in a splendid folio. - Dict. Hist.

de), a

BEAURIEU (Gaspard-Guillard French writer, was born at St. Paul, in Artois, in 1728, and died in a hospital at Paris in 1795. His works are➡ 1. L'Heureux Citoyen, 12mo. 2. Cours d'histoire sacrée et profane, 2 vols. 12mo. 3. Abrege de l'histoire des Insectes, 2 vols. 8vo. 4. L'Heureux vieillard, 8vo. 5. Cours d'his toire naturelle, 7 vols. 12mo. 6. Varietés litteraires, 12mo. 7. De l'alaitement et la premiere education des enfans, 12mo. 8. L'Eleve de la nature, 2 vols. 8vo. 9. L'accord parfait. 10. Le porte-feuille François, &c. - Dict. Hist.

BEAUSOBRE (Isaac), a protestant divine, was born at Niort, in Upper Poitou, in 1659. He studied at Saumur, after which he was or dained, but his congregation being dissolved by the revocation of the edict of Nantes he retired to Holland, where he became chaplain to the princess of Anhalt Dessau. În 1694 he removed to Berlin, where he spent the remainder of his life, and exercised his ministry as one of the pastors of the French church, and also as chaplain to their ma jesties. He was besides counsellor of the royal consistory, inspector of the French college, and of all the churches of that commu nion. He died in 1738. His principal works are-1. The History of the Reformation, 4 vols. 8vo. 2. A Translation of the New Testament, in conjunction with his col league in the ministry, M. Lenfant, 2 vols 4to. 1718, and again in 1741. The intro

duction was published separately, and has been translated into English. 3. Histoire critique de Manicheisme, 2 vols. 4to. 1734. -Chay fee's Dict. Hist.

BEAT SOBRE (Charles Louis), son of the preceding, was born at Dessau in 1690, and died at Berlin, where he was pastor of a French church in 1753. He published "Discours sur la Nouveau Testam.;" An Apology for Protestants, &c. Ibid.

BEAUSOBRE (Lewis), counsellor to the king of Prussia, was born at Berlin in 1730, and died in 1784. He wrote Philosophical Dissertations on the Nature of Fire; Le Pyrrhonisme du Sage; Les Songes d'Epicure, &c. - Dict. Hist.

BEAUVAIS (William), of the academy of Cortona, and of the literary society of Orleans, was born in 1698, and died in 1773. He wrote a History of the Roman Emperors by Medals, 3 vols. 12mo. 1767.-Ibid. BEAUVAIS (Charles Nicholas), a physician, was born at Orleans in 1745, and died at Montpellier in 1794. He wrote Essais Historiques sur Orleans; Description topographique du Mont Olivet, &c.—

- Ibid.

BEAC ZEE (Nicholas), a member of the French academy, and professor of grammar in the military school, was born at Verdun in 1717, and died at Paris in 1789. He wrote the articles on grammar in the Encycipédie; but though allied with infidels, he was himself a sincere christian. Beauzée once aked D'Alembert, how they came to elect a member of the academy?" Because," wered the other, "we had not a grammaran among us, and we knew you to be an honest man. He wrote a Universal Grammar, or an Exposition of the Elements of Languages, 2 vols. 8vo.; an Exposition of the Historical Proofs of Religion, and other works. Nouv. Dict. Hist.

terum.

BEELZ (Balthazar), a Lutheran divine, was born at Strasburg in 1632. After discharging the pastoral office in his native city, he became professor of theology at Wittemberg, where he died in 1686. He wrote 1. Theses Philologica de re nummaria ve2. Disputationes Philologica de Theologia Gentili ex antiquis nummis eru3. Dissertatio de aris et mensis Eucharisticis veterum, 4to. 4. Antiquitates Ecclesiæ, 3 vols. 4to. 5. Ecclesia Anteduviana vera et falsa, 4to. 6. Memorabila Hist. Ecclesiastica recentioris, 4to. - Moreri.

ta, 4to.

BERELE (Henry), a native of Jutsingen In Suabia, who, from a very low origin, rose to be professor of languages at Tubingen, where he died in 1514. The emperor Maximilian I. honoured him with the poetical crown in 1501. He wrote Dissertations on the German History, and his Latin poems were published at Strasburgh in 1512, 4to. As late as 1801 a work by him "De necessitate Lingua Latina," was printed at Augsburgh. - Ibid.

BECAN (Martin), a learned Jesuit, was born in 1561 at Hilvarenbec in Brabant. He taught philosophy and divinity at Venice, where he died in 1624. Becan distinguished himself by defending Bellarmine against king James I. and bishop Andrews; but he carried the papal authority to so extravagant a length, that his book was condemned by the parliament of Paris, and even by the pope himself in 1613. — · Moreri.

BECANUS. See Beka.

BECCADELLI (Antonio), commonly called Panormita, from his native place Palermo, where he was born in 1394; he became professor of belles lettres at Pavia, and received the poetic laurel from the emperor Sigismund in 1432. Alphonso, king of Naples, ennobled him, and gave him several honourable employments. He is said to have sold a farm to purchase a copy of Livy. died at Naples in 1471. His works are "History of Alphonso, king of Arragon;" and a collection of epistles and other pieces, printed at Venice in 1453. But he is known chiefly as the author of a vile book entitled "Hermaphroditus.", Ibid.

1

He

BECCADELLI (Lewis), an Italian ecclesiastic, was born at Bologna in 1502; he assisted at the council of Trent, and was rewarded with the archbishopric of Ragusa. This preferment he resigned on being appointed preceptor to prince Ferdinand of Tuscany; for which he only received the provostship of the cathedral of Prato. died in 1572. He wrote the lives of cardinals Pole and Bembo.

-Dict. Hist. BECCAFUMI. See Mecharino.

He

BECCARIA (Bonesana Cæsar), an Italian marquis, and a writer of note, was born at Milan in 1735, and died there in 1795. He studied at Naples, and in 1762 published at Lucca a treatise on the abuses of Soon after this he became the coinage. member of a literary society formed at Milan, in conjunction with whom he instituted a periodical work called the "Coffee-House," the papers of which, when collected, made 2 vols. 4to.

In 1764 he printed his Treatise on Crimes and Punishments, 12mo. ; of which six editions were soon exhausted in Italian, and translations published in various languages. In 1768 the Austrian government founded for the author a political professorship, and his lectures were printed in 1804, 2 vols. 8vo. In 1770 Beccaria published an acute Treatise on Style in ComIbid. position.

BECCARIA (James Bartholomew), a physician of Bologna, born in 1682, and died in 1766. He was professor of chemistry at his native place many years, and published a Dissertation on the Impurity of the Air, and Maladies which raged at Bologna in 1729 and 1730; a Treatise on the Motion Ibid. of Fluids; and other works. BECCARIA (John Baptist), a philosopher and ecclesiastic, was a native of Mondovi in N 4

died. Two years after his death Becket was canonized; and his pretended miracles were so numerous, that his shrine became the richest in Europe. - Lyttleton's Hist. of Hen. II.

BECKINGHAM (Charles), an English dramatic writer, was the son of a linen-draper in Fleet-street, and educated at Merchanttaylors' school. Two tragedies of his, entitled "Scipio Africanus" and "Henry IV. of France," were performed before he was twenty. He was also the author of some poems; but died in his thirty-second year, in 1731.-Biog. Dram.

BECKINGTON (Thomas), bishop of Bath and Wells in the 15th century. He was a great benefactor to New-college, Oxford, in which he had been educated; and wrote a Latin book on the claim of the kings of England to France. He died at Wells in 1465, and was buried in the cathedral of that city. His book just mentioned is in the Cotton Library. - Biog. Dict.

BECQUET (Anthony), a native of Paris, where be was born in 1654. He became a mock of the Celestine order, and was for near forty years their librarian. He died in 1730. His principal work is an history of the Celestine order, 4to. 1719. Besides this he wrote some pieces on ecclesiastical history and biography.—Mo

BEDA (Noel), a French divine in the 16th Century, who attacked Erasmus on account

of his paraphrases. He also reflected on the court for not exercising more rigour against heretics, for which he was banished to the Abbey of Mont St. Michael, where he died in 1537. — Ibid.

BEDA, or BEDE, called the Venerable, an ancient English writer, was born in 672, Wearmouth in the bishopric of Durham, educated in the monastery of St. Peter, and ordained by John of Beverly, bishop of Hexham. His fame for learning was so great, that pope Sergius wrote to the abbot of Jarrow to send him to Rome, but Bede declined the honour. He devoted the whole of las life to the writing his ecclesiastical history and other works, and in instructing the young monks. His last illness was long and painful, notwithstanding which he laboured for the edification of others to the very last, and dictated to an amanuensis a translation of the gospel of St. John into the Saxon language. The young man who wrote for him said, "There is now, master, but one sentence wanting;" upon which he bid him write quick, and when the scribe said, "It is now done," the venerable sage replied, "It is now done;" and soon after spired in the act of prayer on the floor of

BEDDOES (Thomas), an English physician, was the son of a farmer at Shiffnall in Shropshire, and born there in 1760. He received his education at the scnool of Brewood in Staffordshire, next at that of Bridgenorth, afterwards under a private tutor, and, lastly, at Pembroke-college, Oxford; where, in 1783, he took the degree of M. A., and the following year went to study physic at Edinburgh. In 1786 he took his doctor's degree, and the year following was appointed professor of chemistry at Oxford; but, in 1792, he quitted the university on account of the violence of his politics. He then settled at Clifton near Bristol, where he obtained considerable practice, but died in the prime of life of a dropsy in the chest, which he mistook for a hepatic disease, Dec 24. 1808. Dr. Beddoes was a man of genius, but of too ardent and versatile a temper, which led him to adopt many paradoxes as unquestionable truths. He translated several chemical works, and wrote some ingenious pieces on medicine, mineralogy, physiology, philosophy, and politics. The last, however, are coarse and intemperate in the extreme. A copious memoir of him has been published by Dr. Stock, with an elaborate account of his writings, the list of which is too long for insertion in this place.

BEDELL (WILLIAM), an excellent prelate, was born in 1570 at Black Notley in Essex, and educated at Emanuel-college, Cambridge, where, in 1593, he obtained a fellowship. In 1599 he settled at Bury in Suffolk, but in 1604 he went to Venice as chaplain to Sir Henry Wotton, During his residence in that city, Mr. Bedell contracted a friendship with father Paul Sarpi, who entrusted to his care the manuscript of his History of the Council of Trent and other works, which were afterwards printed in London. The celebrated Antonio de Dominis, archbishop of Spalato, also formed an acquaintance with Mr. Bedell, imparted to him the secret of his conversion, and gave him the manuscript of his treatise "De Republica Ecclesiastica." In 1612 he returned to his flock at Bury, and three years after was presented to the living of Horingsheath, from whence, in 1627, he was called to preside over Trinity-college, Dublin. In 1629 he was promoted to the united bishoprics of Kilmore and Ardagh, but he afterwards resigned the last see as incompatible with his ideas of episcopal duty. This office he discharged in such a manner as commanded the admiration of the Romanists, for his zeal was tempered with moderation, and he studied by the most conciliating arts, as well as by the piety of his life, to promote the inter