Modern English biography, volume 1 (of 4), A-H by Frederic Boase

(1868). BESEMERES, JOHN (_eld. son of Mr. Besemeres of City of London_). Merchant at Calcutta; author of following plays, all written under pseudonym of John Daly, _Broken Toys_, produced at Sadlers Wells 1850; _Young husbands_ comedy, at same house Aug. 1852; _The Times_ drama, at Olympic July 1853; _Old Salt_ drama, at Strand 12 Jany. 1868; _Dotheboys Hall_ drama, at Court 26 Dec. 1871; _Marriage lines_ drama, at Court 17 March 1873 and _Forget and Forgive_ comedy, at Charing Cross 5 Jany. 1874. _d._ Islington infirmary London 19 Nov. 1879 aged 57. BESLEY, ROBERT. _b._ Exeter 14 Oct. 1794; member of firm of Messrs. Thorogood of city of London, type founders 1829; member for Aldersgate ward of Court of common council 1852, alderman of the ward 1861 to death; sheriff 1864–65, lord mayor 1869–70. _d._ Victoria road, Wimbledon park 18 Dec. 1876. _I.L.N. lv_, 461 (1869), _portrait_. BESLY, REV. JOHN. Ed. at Balliol coll. Ox., fellow 1823, B.A. 1821, M.A. 1826, D.C.L. 1835; tutor in Rugby school 1823–28; sub librarian Bodleian library 1828–31; V. of Long Benton near Newcastle 1830 to death; R. of Aston-sub-edge, Gloucs. 1831 to death; proctor in Convocation of York 1836–45 and 1855–64; author of _A translation of Aristotle’s Rhetoric with analysis by Hobbes_ 1833; _Desultory notices of the church and vicarage of Long Benton_ 1843 and of Sermons. _d._ Long Benton 17 April 1868 aged 68. BESSBOROUGH, JOHN GEORGE BRABAZON PONSONBY, 5 Earl of (_eld. son of John Wm. Ponsonby, 4 Earl of Bessborough 1781–1847_). _b._ London 4 Oct. 1809; ed. at the Charterhouse; attaché to embassy at St. Petersburgh 3 July 1832; M.P. for Bletchingley 5 May 1831 to July 1831, for Higham Ferrers 6 Oct. 1831 to 3 Dec. 1832 and for Derby 8 Jany. 1835 to 16 May 1847 when he succeeded; lord lieutenant of co. Carlow 5 Sep. 1838 to death; master of the buckhounds 16 May 1848 to Feb. 1852, 30 Dec. 1852 to 26 Feb. 1858 and 18 June 1859 to 20 Jany. 1866; P.C. 30 June 1848; lord steward of the household 20 Jany. 1866 to July 1866 and 9 Dec. 1868 to 2 March 1874. _d._ Bessborough house near Piltown, co. Kilkenny 28 Jany. 1880. _Baily’s Mag. vi_, 163–64 (1863), _portrait_. BESSONET, JAMES. Called to Irish bar 1807; K.C. 13 July 1830; chairman of sessions for county Waterford. _d._ 21 Lower Leeson st. Dublin 3 Oct. 1859 aged 76. BEST, SAMUEL. Second lieut. Madras Engineers 16 Dec. 1825; captain 9 May 1842 to death; planned fortifications of Singapore; superintendent of roads in Madras, Presidency 1845 to death; his principal works are the Southern Trunk road and the Goolcheroo pass; contributed many papers to _Madras Literary transactions_ and _Madras Engineering papers_. _d._ of jungle fever at Chittoor 5 Oct. 1851. BEST, REV. SAMUEL (_3 son of 1 Baron Wynford 1767–1845_). _b._ 2 Dec. 1802; ed. at King’s college Cam., fellow, B.A. 1826, M.A. 1830; R. of Abbots-Anne, Andover 1831 to death; rural dean of Andover; author of _Parochial sermons_ 1836; _Manual of parochial institutions_ 1849; _Catechism on collects_ 1850; _Discourses on collects, epistles and gospels_ 1853. _d._ The rectory, Abbots-Anne 20 Jany. 1873. BEST, THOMAS (_brother of the preceding_). _b._ 12 Aug. 1799; entered navy 3 Nov. 1812; captain 22 July 1830; V.A. on h.p. 10 Nov. 1862. _d._ 19 Hyde park sq. London 4 Sep. 1864. BEST, WILLIAM MAWDESLEY (_eld. son of Thomas Best, captain 26 Foot who d. 8 Oct. 1813_). _b._ 24 Dec. 1809; ed. at Trin. coll. Dub., B.A. 1831, LL.B. 1832, M.A. 1834; barrister G.I. 11 June 1834, bencher 16 Jany. 1867; author of _Right to begin and right to reply in law courts_ 1837; _Treatise on circumstantial proof in criminal cases_ 1844; _Principles of the law of evidence_ 1849, _7 ed._ 1883. _d._ 17 Nov. 1869. BESTOW, WILLIAM (_son of Wm. Bestow of 124 Wood st. Cheapside, London, web manufacturer_). _b._ 14 Feb. 1789; partly founded several papers; founded _Theatrical Journal, a weekly record of the English drama_ 1840, edited it to Nov. 1872, 33 vols., it ceased 16 April 1873; wrote several political pamphlets. _d._ 20 Frederick st. King’s Cross, London 30 April 1873. BETHAM, MARY MATILDA (_eld. dau. of Rev. Wm. Betham 1749–1839, master of endowed school at Stonham Aspal, Suffolk 1784–1833_). _b._ 1776 or 1777; gave Shakespearian readings in London about 1803; author of _Elegies_ 1797; _Biographical dictionary of celebrated women_ 1804; _Poems_ 1808; _The lay of Marie, a poem_