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

BEARD, WILLIAM (_son of a farmer at Banwell, Somerset_). _b._ Banwell 24 April 1772; a small farmer; dug out a cavern in Banwell hill and found many bones of the bear, buffalo, reindeer and wolf about 1826; let his land and spent all his time searching for bones; his collection of bones was bought by the Somersetshire Archæological and natural history society and is now in the museum at Taunton Castle. _d._ Banwell 9 Jany. 1868. _J. Rutter’s Delineations of north western division of Somerset_ (1829) 147–60, _portrait_. BEARDMORE, NATHANIEL (_2 son of Joshua Beardmore of Nottingham_). _b._ Nottingham 19 March 1816; partner with James Meadows Rendel C.E. in London and Plymouth to 1848; took out a patent for piers and breakwaters 1848; one of the first hydraulic engineers; engineer to Public works loan comrs. and River Thames Conservancy board; M.I.C.E. 3 May 1842; F.R.A.S. 8 Jany. 1858; F.M.S. pres. 1861 and 1862; F.R.G.S. 1852; author of _Manual of hydrology_ 1852, _new ed._ 1867, which became the text book of the profession for hydraulic engineering. _d._ Broxbourne, Herts. 24 Aug. 1872; _Min. of Proc. of Instit. of C.E. xxxvi_, 256–64 (1873). BEARDMORE, WILLIAM. _b._ Greenwich 6 May 1824; partner with Wm. Rigby in the Parkhead rolling mill and forge near Glasgow 1861–71, and partner with his brother 1871 to death, these works became largest of their kind in Scotland and achieved an European reputation; A.I.C.E. 6 March 1860; inventor and patentee. _d._ Brighton 11 Oct. 1877. _Min. of Proc. of Instit. of C.E. li_, 268–70 (1878). BEASLEY, JOSEPH NOBLE. _b._ 30 March 1832; lieut. col. Royal Irish Fusiliers 21 June 1880 to death. _d._ Ismaila, Egypt 20 Sep. 1882. BEATRICE, MADEMOISELLE, stage name of Marie Beatrice Binda (_dau. of Chevalier Binda, British consul at Florence_). _b._ Lucca, Italy 5 Aug. 1839; acted at Theatres de l’Odéon and Vaudeville, Paris; made her début in London under name of Lucchesini at Haymarket theatre 3 Oct. 1864; played at Lyceum theatre 1865 and in the provinces 1866–68; organised a company 1870 with which she travelled to her death; played in London summers of 1872, 74, 75 and 78; produced and acted chief parts in _Our Friends_, _The Sphinx_, _Frou-Frou_ and other translations from the French. _d._ 102 Earl’s Court road, London 22 Dec. 1878. _bur._ Père Lachaise cemetery Paris 2 Jany. 1879. _The Stage i_, 61, 63 (1874), _portrait_; _Pascoe’s Dramatic list_ (1880) 388–90. BEATSON, REV. BENJAMIN WRIGGLESWORTH (_son of Anby Beatson_). _b._ 24 Jany. 1803; ed. at Merchant Taylors’ school and Pemb. coll. Cam., 16 wrangler 1825, B.A. 1825, M.A. 1828; fellow of his college 1827 to death; author of _Progressive exercises on the composition of Greek Iambic verse_ 1836, _10 ed._ 1871; _Exercises on Latin prose composition_ 1840; _Lessons in ancient history_ 1853; edited _Demosthenes’ Oration against Leptines_ 1864. _d._ Charles st. City road, London 20 July 1874. BEATSON, GEORGE STEWART (_3 son of Henry Duncan Beatson of Campbelltown, Argyleshire_). _b._ Greenock May 1814; ed. at Glasgow Univ., M.D. 1836; L.R.C.S. Edin. 1836; assistant surgeon army medical department 1838; surgeon general 1 May 1863; principal medical officer of British troops in India 1863–68 and 1871 to death; in charge of Royal Victoria hospital Netley 1868–71; honorary phys. to the Queen 13 March 1866; C.B. 2 June