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

BECHER, LADY ELIZA (_eld. dau. of John O’Neill, stage manager of the Drogheda theatre_). _b._ Drogheda 1791; made her début in Dublin at Crow street theatre as The widow Cheerly in the _Soldier’s daughter_ 1811 and in London at Covent Garden theatre as Juliet 6 Oct. 1814; the favourite actress in London both in comedy and tragedy 1814–19; said to have made £12,000 a year; acted for the last time 13 July 1819. (_m._ 18 Dec. 1819 Wm. Wrixon, M.P. for Mallow, he was _b._ 31 July 1780, assumed name of Becher, was created a baronet 1831 and _d._ 23 Oct. 1850). _d._ Ballygiblin near Mallow 29 Oct. 1872. _Mrs. C. B. Wilson’s Our actresses i_, 33–74 (1844), _portrait_; _Theatrical inquisitor vi_, 243 (1815), _portrait_. BECHER, JOHN REID. _b._ 3 July 1819; 2 lieut. Bengal Engineers 6 March 1838; colonel 13 Oct. 1863; colonel commandant 15 Sep. 1881 to death; served in Afghan campaign 1842 and Sutlej campaign 1846; general 29 July 1878; C.B. 18 May 1860. _d._ Southampton 9 July 1884. BECHER, MARTIN WILLIAM (_son of Wm. Becher of Norfolk, farmer who d. 1816_). _b._ Norfolk; served in the Store-keeper general’s department; an officer in Buckinghamshire yeomanry cavalry 1821; won the Northampton steeple chase 4 April 1834; beat the Marquis of Waterford in a match for 1000 guineas a side 1834; won the St. Albans steeple chase 1835 and 1836 and many other races; the best steeple chase rider in England. _d._ 21 Maida hill, St. John’s Wood, London 11 Oct. 1864 aged 67. _Sporting Review lii_, 400–404 (1864); _Scott and Sebright by the Druid_ (1885) 292–303, _portrait_. BECK, BARONESS VON, assumed name of Wilhelmina Racidula; passed herself off as a Hungarian exile who had rendered good service to the cause of independence; came to Birmingham with her secretary Constant Derra July 1851, where she was assisted by many of the Liberal leaders; arrested as an impostor and confined in Moor st. police court 29 Aug.; author of _Personal adventures during the late war of independence in Hungary 2 vols._ 1850. _d._ in the ante-room of the Court at Moor st. Birmingham 30 Aug. 1851 aged about 54. _The persecution and death of the Baroness Von Beck at Birmingham in August_ 1851, 8º. 1852; _Athenæum_ (1852) 578, 629, 653, 701, 846 _and_ 869; _The facts of the case as to the pretended Baroness Von Beck by J. T. Smith_ 1852. BECK, EDWARD. Commanded a merchant ship; a slate merchant at Isleworth, Middlesex; constructed the great waterworks at Hampton; one of most successful growers of Pelargoniums in the kingdom, long unrivalled as an exhibitor; author of _A treatise on the cultivation of the Pelargonium_ 1847; edited _The florist and garden miscellany 4 vols._ 1848–61. _d._ Worton cottage, Isleworth 15 Jany. 1861 aged 57. _The Florist Feb. 1861, pp._ 36–38. BECK, RICHARD. Manufacturing optician at 31 Cornhill, London; author of _A treatise on the construction, proper use and capabilities of Smith, Beck and Beck’s achromatic microscopes_ 1865 and of 9 papers read before the Microscopical Society 1859–66. _d._ Stamford hill, London 30 Sep. 1866 aged nearly 39. BECK, THOMAS SNOW. _b._ Newcastle-upon-Tyne; ed. at gr. school there, and in Cumberland; apprenticed to a surgeon at Newcastle; student at Univ. college London 1836; M.R.C.S. 1839, F.R.C.S. 1847; walked the Paris hospitals 1839–40; visited universities of Switzerland, Italy and Germany 1840–41; M.D. London 1849; M.R.C.P. 1852; practised in London 1841; phys. to Farringdon general dispensary 1850; F.R.S. 5 June 1851, royal medallist 1845. _d._ 7 Portland place, London 6 Jany. 1877 aged 63. _Medical Circular i_, 209–211 (1852). BECKER, CARL LUDWIG CHRISTIAN. _b._ Ratzeburg in Mecklenberg Strelitz 16 July 1821; manager for Elliott brothers of London electrical engineers 1858; member of the firm 1873 to death; F.R.A.S. Jany. 1874. _d._ 55 St. Paul’s Road Canonbury 3 April 1875. BECKET, THOMAS. M.R.C.S. 1794, F.R.C.S. 1843; surgeon 1 Foot Guards 8 July 1795 to 1809; surgeon to the Savoy 28 Sep. 1809. _d._ 5 Russell place, Fitzroy sq. London 21 July 1856 aged 82. BECKETT, SIR EDMUND, 4 Baronet, _b._ Gledhow hall, Leeds 29 Jany 1787; M.P. for west riding Yorkshire 12 July 1841 to 23 July 1847, and 11 Dec. 1848 to 23 April 1859; succeeded 17 Nov. 1872. _d._ Doncaster 24 May 1874. Personalty sworn under £300,000 Aug. 1874. _I.L.N. lxiv_, 547 (1874) _lxv_, 236 (1874). BECKETT, JOHN STANIFORTH (_son of Joseph Beckett, of Barnsley 1751–1840_). Presented a dispensary to Barnsley, to which he also left sum of £5000. _d._ Wombwell near Barnsley 9 Nov. 1868 in 75 year. Personalty sworn under £350,000 Jany. 1869. BECKETT, SIR THOMAS, 3 Baronet. _b._ Leeds 1 Jany. 1779; succeeded 31 May 1847. _d._ Somerby park near Gainsborough 17 Nov. 1872. Personalty sworn under £350,000 March 1873. BECKETT, WILLIAM (_5 son of Sir John Beckett, 1 Baronet 1743–1826_). _b._ Leeds 3 March 1784; principal partner in the eminent banking firm of Beckett and Co. of the Leeds “Old Bank”; M.P. for Leeds 1841 to 1852 and for Ripon 1852 to 1857. _d._ Brighton 26 Jany.