Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 02.djvu/20

BERWYN land, and was at the battle of the Boyne. He became Lieutenant-General in the French army, was naturalized in France, afterward commanded in Spain, and by the victory of Almanza secured the throne to Philip V. He especially distinguished himself by the defense of Provence and Dauphiné, in 1709, against the superior forces of the Duke of Savoy. He was killed at the siege of Philipsburg, in 1734.  BERWYN, a city of Illinois, in Cook co. It is on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and the Illinois Central railroads. The city is entirely residential. Pop. (1910) 5,841; (1920) 14,150.  BERYL, a colorless, yellowish, bluish or less brilliant green variety of emerald, the prevailing hue being green of various shades, but always pale. The best beryls are found in Brazil, in Siberia, and Ceylon, and in Dauria, on the frontiers of China. Beryls are also found in many parts of the United States. Some of the finer and transparent varieties of it are often called aquamarine.  BERYLLIUM, a rarer white malleable metal, the same as glucinum. It occurs as a silicate in phenacite, also in the mineral beryl along with aluminum silicate.  BERZELIUS, JOHANN JAKOB, BARON, a Swedish chemist, born in Ostgothland, Aug. 29, 1779. After graduating at Upsala, in 1804, he went to Stockholm, where he became an assistant to Sparrmann, who had accompanied Captain Cook in one of his voyages around the world; and at his death, in 1806, he succeeded him in the chair of chemistry, which he held for 42 years. His patient labors and ingenious investigations have done more to lay the foundations of organic chemistry than those of any other chemist. To him, chemistry is indebted for the discovery of several new elementary bodies, more especially selenium, thorium, and cerium; and to his skill as a manipulator may be traced many of the analytical processes at present in use. All the scientific societies of the world contended for the honor of enrolling his name among their members. He died in Stockholm, Aug. 7, 1848.  BESANÇON (bes-än-sôṅ′), a city in the N. E. of France, the capital of the department of Doubs, on the river Doubs. It commands a strong strategic position at the convergence of the roads from Switzerland and the valley between the Vosges and Jura Mountains. It was the fortified town of Vesontio in 58, when Cæsar expelled the Sequani. In the 5th century it was part of Burgundy, and in 1032 a free city of Franche-Comté. By the peace of Westphalia, in 1648, it was ceded to Spain, but was retaken by Louis XIV., united to France in 1678, and fortified by Vauban. It withstood the Austrians in 1814, and was the seat of operations of the French army under Bourbaki in 1870-1871. It contains Roman remains, including an amphitheater, aqueduct and triumphal arch of Mars, as well as a cathedral of diversified architectural style, and the Renaissance palace of Cardinal Granvella, who was born in Besançon, Victor Hugo was also a native of Besançon. Watchmaking is the principal industry. Pop. about 60,000.  BESANT, ANNIE (bes′ant), an English theosophist and author, born in London, Oct. 1, 1847; was married in 1867 to the Rev. Frank Besant, brother of Sir Walter Besant, but was legally separated from him in 1873. She manifested an earnest interest in social and political topics, and, in 1874, became connected with the National Secular Society. Owing to the publication of "Fruits of Philosophy," Mrs. Besant was prosecuted, in connection with Charles Bradlaugh (June, 1877), but the prosecution failed. In 1883 she announced her adhesion to Socialism. For three years she was a member of the School Board of London. She was prominently connected with various socialistic movements, and in 1889 joined the Theosophical Society, of which she became president in 1907. She visited the United States in 1891 and 1892-1893 and lectured on Madame Blavatsky and reincarnation, theosophy, and occultism. Among her numerous publications are "Reincarnation" (1892); "Autobiography" (1893); "Death and After" (1893); "Building of the Kosmos" (1894); "The Self and Its Sheaths" (1895); "Path of Discipleship" (1896); "Four Great Religions" (1897); "The Ancient Wisdom" (1897); "Three Paths to Union with God" (1897); etc.  BESANT, SIR WALTER (bes-ant′), an English novelist, born in Portsmouth, Aug. 14, 1836. After graduation at Cambridge, he went to Mauritius as professor in the Royal College, but returned to London, where he long was secretary of the Palestine Exploration Fund. In 1871 he formed a literary partnership with James Rice, which continued until the death of the latter. Among their novels are "Ready Money Mortiboy" (London, 1871); "The Golden Butterfly" (1876); "The Seamy Side" (1881); and<section end="Besant, Sir Walter" />