Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/54

 BERNOULLI, JEAN (1744–1807)

Born at Basle, Nov. 4, 1744: son of the elder Jean Bernoulli: belonged to a family celebrated as mathematicians: Jean the younger was a great astronomer: from 1763 was in this capacity a member of the Academy of Sciences at Berlin: became Director of the Mathematical Class at the Academy: wrote also on geographical subjects: notably his Description historique et geographique de l'Inde, 1786, consisting of his French translation of Pere Joseph Tieffenthaler's Geographic de l'Indoustan (originally in Latin), Recherches historiques et chrono-logiques sur l'Inde, by Anquetil du Perron, with the addition of maps by James Rennell: died at Berlin, July 13, 1807.  BESANT, ANNIE (1847–)

Born Oct. 1, 1847: daughter of William Page Wood: educated privately in England, Germany and France: married Rev. Frank Besant, 1867, but legally separated from him, 1872: joined the National Secular Society, 1874: worked with Charles Bradlaugh M.P. in Labour and Socialist movements: co-editor of the National Reformer, member of the Fabian Society, and Social Democratic Federation: was a member of the London School Board, 1887–90: joined the Theosophical Society, 1880: and became a devoted pupil of Madame Blavatsky: founded the Central Hindu College at Benares, 1898: author of many books and pamphlets, including Karma, Four Great Religions, Dharma, Esoteric Christianity, The Religious Problem in India, etc: joint-editor of the Theosophical Review.  BEST, SAMUEL (1808?–1851)

Captain, Madras Engineers: entered the service in 1826: Secretary to the Board of Revenue in the P.W.D., 1842: planned the Singapore fortifications, and was made Superintendent of roads in Madras, 1845: under him road-making was very well managed under fixed rules: he executed many important works in the Madras Presidency: such as the Southern Trunk Road and the Goolcheroo Pass: and made valuable contributions to the Madras Literary Transactions and the Madras Engineering papers: died of jungle fever at Chitore on his return from the hills, Oct. 5, 1851.  BETHUNE, SIR HENRY LINDESAY, BARONET (1787–1851)

Son of Major M. E. Lindesay: joined the Madras Artillery in 1810: was six feet eight in height: was in Sir John Malcolm's mission to Persia in 18 10, stayed there some years to drill the Persian Army, fighting with it against the Russians: returned to England in 1821 and left the E.I. Co.'s service: assumed the name of Bethune: again out to Persia in 1834, helped to quell a rebellion, was made a Baronet at the Shah's request: in 1836–9 was again in Persia, and died at Tabriz in 1851.  BETHUNE, JOHN ELLIOT DRINKWATER (1801–1851)

Son of Lt-Colonel J. Drinkwater Bethune: educated at Trinity College, Cambridge: called to the bar, 1827: was Counsel to the Home Office for many years: became Legal Member of the Supreme Council of the Government of India in April, 1848. Besides his ordinary work in charge of legislation and as Member of Council, Bethune was President of the Council of Education: he established the Bethune School, which still exists, for the Education of native girls; died at Calcutta Aug. 12, 1851.  BHANDARKAR, RAMKRISHNA GOPAL (1837–)

Orientalist and social reformer: born July 6, 1837: educated at Ratnagiri and Elphinstone College, Bombay: M.A., 1866: Dakhshina Fellow there 1859, and later in the Dekkan College, Poona, till 1864: in the Bombay Education Department, 1864–93: Head-master of Hyderabad (Sind) and Ratnagiri High Schools, 1864–9: acting Professor of Sanskrit and Oriental Languages in Elphinstone College, Assistant Professor many years, till 1881: Professor of Sanskrit at Dekkan College, Poona, 1882–93: Fellow of Bombay University from 1866; Syndic, 1873–81; Vice-Chancellor, 1893–5: Hon. LL.D., 1904: Member of the Governor-General's Legislative Council, 1903–4, when the Universities Act was passed: Member of Bombay Legislative Council, 1904–5: Fellow of Calcutta University, 1887: Member of learned Societies, e.g. R.A.S. London, 1874; R.A.S. Bombay, 1865; German Oriental Society, 1887; American