Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 04.djvu/245

 Mrs. Bennett died at Brighton on 12 Feb. 1808, and her body, being brought to London, was met at the Horns, Kennington Common, on 21 Feb. (European Mag. liii. 156), by a large circle of friends ('s Ath., supra).

Another work by Mrs. Bennett was published after her death in 1816, under the title of 'Faith and Fiction, or Shining Lights in a Dark Generation,' 6 vols. ('s Bibl. Brit.) She is also credited with the authorship of two French novels, 'L'Orphelin du Presbytère,' 1816; and 'Beaute et Laideur,' 1820, but these were apparently portions of 'Faith and Fiction,' translated. In 1822 Defauconpret translated 'Ellen de Courci' ; and in 1853 an attempt was made to reprint 'Anna,' in penny numbers, by W. Strange, of Lovel's Court, Paternoster Row; but at the second number the issue stopped.

 BENNETT, CHARLES HENRY (1829–1867), draughtsman on wood, was born in 1829. His first sketches appeared in 'Diogenes,' a comic paper started in 1853, which had but a brief existence. They speedily attracted attention, and his pencil was afterwards occupied with a series of slight outline portraits of members of parliament which were published in the 'Illustrated Times.' Then came his 'Shadows' in 1856, followed by 'The Fables of Æsop and others translated into human nature' in 1858,and his 'Proverbs' in 1859. These were accompanied by many children's books, of which he was the author as well as the artist, and by some more serious work, amongst which was a series of illustrations to the Rev. Charles Kingsley's edition of Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress,' issued in 1860. He likewise illustrated, in conjunction with George H. Thomas, Will's 'Poets' Wit and Humour,' 1861, and, with Richard Doyle, Mark Lemon's 'Fairy Tales,' 1868. He also published, with Robert B. Brough, 'The Origin of Species,' and 'Shadow and Substance,' 1860. These were republished in 1872, together with a selection of his designs for 'Poets' Wit and Humour,' under the title of 'Character Sketches, Development Drawings, and Original Pictures of Wit and Humour.' Last of all came his engagement on 'Punch,' to which he contributed numerous sketches, distinguished by their facile execution and singular subtlety of fancy. He was of an extremely delicate constitution, and died in London on 2 April 1867.

 BENNETT, EDWARD TURNER (1797–1836), zoologist, was born at Hackney, London, 6 Jan. 1797. , the botanist [q. v.], was his younger brother. He practised for some years as a surgeon near Portman Square, but his chief pursuit was zoology. His numerous papers in scientific journals are of minor importance, and imperfectly represent his attainments. In 1822 he actively promoted the establishment of an entomological society, of which he was secretary. Later, this society developed into a zoological club in connection with the Linnean Society. Under his management the zoological club became the starting-point of the Zoological Society of London in 1826, of which he was at first vice-secretary; he was elected secretary in 1831, and held the office till his death on 21 Aug. 1836. His zealous efforts greatly contributed to the firm establishment of the society. In 1835 he visited Selborne, and made large collections of interesting facts, which he embodied in his posthumous edition of White's 'Selborne' (1837). This work, which is little improved by the mass of matter added, was published with a preface by J. J. Bennett, the editor's brother. Bennett's only separate works were 'The Tower Menagerie,' 1829; 'The Gardens and Menagerie of the Zoological Society Delineated,' vol. i. Quadrupeds, 1830, vol. ii. Birds, 1831. Besides these he wrote the article on Fishes in 'Zoology of Captain Beechey's Voyage,' 1839, and many papers in 'Zool. Jour.' 1825-34; 'Linn. Trans.' 1827; 'Mag. Nat. Hist.' 1831; 'Zool. Proc.' 1831-6; 'Zool. Trans.' 1835, 1841; 'Geol. Proc.' 1831.

 BENNETT, GEORGE JOHN (1800–1879), actor, was born at Ripon, in Yorkshire, 9 March 1800. His father was for thirty years a member of the Norwich company. Bennett entered the navy in 1813, and quitted it in 1817. He made his first appearance at Lynn, in Norfolk, in 1818. After playing in different country towns he became in 1820 a member of the Bath company, and in 1822 came to London, making an appearance at Covent Garden, 27 Jan. 1823, as Richard III. The performance was a failure. In Hotspur he was more fortunate. On 23 July 1824, at the Lyceum, then called the English Opera House, he took part in the first presentation in England of 'Der Freyschütz, or the Seventh Bullet,' a rendering by Logan of Weber's famous opera. The part he played was Conrad. In 1830 he joined the Covent Garden company, appearing as Hubert in 'King John'